ama ' s ▁forces . ▁ ▁On ▁this ▁day , ▁the ▁Japanese ▁ 1 1 th ▁Air ▁Fle et ▁under ▁Jin ichi ▁K us aka ▁based ▁at ▁R aba ul ▁sent ▁ 1 6 ▁M its ub ishi ▁G 4 M 2 ▁" B et ty " ▁bom bers ▁and ▁ 2 8 ▁A 6 M 2 ▁Zero ▁f igh ters ▁to ▁attack ▁Hend erson ▁Field . ▁In ▁response , ▁ 2 4 ▁F 4 F - 4 ▁Wild c ats ▁and ▁four ▁P - 4 0 0 ▁A i rac ob ras ▁from ▁the ▁C AF ▁( C act us ▁Air ▁Force ) ▁rose ▁to ▁meet ▁them , ▁resulting ▁in ▁a ▁large ▁aer ial ▁battle . ▁To ▁Al lied ▁obser vers , ▁the ▁Japanese ▁appeared ▁to ▁lose ▁several ▁aircraft ▁in ▁the ▁day ' s ▁engag ements , ▁but ▁their ▁actual ▁losses ▁are ▁unknown . ▁The ▁C AF ▁lost ▁one ▁Wild cat ▁to ▁battle ▁damage ▁but ▁the ▁pilot ▁was ▁un in j ured . ▁ ▁Battle ▁ ▁Nak ag uma ' s ▁attack ▁on ▁the ▁Mat an ik au ▁Sum iy oshi ▁was ▁informed ▁by ▁Hy ak ut ake ' s ▁staff ▁of ▁the ▁post pon ement ▁of ▁the ▁off ensive ▁to ▁ 2 4 ▁October , ▁but ▁was ▁unable ▁to ▁contact ▁Nak ag uma ▁to ▁inform ▁him ▁of ▁the ▁delay . ▁Thus , ▁at ▁d usk ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁October , ▁two ▁batt al ions ▁of ▁Nak ag uma ' s ▁ 4 th ▁Infantry ▁Regiment ▁and ▁the ▁nine ▁t anks