Up The Slot: Marines in the Central Solomons

by Charles D. Melson

Transcriber’s note: Table of Contents added by Transcriber and placed into the Public Domain.

Contents

• [Up the Slot: Marines in the Central Solomons]
• [Sidebar: Under The Southern Cross]
• [Sidebar: Individual Combat Clothing and Equipment]
• [The Munda Drive and the Fighting Ninth]
• [Sidebar: The ‘Green Dragon’ Landing Ship, Tank]
• [Sidebar: The ‘Long Tom’ 155mm M1A1 Gun]
• [Sidebar: Field Medicine]
• [Sidebar: Flight Clothing and Equipment]
• [Milk Runs and Black Sheep]
• [Sidebar: The Douglas R4D ‘Skytrain’]
• [A Joint Pattern for Victory]
• [Sources]
• [About the Author]
• [About the Series]
• [Transcriber’s Notes]

Up the Slot:
Marines in the
Central
Solomons

Marines in
World War II
Commemorative Series

By Major Charles D. Melson
U.S. Marine Corps (Ret)

The approach to Rendova Harbor as seen from the deck of an LST carrying Marines ashore. It sails through the narrow Renard Entrance with Rendova Peak in the background and the Lever Brothers’ landing at the right just around the bend. (Marine Corps Historical Collection)

The objective of the Central Solomons campaign was the Japanese airfield on Munda Point, which, in friendly hands, would be a stepping-stone in the conquest of the Solomon Islands chain. The airfield runs west to east and a taxi-way snakes through both sides of the field. Kokengolo Hill is on its north side. This photograph records the results of a Marine dive-bomber attack, which resulted in a hit on a gas or ammunition dump in the center of the picture. (Department of Defense Photo [USMC] 55454)