Battle of the Coral Sea As It Happened

USS Lexington CV-2

Again, taken from the Action Report, what follows is a direct account from the Officers aboard the ship. This report is recorded actions taken and the associated times during the battle on May 7th, 1942.

THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA.
Report of Action 7-8 May, 1942, by Fighter Director.

7 May 1942

0700 Yorktown launched 12 (?) scouts to search 200 miles covering a sector of 120° median 315° (?). Cruiser launched SOCs for inner and intermediate patrol. The intermediate patrol was a source of constant worry as they did not stay on the screen and we were forced to investigate by vectoring fighters. Many of which turned out to be SOCs. We undoubtedly missed 1-2 Jap shadowers and wasted radio silence and gasoline on too many of our own people. In the future these patrols should never be used unless better organized as to their tactics and unless they have I.F.F. It would have been better if they had stayed down low and off the radar screen. They were finally recalled and the patrol secured.

0730 Lexington launched 9 VSB anti-torpedo patrol and 4 VF for combat patrol. During the period immediately following we were being shadowed by at least two Bogies which we were unable to intercept, one came in at the same time Yorktown scouts were returning from search on 270° distance 25 miles where he began circling, a combat section was vectored but recalled before contact could be made by order other than that of F.D.O. (Fighter Director Officer) when it was felt that planes were identified as friendly, (by circling). Later because the circling continued, fighters were re-vectored but after a heartbreaking chase were unable to intercept. The Jap apparently saw our fighters but they could not sight him. The section leader Lt. (jg) Clark later reported big black clouds in the area where he was searching. Another heartbreaking chase was made on bogey about 0900 when at one time we had three sections chasing the bogey, approaching him on different courses. This bogey withdrew to 45 miles where he went off the screen. Again the section leader Ens. Eder reported tall columns of puffy clouds which made excellent coverage for a plane wishing to escape. There is no doubt that our force was shadowed continuously for a considerable part of the day by Kawanishi and carrier based aircraft.

0835 VS-2 scout reported enemy position and we prepared to launch attack group. No doubt enemy shadowers observed our launching.

0925 Launched 4 VF Combat patrol and began launching Attack group of 9 VF, 28 VSB and 12 TBD. Two scouts had 500-lb. bombs and 18 bombers 1000-lb. bombs.

1010 Launching completed.

1040 Landed patrols. Yorktown completed launching her attack group consisting of 8 VF, 34 VSB and VTB. At this period we were passing through rain squalls and VS 42 scouts were returned from search. All scouts (all of our planes for that matter) must have I.F.F. as quickly as possible. Twice two sections of our fighters were vectored to orbit at stations to intercept doubtful bogeys. The fighters were placed on stations 10-15 miles from the fleet center and ordered not to lose sight of the force since it is very difficult to keep an accurate check on them when they are in that close and lots of other planes are cavorting around such as inner and anti-torpedo patrols. Our own fighters were not hard to follow as they had IFF.

1130 Lieut. Crommelin of VF 42 was vectored successfully and he shot down a Kawanishi at 025° distance 15 miles. There was no rain at the time but the weather seemed foggy.

1145 Lexington launched 4 VF landed 4 VF and 5 SBD.

1204 Yorktown launched 12 VSB anti-torpedo patrol 2 VF and landed 4 VF. The attack group was nearly at their objective. The bogeys were giving us a rest for a change. Our radar operators were doing an excellent job and were furnishing us with sufficient information to evaluate the situation within reach of our radar. Ensign Henslee, Asst. Fighter Director officer was especially useful and was proving himself to be extremely capable. He is a little older than the others, very quick, intelligent and resourceful. The other assistant fighter director officers do a swell job but Henslee has "it". Guymon ACMM did not have much chance to work until late in the day.

1240 Lt. Comdr. Dixon reported "Scratch one flat top". We remained in the vicinity of the Ryukaku and positively saw it sink. Ensign Tony Quigley reported one aileron shot away, unable to return to ship and that he would land on an island probably Rossell. Our returning aircraft appeared on the screen 50-60 miles away by aid of the IFF. Yorktown group returned about the same time. We should have designated some of our IFF planes to accompany Yorktown groups, like wise we should have paired Yorktown fighters up with our people in order to simplify the problem of identification. We tried to do this in the air on the 8th but don't believe the order was ever carried out.

