28 August 1942; Solomon Islands. SBD Dauntlesses flying from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal catch four Japanese destroyers attempting to land hundreds of Japanese Marines on the island. As the ships take evasive action to avoid their attackers, Ensign Hal Buell dives his SBD on the Shirakumo. His direct hit critically damages the Japanese destroyer and kills over 100 of the enemy troops jammed on its deck. For his action Buell was awarded the Silver Star.
 
Hal Buell fought in every major carrier action in the Pacific with 14 enemy ships hit, 12 sunk.