In March 1942 Admiral Ernest King, then Commander-in Chief of the U. S. Fleet, had advocated an offense from New Hebrides through the Solomon Islands to the Bismarck Archipelago.
I marts 1942 havde admiral Ernest King, den daværende øverstbefalende for den amerikanske flåde, talt for et angreb Ny Hebriderne via Salomonøerne til Bismarckarkipelaget.