The Salamaua-Lae strike crosses New Guinea

Yorktown and Lexington launched their strike from the south side of New Guinea and sent aircraft over the mountains toward Salamaua and Lae. Dauntlesses opened the attack, bomb-carrying Devastators followed, and Wildcats strafed the landing areas. Eight land-based B-17s then bombed the same area, providing a useful example of carrier and army-air coordination. The attack sank several transports and support vessels and damaged a cruiser, destroyers, a seaplane tender, and other auxiliaries. Because troops normally landed before much of their heavy equipment and supply, those shipping losses limited the Japanese ability to move beyond the towns. The delay bought Australian forces time to organize and withdraw and contributed to the operational setting for Coral Sea.