1300 Carriers began recovering returning aircraft.

1304 Lex launched 6 VSB and 6 VF.

1312 Bogey 290/75 same @ 1316 290/82.
We had several plots from time to time on this bogey which was a large group which must have been the Japanese attack group looking for us. They were on a Southwesterly course.

1345 Lex completed landing 27 VSB - 12 TBD - 14 VF.
Our losses 1 VSB, the pilot, Quigley, probably alive on Rossell Island. Yorktown lost one bomber. Yorktown apparently attacked the same carrier our people did which was in a sinking condition when they arrived. They could have looked for the other carrier or gotten the cruisers and destroyers. At this time it was difficult to see Yorktown because of a rain squall.

1550 Launched 8 VF wind 19 kts, sea slight swells, weather unsuitable for SOCs, sky overcast.

1555 Msg. received from Neosho "Sinking".

1600 From: Neosho - position @ 2300 16-38 S., 158-28 E.

1615 Landed 4 VF.

1648 Bogey 275°/72 miles is believed to have been same bogeys sighted earlier at 1312 which were undoubtedly an enemy attack group looking for TF17.

1700 We changed zone time to -11.

1715 Yorktown reported a bogey 354°/24 miles which we could not find on our screen.

1737 The radar screen was clear.

1747 A large group possibly two groups of bogeys appeared on the radar screen 144°/48 miles apparently flying toward our ship at high speed at about 1500 feet in altitude. We checked gas of combat pilots in air, most of them had about 60 gallons. We vectored the Agnes division of 4 planes and two sections of Yorktown fighters Brown and Orange who did not get very far before they reported instrument conditions so because of their low supply of gasoline and because they were harder to track having no IFF, they were recalled. In the meantime Lt. Comdr. Ramsey was about to intercept the Japs who had turned left about 25 miles away to a course of about 275° T., later 260° T.

1755 Lex launched additional fighters followed by Yorktown. The Lex fighters were kept standing by and Yorktown were vectored to assist Ramsey. Lt. Comdr. Flatley with six fighters were ordered to buster. He arrived shortly after Lt. Comdr. Ramsey had made his attack shooting down four Japs, one Jap had holes in his gas tank and was probably lost. Lt. Comdr. Flatley and his group intercepted but we could not tell whether they were getting any Japs or not. Lt. Comdr. Ramsey reported seeing nine Jap fighters. We recalled Lt. Comdr. Ramsey at once for he was forty miles away and low on gasoline. He just had enough to get back and land aboard.

1825 Lex recovering planes.

1852 Yorktown completed recovery of planes. During this period, three fighters were lost, one Lex and one Yorktown, both named Baker, another from Yorktown named Knox. We had thought all of our people were back safe because Baker's wing man had answered up "Agnes White on station" which was Baker's call. Later when we could check and found Baker missing we looked for him on the radar screen and thought we had a plane with I.F.F. about 10 miles away. We could not get any answer to our calls so called him by name where upon Purple 2 from Yorktown answered up "This is Baker". It took several minutes for us to straighten out this confusing coincidence. At times Purple 2 was very close to our force.

1906 Aircraft for which we could not account were observed approaching the fleet. They appeared to want to land. They flashed on their running lights and when challenged replied with either George Fox or "Slant" (- . . - .). Some ships including the Minneapolis opened fire. Yorktown was landing planes and a Yorktown pilot was heard to cry "What are you shooting at me for, what have I done now?", or words similar. Baker or Purple 2 had reported that he was over the formation at 2500 feet, he wanted instructions, we told him to "pancake" about the time firing started but apparently he was wrong, anyhow, he did not show on the screen. Yorktown tried to bring him in but communications were not good among other things and they finally told him to fly about 320° T/120 miles if he wanted to and that with a 25 knot tail wind at low altitude he might reach land.

2000 Position 13°12" S., 154°40" E., Sea moderate, sky broken clouds, no moon, very dark. Cus. 125°T Axis 270°T Speed 15.

