Flexible air groups in the Eastern Fleet

Somerville wanted another strike before Saratoga left the Indian Ocean for refit, choosing the naval base and refinery at Surabaya. The approach from south of Java put the target beyond the Barracuda's range, so eighteen Avengers replaced the Barracuda squadrons for Operation Transom. Refuelling at Exmouth Gulf made the distant operation possible. Illustrious launched eighteen Avengers and sixteen escorting Corsairs on 17 May, losing one Avenger in a take-off crash; an American Avenger was also shot down over the target. The attack sank only a small ship and inflicted little damage on the refinery. Aircraft selection set the carrier's strike range, a constraint that also applied to later procurement decisions based on expectations of post-Cold War wars of choice. A simulated strike toward Sabang in June was intended to distract Japan from American operations in the Marianas. For the subsequent Port Blair attack, six Barracudas went ashore to make room for fourteen extra Corsairs, another change in the balance between strike aircraft and fighters.