 Opposing the Japanese and under the command of United States Navy Admiral William Halsey , Jr . , commander of Allied forces in the South Pacific , were fleet carriers USS Enterprise and Saratoga , six escort carriers , three fast battleships , four old battleships , 13 cruisers , and 45 destroyers . In the air , the 13th Air Force numbered 92 fighters and bombers under United States Army Brigadier General Nathan F. Twining and the CAF on Guadalcanal counted 81 aircraft under US Marine Brigadier General Francis P. Mulcahy . Rear Admiral Aubrey Fitch was overall commander of Aircraft South Pacific . The air units of the fleet and escort carriers added another 339 aircraft . In addition , 30 heavy bombers were stationed in New Guinea with sufficient range to conduct missions over the Solomon Islands . In total , the Allies possessed around 539 aircraft available to oppose the Ke operation . 