2205 Fleet course 150°T; 20 knots. Estimated Jap losses were 1 CV (Ryukaku), 1 CA, 1 CL damaged 3-96 VF, 3 VP, 6 Kawanishi VP (From Minneapolis log) and 2 VF seaplanes. Our losses were 1 Lex scout, Ens. Tony Quigley believed to have landed on Rossell Island, 1 Yorktown bomber who were with the attack group. In the evening engagement Lex fighters shot down four possibly five Jap fighters and lost Lt. (jg) P. G. Baker who was either shot down by or collided with a Jap fighter. Yorktown lost two fighter pilots, Baker and Knox. The number of planes shot down is not known.

2400 Cus 120°T/20 knots. Axis 270°.

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U.S.S. Lexington Action Report, 7 May, 1942

I've found that I have a fairly insatiable interest in the workings of the USS Lexington, because of my family ties to the ship. Somehow the reading of the history makes me feel closer to the man who passed away just a few months ago. I ran across this account from the Air Operations Officer regarding the action of May 7th, 1942. A full account of the Battle of the Coral Sea from the reports submitted to the US Navy High Command from the Officers aboard the ship can be found here. It contains some amazing accounts of the battle and the loss of the Lexington. I hope that you'll find it as enlightening as I did, and that you'll humor me today, as there will be a couple of these posts.

From: Air Operations Officer.
To: Commanding Officer.

Subject: Air Operations of LEXINGTON, 7-8 May, 1942 - Report of.

1. Account of Action, morning of May 7th.

1. Narrative.

1. During the afternoon of May 6, 1942, orders were received from ComTaskForce SEVENTEEN to prepare for air attack upon enemy (Orange) forces reported to be concentrated in the vicinity of MISIMA ISLAND in the LOUISIADE Archipelago, southeast of the PAPUAN Peninsula, NEW GUINEA.

2. At 0926 (Zone 11) May 7, search planes from Yorktown reported contact with an Orange combatant force consisting of 2 aircraft carrier, 4 cruisers and ________ destroyers, approximate bearing from TF-17 325°(T), distance about 180 miles. At about 0953 the Lexington launched an attack group. The attack group consisted of the Lexington Air Group Commander and two additional SBD, 12 TBD-1 of VT-2, 16 SBD-2 of VB-2, 11 SBD-3 of VS-2 and 10 F4F-3 of VF-2 to act as fighter escort. The TBDs were loaded with one torpedo each, the SBD-2s with one 1000-lb. bomb each (1 sec. fuse setting), the SBD-3s with one 500-lb. (1/3 sec. fuse setting) and two 116-lb. bombs each and the Group Commander section same as VS-2. The F4F-3s carried a full load of caliber .50 machine gun ammunition, belt loading being approximately 2 A.P., 1 tracer, 1 incendiary cartridges. All aircraft carried full gasoline, 180 gallons for the TBDs, 147 gallons for the F4F-3s and 250 gallons for the SBDs. All gasoline was 100 octane, aviation. 8 F4F were retained as combat patrol over the ship, 2 SBD of VB-2 and 6 SBD of VS-2 remained as anti-torpedo defense patrol. The Air Group departed, followed about 15 minutes later by the Yorktown Air Group. The Lexington attack group radios were set on 6645 kcs., the combat patrol on 6540 kcs. and the anti-torpedo patrol on 3265 kcs. YE was turned on all during the attack.

3. After the Attack Group departed the Force steamed on a westerly course, point option having been given to the Attack Group as 290° (T), speed 15 kts. During the absence of the Group one KAWANISHI 4-engine patrol plane was intercepted by a F4F of the Yorktown combat patrol and shot down in flames.

The weather at the time of the launch was good, with wind 17 knots from 110 degrees true, sea choppy, visibility excellent, scattered clouds with rain squalls to the westward.

After the launch the Force moved into an area of heavy rain squalls with occasional small patches of clear weather.


4. The Group attacked and returned at 1309.

2. Damage to Enemy.

1. All attacks made by the Lexington group, except for one 116-lb. bomb dropped upon a heavy cruiser by a VS-2 pilot, were upon one aircraft carrier. This was the only carrier encountered. It was escorted by a force estimated to comprise four heavy cruisers and four destroyers.

