Comes with a hand-signed C.O.A.

This extremely rare and museum-grade WWII artifact is an original 1944 dated “CONFIDENTIAL” marked Official U.S. Navy intelligence report (with accompanying CONFIDENTIAL battle maps) of the “Solomon Islands Campaign - Battle of Cape Esperance & Battle of Santa Cruz Island”. 

These CONFIDENTIAL “Combat Narrative” with USS Enterprise and USS Hornet intelligence reports were created under the of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations and were to be read by commissioned officers and high-ranking officials of the USN. 

These combat narratives provided the most updated intelligence of battle operations and were meant to provide USN officers and high-ranking Navy officials with CONFIDENTIAL battle accounts, reports, and intelligence to inform future operations and their decisions in battle. 

Less than 3,000 of each report was produced and most did not survive as it is noted by REAR ADMIRAL, U.S.N. Director of Naval Intelligence to “DESTROY OR BURN THE COPIES ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN READ AND HAVE SURVED THEIR PURPOSE”.

This specific “Solomon Islands Campaign - Battle of Cape Esperance & Battle of Santa Cruz Island” report was secretly kept by Lt. Milburn which is why it is one of only a small handful or original reports that are still known to exist today.

Solomon Islands Campaign - Battle of Cape Esperance & Battle of Santa Cruz Island:

The Solomon Islands Campaign during World War II was a pivotal chapter in the Pacific Theater, marked by intense naval engagements and fierce ground battles. This campaign, fought between Allied forces and the Empire of Japan, was crucial in determining the course of the war in the Pacific and ultimately led to the Allied advance towards Japan.

The Solomon Islands, a chain of islands in the South Pacific, held significant strategic importance for both the Allies and Japan. The Japanese aimed to establish a defensive perimeter extending towards Australia and New Zealand while also securing vital lines of communication with their territories in the South Pacific. For the Allies, the Solomon Islands represented a barrier to the Japanese advance and provided a launching point for offensive operations to retake territory lost earlier in the war.

The Battle of Cape Esperance, which took place on October 11, 1942, was one of the early naval clashes of the Solomon Islands Campaign. It occurred off the northwest coast of Guadalcanal, one of the key islands in the archipelago. The battle was initiated when a Japanese convoy carrying troops and supplies for their forces on Guadalcanal was spotted by Allied reconnaissance aircraft. In response, Allied naval forces, primarily comprising cruisers and destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral Norman Scott, were dispatched to intercept the Japanese convoy.

The engagement at Cape Esperance unfolded under the cover of darkness, adding to the chaos and confusion of the battle. Both sides maneuvered to gain a tactical advantage, and the resulting skirmish was fierce and intense. Despite being outnumbered, the Allied forces managed to achieve a decisive victory, sinking several Japanese warships and inflicting significant damage on the convoy. The Battle of Cape Esperance demonstrated the effectiveness of Allied naval tactics and the resolve of their sailors in the face of adversity.

Following the Battle of Cape Esperance, the strategic significance of the Solomon Islands became even more apparent to both sides. The Japanese recognized the need to reinforce their positions on Guadalcanal and launched a counteroffensive aimed at driving the Allies from the island. This led to the infamous Battle of Guadalcanal, a grueling six-month-long campaign characterized by brutal ground fighting and fierce naval engagements.

The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, which occurred on October 26, 1942, was a direct consequence of the escalating conflict on Guadalcanal. Recognizing the importance of air superiority in the campaign, both the Allies and the Japanese sought to gain control of the skies over the Solomon Islands. The Japanese launched a major carrier strike aimed at neutralizing Allied airpower and supporting their ground forces on Guadalcanal.

The battle unfolded in two main phases: an initial airstrike by Japanese carrier-based aircraft followed by a counterattack by Allied carrier groups. The engagement was marked by intense aerial combat and heavy losses on both sides. While the Japanese managed to inflict significant damage on Allied carriers, including the USS Hornet, the Allies were able to repel the Japanese assault and maintain control of the airspace over Guadalcanal.

The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands highlighted the ferocity and determination of both Allied and Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Campaign. Despite suffering heavy losses, the Allies were able to retain their strategic foothold in the region and continue their advance towards Japan. The battle also underscored the importance of carrier-based aviation in naval warfare and demonstrated the resilience of Allied naval forces in the face of adversity.

In conclusion, the Solomon Islands Campaign was a critical phase of World War II in the Pacific, characterized by intense naval battles and fierce ground fighting. The Battle of Cape Esperance and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands were pivotal engagements that shaped the course of the campaign and ultimately contributed to the Allied victory in the Pacific Theater. These battles underscored the strategic significance of the Solomon Islands and demonstrated the resolve and determination of both Allied and Japanese forces in one of the most challenging theaters of the war.