Coral Sea, 75 years ago

Hi everyone, long time no see, just wanted to bring up that yesterday marked the 75th Anniversary of the start of the Battle of Coral Sea, an engagement that while often overshadowed by Midway, was nonetheless significant in that it marked the first pure-carrier battle, where opposing naval forces fought without ever coming into direct contact, and the first time a major Japanese operation was stopped in its tracks. The National WWII Museum' youtube channel has a video about the battle with John B. Lundstrom during one of their conferences, hope you enjoy.

 

Vincent Anderson, USMC, USS Lexington survivor

 

Excellent website on the USS Neosho(AO-23), created by the nephew of a Neosho survivor.
USS Neosho (AO-23) Home Page

 

Awesome, appreciate the additional content you two provided.

 

The Australian Official History (Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 2 – Navy, Volume II – Royal Australian Navy, 1942–1945 (1st edition, 1968) ) devotes a chapter to the Coral Sea: https://www.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1070271--1-.pdf.

Mark

 

Very important, perhaps the most important victory for Australia IMO...

 

I agree, this battle marked the beginning of the Allies push back against Japan and helped set the stage for future victories at Midway, Guadalcanal, and Kokoda.

 

There were two men who worked in my fathers office in the 60s that were on the Lexington during the Battle of the Coral Sea. They hadn't met before they came to work in his office. Unfortunately I didn't think to talk to them much about their service and don't remember much of what they did say.

 

http://www.news.com.au/national/nor...a/news-story/de5cc132e64c38b160d4ceee2532341f

THE “enduring” friendship between Australia and the United States is today more important than ever before, according to military leaders from both countries.

 

My father was there, flying in VF-42 off Yorktown.

 

The Battle of the Coral Sea is absolutely overlooked today, Midway rightfully gets a lot of attention, but without Coral Sea, there would be no strategic victory in Midway. May we remember the 1,622 men who died on both sides in the battle.

 

"but without Coral Sea, there would be no strategic victory in Midway."

or would be no Australia...the US sank enough Japanese destroyers to make them abandon any chance of the invasion of Australia. A critical battle for Australia, we thank those Americans who died, probably not realising their contribution to a burgeoning country...called Australia!

 

Well I'm grateful for the Aussies who have been with the United States in some not too great situations, but when S$%^ hits the fan, the Aussies stay and fight, whether it's WW2, Korea, or Vietnam. That is something few countries can say, and for that, Australia has my respect and adoration.

 

Huh? No Japanese destroyers were sunk at Coral Sea. Only an elderly one was lost at Tulagi, just prior to the main event.

 

Yes I should have said ships...or shipping.

 

Not really, I don't recall a lot of Japanese shipping being sunk. Japan lost her carrier plane air cover - Shoho was sunk, Shokaku was crippled, and Zuikaku had her air group decimated. As such the Port Moresby invasion fleet, lacking air cover, was forced to turn back.

 

Zuikaku's air group was more than decimated.