The

Battle of the Coral Sea The Battle of the Coral Sea, from 4 to 8 May 1942, was a major naval battle between the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and naval and air forces of the United States and Australia. Taking place in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, the batt ...

, a major engagement of the Pacific Theatre of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, was fought 4–8 May 1942 in the waters east of

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea). It is a simplified version of ...

and south of the Bismarck Islands between elements of the

Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrender ...

and

Allied An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...

naval and air forces from the United States (U.S.) and Australia. To extend their empire in the Pacific to the conquest of Australia, the

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

first had to capture the naval and air center of

Port Moresby (; Tok Pisin: ''Pot Mosbi''), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New Z ...

on the southeast coast of

. In order to extend the reach of their air searches for Allied naval forces, they resolved to simultaneously establish a seaplane base at

Tulagi Tulagi, less commonly known as Tulaghi, is a small island——in Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Ngella Sule. The town of the same name on the island (pop. 1,750) was the capital of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate from 18 ...

in the lower

Solomon Islands Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capita ...

. The U.S. learned of the Japanese plan, known as

Operation Mo or the Port Moresby Operation was a Japanese plan to take control of the Australian Territory of New Guinea during World War II as well as other locations in the South Pacific. The goal was to isolate Australia and New Zealand from the Allied ...

, through

signals intelligence Signals intelligence (SIGINT) is intelligence-gathering by interception of ''signals'', whether communications between people (communications intelligence—abbreviated to COMINT) or from electronic signals not directly used in communication ( ...

and sent two

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

carrier task forces and a joint Australian-American

cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles. The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...

force to oppose the Japanese offensive. The result was a strategic defeat for the Japanese, since their principal goal of landing troops at Port Moresby was thwarted, but a tactical defeat for the Allies, who suffered more significant ship losses. Because the Japanese assumed the tactical initiative, their forces are listed first.

Forces deployed

Losses in parentheses Coral Sea Explosion Lexington

Japanese Forces

Task Force ''MO''
Vice Admiral

Shigeyoshi Inoue was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He was commander of the Japanese 4th Fleet and later served as Vice-Minister of the Navy. A noted naval theorist, he was a strong advocate of naval aviation within the Japanese N ...

, Commander, Fourth Fleet in light cruiser ''Kashima'' anchored at

Rabaul Rabaul () is a township in the East New Britain province of Papua New Guinea, on the island of New Britain. It lies about 600 kilometres to the east of the island of New Guinea. Rabaul was the provincial capital and most important settlement in ...

Lundstrom (2006), p. 138.

Carrier Striking Force

Vice Admiral

Takeo Takagi was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Biography Takagi was a native of Iwaki city, Fukushima prefecture. He was a graduate of the 39th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy, ranking 17th of 148 cadets in 1911. A ...

in heavy cruise ''Myōkō''Willmott, p. 87. :

Carrier Division 5 was an aircraft carrier unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy's First Air Fleet. At the beginning of the Pacific Campaign of World War II, the Fifth Carrier Division consisted of the fleet carriers ''Shōkaku'' and ''Zuikaku''. These two ships ...

(Rear Adm.

Chūichi Hara was a Japanese admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Heavier and taller than the average Japanese person, in his youth he was nicknamed "King Kong" by his friends. Biography Hara was born in Matsue city in Shimane Prefectu ...

, Officer in Tactical Command in ''Zuikaku'') :: 2 fleet carriers ::: (Capt. Takaji Jōjima) :::: Air Group (Lt. Cmdr.

Kakuichi Takahashi was a dive bomber pilot Officer (armed forces), officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. He is best known for leading several strikes against the United States Navy during the Battle of the Coral Sea, where they sank the ca ...

)Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. ::::: 21

Mitsubishi A6M The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" is a long-range carrier-based fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was ...

"Zeke" fighters (Lt. Takumi Hoashi)Gillison, p. 525; Lundstrom (2005), p. 188. ::::: 20 Aichi D3A Type 99 "Val" dive bombers (Lt. Masao Yamaguchi) ::::: 19

Nakajima B5N The Nakajima B5N ( ja, 中島 B5N, Allied reporting name "Kate") was the standard carrier-based torpedo bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) for much of World War II. Although the B5N was substantially faster and more capable than its Al ...

