| August 7 | Americans land on Guadalcanal. |
| August 20 | Henderson Field operational. |
| August 24 | Battle of the Eastern Solomons. |
0935hrs – American PBY spots light carrier Ryujo.
1340hrs – Fletcher launches strike against Ryujo.
1400hrs – Japanese aircraft spot TF-61.
1455–1600hrs – Japanese launch 73 aircraft against TF-61.
1500hrs – Fletcher receives reports of Enterprise scout aircraft attacking Nagumo’s carriers.
1550hrs – Ryujo attacked and later sinks.
1644hrs – Enterprise hit by first of three bombs.
1900hrs – Second Japanese attack wave misses Enterprise.
| August 31 | Saratoga torpedoed by Japanese submarine. |
| September 13 | Japanese ground attack on Henderson Field repulsed. |
| September 15 | Wasp sunk by Japanese submarine attack. |
| October 11 | Combined Fleet departs Truk to support Guadalcanal offensive. |
| October 13–14 | Two Japanese battleships bombard and temporarily neutralize Henderson Field. |
| October 14–15 | Japanese reinforcement convoy arrives on Guadalcanal. |
| October 24–25 | Japanese ground attack on Henderson Field fails. |
| October 26 | Battle of Santa Cruz. |
0250hrs – American PBY attacks Nagumo’s carrier force.
0612hrs – Japanese aircraft spots TF-61.
0645hrs – Enterprise aircraft spots Japanese carriers.
0658hrs – Spotting report reaches Nagumo.
0710hrs – Japanese launch strike against TF-61.
0732hrs – Hornet launches strike.
0740hrs – Enterprise Dauntlesses bomb light carrier Zuiho.
0747hrs – Enterprise launches strike.
0818hrs – Shokaku’s second wave departs.
0835hrs – Ambush of Enterprise strike by Zuiho fighters.
0900hrs – Zuikaku’s second wave departs.
0910hrs – Japanese dive-bombing attack begins on Hornet; three hits scored.
0914hrs – Japanese dive-bomber crashes into Hornet.
0915hrs – First of two torpedoes hits Hornet.
0917hrs – Second Japanese aircraft crashes into Hornet.
0926hrs – Hornet Dauntlesses attack heavy cruiser Chikuma and score two bomb hits.
0927hrs – Hornet Dauntlesses score four to six bomb hits on Shokaku.
0930hrs – Enterprise Avengers attack heavy cruiser Suzuya.
0939hrs – Enterprise Dauntlesses attack Chikuma.
1004hrs – Destroyer Porter hit by torpedo from ditched Avenger; later scuttled.
1015hrs – Japanese second wave starts dive-bombing attack on Enterprise.
1017hrs – First of two bomb hits on Enterprise.
1046hrs – Japanese torpedo attack on Enterprise; no hits are scored.
1121hrs – Junyo dive-bomber attack against Enterprise; scores one near miss.
1129hrs – Junyo dive-bombers attack battleship South Dakota; score one hit.
1132hrs – Junyo dive-bombers attack light cruiser San Juan; score one hit.
1135hrs – Kinkaid informs Halsey of his decision to break off engagement.
1513hrs – Junyo torpedo plane attack on Hornet; scores one hit.
1541hrs – Two Zuikaku dive-bombers attack Hornet.
1555hrs – Zuikaku level bombers attack Hornet; score one hit.
1627hrs – Hornet abandoned.
1650hrs – Junyo dive-bombers attack Hornet; score one hit.
2100hrs – Japanese destroyers torpedo already burning Hornet; the carrier sinks early the next morning.
2300hrs – Kondo breaks off pursuit of the retreating Americans.