The Battle of Santa Cruz was the fourth naval battle between U.S. forces and Japan for control of the Pacific Ocean and can be considered one of the battles in late 1942 and early 1943 led to control of the strategic island of Guadalcanal, which for the Japanese marked the turning point of war in the Pacific Ocean. The battle occurs in the wake of yet another Japanese attempt to expel the American forces had landed on the island of Guadalcanal on August 7 and took defensive positions around the airfield of Henderson Field.