2. Results of the attack were reported by Group pilots as follows: VS-2 attacked first with eleven 500-lb. bombs. The results of drops were not observed by the pilots but a conservative estimate by them gave at least three direct hits, with more probable. VB-2 and VT-2 made a simultaneous dive bombing and torpedo attack which resulted in six certain 1000-lb. bomb hits, two more probable, two unobserved and six misses out of sixteen bombs; VT-2 scored 9 torpedo hits out of 12 released. VF-2 shot down in flames 2 type zero fighters and damaged one single-float biplane seaplane when three planes attempted to intercept; the seaplane made a force landing on the water. An SBD of VS-2 shot down with fixed guns one type zero fighter which was pursuing a second SBD, while the free gunner in one of the VS-2 planes shot down an intercepting type zero fighter. Group command section scored one 500-lb. bomb hit on CV.

3. The carrier, believed to be the Zuikaku class, was observed by all pilots to burn fiercely in a manner obviously beyond control. Several severe explosions, other than those resulting from bomb or torpedo hits, were observed, and before the attack was completed the ship was almost entirely hidden by smoke and flame. The smoke cleared before all the Lexington planes left the area and the ship had disappeared. Photographs taken at close range by attacking torpedo planes showed planes still in their attack dives and torpedo approaches when the ship was burning throughout its length.

3. Damage or Injury to Own Forces.

1. One SBD-3 of VS-2, 2-S-10, piloted by Lieut. E.H. Allen, USN, ROUSE, ARM2c, radioman, was attacked by one or more enemy defense planes after the bomb had been released at the objective. The plane was observed to crash into the water. It did not burn.

2. One SBD-3 of VS-2, 2-S-9, piloted by Ensign Anthony J. Quigley, USNR, WHEELHOUSE, ARM3c, radioman, had its ailerons jammed, cause not known to the writer. Ensign Quigley announced by radio that he would fly to ROSSELL ISLAND.

He was apparently uninjured, but it is not known whether he attempted to land the plane or parachuted, or whether he reached ROSSELL ISLAND. Apparently the engine was undamaged.

3. One SBD-3 of VS-2, piloted by Lieut. (jg) HALL, USNR, was attacked by enemy defense aircraft. One bullet entered the plane from ahead through the side panel of the windshield and penetrated the left shoulder of the radioman, PHILLIPS, C.C., RM3c. The self-sealing gasoline tanks of this plane did not leak after being penetrated by three bullets, caliber unknown.

4. One SBD-3 of VS-2, piloted by Ensign LEPPLA, USNR, was attacked by enemy defense aircraft but returned safely. The pilot suffered many superficial wounds, left arm and hand, apparently from fragments of an explosive shell. A rifle caliber projectile was found resting on the pilot's parachute seat-pack upon his return to the ship. This pilot is the one mentioned in paragraph (b)(2), who shot down with fixed guns a type zero fighter.

5. Ensign A.J. Shultz, USNR, suffered superficial shrapnel wounds in right arm and right thigh. He was piloting an SBD of VS-2.

4. Enemy Tactics.

1. From observations of the Air Group Commander it is known that the enemy carrier occupied a position at the center of her supporting forces. There were light or heavy cruisers, type not known, and four destroyers. The cruisers occupied positions at the corners of a square, one at each bow of the carrier and one at each quarter, distance from carrier to cruiser about four miles. The destroyers also appeared to be about four miles from the carrier and they occupied the spaces between the cruisers. Pilots said that the resultant formation seemed wide open and that they found no difficulty in avoiding surface AA fire during approach or retirement.

2. The maneuvers to avoid our air attack suggested that they were based upon a predetermined plan because all turns of the carrier were 90 degrees.

5. Enemy Air Protection.

1. Enemy aircraft were in the air and climbing and intercepted the first dive bombers before they attacked. All enemy attention seemed directed on our first bombers (VS-2), and it was the planes of this group which met the most opposition. VB-2, following in later from an altitude of 18,000 feet, and VT-2, which approached at the same time from 10 miles out at 100 feet, were practically unmolested by enemy aircraft. There was no evidence to indicate that the enemy had had early knowledge of the approach of our aircraft.