Type 97 "Kate" torpedo bombers (Lt. Tatsuo Ichihara) ::: (Capt. Ichihei Yokogawa) :::: Air Group (Lt. Cmdr.

Shigekazu Shimazaki , was a Japanese career officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during World War II. Biography Shimazaki was a native of Ōita Prefecture and a graduate of the 57th class of the Imperial Japanese Navy Academy in 1929, ranking 31st of 1 ...

) ::::: 25

"Zeke" fighters (Lt. Kiyokuma Okajima) ::::: 22 Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers (Lt. Tamotsu Ema) ::::: 20

"Kate" torpedo bombers (Lt. Yoshiaki Tsubota) : Cruiser Division 5 (Vice Adm. Takagi in ''Myōkō'') :: 2 heavy cruisers ::: Both : , : Destroyer Division 5 :: 2 destroyers ::: Both : , : Destroyer Division 7 :: 4 destroyers ::: All / -class: , , , :: 1 oiler:

Invasion Forces

Rear Admiral Aritomo Gotō in heavy cruiser ''Aoba'' : Tulagi Invasion Group : Rear Admiral

Kiyohide Shima was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Biography A native of Miyazaki prefecture, Shima was a graduate of the 39th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1911, ranking 69th out of 148 cadets. As a midshipman, h ...

in minelayer ''Okinoshima''Willmott, p. 84. :: 1 transport: ''Azumasan Maru'' ::: Embarking 400 troops from the 3rd Kure

Special Naval Landing Force The Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF; ja, 海軍特別陸戦隊, Kaigun Tokubetsu Rikusentai) were naval infantry units of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and were a part of the IJN Land Forces. They saw extensive service in the Second Sino ...

(SNLF) plus a construction detachment from the 7th Establishment Squad. :: 2 minelayers: , ''Kōei Maru'' :: 2 destroyers: (), :: 5 minesweepers: ''Wa #1'' (), ''Wa #2'' (), ''Hagoromo Maru'', ''Noshiro Maru #2'', ''Tama Maru'' () :: 2 subchasers: ''Toshi Maru #3'', ''Tama Maru #8'' : Support Group/Close Cover Force : Rear Admiral

Kuninori Marumo , was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Biography Marumo was a native of Nagano prefecture. He graduated from the 40th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1912, ranked 47th out of 144 cadets. As a midsh ...

in light cruiser ''Tenryū'' :: Cruiser Division 18 (Rear Adm. Marumo) ::: 2 light cruisers :::: Both ''Tenryū''-class: , :: 2 seaplane tenders ::: :::: Air group: 12 aircraft ::: :::: Air group (attached) :: 3 gunboats: ''Keijo Maru'', ''Seikai Maru'', ''Nikkai Maru'' : Covering Group/Main Body Support Force : Rear Admiral Gotō in heavy cruiser ''Aoba''Willmott, pp. 85–86. :: 1 light carrier () ::: Air Group (Lt. Kenjirō Nōtomi) :::: 8

Mitsubishi A6M Zero The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" is a long-range carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 19 ...

and 4

Mitsubishi A5M The Mitsubishi A5M, formal Japanese Navy designation , experimental Navy designation Mitsubishi Navy Experimental 9-''Shi'' Carrier Fighter, company designation Mitsubishi ''Ka''-14, was a Japanese carrier-based fighter aircraft. It was the worl ...

