X-Nico

4 unusual facts about Battle of the Coral Sea


D'Lo, Mississippi

The aircraft carrier USS Lexington which was sunk in 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea was constructed in some areas with lumber that had been milled in D'Lo.

Don Kurth

His father served on the famous and highly decorated heavy cruiser, the USS New Orleans, in many battles including Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, Midway, Eastern Solomons and Tassafaronga.

Kenji Okabe

Okabe was credited with shooting down eight enemy aircraft on 8 May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea, the IJN's official record for the number of aircraft destroyed in a single encounter.

Seigō Nakano

This was possibly the last internal political power struggle in the government before the Midway and Coral Sea defeats in 1942, which sent the Japanese military reeling.


4th Air Group

Reconstituted with replacement aircraft, the 4th NAG participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7 May 1942, losing five bombers destroyed in an attack on an Australian/US warship task group.

Indispensable Reefs

During the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 7, 1942 a two Japanese carrier attack planes B5N2 (EI-306 and probably EI-302) flying reconnaissance mission from the carrier Shokaku ditched on Indispensable Reef due to lack of fuel.

Japanese minelayer Tsugaru

However, the invasion plans were cancelled after the Battle of the Coral Sea and Tsugaru was assigned instead to “Operation RY” (the invasion of Nauru and Ocean Island).

John James Powers

As the main Battle of the Coral Sea developed on May 7, Powers and his companions discovered carrier Shōhō and, bombing at extremely low altitudes, sank her in 10 minutes.


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