Fight that helped turn tide

The Battle of the Coral Sea, the first engagement between carrier forces, provided the first setback for the Japanese during World War II, as WGCDR Geoff Willans recounts

SIXTY-ONE years ago the first battle between carriers took place east of New Guinea in the Coral and Solomon Seas.

While ship and aircraft losses were comparable, the result was that the Japanese gave up on their immediate objective of assaulting and capturing Port Moresby. It was the first reversal they had experienced since they started the Pacific war on December 8, 1941.

The Japanese captured Rabaul on January 23, 1942, destroying No. 24 Squadron in the process. Japanese forces there built up ominously, including a carrier and escorts. The US carrier Lexington planned an attack on Rabaul but it was detected on February 20 and, with surprise clearly lost, the attack was aborted. However, the Japanese decided to postpone their move against Lae until March 8.

On March 7, a No. 32 Squadron Hudson flown by Flying Officer Hermes chanced across the Lae invasion force. Lexington, now with Yorktown, had steamed north to attack Rabaul, after escorting a troop convoy to Noumea. Learning of the Japanese landing at Lae, they steamed undetected into the Gulf of Papua, launching an airstrike over the Owen Stanley Ranges on March 10. Only a light cruiser, minesweeper and transport were sunk, however, the Japanese concluded that they would need aircraft carrier support to complete the conquest of New Guinea.

Concurrently, the Japanese reassessed their strategic objectives. A large part of the Japanese army was committed in China, so invasion of Australia was beyond reach. However, Australia could be isolated by capturing New Guinea, New Caledonia, Fiji and the Solomons. Rabaul would be the pivot for two complementary thrusts against southern New Guinea and south-east along the Solomons chain. Both the Japanese and Allies recognised Port Moresby was the key.

After occupying Bougainville, the Japanese initiated moves against Tulagi (near Guadalcanal) and Port Moresby.

After beginning sporadic air raids, the Japanese made a heavy air raid on Tulagi on May 1. Two of three Catalinas were seriously damaged at their moorings. Pilot Officer Townsend, of No. 11 Squadron, flew his Catalina back to Rathmines without an instrument panel. Fellow squadron member Flight Lieutenant Ekins’ aircraft was towed to Guadalcanal but it could not be satisfactorily hidden and was destroyed; FLTLT Ekins and crew sailed to Noumea in a lugger. That night, two more Catalinas arrived at Tulagi; one from Townsville (Pilot Officer Miller, 11SQN), and one from Port Moresby (Flying Officer Norman, No. 20 Squadron, who was shot down on May 4 and died in captivity). PLTOFF Miller had reported a number of enemy vessels off Tulagi when he arrived. On May 2, Flying Officer Hirst (20SQN) took out the Catalina undamaged from the previous day’s air raid to search for the Japanese convoy. He found eight ships and attacked without success.

Tulagi was bombed and strafed throughout May 2; the Catalinas of Miller and Norman had just got away before the attack. RAAF and AIF parties (about 50 men in total) had abandoned the base in the night, departing by lugger for Vila then Sydney. The Japanese took Tulagi on May 3.

As communication intercepts had forewarned that the Japanese were on the move, Lexington and Yorktown had been positioned in the Coral Sea on May 1. They were supported by Task Force 44, which included Australian and American cruisers. Learning of the Japanese occupation of Tulagi on May 3, Yorktown steamed to attack the Japanese forces on May 4, sinking a destroyer and several smaller craft.
A Japanese strike force under Admiral Takagi, built around the fleet carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku, was intended to support the invasion of Port Moresby with neutralising air attacks on Townsville, Cooktown, Coen and Horn Island.

ADM Takagi’s force steamed to attack the Yorktown, entering the Coral Sea on May 5. Both US carriers were located, then lost, by a Rabaul flying boat. Around the same time, a Catalina (Squadron Leader Hemsworth, 11SQN) had found and reported Japanese destroyers near Misima Island, before being shot down. A 32SQN Hudson (Pilot Officer Pennycuick) had also reported a Japanese carrier near Misima Island on the afternoon of May 6.
Yorktown’s scouts located the Japanese light carrier Shoho on May 7. The full attack force from Yorktown and Lexington quickly sank her. At the same time, aircraft from Shokaku and Zuikaku found the US tanker Neosho and her escorting destroyer Sims, despatching Sims quickly but wasting much time on Neosho.

Early on May 8, the US and Japanese carrier forces gained contact. Shokaku was severely hit by bombs, limping back to Truk, and Zuikaku lost most of her aircraft. Significantly, both would not be available for the imminent Midway operation. Two bombs and two torpedoes hit Lexington. Her crew was eventually taken off and an escort sank her with torpedoes. Yorktown had also been hit by a bomb. Both forces withdrew; the Japanese invasion convoy retiring to Rabaul. Yorktown returned to Pearl Harbour for speedy repair to take part in the subsequent Midway battle.

Port Moresby had been saved from invasion for the time being.

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