Japanese doctrine called for dive bombers to attack first and clear the way for torpedo bombers. Against Lexington, the torpedo aircraft went in first because the dive bombers were circling to approach from upwind for better bomb aiming. American fighters shot down four torpedo bombers before they could release, but ten dropped their weapons and two torpedoes struck the carrier. Anti-aircraft fire destroyed four more after release. Those later kills reduced the Japanese force without preventing weapons already in the water from hitting Lexington.
Notable Point · 1:28:08-1:30:29
Lexington's torpedo attack and the timing of defensive kills
The attack reversed Japanese doctrine's intended sequence, and destroying aircraft after torpedo release could no longer prevent their weapons from reaching Lexington.