A U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-3 <i>Dauntless</i> assigned to either Scouting Squadron 71 or 72 (VS-71/VS-72) off USS <i>Wasp</i> (CV-7) in flight in the vicinity of Guadalcanal. The aircraft of these squadrons helped support Operation Watchtower, the invasion of Guadalcanal beginning on 7 August 1942. Following the sinking of <i>Wasp</i> on 15 September, eleven VS-71 aircraft and crews were sent to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, flying combat missions from 28 September to 7 November 1942.
U.S. Navy
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://collections.naval.aviation.museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/AdvQuery.php">U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation</a> photo No. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://collections.naval.aviation.museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/Display.php?irn=16036101&amp;QueryPage=%2Femuwebdoncoms%2Fpages%2Fdoncoms%2FAdvQuery.php">1996.253.732</a>