IJN Rear Admiral Takaji Joshima, at Rabaul, forms a unit of float planes from various sources, known as “R Area Air Force”. These float planes will operate from bases in the Shortland Islands and Rekata Bay, and now begin regular nightly patrols over Guadalcanal. They will become known to the Marines as “Washing Machine Charlie”.
Washing Machine Charlie was a name given by the Marines to Imperial Japanese aircraft that performed usually solitary, nocturnal operations over Henderson Field on Guadalcanal during the Guadalcanal campaign, as well as over other allied bases during the rest of the Solomon Islands campaign. The name came from the distinctive sound of the aircraft engines.
The Japanese sent solitary aircraft on night-time missions over Guadalcanal and later other islands held by the Allies for various reasons, including scouting, dropping flares over Allied positions to assist Japanese naval or ground forces operating on or near the island, bombing airfields and installations, and/or harassing troops and disrupting their sleep.
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