DEPARTURE Ensign Register’s diary entries for the month before the Guadalcanal invasion give a good view of just how hectic preparation for departure to the combat zone was. Things moved fast in Hawaii. Register wrote in his diary, “July 5, 1942 - Today was a big day. Much happened and after much work and seeing the right people, I am going to be transferred to Fighting Six with seven other flyers. We will go out on the Enterprise in about a week. All the new VF squadrons are to be 36 plane squadrons. Three CV are to go out and I believe we will meet the Wasp and possibly some Army transports. I think this is the start of our offensive and will probably be the biggest battle of the war so far. Am glad I can be in on it.”
I love primary sources like diaries and journals. This is great!
Riveting! Thanks.