Solomon Islands campaign

1942-01-01 - 1945-08-21

The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War during World War II. It began with the Japanese seizure of areas in the British Solomon Islands and Bougainville in early 1942, where Japan built naval and air bases. To defend their supply lines in the South Pacific, the Allies counterattacked with amphibious landings on Guadalcanal and nearby islands on August 7, 1942. A campaign of attrition on land, at sea, and in the air followed, and the Allies inflicted heavy losses on Japanese forces, particularly experienced aircrew, while converging on the major Japanese base at Rabaul.