Battle of the Coral Sea – 80th anniversary

Australian and United States military personnel and veterans gathered at the Australian-American memorial in Blamey Square at Russell Offices in Canberra to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea (4–8 May 1942) on Friday, 06 May 2022.

CAPTION: Royal Australian Navy Principal Chaplain Andrew Lewis gives the ‘Blessing’ during the Battle of Coral Sea 80th anniversary commemoration service at Russell Offices in Canberra. Photo by Nicole Mankowski.

The Battle of the Coral Sea was a decisive World War II naval battle for control of the Pacific Ocean, where Australian and American naval forces and aircraft halted the advance of the Imperial Japanese Navy and their attempt to capture the then Australian protectorate of Papua.

The battle was the first naval action between aircraft carriers, with the USS Lexington and USS Yorktown supported by the Australian and American cruisers HMAS Australia, HMAS Hobart and USS Chicago.

This commemoration also pays homage to the strategic partnership between Australia and the United States.

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