Editing Battle of the Coral Sea (section)

===Carrier battle, second day===

====Attack on the Japanese carriers====
[[File:USS Lexington Coral Sea early morning.jpg|thumb|left|''Yorktown'' (foreground) and ''Lexington'' turn to launch aircraft under clear skies on 8 May.]]

At 06:15 on 8 May, from a position {{convert|100|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} east of Rossel Island ({{coord|10|25|S|154|5|E}}), Hara launched seven torpedo bombers to search the area bearing 140–230°, out to {{convert|250|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} from the Japanese carriers. Assisting in the search were three Kawanishi H6Ks from Tulagi and four G4M bombers from Rabaul. At 07:00, the carrier striking force turned to the southwest and was joined by two of Gotō's cruisers, ''Kinugasa'' and ''Furutaka'', for additional screening support. The invasion convoy, Gotō, and Kajioka steered towards a rendezvous point {{convert|40|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} east of [[Woodlark Island]] to await the outcome of the carrier battle. During the night, the warm frontal zone with low clouds which had helped hide the U.S. carriers on 7 May moved north and east and now covered the Japanese carriers, limiting visibility to between {{convert|2|and|15|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=219–221}}; {{harvnb|Millot|1974|pp=72, 80}}; {{harvnb|Dull|1978|p=132}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|pp=181, 186}}; {{harvnb|Morison|1949|p=46}}. The carrier search aircraft included four from ''Shōkaku'' and three from ''Zuikaku''. The floatplanes at Deboyne patrolled the area directly south of the Louisiades. ''Furutaka'' and ''Kinugasa'' joined the striking force at 07:50. After the previous day's losses, the striking force at this time consisted of 96 operational aircraft: 38 fighters, 33 dive bombers, and 25 torpedo bombers (Lundstrom 2006, p. 186).</ref>

At 06:35, TF&nbsp;17 – operating under Fitch's tactical control and positioned {{convert|180|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} southeast of the Louisiades, launched 18 SBDs to conduct a 360° search out to {{convert|200|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}}. The skies over the U.S. carriers were mostly clear, with {{convert|17|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} visibility.<ref>{{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=221–222}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|p=75}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|p=103}}; {{harvnb|Woolridge|1993|p=48}}; {{harvnb|Millot|1974|pp=82–83, 87}}; {{harvnb|Dull|1978|p=132}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|pp=181–184}}. Twelve SBDs were assigned to the northern search area where the Japanese carriers were expected to be. The six SBDs assigned to the southern sector were to fly out only {{convert|125|nmi|km|0}} and then assume close-in [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine patrol]] duty upon their return to TF17. At this time operational aircraft strength for TF17 was 117, including 31 fighters, 65 dive bombers, and 21 torpedo planes (Lundstrom 2006, p. 183) Eight SBDs were assigned as close-in anti-submarine patrol, and 16 fighters, eight from each ship, to the CAP (Lundstrom 2006, p. 183). Around 01:10, Fletcher detached the destroyer {{USS|Monaghan|DD-354|2}} to try to find out what happened to ''Neosho''. ''Monaghan'' searched throughout the day, but, basing her search on the erroneous coordinates in the tanker's last message, was unable to locate her and returned to TF17 that evening. While separated from TF17, ''Monaghan'' sent several messages to Nimitz and MacArthur, to allow TF17 to maintain radio silence (Cressman, p. 103; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|p=127}}; Lundstrom 2006, p. 181). Fitch was not actually notified by Fletcher he was in tactical control of the carriers until 09:08 (Lundstrom 2006, p. 186). According to {{harvtxt|Parker|2017|pp=26–27}}, Fletcher was informed early on 8 May his Fleet Radio Unit located Japanese carriers northeast of his position.</ref>

