The Japanese lost more aircrew at Santa Cruz than they had lost in each of the three previous carrier battles at Coral Sea (90), Midway (110), and Eastern Solomons (61).
Japanerne mistede flere flyvere ved Santa Cruz, end de havde mistet i hver af de forudgående tre hangarskibsslag ved Koralhavet (90), Midway (110) og øst for Salomonøerne (61).