Keywords: SBD-3 from USS Wasp (CV-7) in flight near Guadalcanal 1942.jpg A U S Navy Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless assigned to either Scouting Squadron 71 or 72 VS-71/VS-72 off USS Wasp 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 Wasp 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 http //collections naval aviation museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/AdvQuery php U S Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No http //collections naval aviation museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/Display php irn 16036101 QueryPage 2Femuwebdoncoms 2Fpages 2Fdoncoms 2FAdvQuery php 1996 253 732 ca 1942-08 U S Navy PD-USGov-Military-Navy Douglas SBD Dauntless Guadalcanal Campaign Cactus Air Force |