Day-by-Day Timeline of Events
Sunday, May 3rd, 1942
Forces of the Imperial Japanese Army land at Tulagi of the Solomons island group. Subsequent develop ensures a base of operations for Japanese logistics in the region.
Sunday, May 3rd, 1942
An Imperial Japanese Navy carrier force sets sail on patrol around the Solomons looking for American carrier battle groups.
Sunday, May 3rd, 1942
American intelligence intercepts various Japanese communications and is able to piece together the intention to invade Port Moresby, New Guinea.
Monday, May 4th, 1942
USS Yorktown launched strike aircraft south of Guadalcanal. At 6:30AM, the American Navy aircraft spot and subsequently target Japanese land emplacements and sea vessels in the area.
Monday, May 4th, 1942
The Japanese invasion force leaves Rabaul, New Britain, heading towards Port Moresby, New Guinea.
Wednesday, May 5th - May 6th, 1942
Foul weather limits detection of either carrier force across a two day span.
Thursday, May 7th, 1942
Allied Task Force 44, headed by Royal Navy Rear-Admiral Crace, moves in to intercept the Japanese invasion force. However, the force is prematurely spotted by Japanese reconnaissance aircraft resulting in a counter-assault of the Task Force by Japanese Navy warplanes. Crace and his force never make the intercept.
Thursday, May 7th, 1942
The USS Neosho and the USS Sims are sunk by Japanese aircraft.
Thursday, May 7th, 1942
The Allies spot the Japanese Covering Group escorting the invasion force.
Thursday, May 7th, 1942
The USS Lexington and the USS Yorktown launch their attack planes and sink the Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho in the process.
Thursday, May 7th, 1942
The Japanese invasion of Port Moresby is called off.
Friday, May 8th, 1942
The Japanese invasion force heads back to New Britain.
Friday, May 8th, 1942
Some 27 Japanese aircraft are launched under the cover of darkness in the hopes of locating the Allied Task Force. They come up empty and only six aircraft return safely home.
Friday, May 8th, 1942
Just past dawn, the Japanese and American carrier groups spot one another.
Friday, May 8th, 1942
At 9:25AM, Japanese and American warplanes take to the skies.
Friday, May 8th, 1942
At 11:40AM, US Navy warplanes manage to score devastating hits to the Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku, severely damaging her.
Friday, May 8th, 1942
At 2:47PM, the American carrier USS Lexington is hit by a Japanese torpedo, causing a major explosion in her generator room.
Friday, May 8th, 1942
By 6:00PM that evening, nearly all of the USS Lexington's sailors have been rescued.
Friday, May 8th, 1942
At 6:10PM, the USS Lexington is a complete loss. She is scuttled and sunk.
Saturday, May 9th, 1942
Despite numbers against him, Japanese Vice-Admiral Takagi is ordered to send his warplanes aloft.
Saturday, May 9th, 1942
The Japanese aircraft do not locate the American fleet and any further actions are called off, effectively ending the Battle of Coral Sea.