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→[[Battle of the Coral Sea]]
Lexington’s task force sortied from Pearl Harbor 15 April, rejoining TF 17 on 1 May. As Japanese fleet concentrations threatening the Coral Sea were observed, ''Lexington'' and ''Yorktown'' moved into the sea to search for the enemy’s force covering a projected troop movement; the Japanese must now be blocked in their southward expansion, or sea communication with [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] would be cut, and the dominions threatened with invasion.
Lexington’s task force sortied from Pearl Harbor 15 April, rejoining TF 17 on 1 May. As Japanese fleet concentrations threatening the Coral Sea were observed, ''Lexington'' and ''Yorktown'' moved into the sea to search for the enemy’s force covering a projected troop movement; the Japanese must now be blocked in their southward expansion, or sea communication with [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]] would be cut, and the dominions threatened with invasion.
On 7 May searchplanes reported contact with an enemy carrier task force, and ''Lexington’s'' air group flew an eminently successful mission against it, sinking light carrier ''Shoho''. Later that day, 12 bombers and 15 torpedo planes from still-unlocated heavy carriers ''Shokaku'' and ''Zuikaku'' were intercepted by fighter groups from ''Lexington'' and ''Yorktown'', who splashed nine enemy aircraft.
On 7 May searchplanes reported contact with an enemy carrier task force, and ''Lexington’s'' air group flew an eminently successful mission against it, sinking light carrier ''Shoho''. Later that day, 12 [[Aichi D3A|dive bombers]] and 15 torpedo planes from still-unlocated heavy carriers ''Shokaku'' and ''Zuikaku'' were intercepted by fighter groups from ''Lexington'' and ''Yorktown'', who splashed nine enemy aircraft.
On the morning of the 8th, a ''Lexington'' plane located ''Shokaku'' group; a strike was immediately launched from the American carriers, and the Japanese ship heavily damaged.
On the morning of the 8th, a ''Lexington'' plane located ''Shokaku'' group; a strike was immediately launched from the American carriers, and the Japanese ship heavily damaged.