2. Account of Action, afternoon of May 7th.

1. Narrative.

1. After recovery of the morning attack group Task Force SEVENTEEN continued on a westerly course at speed 15 knots. Combat and anti-torpedo defense patrols were kept in the air or in Condition One on deck.

2. Late in the afternoon, at about 1735, radar indications were received of an unidentified force approaching from the west. These planes were headed directly toward the Force. The weather was overcast and squally, with occasional rain and many low clouds.

3. Fighter Director was in the Lexington. Combat patrols from both carriers were directed to intercept. At about twenty or twenty five miles west of Lexington our combat patrol intercepted nine enemy fighters, type zero, proceeding eastward. These planes were flying in a group with five planes in Vee formation and two two-plane sections following astern. Our patrol attacked from astern and above, apparently unobserved. The first section leader attacked the two rear-most enemy and shot them down in flames. His wingman did not shoot. These planes retired. The following combat section attacked the second rear enemy section, downing one in flames and holing the gas tanks in the second. At this time the five leading enemy planes became aware of the attack and broke their formation in a "scatter" fashion. An explosion and fire seen at this time by our retiring patrol was believed to be a collision between an enemy fighter and the section leader of our second combat section, who was pressing home his first attack. This pilot, Lieut. (jg) P.G. Baker, USN, was not heard on the radio during the engagement and did not return to the ship. Repeated attempts to contact him by radio failed.

4. Combat patrol planes returned to their ships after the interception. At 1825 our planes commenced landing aboard the Lexington. The sun set at 1829. Vessels of the screen reported visual contact with unidentified aircraft in their vicinity. These planes appeared to be enemy torpedo or bombing type, flying very low. Yorktown aircraft circling to land were readily identified as own fighters and not the strange planes. The unidentified planes flashed the code letter "F" which was interpreted by our signal force as "Friendly" in accordance with instructions in PAC 70, Pacific Fleet Communications Doctrine. The one-letter reply for the hour was therefore made by Lexington, whereupon 8 or 9 aircraft turned on their running lights and assumed a position approximately in the landing circle. Vessels of the Force which were close to the strange aircraft opened fire upon them. The planes extinguished their lights and flew away. These were undoubtedly part of an enemy attack group returning to the parent ship, which in the darkness they confused with our own.

5. All but one of our fighters (2-F-14, Lt. (jg) P.G.Baker, USN) returned aboard at _____.

2. Damage to Enemy.

1. Three enemy fighters were shot down and seen to crash in the water, burning. One fighter was seen to be streaming gasoline and was a possible loss. It is believed that another fighter collided with one of our own and was lost. The final damage therefore was three fighters shot down, one probably destroyed by collision, one possibly forced down.

3. Damage to Lexington Force.

1. One fighter lost probably by collision with enemy fighter.

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Coral Sea Memories

Hero

It was hard, growing up, to realize the significance of the stories my Grandfather would tell me about his time aboard the USS Lexington. I was, as are most boys, intrigued by the thought of war and all the machinery that goes along with it. I remember building models of WWII era fighters and bombers when I was still in grade school. Little did I know that at the time that my Grandfather was passing to me the history of my family and the price of freedom which was paid in blood all those years ago. I realized far too late how much I really didn't know. As he got older, he succumbed to multiple small strokes which eventually deprived him of most of his memories. I wish that I'd taken the time to ask more, when he was still all there.

Grandpa joined the Navy in the summer of 1941. He completed basic training in San Diego and was stationed aboard the USS Lexington attached to an anti-aircraft gunnery crew. My Grandfather would fight the Japanese from the 28mm gun emplacement immediately forward of the tower. From this vantage point, my Grandfather would be among the first men ever to take part in a naval battle in which the enemy ships never saw each other.