"Claude" fighters (Lt. Nōtomi) :::: 6

Type 97 "Kate" torpedo bombers (Lt. Michitarō Nakamoto) :: 4 heavy cruisers: , , , :: 1 destroyer: : Port Moresby Invasion Group : Rear Admiral

Sadamichi Kajioka was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He directed Japanese forces involved in the Battle of Wake Island. Biography A native of Ehime prefecture, Kajioka graduated from the 39th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Ac ...

in light cruiser ''Yūbari'' :: Transport Unit (Rear Adm. Kōsō Abe) ::: 5

(IJN) transports: ''Mogamigawa Maru'', ''Chōwa Maru'', ''Goyō Maru'', ''Akiba Maru'', ''Shōka Maru''.Iwashige (2009), p. 78–79 :::: Embarking approximately 500 troops from the 3rd Kure SNLF plus construction specialists from the 10th Establishment Squad ::: 6

Imperial Japanese Army The was the official ground-based armed force of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945. It was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Ministry of the Army, both of which were nominally subordinate to the Emperor o ...

(IJA) transports: ''Asakasan Maru'', ''China Maru'', ''Mito Maru'', ''Matsue Maru'', ''Taifuku Maru'', ''Hibi Maru'' :::: Embarking

South Seas Detachment The of the Imperial Japanese Army was a brigade-size force formed in 1941 to be the army unit used in the Japanese seizure of the South Pacific island groups of Wake, Guam and the Gilberts. As part of the South Seas Force, it fell under Imperia ...

of approximately 5,000 troops ::: 5 minesweepers: ''W-20'' (''Wa #20''), ''Hagoromo Maru'', ''Noshiro Maru #2'', ''Fumi Maru #2'', ''Seki Maru #3''. ::: 1 minelayer: (Capt. Inagaki Yoshiaki) ::: 1 salvage tugboat: ''Woshima'' ::: 2 oilers: ''Hoyo Maru'', :: Screen ::: 1 light cruiser: (Capt. Masami Ban) ::: 6 destroyers: , , , , , ::: 1 or 2 unidentified patrol boats

Submarine Force

Captain Noboru Ishizaki : Patrol/Scouting Group: ''I-21'', ''I-22'', ''I-24'', ''I-28'', ''I-29'' : Raiding Group: ''Ro-33'', ''Ro-34''

Air Forces

Kawanishi_H6K_Type_97_Transport_Flying_Boat_Mavis_H6K-8s

25th Air Flotilla The was a combat aviation unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) during the Pacific Campaign of World War II. History The 25th Air Flotilla, mainly consisting of land-based bombers, fighters, and reconnaissance aircraft, reporte ...

: Rear Admiral

Sadayoshi Yamada was a vice admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Biography Early career Yamada was born in Fukuoka prefecture as the eldest son of Yamada Sadanao, a colonel in the Imperial Japanese Army, and was raised in Matsue, Shimane ...

4th Air Group was a land-based bomber aircraft unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) during the Pacific campaign of World War II. The air group was redesignated as the 702nd Air Group on 1 November 1942. History The unit was formed on 10 Febr ...

(based at Rabaul) ::: 17

Mitsubishi G4M The Mitsubishi G4M was a twin-engine, land-based medium bomber formerly manufactured by the Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. Its official designati ...

Type 1 "Betty" land attack bombers ::

Tainan Air Group was a fighter aircraft and airbase garrison unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the Pacific campaign of World War II. The flying portion of the unit was heavily involved in many of the major campaigns and battles of the first year of ...

(based at Lae and Rabaul) ::: 18

"Zeke" ::: 6

"Claude" fighters (Capt. Masahisa Saitō) ::

Yokohama Air Group was an aircraft and airbase garrison unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during the Pacific campaign of World War II. History The Yokohama Air Group was formed in Yokohama, Japan on October 1, 1936 as a patrol unit equipped with six ...

(based at Rabaul, Shortland Islands, and Tulagi) ::: 12

Kawanishi H6K The Kawanishi H6K was an Imperial Japanese Navy flying boat produced by the Kawanishi Aircraft Company and used during World War II for maritime patrol duties. The Allied reporting name for the type was Mavis; the Navy designation was . Design ...

"Mavis" reconnaissance seaplanes ::: 9

Nakajima A6M2-N The Nakajima A6M2-N (Navy Type 2 Interceptor/Fighter-Bomber) was a single-crew floatplane based on the Mitsubishi A6M Zero Model 11. The Allied reporting name for the aircraft was Rufe. Design and development The A6M2-N floatplane was develo ...