At 08:20, a ''Lexington'' SBD piloted by Joseph G. Smith spotted the Japanese carriers through a hole in the clouds and notified TF&nbsp;17. Two minutes later, a ''Shōkaku'' search plane commanded by Kenzō Kanno sighted TF&nbsp;17 and notified Hara. The two forces were about {{convert|210|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} apart. Both sides raced to launch their strike aircraft.<ref>{{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=222–225}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|pp=76–77}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|p=103}}; {{harvnb|Woolridge|1993|pp=40–41}}; {{harvnb|Hoehling|1971|pp=52–53}}; {{harvnb|Millot|1974|pp=81–85}}; {{harvnb|Dull|1978|pp=132–133}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|pp=185–187}}; {{harvnb|Morison|1949|pp=48–49}}. Kanno, a warrant officer, was the middle-seat observer on a plane piloted by Petty Officer First Class Tsuguo Gotō. The radioman was Petty Officer Second Class Seijirō Kishida (Werneth, p. 67). Radio interception analysts in TF17 copied Kanno's messages and alerted Fletcher his carrier's location was known to the Japanese. Smith's report mistakenly placed the Japanese carriers {{convert|45|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} south of their actual position. An SBD piloted by Robert E. Dixon took over for Smith and stayed on station near the Japanese carriers to help guide in the U.S. strike until 10:45 (Morison).</ref>

At 09:15, the Japanese carriers launched a combined strike of 18 fighters, 33 dive bombers, and 18 torpedo planes, commanded by Takahashi, with Shimazaki again leading the torpedo bombers. The U.S. carriers each launched a separate strike. ''Yorktown''{{'}}s group consisted of 6 fighters, 24 dive bombers, and 9 torpedo planes and was on its way by 09:15. ''Lexington''{{'}}s group of 9 fighters, 15 dive bombers, and 12 torpedo planes was off at 09:25. Both the U.S. and Japanese carrier warship forces turned to head directly for each other's location at high speed in order to shorten the distance their aircraft would have to fly on their return legs.<ref>{{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=224–227, 243–246}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|pp=79, 89}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|p=104}}; {{harvnb|Millot|1974|p=85}}; {{harvnb|Dull|1978|pp=132–133}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|pp=186–187}}; {{harvnb|Morison|1949|p=49}}. An odd number of fighters took part in ''Lexington''{{'}}s attack because one of VF-2's Wildcats, piloted by Doc Sellstrom, was damaged during launch preparations and was forced to stay behind. TF17 recovered its returning scout aircraft between 09:20 and 10:50, and launched 10 SBDs for anti-submarine patrol at 10:12. The Japanese strike force included nine fighters, 19 dive bombers, and 10 torpedo planes from ''Shōkaku'' and nine fighters, 14 dive bombers, and 8 torpedo planes from ''Zuikaku''. The fighters were Type 0s, the dive bombers were Type 99 ''kanbaku'', and the torpedo planes were Type 97 ''kankō''. Takahashi was in one of ''Shōkaku's'' ''kanbaku''. By heading south, Takagi unwittingly moved his carriers into the range of the U.S. TBD torpedo planes, which otherwise would have been forced to turn back without participating in the attack (Lunstrom 2006, p. 187). Shortly after 10:00, two ''Yorktown'' CAP Wildcats shot down a Japanese Type 97 scout aircraft (Lundstrom 2006, p. 187).</ref>

[[File:BattleCoralSea Shokaku g17031.jpg|right|thumb|''Shōkaku'', at high speed and turning hard, afire after bomb strikes.]]

