Guadalcanal

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A principal island in the Solomon Islands which was used as the first major offensive by Allied forces against Japan during World War II. Guadalcanal, Florida, and Tulagi were taken by Allied forces and Japan retaliated with three major land battles, seven large naval battles, and daily aerial battles from August 1942 to February 1943. After the battles, Allied forces continued strengthening their hold on the Pacific by building additional bases on the Solomon Islands.