During the Battle of the Coral Sea, Grandpa said that everyone was so focused and intent upon completing their assigned duties, that they often completely blocked out what was happening around them. One such story was the aircraft armament group. Grandpa told me that an F4F Wildcat had just landed, returning from a dogfight. Part of the fuselage was on fire, however, so intent were the armament group that they'd climbed aboard the plane's wings and began reloading the F4F's .50 Cal machine guns before the fire crew had the opportunity to douse the flames. Shortly thereafter, the armament crews were pulled of the F4F which was ditched over the side of the CV-2, as the flames had completely engulfed the aircraft.

Confirmed hits upon the USS Lexington at the Battle of the Coral Sea

Midmorning on May 8th, as the carriers were in the midst of an attack upon the Japanese carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku, a Japanese bomb struck and detonated upon the anti-aircraft gun emplacement directly across the deck from where my Grandfather was serving. The bomb blast killed the entire gunnery crew along with members of the gunnery crews on either side of the damaged AA gun. It's believed that the shell in the gun also detonated when it was struck by the bomb, exploding and causing further damage to the interior of the ship. The Lexington would be struck by another bomb which hit the evaporator stack behind the tower, and also by two torpedoes on the port side. The crew of the Lexington were able to suppress the fires and the Lexington was able to continue on for a short while after the damaging blows. After the fires below deck had been extinguished, ventilation fans which were cycled on sparked and ignited gasoline fumes under deck which would render the Lexington immobile and ultimately lead to her being scuttled.

One of the enemy torpedo strikes upon the port bow.

#2 Port side gun gallery after the bomb strike

Smoke is seen rising between the deck sections from a fire raging below deck.  This fire would be extinguished, and the Lexington would sail on for the time being.

View from flight deck adjacent to the tower looking forward after the explosion which rendered the Lexington immobile.

Another photo of the #2 port side gun gallery after the bomb impact.

Smoke is seen rising from a splintered hole in the flight deck.

Photo of the #2 port side gun gallery after the bomb hit.

Still another photo of the #2 gun gallery after the bomb strike.  The ship is recovering her flight groups after a successful raid against the Shokaku and Zuikaku.

Close up of the #2 gun gallery after the bomb strike.  The gun is coated in foamite which was used to extinguish the subsequent fire.

Shortly after the fire below deck was ignited by the recirculation fans, the Lexington would be ordered abandoned.  My Grandfather, along with most of the Lexington's surviving crew would jump from the flight deck into the tropical waters below.  Once in the ocean, the men would swim to a near by destroyer where they would be pulled from the sea.  As the ship was being abandoned, small explosions continued below decks as planes, and armament lockers went up in flames.  Near the bottom of the post there are a few pictures of the massive explosion caused by the detonation of stowed torpedo warheads on the hangar deck.

After everyone was safely off the Lexington, the Destroyer Phelps would send her to the bottom with two torpedoes.

My grandfather would subsequently be stationed with several other men on the island of Tonga for a six month period before returning to Pearl and ultimately back to the states.  Grandpa had some funny stories about the people on Tonga stealing the servicemen's underwear.   But that's a story for another time.  Miss you, Grandpa.

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Silently Searching

Early on the morning of the 5th, Fletcher aboard the Yorktown and her Task Force 17 joined with the Lexington and her Task Force 11, as well as the Australian Task Force 44. On May 6th, Fletcher had received solid evidence from Pearl that the Japanese planned to invade Port Moresby on the 10th. From this, Fletcher deduced that the invasion force would enter the Coral Sea within the next few days, most likely sailing in from Rabaul and would pass near the Louisiades Islands . Fletcher ordered his ships refueled then turned the now 24 ship strong battle group westward hoping to engage the Japanese off the Eastern tip of Papua New Guinea.

Admiral Takeo Takagi, commander of the Shokaku and Zuikaku Strike Task Force was positioned northeast of the Solomon Islands sailing southeast. Takagi and the Strike Force rounded the tip of San Cristobal and passed into the Coral Sea, early in the morning hours of May 6th. Knowing that the American carriers still lurked in the Coral Sea, Takagi ordered his ships refueled the morning of the 6th, believing a battle would take place the next day. At 10:00, a reconnaissance plane flying out of the recently invaded Tulagi airbase sighted the American Battle Group. The Allies were steaming approximately 300 miles from Takagi's Strike Force, which was at the edge of his aircraft's range. Still taking fuel, Takagi believed that the Allies were sailing south, widening the gap, so he did not launch an attack on the carriers. Takagi instead ordered Admiral Chuichi Hara and the carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku to sail toward the Allied Battle Group so that they would be in position to attack the next morning at dawn.

