Show Battle of Coral Sea Termed First Big Defeat for Japan In the battle batUe of that island island studded ocean known as the Coral sea which is near the Solomon islands and about 1000 miles northeast of Australia Aus Aus- Australia Australia Americas America's first real victory of the war with Japan was scored The action occurred on May 4 1942 and called for deeds of valor as 81 thrilling as any in all American history The Coral sea battle was the first great naval defeat ever dealt the imperial Japanese fleets And yet thi this battle was fought entirely Inthe in inthe inthe the air by the planes of opposing aircraft carriers The ships engaged In this battle batU never got sight light of each other They slugged it out without firing tiring a single gun at another ship the ship the first engagement engagement engagement en en- of its kind in history Inthis In Inthis Inthis this first great victory for the U. U S. S in this global war the Japs lost more than IS 15 ships sunk and at least lust 20 others severely damaged The action perhaps saved laved Australia from Inva lava sion However America paid a high price for her victory in the sultry Coral sea In this engagement the aircraft carrier Lexington famed tamed ship that laid the foundation of our ow modern modem navys navy's aircraft carrier operations op op- went to the bottom This happened on May 7 |