''Yorktown''{{'}}s dive bombers, led by [[William O. Burch]], reached the Japanese carriers at 10:32, and paused to allow the slower torpedo squadron to arrive so that they could conduct a simultaneous attack. At this time, ''Shōkaku'' and ''Zuikaku'' were about {{convert|10000|yd|m|abbr=on}} apart, with ''Zuikaku'' hidden under a rain squall of low-hanging clouds. The two carriers were protected by 16 CAP Zero fighters. The ''Yorktown'' dive bombers commenced their attacks at 10:57 on ''Shōkaku'' and hit the radically maneuvering carrier with two {{convert|1000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} bombs, tearing open the forecastle and causing heavy damage to the carrier's flight and hangar decks. The ''Yorktown'' torpedo planes missed with all of their ordnance. Two U.S. dive bombers and two CAP Zeros were shot down during the attack.<ref>{{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=228–231}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|pp=79–84}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|pp=104–106}}; {{harvnb|Hoehling|1971|p=62}}; {{harvnb|Millot|1974|pp=87–88, 91}}; {{harvnb|Dull|1978|p=133}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|pp=192–195}}; {{harvnb|D'Albas|1965|p=105}}; {{harvnb|Hata|Izawa|1975|pp=42–43}}. The second hit was scored by SBD pilot [[John James Powers]], who was shot down by a CAP Zero and killed during his dive. [[Tetsuzō Iwamoto]] was one of the CAP pilots airborne at the time, flying from ''Zuikaku''. Another VB-5 SBD, crewed by Davis Chafee and John A. Kasselman, was shot down by a CAP Zero during the attack. During ''Yorktown's'' attack, a CAP Zero flown by Takeo Miyazawa was shot down by a Wildcat piloted by William S. Woolen, and a CAP Zero flown by Hisashi Ichinose was shot down by a Wildcat piloted by [[Elbert S. McCuskey|Elbert Scott McCuskey]]. Lundstrom states that both Zeros were from ''Shokaku''. Hata states that Miyazawa was a member of ''Shōkaku''{{'}}s fighter group and that he died after shooting down a U.S. torpedo plane and then deliberately crashing his Zero into another ({{harvnb|Hata|Izawa|1975|p=42}}), although no TBDs were actually lost. Also flying in the Japanese CAP were future [[Flying ace|aces]] [[Yoshinao Kodaira]] and [[Kenji Okabe]] ({{harvnb|Hata|Izawa|1975|pp=286, 329}}). Aces [[Yoshimi Minami]] and [[Sadamu Komachi]] were members of ''Shōkaku''{{'}}s fighter group at this time ({{harvnb|Hata|Izawa|1975|pp=265, 281}}) but Hata does not say if they were with the CAP or the strike escort. Lundstrom states the former, detailing how Minami narrowly escaped being shot down by Woollen.</ref>

''Lexington''{{'}}s aircraft arrived and attacked at 11:30. Two dive bombers attacked ''Shōkaku'', hitting the carrier with one {{convert|1000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} bomb, causing further damage. Two other dive bombers dove on ''Zuikaku'', missing with their bombs. The rest of ''Lexington''{{'}}s dive bombers were unable to find the Japanese carriers in the heavy clouds. ''Lexington''{{'}}s TBDs missed ''Shōkaku'' with all 11 of their torpedoes. The 13 CAP Zeros on patrol at this time shot down 3 Wildcats.<ref>{{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=236–243}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|pp=84–85}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|p=106}}; {{harvnb|Hoehling|1971|pp=63–65}}; {{harvnb|Millot|1974|pp=88–92}}; {{harvnb|Dull|1978|p=133}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|pp=195, 559}}; {{harvnb|D'Albas|1965|p=106}}. One of ''Lexington''{{'}}s bomber pilots was [[Harry Brinkley Bass]], although his group was unable to locate the carriers. The three Wildcat pilots killed, from VF-2 squadron, were [[Richard S. Bull]], Dale W. Peterson, and Richard M. Rowell (Lundstrom). The Japanese CAP claimed to have shot down 24 U.S. aircraft ({{harvnb|Hata|Izawa|1975|p=48}}).</ref>

