As a result, almost a third of the sixty-nine aircraft the Japanese lost during Operation MO were the direct result of Takagi’s ill-fated air strike on the evening of May 7.
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But the targets turned out to be the oiler Five bombs and several torpedoes tore into her, and she was burning when Deprived of close air support, the enemy invasion force heading for Port Moresby reversed course and steamed back toward Rabaul. By the end of April 1942 the Japanese were ready to assert control of the Coral Sea (between Australia and New Caledonia) by establishing air bases at Port Moresby in southeastern New Guinea and at Tulagi in the southern Solomons.
And had both carriers been present at Midway, they might well have provided enough extra striking power to preclude the “incredible victory” — in the words of historian Walter Lord — that abruptly turned the tide of the Pacific war.
Of the twenty-seven aircraft dispatched, only six returned.The following day, both main carrier forces finally found and attacked the other.
So, USN loses at Coral sea and Midway.
In the afternoon May 6th, 1942 the Japanese had a prime opportunity to strike and destroy Task Force 17, with USS Yorktown and USS Lexington.
Battle of the Coral Sea (May 4–8, 1942), World War II naval and air engagement in which a U.S. fleet thwarted the Japanese invasion of Port Moresby in New Guinea.
?May 42??
What if the Japanese Had Won the Battle of the Coral Sea? From This article was most recently revised and updated by In terms of ships lost, the Japanese won a tactical victory by sinking a U.S. fleet carrier, an oiler, and a destroyer – 41,826 long tons (42,497 t) – versus a light carrier, a destroyer, and several smaller warships – 19,000 long tons (19,000 t) – sunk by the U.S. side. But if the Japanese had won the Battle of the Coral Sea, as they might so easily have done, the war would have been protracted by many months, and been rendered vastly more difficult for the Allies.Louis H. Sullivan, architect who gained fame for his design of the Chicago Auditorium Theater.Ferdinand Porsche, automotive engineer, designer of the Carl Anderson, physicist and 1936 Nobel prize winner for his discovery of the positron.Dixie Lee Ray, Chair of the Atomic Energy Commission who received the U.N. Peace Prize in 1977.Albert Henry DeSalvo, a serial killer and rapist known as the "Boston Strangler"; though he confessed to 13 murders, debate continues over which crimes he actually committed.Eileen Brennan, actress; won Golden Globe and Emmy for her role in the TV adaptation of Alan Charles "Al" Jardine, musician, composer, vocalist, member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; founding member of the band The Beach Boys.Petros VII (Petros Papapetrou), Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa (1997–2004).Adam Curry, co-founder of Mevio, Inc., Internet entertainment company.Fearne Cotton, English radio and television presenter.HistoryNet.com is brought to you by Historynet LLC, the world's largest publisher of history magazines.
Eager to deliver the first blow, Takagi launched a full strike. I would say the most important result of Japan winning the battle of the coral sea by sinking both the USS Lexington and USS Yorktown without the loss of a single carrier would be that the japanese from then on hold control of the Pacific, outnumbering the Americans in Carriers.
Of the twenty-seven aircraft dispatched, only six returned.