Changes

On the morning of the 6th, Fletcher gathered all Allied forces under his tactical command as TF 17. At daybreak on the 7th, he dispatched Grace, with the cruisers and destroyers under his command, toward the Louisiade archipelago to intercept any enemy attempt to move toward Port Moresby.

On the morning of the 6th, Fletcher gathered all Allied forces under his tactical command as TF 17. At daybreak on the 7th, he dispatched Grace, with the cruisers and destroyers under his command, toward the Louisiade archipelago to intercept any enemy attempt to move toward Port Moresby.

Meanwhile, while Fletcher moved northward with his two flattops and their screens in search of the enemy, Japanese search planes located the oiler USS ''Neosho'' (AO-23) and her escort, USS ''Sims'' (DD-409) and identified the former as a "carrier." Two waves of Japanese planes— first high level bombers and then dive bombers—attacked the two ships. ''Sims'', her antiaircraft battery crippled by gun failures, took three direct hits and sank quickly with a heavy loss of life. ''Neosho'' was more fortunate in that, even after seven direct hits and eight near-misses, she remained afloat until, on the 11th, her survivors were picked up by USS ''Henley'' (DD-391) and her hulk sunk by the rescuing destroyer.

Meanwhile, while Fletcher moved northward with his two flattops and their screens in search of the enemy, Japanese search planes located the oiler USS ''Neosho'' (AO-23) and her escort, USS ''Sims'' (DD-409) and identified the former as a "carrier." Two waves of Japanese planes— first high level bombers and then [[Aichi D3A|dive bombers]]—attacked the two ships. ''Sims'', her antiaircraft battery crippled by gun failures, took three direct hits and sank quickly with a heavy loss of life. ''Neosho'' was more fortunate in that, even after seven direct hits and eight near-misses, she remained afloat until, on the 11th, her survivors were picked up by USS ''Henley'' (DD-391) and her hulk sunk by the rescuing destroyer.

In their tribulation, ''Neosho'' and ''Sims'' had performed a valuable service, drawing off the planes that might otherwise have hit Fletcher's carriers. Meanwhile, ''Yorktown'' and ''Lexington's'' planes found ''Shoho'' and punished that Japanese light carrier unmercifully, sending her to the bottom. One of ''Lexington's'' pilots reported this victory with the radio message, "Scratch one flattop."

In their tribulation, ''Neosho'' and ''Sims'' had performed a valuable service, drawing off the planes that might otherwise have hit Fletcher's carriers. Meanwhile, ''Yorktown'' and ''Lexington's'' planes found ''Shoho'' and punished that Japanese light carrier unmercifully, sending her to the bottom. One of ''Lexington's'' pilots reported this victory with the radio message, "Scratch one flattop."

That afternoon, ''Shokaku'' and ''Zuikaku'' — still unlocated by Fletcher's forces — launched 27 bombers and torpedo planes to search for the American ships. Their flight proved uneventful until they ran into fighters from ''Yorktown'' and ''Lexington'', who proceeded to down nine enemy planes in the ensuing dogfight.

That afternoon, ''Shokaku'' and ''Zuikaku'' — still unlocated by Fletcher's forces — launched 27 bombers and [[Nakajima B5N|torpedo planes]] to search for the American ships. Their flight proved uneventful until they ran into fighters from ''Yorktown'' and ''Lexington'', who proceeded to down nine enemy planes in the ensuing dogfight.

Near twilight, three Japanese planes incredibly mistook ''Yorktown'' for their own carrier and attempted to land. The ship's gunfire, though, drove them off; and the enemy planes crossed ''Yorktown's'' bow and turned away out of range. Twenty minutes later, when three more enemy pilots made the mistake of trying to get into ''Yorktown's'' landing circle, the carrier's gunners splashed one of the trio.  

Near twilight, three Japanese planes incredibly mistook ''Yorktown'' for their own carrier and attempted to land. The ship's gunfire, though, drove them off; and the enemy planes crossed ''Yorktown's'' bow and turned away out of range. Twenty minutes later, when three more enemy pilots made the mistake of trying to get into ''Yorktown's'' landing circle, the carrier's gunners splashed one of the trio.