A C6N photographed sixteen carriers at Ulithi on 5 March. Another sortie on 9 March reported carriers in the anchorage and a further group approaching the atoll. Three P-38s intercepted the returning aircraft, which narrowly escaped. Losing it would have removed the remaining reconnaissance capability on which the operation depended. Analysis of its photographs led to 11 March being designated as the attack date.
Notable Point · 1:45:13-1:46:46
March reconnaissance fixes the attack date
March reconnaissance finally found carriers at Ulithi, but losing the surviving C6N would have ended the reconnaissance effort.