Japanese fighters drew off the American escorts, leaving the dive bombers exposed to another group of twelve Zeros. Two SBDs were lost and two more had to abort before eleven attacked Shokaku at about 09:27. Accounts differ over whether Shokaku took three or as many as six bomb hits, with some of the claimed hits possibly near misses. One bomber lost Shokaku during its dive and dropped near the escorting destroyer Teruzuki. Six Avengers failed to find the carriers and missed Tone with their torpedoes, while another group attacked Suzuya without causing damage. Later SBD attacks hit Chikuma repeatedly, and a group of nine Avengers using bombs added another hit. Chikuma withdrew toward Truk with two destroyer escorts. The attacks show how lost contact, diverted escorts, and scattered formations limited the results of an initially successful search.
Chapter · 1:12:45-1:16:46
American strikes damage Shokaku and Chikuma
American aircraft damaged Shokaku and heavily damaged Chikuma, but failed attacks and scattered formations prevented them from delivering a decisive blow to the Japanese carrier force.