With her flight deck heavily damaged and 223 of her crew killed or wounded, having also suffered explosions in her gasoline storage tanks and an engine repair workshop destroyed, ''Shōkaku'' was unable to conduct further aircraft operations. Her captain, [[Takatsugu Jōjima]], requested permission from Takagi and Hara to withdraw from the battle, to which Takagi agreed. At 12:10, ''Shōkaku'', accompanied by two destroyers, retired to the northeast.<ref>{{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=242–243}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|p=86}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|p=106}}; {{harvnb|Millot|1974|pp=91–92}}; Parshall, p. 63; {{harvnb|Dull|1978|p=133}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|p=195}}; {{harvnb|Tully|1999b}} (Tully reports only 40 wounded). ''Shōkaku''{{'}}s total losses were 108 killed and 114 wounded. The Japanese CAP fighter pilots claimed to have shot down 39 U.S. aircraft during the attack, at a cost of two Zeros destroyed and two damaged. Actual U.S. losses in the attack were two SBDs (from ''Yorktown'') and three Wildcats (from ''Lexington''). More U.S. aircraft were lost during the subsequent return to their carriers. The destroyers which accompanied ''Shōkaku''{{'}}s retirement were {{Ship|Japanese destroyer|Ushio|1930|2}} and {{Ship|Japanese destroyer|Yūgure|1934|2}} (Tully).</ref>

====Attack on the U.S. carriers====
At 10:55, ''Lexington''{{'}}s [[CXAM radar|CXAM]]-1 [[radar]] detected the inbound Japanese aircraft at a range of {{convert|68|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} and vectored nine Wildcats to intercept. Expecting the Japanese torpedo bombers to be at a much lower altitude than they actually were, six of the Wildcats were stationed too low, and thus missed the Japanese aircraft as they passed by overhead.<ref>{{cite magazine |last= Macintyre |first= Donald |title= Shipborne Radar |magazine= Proceedings |publisher= [[United States Naval Institute]] |date= September 1967 |volume= 93 |issue= 9 |page=73 |url= https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1967/september/shipborne-radar |url-access=subscription |access-date= 20 March 2021}} {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=245–246}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|p=92}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|pp=107–108}}; {{harvnb|Millot|1974|pp=93–94}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|pp=188–189}}. Five of the Wildcats were from ''Lexington'' and four were from ''Yorktown''. The Wildcats were at altitudes between {{convert|2500|and|8000|ft|m|abbr=on}} when the Japanese aircraft, stacked between {{convert|10000|and|13000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, flew by. Kanno paused during his return to ''Shōkaku'' to lead the Japanese strike formation to within {{convert|35|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} of the U.S. carriers even though he was low on fuel.</ref> Because of the heavy losses in aircraft suffered the night before, the Japanese could not execute a full torpedo attack on both carriers. Lieutenant Commander [[Shigekazu Shimazaki]], commanding the Japanese torpedo planes, sent 14 to attack ''Lexington'' and 4 to attack ''Yorktown''. A Wildcat shot down one and patrolling SBDs (8 from ''Yorktown'', 15 from ''Lexington'') destroyed 3 more as the Japanese torpedo planes descended to take attack position. In return, escorting Zeros shot down 4 ''Yorktown'' SBDs.<ref>{{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=246–251}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|p=93}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|p=108}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|p=189}}. The crews of the four SBDs, totalling eight airmen, were all killed (The crewmen's names are given in Cressman, p. 108. One was [[Samuel Underhill]]). The four torpedo planes sent after ''Yorktown'' were from ''Zuikaku''. Two of the Zero escorts from ''Shōkaku'' were piloted by [[Flying ace|aces]] [[Ichirō Yamamoto]] and [[Masao Sasakibara]] ({{harvnb|Hata|Izawa|1975|pp=314, 317}}).</ref> One of the survivors, [[Swede Vejtasa]], claimed 3 Zeros during the onslaught (though none were lost).<ref>{{harvnb|Tillman|1976|pp=49–50, 52}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date= 9 May 2013 |url= https://navalaviationnews.navylive.dodlive.mil/2013/05/09/swede-vejtasa-in-memoriam/ |title= Swede Vejtasa: In Memoriam |work= Naval Aviation News |publisher= [[Naval Air Systems Command]] |access-date= 20 March 2021 |archive-date= 14 April 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210414020922/https://navalaviationnews.navylive.dodlive.mil/2013/05/09/swede-vejtasa-in-memoriam/ |url-status= dead }}  This action, as well as his participation in the attacks on Tulagi and ''Shoho'', earned him his second Navy Cross citation. He was later transferred to [[VF-10]] on board USS ''Enterprise'' and became an ace during the [[Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands]].</ref>
[[File:USS Lexington under attack at Coral Sea.jpg|thumb|left|''Lexington'' (center right), afire and under heavy attack, in a photograph taken from a Japanese aircraft.]]