"Rufe" seaplane fighters ::

Genzan Air Group was an aircraft and airbase garrison unit of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during the Second Sino-Japanese War and Pacific campaign of World War II. History The Genzan Air Group was founded on 15 November 1940 at Genzan, Korea, then a ...

(based at Rabaul) ::: 25

Mitsubishi G3M The was a Japanese bomber and transport aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service (IJNAS) during World War II. The Yokosuka L3Y (Allied reporting name "Tina"), was a transport variant of the aircraft manufactured by the Yokosu ...

Type 96 "Nell" land attack bombers

Allied Forces

Task Force 17 Task Force 17 (TF17) was an aircraft carrier task force of the United States Navy during the Pacific Campaign of World War II. TF17 participated in several major carrier battles in the first year of the war. TF17 was initially centered around ...

Rear Admiral

Frank Jack Fletcher Frank Jack Fletcher (April 29, 1885 – April 25, 1973) was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. Fletcher commanded five different task forces through WWII; he was the operational task force commander at the pivotal battle ...

in ''Yorktown''Willmott, p. 190; Lundstrom (2006), p. 519. : Carrier Air Group (TG 17.5) : Rear Admiral

Aubrey W. Fitch Aubrey Wray Fitch (June 11, 1883 – May 22, 1978) was an admiral of the United States Navy during World War II. A naval aviator, he held important aviation-related commands both at sea and on shore from the 1920s onward. He also served a ...

, Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) :: 2 fleet carriers ::: (Capt.

Elliott Buckmaster Elliott Buckmaster (October 19, 1889 – October 10, 1976) was a United States Navy officer, later promoted to flag rank, and naval aviator during World War I and World War II. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Dr. Augustus Harper Buckmaster (1859� ...

)ONI, p. 11; Lundstrom (2006), p. 519. :::: Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. Oscar Pederson)Lundstrom (2005), p. 190. ::::: VF-42: 17

F4F Wildcat The Grumman F4F Wildcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that entered service in 1940 with the United States Navy, and the British Royal Navy where it was initially known as the Martlet. First used by the British in the North Atlan ...

fighters Fighter(s) or The Fighter(s) may refer to: Combat and warfare * Combatant, an individual legally entitled to engage in hostilities during an international armed conflict * Fighter aircraft, a warplane designed to destroy or damage enemy warplan ...

(Lt. Cmdr. Charles R. Fenton) ::::: VB-5: 18

SBD Dauntless The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/dive ...

dive bomber A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target simplifies the bomb's trajectory and allows the pilot to keep visual contact througho ...

s (Lt. Wallace C. Short) ::::: VS-5: 17

scout bombers (Lt. Cmdr. William O. Burch, Jr.) ::::: VT-5: 13

TBD Devastator The Douglas TBD Devastator was an American torpedo bomber of the United States Navy. Ordered in 1934, it first flew in 1935 and entered service in 1937. At that point, it was the most advanced aircraft flying for the Navy and possibly for any na ...

torpedo bomber A torpedo bomber is a military aircraft designed primarily to attack ships with aerial torpedoes. Torpedo bombers came into existence just before the First World War almost as soon as aircraft were built that were capable of carrying the weight ...

s (Lt. Cmdr. Joe Taylor) ::: (Capt.

Frederick C. Sherman Frederick Carl Sherman (May 27, 1888 – July 27, 1957) was a highly decorated admiral of the United States Navy during World War II. Early life Sherman was born in Port Huron, Michigan on May 27, 1888. His grandfather, Loren Sherman, was the lo ...

) :::: Air Group (Cmdr.

William B. Ault William Bowen Ault (6 October 1898 Enterprise, Oregon – 8 May 1942) was a Commander#United States, commander in the United States Navy during World War II and a posthumous recipient of the Navy Cross. The front page of the June 18, 1942, issu ...

