I thought we hadn’t yet landed on Guadalcanal in June 1942?
We hadn't. This item is a month early. I will notify David Etherington. (Spoiler alert!)
Aircraft escort vessel USS LONG ISLAND (AVG-1) sees action for the first time when US Marine SBD Douglas Dauntless Dive Bombers and Grumman F-4F3 Wildcat Fighters are launched from her deck heading for Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. They will become the first aircraft of the “Cactus Air Force”.