The Japanese attack began at 11:13 as the carriers, stationed {{convert|3000|yd|m|abbr=on}} apart, and their escorts opened fire with anti-aircraft guns. The four torpedo planes which attacked ''Yorktown'' all missed. The remaining torpedo planes successfully employed a pincer attack on ''Lexington'', which had a much larger turning radius than ''Yorktown'', and, at 11:20, hit her with two [[Type 91 torpedo|Type 91]] torpedoes. The first torpedo buckled the port aviation gasoline stowage tanks. Undetected, gasoline vapors spread into surrounding compartments. The second torpedo ruptured the port water main, reducing water pressure to the three forward firerooms and forcing the associated boilers to be shut down. The ship could still make {{convert|24|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}} with her remaining boilers. Four of the Japanese torpedo planes were shot down by anti-aircraft fire.<ref>{{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=251–254}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|pp=93–98, 113–117}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|p=109}}; {{harvnb|Woolridge|1993|p=42}}; {{harvnb|Hoehling|1971|pp=67–81, 97–98}}; {{harvnb|Millot|1974|pp=94–96}}; {{harvnb|Dull|1978|pp=133–134}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|pp=188–191}}. Screening ''Yorktown'' were cruisers {{USS|Astoria|CA-34|2}}, {{USS|Portland|CA-33|2}}, and {{USS|Chester|CA-27|2}} and destroyers {{USS|Russell|DD-414|2}}, {{USS|Hammann|DD-412|2}}, and {{USS|Aylwin|DD-355|2}}. Protecting ''Lexington'' were the cruisers {{USS|Minneapolis|CA-36|2}} and {{USS|New Orleans|CA-32|2}} and the destroyers {{USS|Dewey|DD-349|2}}, {{USS|Morris|DD-417|2}}, {{USS|Anderson|DD-411|2}}, and {{USS|Phelps|DD-360|2}}. Some participants thought ''Lexington'' might have been hit by as many as five torpedoes (Woolridge, p. 42 and Lundstrom 2006, p. 191). Two torpedo planes switched targets from ''Lexington'' to ''Minneapolis'' but missed (Lundstrom 2006, p. 191).</ref>