) :::::

VF-2 Strike Fighter Squadron 2 (VFA-2) also known as the "Bounty Hunters" is a United States Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. Their tail code is NE and their callsign is "Bullet". They a ...

: 21

fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Paul H. Ramsey) ::::: VB-2: 18

dive bombers (Lt. Cmdr. Weldon L. Hamilton) ::::: VS-2: 17

scout bombers (Lt. Cmdr. Robert E. Dixon) ::::: VT-2: 12

torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. James H. Brett, Jr.) :: 4 destroyers ::: All ''Sims''-class (4 × 5-in. main battery) :::: (Cmdr. Harry B. Jarrett) :::: (Lt. Cmdr. John K. B. Ginder) :::: (Lt. Cmdr. Arnold E. True) :::: (Lt. Cmdr. Glenn R. Hartwig) : Attack Group (TG 17.2) : Rear Admiral

Thomas C. Kinkaid Thomas Cassin Kinkaid (3 April 1888 – 17 November 1972) was an admiral in the United States Navy, known for his service during World War II. He built a reputation as a "fighting admiral" in the aircraft carrier battles of 1942 and commanded t ...

:: 5 heavy cruisers ::: 3 ''Astoria''-class (9 × 8-in. main battery) :::: (Capt. Howard H. Good) :::: (Capt. Francis W. Scanland) :::: (Capt. Frank J. Lowry) ::: 1 ''Portland''-class (9 × 8-in. main battery) :::: (Capt. Benjamin Perlman) ::: 1 ''Northampton''-class (9 × 8-in. main battery) :::: (Capt. Thomas M. Shock) :: Screen (Capt. Alexander R. Early) ::: 5 destroyers :::: 1 ''Porter''-class (8 × 5-in. main battery) ::::: (Lt. Cmdr. Edward L. Beck) :::: 4 ''Farragut''-class (5 × 5-in. main battery) ::::: (Cmdr. George P. Hunter) ::::: (Lt. Cmdr. Charles F. Chillingworth, Jr.) ::::: (Lt. Cmdr. William P. Burfor ::::: (Lt. Cmdr. Robert H. Rogers)ONI, p. 10; Lundstrom (2006), p. 519.

: Support Group (TG 17.3) : Rear Admiral

John Gregory Crace Vice Admiral Sir John Gregory Crace (6 February 1887 – 11 May 1968) was an Australian who came to prominence as an officer of the Royal Navy (RN). He commanded the Australian-United States Support Force, Task Force 44, at the Battle of the C ...

, RAN :: 2 heavy cruisers ::: 1 (9 × 8-in. main battery): ''Chicago'' (Capt. Howard D. Bode) ::: 1 (8 × 8-in. main battery): ''Australia'' (Capt. H. B. Farncomb, RAN) :: 1 light cruiser ::: 1 (8 × 6-in. main battery): ''Hobart'' (Capt. H. L. Howden, RAN) :: 2 destroyers ::: 1 ''Mahan''-class (5 × 5-in.main battery): ''Perkins'' (Lt. Cmdr. Walter C. Ford) ::: 1 ''Sims''-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): ''Walke'' (Lt. Cmdr. Thomas E. Fraser) : Fueling Group (TG 17.6) : Captain John S. Phillips :: 2 oilers ::: ''Neosho'' , ''Tippecanoe''Lundstrom (2006), p. 519. :: 2 destroyers ::: ( Lt. Cmdr. Willford M. Hyman†), ''Worden'' : Search Group (TG 17.9) : Commander George H. DeBaun :: 1 seaplane tender ::: ''Tangier'' :::: Patrol Squadron 71 (VP-71): 6 PBY-5 Catalinas :::: Patrol Squadron 72 (VP-72): 6 PBY-5 Catalinas

South West Pacific Area South West Pacific Area (SWPA) was the name given to the Allied supreme military command in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands in the Pacific War. SWPA included the Philippines, Borneo, the D ...

General

Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He had served with distinction in World War I, was C ...

