Battle of the Coral Sea

About the Battle

The first naval battle in history fought entirely by carrier aircraft, with opposing ships never sighting each other. The Japanese invasion force bound for Port Moresby was turned back. The carrier Lexington was lost and Yorktown damaged, but the Japanese carriers Shoho and Shokaku were knocked out of the coming Midway operation. The first time a Japanese offensive was halted. The stage was set for Midway a month later.