The 33 Japanese dive bombers circled to attack from upwind, and thus did not begin their dives from {{convert|14000|ft|m|abbr=on}} until three to four minutes after the torpedo planes began their attacks. The 19 ''Shōkaku'' dive bombers, under Takahashi, lined up on ''Lexington'' while the remaining 14, directed by [[Tamotsu Ema]], targeted ''Yorktown''. Escorting Zeros shielded Takahashi's aircraft from four ''Lexington'' CAP Wildcats which attempted to intervene, but two Wildcats circling above ''Yorktown'' were able to disrupt Ema's formation. Takahashi's bombers damaged ''Lexington'' with two bomb hits and several near misses, causing fires which were contained by 12:33. At 11:27, ''Yorktown'' was hit in the centre of her flight deck by a single {{convert|250|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, semi-[[Armor-piercing shot and shell|armour-piercing bomb]] which penetrated four decks before exploding, causing severe structural damage to an aviation storage room and killing or seriously wounding 66 men, as well as damaging the superheater boilers which rendered them inoperable. Up to 12 near misses damaged ''Yorktown''{{'}}s hull below the waterline. Two of the dive bombers were shot down by a CAP Wildcat during the attack.<ref>[[File:Damaged port forward gun gallery aboard USS Lexington (CV-2) on 8 May 1942 (80-G-16807).jpg|thumb|right|Damage to ''Lexington'' {{convert|5|in|mm|adj=on|1}} gun gallery]]{{harvnb|ONI|1943|pp=55–56}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=254–259}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|pp=98–103, 117–122}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|pp=110–114}}: {{harvnb|Hoehling|1971|pp=81–95, 110–116}}; {{harvnb|Millot|1974|pp=97–98}}; {{harvnb|Dull|1978|p=134}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|pp=189–191}}; {{harvnb|D'Albas|1965|p=107}}. The four ''Lexington'' Wildcats were from VF-2 Squadron's 3rd Division under Lieutenant Fred Borries, Jr. The two ''Yorktown'' Wildcats were piloted by Vincent F. McCormack and Walter A. Haas from VF-42's 3rd Division. After losing their leader over ''Lexington'', the last two ''Shōkaku'' dive bombers switched to attack ''Yorktown'' at the last minute. One of these was shot down by Albert O. Vorse (Lundstrom 2006, p. 191). Hoyt states that the bomb hit on ''Yorktown'' seriously wounded 26 men, several of whom (Hoyt does not specify the exact number) died later from their injuries. One of those killed by the bomb hit on ''Yorktown'' was [[Milton Ernest Ricketts]]. Three of ''Yorktown''{{'}}s boilers were shut down due to a flareback, but were back on line within 30 minutes (Cressman, p. 113). One bomb that hit ''Lexington'' wiped out a battery of [[United States Marine Corps]] anti-aircraft machine guns, killing six men (Hoehling, p. 82). Another did heavy damage to a {{convert|5|in|mm|adj=on|1}} gun battery and wiped out its entire crew (Hoehling, pp. 90–92, see image at right, Lundstrom 2006, p. 191).</ref> 
[[File:Tamotsu Ema.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Tamotsu Ema]], leader of the ''Zuikaku'' dive bombers that damaged ''Yorktown'']]

As the Japanese aircraft completed their attacks and began to withdraw, believing that they inflicted fatal damage to both carriers, they ran a gauntlet of CAP Wildcats and SBDs. In the ensuing aerial duels, three SBDs and three Wildcats for the U.S., and three torpedo bombers, one dive bomber, and one Zero for the Japanese were downed. By 12:00, the U.S. and Japanese strike groups were on their way back to their respective carriers. During their return, aircraft from the two adversaries passed each other in the air, resulting in more air-to-air altercations. Kanno's and Takahashi's aircraft were shot down, killing both of them.<ref>{{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=259–271}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|pp=106, 114–115}}; {{harvnb|Hoehling|1971|pp=100–101}}, {{harvnb|Dull|1978|p=134}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|p=192}}. [[William E. Hall]] was one of the SBD pilots who aggressively pursued the Japanese aircraft after they completed their attacks. A damaged SBD piloted by Roy O. Hale attempted to land on ''Lexington'' but was shot down by friendly anti-aircraft fire from the carrier and its escorts, killing Hale and his rear gunner (Lundstrom and Hoehling). Another damaged SBD bounced off ''Lexington''{{'}}s flight deck into the ocean, but its pilot, Frank R. McDonald, and rear gunner were rescued (Lundstrom and Hoehling). An SBD from VS-2 and two from VB-2 (''Lexington'') shot down the three Japanese torpedo planes, two from ''Shōkaku''. The Japanese dive bomber was shot down by Walt Haas from ''Yorktown''{{'}}s VF-42. Two Wildcats from VF-2 (''Lexington'') piloted by [[Clark Franklin Rinehart]] and Newton H. Mason disappeared and their fates are unknown. A VF-42 (''Yorktown'') Wildcat piloted by Richard G. Crommelin was shot down by a Zero but Crommelin, unharmed, was rescued by the destroyer ''Phelps''. A damaged Zero piloted by Shigeru Okura from ''Zuikaku'' ditched at Deboyne and Okura survived. A total of three Wildcats (two from VF-2 and one from VF-42) and six SBDs were lost defending TF17 from the Japanese strike. Kanno was killed by VF-42 pilots Bill Woolen and John P. Adams. Takahashi was killed by VF-42's Bill Leonard (Lundstrom). ''Lexington'' SBD pilot [[Joshua G. Cantor-Stone]] was also killed that day.</ref> Two future U.S. destroyers were named after naval pilots lost in this confrontation: the USS ''Rinehart'' and USS ''Mason''.

