Destroyers USS Selfridge (bow shot off) and USS O'Bannon
at New Caledonia for repairs after Battle of Vella Lavella
(US Navy photo)
70 Years Ago—Oct. 6,
1943: Naval Battle of
Vella Lavella: US fails to prevent evacuation of island; US and Japanese each
lose 1 destroyer; last surface engagement in Solomons, last clear-cut naval
victory for Japanese. US reaches
Volturno River in Italy.
