Why Spruance and Mitscher used different flagships

Flagship placement shows how the American command system divided attention. Mitscher stayed aboard Lexington, close enough to direct carrier strikes, while Spruance operated from the heavy cruiser Indianapolis and could concentrate on the wider strategic problem. Neither man also commanded Lexington's carrier division or the surrounding task group, so subordinate admirals handled immediate formation and ship problems before they reached the fleet commander. The arrangement also reduced the chance that the senior fleet commander would be lost with the enemy's highest-priority carrier targets, preserving continuity of command.