====Recovery, reassessment and retreat====
The strike forces, with many damaged aircraft, reached and landed on their respective carriers between 12:50 and 14:30. In spite of damage, ''Yorktown'' and ''Lexington'' were able to recover aircraft from their returning air groups. During recovery operations, for various reasons the U.S. lost an additional five SBDs, two TBDs, and a Wildcat, and the Japanese lost two Zeros, five dive bombers, and one torpedo plane. Forty-six of the original sixty-nine aircraft from the Japanese strike force returned from the mission and landed on ''Zuikaku''. Of these, three more Zeros, four dive bombers and five torpedo planes were judged damaged beyond repair and were immediately jettisoned into the sea.<ref>{{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=270–278}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|pp=115–117}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|pp=144–147}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|pp=193–195}}. A VF-2 Wildcat piloted by Howard F. Clark was unable to find TF17 and disappeared without a trace. A TBD piloted by [[Leonard W. Thornhill]] ditched {{convert|20|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} from TF17; he and his rear gunner, seen entering their life raft, were not recovered, even though Fletcher sent the destroyer ''Dewey'' to look for them. William B. Ault, SBD pilot and commander of ''Lexington''{{'}}s air group, and another ''Lexington'' SBD piloted by John D. Wingfield from VS-2, were unable to find TF17 and disappeared. Ault's last transmission was, "From CLAG. OK, so long people. We got a 1000 pound hit on the flat top." (Lundstrom, p. 277). Another SBD piloted by Harry Wood ditched on Rossel Island and he and his rear gunner were later rescued. One ''Shōkaku'' Zero, piloted by Yukuo Hanzawa, successfully crash landed on ''Shōkaku'' ({{harvnb|Hata|Izawa|1975|pp=42–43}}). Nineteen ''Lexington'' aircraft were recovered by ''Yorktown'' ({{harvnb|Millot|1974|p=100}}). Parshall (p. 417) states that many of the jettisoned Japanese aircraft were not necessarily unserviceable, but were jettisoned to make way for less damaged aircraft because of a lack of sufficient deck-handling speed and skill by ''Zuikaku''{{'}}s crew.</ref>

As TF&nbsp;17 recovered its aircraft, Fletcher assessed the situation. The returning aviators reported they heavily damaged one carrier, but that another had escaped damage. Fletcher noted that both his carriers were hurt and that his air groups had suffered high fighter losses. Fuel was also a concern due to the loss of ''Neosho''. At 14:22, Fitch notified Fletcher that he had reports of two undamaged Japanese carriers and that this was supported by radio intercepts. Believing that he faced overwhelming Japanese carrier superiority, Fletcher elected to withdraw TF&nbsp;17 from the battle. Fletcher radioed MacArthur the approximate position of the Japanese carriers and suggested that he attack with his land-based bombers.<ref>{{harvnb|ONI|1943|p=39}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=274–277}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|p=116}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|p=133}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|pp=193–196}}; {{harvnb|Spector|1985|p=162}}. Fletcher initially proposed sending the damaged ''Lexington'' to port for repairs and transferring that ship's aircraft to ''Yorktown'' to continue the battle, but Fitch's 14:22 message changed his mind. Separate U.S. aircraft, both carrier and land-based, had apparently sighted ''Zuikaku'' twice but were unaware that this was the same carrier (Hoyt, p. 133).</ref>

Around 14:30, Hara informed Takagi that only 24 Zeros, 8 dive bombers, and 4 torpedo planes from the carriers were currently operational. Takagi was worried about his ships' fuel levels; his cruisers were at 50% and some of his destroyers were as low as 20%. At 15:00, Takagi notified Inoue his fliers had sunk two U.S. carriers – ''Yorktown'' and a "{{USS|Saratoga|CV-3|2}}-class" – but heavy losses in aircraft meant he could not continue to provide air cover for the invasion. Inoue, whose reconnaissance aircraft sighted Crace's ships earlier that day, recalled the invasion convoy to Rabaul, postponed ''MO'' to 3 July, and ordered his forces to assemble northeast of the Solomons to begin the ''RY'' operation. ''Zuikaku'' and her escorts turned towards Rabaul while ''Shōkaku'' headed for Japan.<ref>{{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|p=278}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|pp=132–133}}; {{harvnb|Millot|1974|p=106}}; {{harvnb|Dull|1978|p=134}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|pp=195–196}}; {{harvnb|D'Albas|1965|p=108}}.</ref>