Willmott, p. 191. : Allied Naval Forces : Vice Admiral

Herbert F. Leary Herbert Fairfax Leary (May 31, 1885 – December 3, 1957) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of vice admiral. A son of Rear Admiral Richard P. Leary, he distinguished himself during World War I while on the st ...

:: Task Group 42.1 (Capt.

Ralph Waldo Christie Ralph Waldo Christie (30 August 1893 – 19 December 1987) was an admiral in the United States Navy who played a pivotal role in the development of torpedo technologies. During World War II, he commanded submarine operations out of the Australian ...

in submarine tender USS ''Griffin'' at Brisbane) ::: Subdiv 53 (Lt. Cmdr. Elmer E. Yeomans): ''S-42'', ''S-43'', ''S-44'', ''S-45'', ''S-46'', ''S-47'' ::: Subdiv 201 (Cmdr. Ralston B. Van Zant): ''S-37'', ''S-38'', ''S-39'', ''S-40'', ''S-41'' ::

Task Force 44 Task Force 44 was an Allied naval task force during the Pacific Campaign of World War II. The task force consisted of warships from the United States Navy and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It was generally assigned as a striking force to d ...

– temporarily assigned to Task Force 17, see Task Group 17.3 above : Allied Air Forces : Lieutenant General

George Brett George Howard Brett (born May 15, 1953) is an American former professional baseball player who played all of his 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a third baseman for the Kansas City Royals. Brett's 3,154 career hits are second-mos ...

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

:::

8th Pursuit Group The 8th Operations Group (8 OG) is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 8th Fighter Wing. It is stationed at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, and is a part of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). The group is a direct su ...

: 26

P-39 Airacobra The Bell P-39 Airacobra is a fighter produced by Bell Aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. It was one of the principal American fighters in service when the United States entered combat. The P-39 was used by the ...

fighters at Archerfield, Brisbane ::::

35th Fighter Squadron The 35th Fighter Squadron is a United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 8th Operations Group, stationed at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. The squadron operates the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority mi ...

at Port MoresbyWillmott, p. 195. ::::

36th Fighter Squadron The 36th Fighter Squadron is part of the US Air Force's 51st Operations Group at Osan Air Base, South Korea. It operates the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions. The squadron was first activated ...

at Port Moresby ::: 49th Pursuit Group: 90

P-40 Tomahawk The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and ...

fighters at Darwin ::::

7th Fighter Squadron The 7th Fighter Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, assigned to the 1st Operations Group. It is stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. Overview The 7th Fighter Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit, assign ...

at Darwin ::::

8th Fighter Squadron The 8th Fighter Squadron is an active United States Air Force squadron, assigned to the 54th Fighter Group Air Education and Training Command, stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. It currently operates the General Dynamics F-16 ...

at Darwin ::::

9th Fighter Squadron 009 may refer to: * OO9, gauge model railways * O09, FAA identifier for Round Valley Airport * 0O9, FAA identifier for Ward Field, see List of airports in California * British secret agent 009, see 00 Agent * BA 009, see British Airways Flight 9 * ...

at Darwin ::: 3rd Light Bombardment Group :::: 8th Light Bombardment Squadron:

A-24 Banshee A- or a- may refer to: ;A-hyphen * A- (plane), a U.S. military aircraft prefix * Privative a, a prefix expressing negation * Copulative a, a prefix expressing unification ;A-minus * A−, a blood type in the ABO blood group system * A− (grade) ...

dive bombers at Port Moresby :::: 13th Light Bombardment Squadron:

B-25 Mitchell The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served in ...

bombers :::: 90th Light Bombardment Squadron:

bombers :::

19th Bombardment Group 19 (nineteen) is the natural number following 18 and preceding 20. It is a prime number. Mathematics 19 is the eighth prime number, and forms a sexy prime with 13, a twin prime with 17, and a cousin prime with 23. It is the third full re ...

: 17 Boeing B-17 bombers at Townsville (Lt. Col. Connally (first name unknown)) ::::

30th Bombardment Squadron : ''See United States Air Force Thunderbirds for the squadron's successor unit'' The 30th Bombardment Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. On 19 September 1985 it was consolidated with the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, also known as ...

