Reconnaissance aircraft began dives from about 19,000 feet and bombers from roughly 10,000 to 11,000 feet. Passing through cloud or moist air fogged their sights and windscreens, preventing crews from using the equipment as intended. The immediate lesson was to begin attacks from lower altitude when conditions made the nominal profile self-defeating. British analysts were less enthusiastic about the concept. The episode shows tactics adapting to weather and equipment limits.
Notable Point · 15:47-16:19
Why high-altitude dives obscured Coral Sea targets
Fogged sights and windscreens turned dive altitude into a practical bombing-accuracy problem during the Coral Sea strikes.