[[File:USS Lexington brennt.jpg|thumb|''Lexington'', burning and abandoned]]

Aboard ''Lexington'', damage control parties put out the fires and restored her to operational condition, but at 12:47, sparks from unattended electric motors ignited gasoline fumes near the ship's central control station. The resulting explosion killed 25 men and started a large fire. Around 14:42, another large explosion occurred, starting a second severe fire. A third explosion occurred at 15:25 and at 15:38 the ship's crew reported the fires as uncontrollable. ''Lexington''{{'}}s crew began abandoning ship at 17:07. After the carrier's survivors were rescued, including Admiral Fitch and the ship's captain, [[Frederick C. Sherman]], at 19:15 the destroyer {{USS|Phelps|DD-360|2}} fired five torpedoes into the burning ship, which sank in 2,400&nbsp;[[fathoms]] at 19:52 ({{coord|15|15|S|155|35|E}}). Two hundred and sixteen of the carrier's 2,951-man crew went down with the ship, along with 36 aircraft. ''Phelps'' and the other assisting warships left immediately to rejoin ''Yorktown'' and her escorts, which departed at 16:01, and TF&nbsp;17 retired to the southwest. Later that evening, MacArthur informed Fletcher that eight of his B-17s had attacked the invasion convoy and that it was retiring to the northwest.<ref>{{harvnb|Lundstrom|2005b|pp=273–282}}; {{harvnb|Cressman|2000|p=117}}; {{harvnb|Hoehling|1971|pp=121–197}}; {{harvnb|Hoyt|2003|pp=134–150, 153–168}}; {{harvnb|Millot|1974|pp=99–103}}; {{harvnb|Dull|1978|p=134}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|pp=193, 196–199}}; {{harvnb|Morison|1949|pp=57–60}}; {{harvnb|Crave|Cate|1947|pp=449–450}}; {{harvnb|Gillison|1962|p=519}}. As the fires raged on ''Lexington'', several of her aircrews requested to fly their aircraft to ''Yorktown'', but Sherman refused (Lundstrom 2006, p. 560). The names of those killed from ''Lexington''{{'}}s crew, including from the air squadrons, are recorded in {{harvnb|Hoehling|1971|pp=201–205}}. One of those killed was [[Howard R. Healy]]. Hoyt, Millot, and Morison give the coordinates of the sinking as {{coord|15|12|S|155|27|E}}. Assisting ''Lexington'' during her travails were ''Minneapolis'', ''New Orleans'', ''Phelps'', ''Morris'', ''Hammann'', and ''Anderson''. ''Portland'', ''Morris'', and ''Phelps'' were the last to leave ''Lexington''{{'}}s final location (Lundstrom 2006, pp. 197, 204). Gillison (p. 519) states that eight B-26 bombers from [[Townsville]] sortied to attack Inoue's forces but were unable to locate the Japanese ships.</ref>

That evening, Crace detached ''Hobart'', which was critically low on fuel, and the destroyer {{USS|Walke|DD-416|2}}, which was having engine trouble, to proceed to Townsville. Crace overheard radio reports saying the enemy invasion convoy had turned back, but, unaware Fletcher had withdrawn, he remained on patrol with the rest of TG&nbsp;17.3 in the Coral Sea in case the Japanese invasion force resumed its advance towards Port Moresby.<ref>{{harvnb|Gill|1968|pp=52–53}}; {{harvnb|Pelvin|2017}}; {{harvnb|Lundstrom|2006|p=198}}.</ref>