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World War II
Episode116

November 27, 2023

Task Group X-Ray Hits the Shore: The Fight for a Foothold in the Pacific

Task Group X-Ray Hits the Shore: The Fight for a Foothold in the Pacific
26:20
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While the previous episode followed the Marines storming Tulagi, this one shifts to Beach Red, where the 1st and 5th Marines landed to secure the island's key objective: Henderson Field. We'll get into the initial naval and air bombardment, the landing process, and the eerie lack of Japanese resistance at the shoreline. As the Marines pushed inland, they quickly realized Guadalcanal wouldn't be an easy fight. The terrain was dense, the jungle unforgiving, and while the Japanese weren't visible at first, they were waiting—ready to strike.

References

  1. Chapin, J. C. (1997). Top of the Ladder: Marine Operations in the Northern Solomons. United States: Marine Corps Historical Center.
  2. Hough, F. O., Crown, J. A. (1952). The Campaign on New Britain. United States: Historical Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
  3. Melson, C. D. (1993). Up the Slot: Marines in the Central Solomons. United States: History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
  4. Mersky, P. B. (1993). Time of the Aces: Marine Pilots in the Solomons, 1942-1944. United States: History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
  5. The Onslow County News and Views. (1944, June 2). "Fighting Father of the Year" Tells How He Disobeyed Orders to Fight Japs. The Onslow County News and Views, p. 1.
  6. Rentz, J. N. (1948). Bougainville and the Northern Solomons. United States: Historical Sect., Division of Public Information, Headquarters, Marine Corps.
  7. Rentz, J. N. (1952). Marines in the Central Solomons. United States: Historical Branch, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
  8. Shaw, H. I., Kane, D. T. (2013). Isolation of Rabaul: History of U. S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II, Volume II. United States: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
  9. Shaw, H. I. (1996). First Offensive: The Marine Campaign for Guadalcanal. (n.p.): DIANE Publishing Company.
  10. Tampa Bay Times. (1944, May 30). Marine Maj. Fred Conderman of Bern, N.C., is named "fighting father of the year" by the National Father's Day committee. Tampa Bay Times, p. 1.
  11. Zimmerman, J. L. (1949). The Guadalcanal Campaign. United States: Historic Division, Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps.

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← The Bloody Prelude: Tulagi and the Road to GuadalcHolding the Line: Guadalcanal's Test of Endurance →