the United States forces on Guadalcanal. Two days later it was learned that a Japanese carrier task force was in the vicinity and all ships except Meredith and Vireo turned back. Despite the fact that Meredith was equipped only with surface-search and not air-search radar, Commander Hubbard decided to press on to deliver the critically needed aviation gas. Meredith was sighted by a Japanese patrol plane on the morning of 15 October, and shortly after midday took aboard the 68-man crew of Vireo to depart the area at high speed. However, while preparing to torpedo Vireo to keep her out of Japanese hands, Meredith was attacked by a force of 38 bombers, torpedo planes, and escort fighters from . In the first three minutes of the attack, Meredith was struck by a bomb that exploded beneath her bridge, destroying all communications, steering control, and gun direction. A second bomb struck the forward port side, and a torpedo exploded below the ready ammunition locker, igniting the ship's pyrotechnics and setting fire to fuel oil leaking from her bunkers. Meredith fought fiercely, and brought down three of her attackers, but she was struck by an estimated 14 bombs and seven torpedoes. Meredith rolled over and sank in 10 minutes at . Of the crew of 273 on board that day, only eight officers and 73 enlisted men survived the attack and the three ensuing days of exposure to the open sea and sharks until they were rescued by , and . Six members of Merediths crew managed to swim to Vireo, and were rescued by a naval PBY Catalina flying boat on 19 October. Awards Meredith received one battle star for World War II service. References External links USS Meredith website at Destroyer History Foundation Loss of Meredith at Destroyer History Foundation USS Meredith at NavSource Naval History USS Meredith at Haze Grey & Underway Meredith (DD-434) Ships built in Boston Shipwrecks in the Solomon Sea 1940 ships Meredith (DD-434) Destroyers sunk by aircraft Maritime incidents in October 1942 Ships sunk by Japanese aircraft