FURTHER DETAILS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 June 1942, Page 4

FURTHER DETAILS

OF CORAL SEA BATTLE — REFUTATION OF JAPANESE CLAIMS. SPLENDID WORK OF AMERICAN AIRCRAFT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, June 12. The Washington communique on the Coral Sea battle states that 15 bomb hits and ten torpedo hits were reported on the Japanese aircraft-carrier Ukaku, which was turning into the wind to launch' her aircraft. She sank in a few minutes, with most of her planes aboard. The enemy attack which followed was fought off successfully. The battle .continued for 48 hours and the aircraft-carrier Shukaku was hit by bombs and torpedoes and left ablaze. During two days’ fighting more than 25 enemy aircraft were shot down with a loss of six American planes. ’ ~ „ • The United States suffered their one severe loss when the aircraft-carrier Lexington was set on fire and sank. Ninety-two per cent of the ships company reached port safely. Shore-based Army aircraft from Australia assisted in reconnaissance both before and during the attacks and added their full power to that of the naval planes. On the afternoon of May 7, Japanese aircraft, located and bombed the United States tanker Neosho. The accompanying destroyer Sirns was sunk during the attack and the Neosho sank several days later. A large part of hei personnel were rescued. It will be recalled that the Japanese claimed to have sunk one battleship of the California class, one aircraft-carrier of the Saratoga class and one of the Yorktown class, two heavy cruisers of the Portland 'class and one British destroyer It is now clear how completely faise these claims.