Friday, 8 May 1942

US NAVY

PACIFIC—Battle of the Coral Sea concludes as carrier Lexington (CV-2) SBD (VS 2) sights Japanese Carrier Strike Force (Vice Admiral Takagi Takeo) formed around carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku. As VB 5 pilots leave the ready room on board Yorktown (CV-5), Lieutenant John J. Powers exhorts his shipmates to "Remember the folks back home are counting on us. I am going to get a hit if I have to lay it [his bomb] on their flight deck." SBDs from Lexington and Yorktown (CV-5) damage Shokaku and force her retirement; Lieutenant Powers scores a direct hit on Shokaku, pressing home his attack to a perilously low altitude of 200 feet; he is last seen attempting, unsuccessfully, to recover from his dive. For his heroism on this day (as well as on the previous day and on 4 May), Powers is awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously.

            Zuikaku's air group suffers heavy losses. Damage to Shokaku, as well as to Zuikaku's air group, prevents the use of those two carriers for several months, thus making them unavailable for immediate operations.

            At the same time, Japanese carrier bombers and attack planes attack TF 17. The comparatively few fighters on hand compels the continuation of the use of SBDs as anti-torpedo plane patrol. Lieutenant William E. Hall, USNR (VS 2), whose performance of duty the previous day had elicited favorable notice, distinguishes himself in attacking the Japanese planes pressing home their assault on carrier Lexington. Although Hall is badly wounded, he brings his damaged SBD back to his ship having participated in the destruction of at least three carrier attack planes, bravery and skill rewarded with the Medal of Honor. Japanese planes, however, manage to get through and damage carriers Lexington (bombs and torpedoes) and Yorktown (bombs) (14°35'S, 155°15'E). On board Yorktown, Lieutenant Milton E. Ricketts, in charge of an engineering repair party, is mortally wounded when a bomb passes through and explodes just beneath his compartment, killing, stunning or wounding all of his men. Ricketts, despite his wounds, opens the valve on a nearby fire plug, partially leads out the hose, and directs water into the burning compartment before he drops dead. For his extraordinary heroism, he is awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumously). Lexington is further damaged when gasoline vapors are ignited, triggering massive explosions that lead to her abandonment. She is then scuttled by destroyer Phelps (DD-360), 15°12'S, 155°27'E.

            The Battle of the Coral Sea is the first engagement in modern naval history in which opposing warships do not exchange a shot; all damage is inflicted by carrier aircraft. In halting the Japanese push southward and blunting the seaborne thrust toward Port Moresby, Coral Sea is a strategic U.S. victory.

            Light cruiser Nashville (CL-43) is damaged when she runs aground at Midway Island; she must return to Pearl Harbor for repairs. Her raiding cruise to Kamchatka is postponed.

            Submarine Grenadier (SS-210) attacks Japanese convoy about 120 miles southwest of Kyushu and torpedoes and sinks army transport Taiyo Maru, 30°40'N, 127°54'E; Grenadier survives persistent attacks by enemy antisubmarine forces the following day. Taiyo Maru carries to their deaths many technical experts bound for the East Indies to work on resuming oil production.

            Submarine Porpoise (SS-172) is damaged by depth charges off Ceram, Moluccas, 03°50'N, 129°57'E, but remains on patrol.

            Submarine Skipjack (SS-184) attacks Japanese convoy about 125 miles east of Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, and torpedoes and sinks army cargo ship Bujun Maru, 12°18'N, 111°13'E.

GULF OF ADEN—Small reconnaissance seaplane from Japanese submarine I-30 reconnoiters Djibouti.

ATLANTIC—Unarmed U.S. freighter Ohioan is torpedoed by German submarine U-564 four and a half miles off the coast of Florida, 26°31'N, 79°58'W, and sinks so quickly that no lifeboats can be launched. Coast Guard craft rescue the 22survivors from the 37 man crew.

            U.S. freighter Greylock is torpedoed by German submarine U-588 off Halifax, Nova Scotia, 44°14'N, 63°33'W; there are, however, no casualties among the 41 man merchant crew or the 11 man Armed Guard and the ship reaches Halifax unaided.

            Fishing boats Irene and May rescue last boatload of survivors from U.S. freighter Pipestone County, sunk by German submarine U-576 on 21 April. All hands (36 man merchant complement and 9 man Armed Guard) have come through the ordeal unhurt.

US ARMY AIR FORCE

FIFTH AF—Main action of Battle of the Coral Sea occurs as Allied and Japanese carrier forces clash. Allied bombers join Navy airplanes in attacking enemy’s main support force which has swept around S of San Cristobal. The carrier Shokaku is severely damaged by aircraft from carriers Lexington and Yorktown. The Lexington is damaged so severely that it later is sunk by US naval fire. The Yorktown also suffers damage from aircraft. Both sides lose heavily in aircraft, US losses totaling 66 and the Japanese considerably more. The Allies turn back the sea assault against Port Moresby, a key base in New Guinea and of great importance to the security of Australia. The battle is the first major naval engagement in history in which the opposing warships do not exchange a shot. The Coral Sea battle marks the end of the period in which the Allied forces in SWPA are only on the defensive and paves the way for offensive operations. The reconnaissance work of the AAF proves of greater importance than its bombardment operations, which have no real effects on the battle. Lack of Navy-AAF coordination is apparent from the Coral Sea action, and this eventually leads to better interservice communication.

US ARMY

SOUTH WEST PACIFIC AREA—General MacArthur recommends that an offensive be undertaken against Japanese but desires naval, air, and ground forces strengthened first.

BATTLE OF CORAL SEA—Main action occurs as Admiral Fletcher’s naval force encounters enemy force of 2 carriers, 4 CA’s, and several DD’s, main support force of a Port Moresby invasion group. In the first major naval engagement conducted entirely by carrier aircraft, Japanese carrier Shokaku is badly damaged. Both the Yorktown and the Lexington are damaged; Lexington is abandoned and sunk after the action. Both sides lose heavily in aircraft, but U.S. loss of 66 planes is considerably less than that of enemy. As a result of Battle of Coral Sea, Japanese are turned back from Port Moresby, key point in New Guinea and of vital importance to security of Australia. Coral Sea battle also marks the end of Allied defensive and paves way for a defensive offensive period.

PHILLIPINE ISLANDS—General Wainwright dispatches messages to key officers in the Philippines, urging them to surrender their forces. On Mindanao, Japanese renew attack in evening and continue it throughout night 8–9. Defeated 62d Infantry is pursued toward Dalirig.

BURMA—Japanese occupy Myitkyina.

USSR—Germans begin series of limited offensives to straighten lines in preparation for main summer offensive toward oil fields of the Caucasus.

11th Army of Army Group South leads off in the Crimea, pushing toward Kerch.

US MARINE CORPS

Battle of the Coral Sea ends.