During the course of the day, the Americans and the Japanese launched unsuccessful land based air attacks against each other. The American B-17's based in Australia, although unsuccessful in their bombing raids, were able to supply Admiral Fletcher with updated Japanese fleet counts and positions throughout the day. Late in the day, Fletcher dispatched the Oiler Neosho and the Destroyer Sims from the main battle group in an effort to protect the Battle Group's fuel supply. The Allied Battle Group then turned northwest toward the Jomard Passage, where Fletcher was convinced the Invasion Group would enter the Coral Sea within a matter of hours.

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Prelude To History

American Douglas SBDs returning to the Yorktown after a successful attack on Tulagi

The Japanese had been extremely successful in conquering most of the western Pacific. Their prewar empire encompassed areas of modern day Russia, the totality of the Korean Peninsula, modern day Taiwan, large parts of the Chinese mainland, and south to Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, and before the superpowers came to blows in the Coral Sea, the Japanese had expanded their grip on the south Pacific, occupying the Philippine and Dutch East Indies Islands, as well as modern day Myanmar, Sumatra and the Indonesian Islands. They'd also begun to occupy large portions of Papua New Guinea. In an attempt to isolate Australia, cut her off from resupply by the United States, and prevent the allies from establishing a land base capable of attacks on their strategic interests, the Japanese began a series of invasions along the island which they hoped would culminate with the occupation of Port Moresby on New Guinea's southern coast. From that port, the Japanese could defend large areas of the Coral Sea and North Australia via land based aircraft.

The Japanese had initially planned to attack and capture Port Moresby in March, however, the appearance of the USS Lexington and the Yorktown in the southwest Pacific had caused the Japanese to postpone the invasion until early May. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto launched Operation "MO" the planned invasion of Port Moresbly with the Japanese Carriers Shokaku, Zuikaku and Shoho. The Carriers were divided into three separate groups, the Shoho with the Invasion Force which later combined with the Covering Force, and the Shokaku and Zuikaku with the Strike Force.  The Shokaku and Zuikaku were two of Japans heavy carriers and both had seen action in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The USS Yorktown completes maneuvers in the Pacific, prior to the battle.  Visible in the background is one of the Oilers which sailed in the Yorktown's Task Force 17.

As the Allied and Japanese Forces were sailing toward the Coral Sea, battle strategy was being debated in Tokyo. The Japanese Naval Command, encouraged by lighter than expected losses in their invasion efforts in the south Pacific believed that they should continue their land grab, moving further toward India and Sri Lanka. Admiral Yamamoto firmly believed that a decisive victory over the US carrier fleet was essential. Without their carriers, the United States would lose it's ability to wage sea warfare due to the destruction of nearly every US battleship at Pearl Harbor, and would therefore be forced to withdraw from the Pacific theater. Yamamoto's beliefs were reinforced after the successful bombing of Tokyo by B-25s launched from the USS Hornet in April of 1942. As a result of Yamamoto's plea and the Doolittle Raid, the Emperor was swayed, and Yamamoto's plan, which was to invade the Midway Islands, was approved.  The attack on Midway was to be an attempt to draw the bulk of the US carrier fleet into open battle with the Japanese Navy, which Yamamoto believed the Japanese Navy would win decisively. On May 5th, the Japanese High Command issued Navy Order 18, which ordered Admiral Yamamoto to muster the Japanese Carrier fleet for an attack on the Midway Islands to commence in early June. In what was later to be called a tactical error by Yamamoto, the attack on Midway was to be delayed long enough for the three carrier task force assigned to Operation "MO" to complete the Moresby invasion, and then return to join the other carriers in preparation for the Midway campaign. The first stop for Operation "MO" was Tulagi, a small island where the Japanese hoped to build a seaplane base which would cover the flank of the Port Moresby invasion and it's eventual base.

