Evening star., 1942-06-12
jap Coral Sea Toll 1917 Ships;
U.S.. Loses Lexington, 2 Others
Continued From First Page.)

porting elements including aircraft from carriers and shore bases
preparatory into the Solomon ou
Islands May these advances actually begun
Bases for land planes both of these of Islands seized
Japanese northern portion the Coral
daily enemy shorebased
craft
Admiral j. Fletcher found of this
Japanese invasion fleet at anchor in and the harbo of
Tulag the capital of Florida Island in the Solomon In
spite the excellent facilities Admiral
caught japanese completely
prise annhilated ships managed
underway of these severely crippled and
were later beached to prevent their sinking
engagement Navy Department Communque
No. II of May follows the sinking of damage to II
Japanese and the destruction six aircraft Our entire
loss but three aircraft On the following day large
forces and shot
g. On May Admiral the main body
Japanese force in the Lousade Archipelago of Mma
The japanese aircraft carrier Rukaku and heavy
Fifteen bomb hits 10 hits reported
her aircraft when thus blasted She sank few minutes with
board The cOunteraack which fol-
fought successfully During this days fighting
than IS aircraft shot down our loss Of
six shorebased Army aircraft from Australia assisted in re-
both before and during these attacks and added their
fire power to that of the attacking naval planes
Tanker Neosho and Destroyer Bombed.
During the afternoon Of May japanese aircraft located
and bombed the onted states TANKER Neoso sna '
attack and the Neoho sank several days later
result of the damage during bombing large part
the
The of kin of casualties being notified
On Nav the same task force again carried the attack
enemy inctng damage
Shokaku which left abaze result Of
bomb and torpedo hits.
During this the enemy launched
with aircraft while planes still attacking The
flagship Admiral W. Fitch In spite of skilul handling
all available fighter protection and defense the Lex
hit by two opdoes and at least two bombs and
attacks the
Battle the Coral Sea- The of the Lexng
succeeded putting out the fires and recovering her aircraft
the battle while Steaming at 20 knots
terrific explosion rocked the Lexington causing serious
many the ship first thought
result sleeper bomb 1nvestiga
however that the probable the ignition OF
gasoline which resulted from leaks IN pured gasoline
lines in closed compartments below decks
herocally for than five hours to
disadvantage because the explosion
had damaged much of the frefghng equipment Desroyer
assist with their fire hose and
fighting equipment The wounded were transferred
from the burning destroyers alongside Finally with
all machinery disabled ervelopng nearly her entire
that further attempt to her
ordered the to abandon ship
Men the carriers decks to boats from other
ships aboard life RATS and rubber boats
Captain Last to Leave His Ship.
H. Ninety-wo per of the entire ships company were
reached safely The only casualties were
explosion and the resulting fire
The last man to leave ship commanding officer Capt
slid to safety down line from the deck
water the torpedo warhead locker OF the Lexington ex
After all in the water had been rescued the exng
ton sank with final deonaton which shook nearby ships
attacks Salamaua and Lac and the battle OF the
Coral Sea resulted in the disruption japanese
of New Guinea cost them total
OF than Is ships SUNK includng
aircraft carrier
light cruiser
destroyers
Several transports nc small vessels.
damage to and the probable sinking OF one additional