:::: 40th Reconnaissance Squadron :::: 93rd Bombardment Squadron ::::

435th Bombardment Squadron The 435th Bombardment Squadron, also known as the "Kangaroo" Squadron, is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Eighth Air Force 333d Bombardment Group, based at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. It was inactivated on 2 ...

:::

22nd Bombardment Group The 22nd Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 22nd Air Refueling Wing. It is stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, and is part of Air Mobility Command (AMC)'s Eighteenth Air Force. The ...

: 48

Martin B-26 Marauder The Martin B-26 Marauder is an American twin-engined medium bomber that saw extensive service during World War II. The B-26 was built at two locations: Baltimore, Maryland, and Omaha, Nebraska, by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in t ...

s ::

Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...

Willmott, p. 196. ::: No. 11 Squadron: Consolidated PBY Catalinas ::: No. 20 Squadron: PBY Catalinas ::: No. 24 Squadron: 3 CAC Wirraways at Townsville ::: No. 32 Squadron:

Lockheed Hudson The Lockheed Hudson is a light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built by the American Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. It was initially put into service by the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and prim ...

s at Port Moresby ::: No. 75 Squadron: 3 Curtiss P-40s at Port Moresby Port Moresby garrison : Major General B. M. Morris : Approximately 5,000 troops :: 30th Infantry Brigade ::: 39th Infantry Battalion ::: 49th Infantry Battalion ::: 53rd Infantry Battalion ::: 13th Field RegimentMcCarthy, p. 45. ::: 23rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery ::: Detachment, 1st Independent Company ::: 30th Infantry Brigade Signal Section ::: 30th Infantry Brigade HQ Defence Platoon :: Moresby Fixed Defences ::: Moresby Fixed Defences Fortress Engineers ::: Moresby Fixed Defences Anti-Aircraft Artillery (six 3-inch guns) :: 1st Army Troops Company :: 7th Field Company :: 1st Section, 1st Mechanical Equipment Company :: 8th Military District Survey Section :: 8th Military District Bomb Disposal Section :: 8th Military District Signals :: 8th Military District Defence and Employment Company ::

New Guinea Volunteer Rifles The New Guinea Volunteer Rifles (NGVR) was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was initially raised as a unit of the Militia from white Australian and European expatriates in New Guinea upon the outbreak of the Second World War in 19 ...

McCarthy, p. 42, 45. ::

Papuan Infantry Battalion The Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB) was a unit of the Australian Army raised in the Territory of Papua for service during the Second World War. Formed in early 1940 in Port Moresby to help defend the territory in the event of a Japanese invasion, ...

, :: 8th Military District Section Intelligence Corps :: 15th Supply Personnel Company :: 8th Military District Bulk Issue Petrol and Oil Depot :: A Section, 8th Military District Mechanical Transport Company :: Base Hospital :: 3rd Field Ambulance :: 113th Convalescent Depot :: 8th Military District Dental Centre ::: 45th Dental Unit ::: 253rd Dental Unit ::: 256th Dental Unit ::: 274th Dental Unit ::: 301st Dental Unit ::: 421st Dental Unit :: 15th Optical Unit :: 8th Military District Depot of Medical Stores :: 16th Field Hygiene Section :: 8th Military District Ordnance Depot :: 19th Ordnance Ammunition Section :: 109th Infantry Brigade Group Field Workshop :: 109th Infantry Brigade Group Ordnance Field Park :: 30th Infantry Brigade Provost Platoon :: 8th Military District Accounts Office :: 8th Military District Postal Unit :: 8th Military District Records Office :: 8th Military District Stationery Depot :: 8th Military District Printing Section :: 8th Military District Graves Registration and Inquiries Unit :: 8th Military District Laundry and Decontamination Unit :: 8th Military District Army Field Bakery :: 8th Military District Base Depot :: 8th Military District Marine Section :: 8th Military District Canteen Services :: 8th Military District Training Centre :: Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit

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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Coral Sea Order of Battle World War II orders of battle Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II