May 7, 1942: Coral Sea Confusion

As dawn broke in the Coral Sea, Japanese and American commanders, seeking the wherebouts of their opponents, launched scout planes. Erroneous reports, misidentifications and a lot of to-ing and fro-ing.

Japanese scouts spotted the fleet oiler Neosho and her escorts, mistaking them for a carrier and a cruiser. The Japanese admiral launched an attack with all available aircraft. Neosho was sunk. American planes spotted the Port Moresby invasion force, with a small escort carrier, Shoho. Lexington aircraft attacked and sunk Shoho, thinking it was one of the main Japanese carriers, Shokaku or Zuikaku.

Japanese planes finally found American carriers after dark when some returning planes tried to land on an American carrier. They learned their error when they were fired on by antiaircraft guns.

A frustrating day for both sides.