05/06/2026
This Day in History....
In May 1942, the Coral Sea north of Australia became the stage for a new type of warfare. For the first time in history, two navies clashed in a major fleet action where the participating ships never saw or fired upon each other. Instead, the battle was fought entirely in the clouds with all offensive action carried out by carrier-based aircraft.
Following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy’s advance in the Pacific seemed unstoppable. They achieved sweeping victories across the Pacific, seizing territory until they controlled most of the western Pacific basin. The offensive threatened Australia and Allied supply lines. To defend their position in the South Pacific, the Japanese set their sights on Port Moresby, New Guinea, and Tulagi, in the Solomon Islands.
The Battle of the Coral Sea during WWII was the first major naval battle fought entirely by carrier-based aircraft. Learn more on our blog!
