AUGUST 1987 NEWSLETTER

LAST MEETING - JOHANNESBURG BRANCH - JULY 9TH 1987.

A capacity audience braved the winter's night to hear Major Darrell Hall's lecture, "The Battle of the Coral Sea". Superb pictorial material including slides, double-slides and detailed situation maps from the point of view of both opposing commanders was the "Hallmark" of this impressive presentation.

Following on the "Doolittle Raid" on Tokyo the Japanese High Command determined to expand the defensive perimeter of the homeland to the east and to the south. The eastward movement eventually culminated in the decisive Battle of Midway. The southern movement resulted in the Battle of the Coral Sea. The 4th Fleet (Vice-Admiral Inouye) was detailed to occupy Port Moresby and Tulagi. The Port Moresby invasion force included the light carrier "Shoho". The covering force to the operation was the 5th Carrier Squadron (Rear Admiral Hara), consisting of the carriers "Zuikaku" and "Shokaku", and 2 heavy cruisers, the whole commanded by Vice Admiral Takagi. Alerted in time by his code-breakers Admiral Nimitz sent Task Forces 11, 17 and 44 towards Port Moresby under the overall command of Rear Admiral Fletcher. The force was centred on the two American aircraft-carriers "Yorktown" and "Lexington". The aircraft carried on the carriers of the 2 opposing sides comprised three main types, namely, fighters, dive-bombers and torpedo bombers.

On the evening of 3rd May Fletcher heard of the Japanese landings at Tulagi. The following day the "Yorktown" flew off several strikes against Japanese targets. Fletcher then headed south and spent the 5th and 6th May trying to locate the Japanese. On the 6th the Allied force refuelled from the tanker "Neosho". Following the receipt of information concerning the whereabouts of the Port Moresby invasion force, Fletcher detached the "Neosho" and her escort the destroyer "Sims", and set course so as to get within air striking range of the enemy at dawn. Shortly after first light one of the reconnaisance aircraft eroneously reported a Japanese force of 2 carriers and 4 heavy cruisers to the north-west. The majority of the U.S. carrier based aircraft were launched in this abortive attack. No Japanese carriers had in fact been sighted. The Japanese then balanced matters with a similar error. A Japanese scout spotted the "Neosho" and reported her as a carrier. The "Zuikaku" and "Shokaku" launched their planes. They swooped down on the "Neosho" and "Sims" and sank them, expending their fuel and bombs just at the time when Takagi was advised of the real position of Fletcher's carriers. Fletcher had in the meantime had more luck. The carrier "Shoho", accompanying the Port Moresby invasion force, was identified and sunk in a bomb and torpedo atack. After returning to their carriers and refuelling and rearming, a Japanese strike was launched at the U.S. carrier force at dusk. The night attack proved disastrous. They failed to make contact, many were shot down and others, lost, splashed into the sea. Some even mistakenly, and fatally, attempted to land on the U.S. carriers.

The climax of the battle took place on the following day, 8th May. The opposing carrier squadrons were located almost simultaneously. Both launched strike forces. Both the "Lexington" and "Shokaku" were heavily damaged. Shortly thereafter an explosion, caused by a ruptured fueI line, destroyed the "Lexington". The loss of the "Lexington" turned the Battle of the Coral Sea into a tactical success for the Japanese. Strategically, however, the advantage was on the Allies' side, as the serious damage done to the "Shokaku", the loss of the "Shoho" and the heavy aircraft losses forced Inouye to abandon the Port Moresby invasion.

Dr. Ian Copley thanked Major Hall on behalf of the Society for a superb presentation.

Future Meetings

Johannesburg

- August 13th - Mr. Charles Cohen - "Singapore, 1942: Symbol and Reality."

- September 10th - Mr. John Mahncke - "Inside the Kaiser's Air- Force, 1910/1918".

The venue for the Johannesburg meetings is the J.C. Lemmer Auditorium, S.A. National Museum of Military History, Saxonwold, Johannesburg. at 20h00.

Cape Town

- August 13th - "The Double Headed Eagle", a documentary, showing the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party.

Durban

- August 13th - Cmdt. "SB" Bourquin - "Shaka's Heritage".

Lecture by Professor R.V. Jones - 28th July 1987 at 20h00.

This lecture by the author of "Most Secret War", and right hand man to Winston Churchill's scientific advisor, will describe his involvement in the development and implementation of electronic warfare during the Second WorId War. The lecture will take place in the, J. C. Lemmer Auditorium. Seating is, however, limited, so please advise the Museum by the 21st July if YOU wish to attend. [Unfortunately about 160 people had to be turned away.]

Annual Braai

This event will take place on Friday l6th October 1987. Please diarise this date.

Battlefield Tour - Rustenburg, Eland's River and Moedwil.

It is intended to hold a weekend tour to the above area on the 19/20th September 1987. Accommodation will be available at the Belvedere Hotel at R61 per person, dinner, bed, breakfast and lunchpack.

PLEASE NOTE
THE ENTIRE STOCK OF TIES HAS BEEN SOLD.
WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT RE-STOCKING

Mike Marsh 3/8/87

STEWART STILES