The United States, however, had broken the Japanese naval communication code, and was aware of the enemy's intent to take Tulagi and Port Moresby. Orders quickly came down for the USS Lexington, in port at Pearl Harbor receiving her retrofit of quad 28mm antiaircraft guns fore and aft of the conning tower. Her orders were to rush Task Force 11 to the Coral Sea and reinforce the Yorktown and Task Force 17. The allies were desperately hoping that the two American Task Forces and the single Australian Task Force would be enough to prevent the Japanese invasion.

Vice Admiral Frank Fletcher photographed in September 1942 aboard the USS Saratoga

Having spotted a Japanese invasion force to the north, Vice Admiral Fletcher, operating from the Yorktown, ordered a strike against the Japanese ships which were invading Tulagi in the Solomon Islands. The American forces were aware of the Japanese fleet in the area, but did not know that the landing force attacked at Tulagi was not the Port Moresby invasion force. It wasn't until after the attack that the allies learned from intercepted radio communications that the Port Moresby invasion fleet and her three carriers were miles away, now headed into the Coral Sea. Tipped off to the American carrier presence by the United State's successful attack on the Tulagi invasion force, the Japanese devised a strategy to destroy the US carriers. They were going to attempt to sail the Invasion Force led by the Shoho, through the Coral Sea drawing out the American carriers which would then be attacked from two different sides by the Shokaku and Zuikaku, which led the Striking Task Force.

May 5th, Following the successful attack on Tulagi, the Yorktown and TF 17 withdrew to the south to join the Lexington and TF 11 which had rendezvoused earlier in the day with Australian TF 44. The 24 ship strong battle group, would then sail west into the Coral Sea in order to prevent the Japanese Invasion Force from reaching Port Moresby. What happened next was history.

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68 Years Ago Today

The USS Lexington CV-2 off the coast of San Diego in October, 1941

May 4th, 1942 the Battle of the Coral Sea begins, which results in the world's first major carrier battle. The USS Lexington and Task Force 11 sailed out of Pearl Harbor on May 1st, joining with the USS Yorktown and Task Force 17 which was tasked with patrolling the Coral Sea. Prior to leaving port, the Lexington had her 8" turrets removed and replaced with quad 28mm anti-aircraft guns in response to a February raid by Japanese forces from which the 'Lady Lex' escaped without serious damage. The Lexington and Yorktown had previously launched a successful surprise attack on the two shipping ports of Salamaua and Lae on March 10th. Now together again, the Lexington and Yorktown were charged with preventing the Japanese invasion of Port Moresby on New Guinea's southern coast.

The Japanese had successfully invaded and occupied the island of Tulagi, west of New Guinea, on May 3rd and 4th. During their invasion, several ships and planes were destroyed by a surprise attack from flight groups originating from the Yorktown. The Japanese, now aware of the presence of a US carrier, sailed into the Coral Sea with an Invasion Force intended for Port Moresby from the north, a separate Covering Force from the northwest and an aircraft carrier Striking Force from the east. The Yorktown's TF 17, sailed southeast to join the USS Lexington sailing in from Pearl Harbor. Both sides, now aware of the enemy presence are preparing for a major battle, not realizing their close proximity to each each other. So close were the Allies and Japanese that at one point they sailed within 70 miles of each other between Rennell and San Cristobal Islands sometime between May 4th and May 5th.

The Lexington and TF 11, just arriving from Pearl Harbor, joined with TF 44, an Australian cruiser-destroyer force, mustering in the eastern Coral Sea to the south of the Solomon Islands. After completing her attack on the Tulagi sea plane base to the north, the Yorktown's TF 17 joined the Lexington's TF 11 and Australian TF 44 where, operating on good communications intelligence, the entire allied force sailed west into the Coral Sea in an attempt to destroy the Japanese invasion force bearing down upon Port Moresby. Within 48 hours they would all be taking part in one of the most historic naval battles of all time.

Over the next few days I will be highlighting some of the major actions during the Battle of the Coral sea, as well as retelling some of my grandfather's stories. I hope you will find it enlightening and entertaining.

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