During the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, light carrier "Ryūjō" was detached from Chuichi Nagumo's main carrier force and assigned to his division with the task of attacking Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. Hara sent a strike force, consisting of six Nakajima B5N bombers and 15 Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters, which inflicted a minor damage to the Allied airbase. Soon afterwards, USN aircraft from "Enterprise" and "Saratoga" found and sunk "Ryūjō". This was the last time he commanded a task force that included a carrier in a battle.