February 9th, 1943: The Battle of Guadalcanal

After seven months of costly air, sea and land fighting the U.S. Marines and Navy force the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy to withdraw from the island of Guadalcanal in the South Pacific. The victory gives the Allies their first Pacific island air base to use in their strategy of "island hopping" towards Japan. For the first time Japanese forces are forced to retreat instad of advance. The tide of battle is slowly turning in the Allies' favour in the Pacific.