“Button,” Espiritu Santo

The “Pussy Patrol” returned from Nouméa this afternoon. No news, except indications of rapidly growing Allied strength in these parts. The Essex is positively somewhere south of the equator, plus the old standbys, the Sara and the “Big E” (Enterprise). A British carrier, the Victorious is now at Nouméa with a load of British Martlets (F4Fs with Wright engine and “star” markings) and TBFs. These plus the converted carriers hereabouts give us a good deal of weight.