Four days of battles between Japanese and American aircraft carriers resulted in 70 Japanese and 66 Americans warplanes destroyed. None of the carriers fired at each other, allowing the planes taking off from their decks to do the battling. Among the casualties was the American carrier Lexington “the Blue Ghost” suffered such extensive harsh damage that it had to be sunk by its own crew. Two hundred sixteen Lexington crewmen died as a result of the Japanese aerial bombardment.
The US fleet suffered greater losses in the battle. US losses:
U.S. Ship Type Status Complement Killed Survivors
U.S.S. Lexington Carrier Sunk 2,122 216 1,906
U.S.S. Neosho Oiler Sunk 293 168 125
U.S.S. Sims Destroyer Sunk 252 239 13
U.S.S. Yorktown Carrier Damaged 2,919 66 2,853
Other (estimated) 20
TOTAL 5,586 709 4,897
The Japanese lost one light aircraft carrier (Shoho), 1 destroyer, 3 small warships, and 92 aircraft. Damaged Japanese ships included 1 fleet carrier (Shokaku), 1 destroyer, 2 smaller warships, and 1 transport. An estimated 966 men from the Japanese forces were killed.
The US fleet suffered greater losses in the battle. US losses:
- One carrier destroyed, one damaged, one oiler and one destroyer sunk, 66 aircraft lost, and 543 men killed or wounded.
- One small carrier destroyed, one carrier severely damaged, one destroyer and three small naval ships sunk, 77 carrier aircraft lost, and 1074 men killed or wounded.
- The Japanese lost 45 of the 72 aircraft operational at the outset of battle on 7 May.
U.S. Ship Type Status Complement Killed Survivors
U.S.S. Lexington Carrier Sunk 2,122 216 1,906
U.S.S. Neosho Oiler Sunk 293 168 125
U.S.S. Sims Destroyer Sunk 252 239 13
U.S.S. Yorktown Carrier Damaged 2,919 66 2,853
Other (estimated) 20
TOTAL 5,586 709 4,897
The Japanese lost one light aircraft carrier (Shoho), 1 destroyer, 3 small warships, and 92 aircraft. Damaged Japanese ships included 1 fleet carrier (Shokaku), 1 destroyer, 2 smaller warships, and 1 transport. An estimated 966 men from the Japanese forces were killed.