Changes

Japanese scouting planes spotted ''Neosho'' and her escort, the destroyer USS ''Sims'' (DD-409), before 0800 in a southerly position well away from Admiral Fletcher's carriers. Reported erroneously as a "carrier and a cruiser", these two ships received two high-level bombing attacks during the morning that, as would become typical of such tactics, missed. However, about 1200 a large force of [[Aichi D3A|dive bombers]] appeared. As was normal for that type of attack, these did not miss (Japanese dive bombers had an 80% success rate at this point in the war). ''Sims'' sank with very heavy casualties and ''Neosho'' was reduced to a drifting wreck whose survivors were not rescued for days.

Japanese scouting planes spotted ''Neosho'' and her escort, the destroyer USS ''Sims'' (DD-409), before 0800 in a southerly position well away from Admiral Fletcher's carriers. Reported erroneously as a "carrier and a cruiser", these two ships received two high-level bombing attacks during the morning that, as would become typical of such tactics, missed. However, about 1200 a large force of [[Aichi D3A|dive bombers]] appeared. As was normal for that type of attack, these did not miss (Japanese dive bombers had an 80% success rate at this point in the war). ''Sims'' sank with very heavy casualties and ''Neosho'' was reduced to a drifting wreck whose survivors were not rescued for days.

Meanwhile, a scout plane from ''Yorktown'' found the Japanese Covering Group, the light carrier ''Shoho'' and four heavy cruisers, of which faulty message coding transformed into "two carriers and four heavy cruisers". ''Yorktown'' and ''Lexington'' sent out a huge strike: fifty-three scout-bombers, twenty-two torpedo planes and eighteen fighters. In well-delivered attacks before noon they overwhelmed ''Shoho'', which received so many bomb and torpedo hits that she sank in minutes. Her passing was marked by one of the most famous radio messages of the war: "Scratch one flattop!"

Meanwhile, a scout plane from ''Yorktown'' found the Japanese Covering Group, the light carrier ''Shoho'' and four heavy cruisers, of which faulty message coding transformed into "two carriers and four heavy cruisers". ''Yorktown'' and ''Lexington'' sent out a huge strike: fifty-three scout-bombers, twenty-two [[Douglas TBD Devastator|torpedo planes]] and eighteen fighters. In well-delivered attacks before noon they overwhelmed ''Shoho'', which received so many bomb and [[torpedo]] hits that she sank in minutes. Her passing was marked by one of the most famous radio messages of the war: "Scratch one flattop!"

Adding to the confusion, if not to the score, Japanese land-based torpedo planes and bombers struck an advanced force of Australian and U.S. Navy cruisers, far to the west of Admiral Fletcher's carriers. Skillful ship-handling prevented any damage. Australia-based U.S. Army B-17s also arrived and dropped their bombs, fortunately without hitting anything.

Adding to the confusion, if not to the score, Japanese land-based torpedo planes and bombers struck an advanced force of Australian and U.S. Navy cruisers, far to the west of Admiral Fletcher's carriers. Skillful ship-handling prevented any damage. Australia-based U.S. Army B-17s also arrived and dropped their bombs, fortunately without hitting anything.