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Period: to
The start of the battle
The Battle of the Coral Sea was first naval battle fought entirely by carrier aircraft. The U.S. Navy lost carrier Lexington and suffered damage to Yorktown. -
The japs have made there attack
Station HYPO, the decrypt unit under Lt. Cmdr. Joseph J. Rochefort discovered “several significant indications of future enemy action” -
Defence
U.S. Pacific Fleet was sent for the defense of Midway. -
June 4, 6 a.m. +
Japanese planes from the Carrier Strike Force under Vice Adm. Nagumo Chuichi bombed Midway’s runways and places. Defending U.S. Marine Corps fighters suffered heavy losses, but shot down significant numbers of key pilots. -
June 4, 7 a.m. +
A succession of attacks from Midway-based U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army Air Forces planes that were scrambled an hour before to clear the field at the approach of the enemy. -
June 4, 7 to 9 a.m.
Strikes were launched from task forces 16 and 17. The Japanese, meanwhile, became aware of U.S. Navy carrier forces in the vicinity. -
June 4, 9:17 a.m. +
Japanese carrier operations were disrupted by attacks in succession by Hornet’s torpedo planes, forcing the enemy to turn away from the wind. -
June 4, 10:15 to 10:20 a.m.
Yorktown’s torpedo planes attacked Hiryu. Dive bombers from the two carriers attack the other three, inflicting crippling damage on Kaga, Soryu and the flagship Akagi. -
June 4, noon to 2:28 p.m.
Hiryu planes carried out crippling strikes against Yorktown. First, dive bombers scored three direct hits, stopping her dead in the water. -
June 4, 4:58 p.m.
Dive bombers from Enterprise, which included those orphaned by the damage to Yorktown, crippled Hiryu, which was scuttled the next morning.
