| Cactus Air Force | |
|---|---|
.gif) Cactus Air Force aircraft crowd Henderson Field, Guadalcanal in October 1942 | |
| Active | 20 August 1942 – April 1943 |
| Countries |  United States New Zealand |
| Allegiance | Allies of World War II |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces United States Marine Corps United States Navy Royal New Zealand Air Force |
| Type | Ensemble air unit |
| Role | Aerial warfare |
| Garrison/HQ | Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Roy Geiger Louis E. Woods Francis P. Mulcahy |
The Cactus Air Force was the ensemble of Allied air power assigned to the island of Guadalcanal from August 1942 until December 1942 during the most heavily contested phases of the Guadalcanal Campaign, particularly those operating from Henderson Field. The name is based on "Cactus", the Allied code name for the island. In 1943, the Cactus Air Force was absorbed into AirSols, a joint command of Allied air units in the Solomon Islands.