Triumphrat

Old Scratcher

Today is the 66th aniversary of the Battle of The Coral Sea, which was fought about 2000 nautical miles away from Cairns, on the otherside of the Coral Sea.
The battle is mainly remembered these days, for being the first naval engagement where the combatant ships never saw each other, being fought mainly from aircraft carriers. But at the time, it was a much needed morale booster, as it was the first allied victory since the Battle of Britain, after a long list of defeats, which included Pearl Harbour & the fall of Singapore.
Here in Cairns, the battle is well remembered, as it was as close as WWII came to the Australian east coast, & Cairns was set to be surrendered to the Japs, under McArthurs Brisbane Line Plan. So entire city blocks were sold for 40 pounds, during the week before the battle.
540 US servicemen lost their lives in the battle, & many more were injured. & they're sacrifice is still remembered & appreciated, on this side of the pond.
I don't know how many Japs died, but as they lost the battle, I'd guess that they were substantial too.
May they all rest in peace.

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"They told me I was goin to have to work for my living, & all I wanna do is ride." Jackson Browne (the Road & The Sky)

cafecruzin

a history of the event. a interesting read.
http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/w.../coralsea.html

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ROD
As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.
Illegitimis nil carborundum
Quot culi, tot sententiae

Tiger_1050_VT

Years ago the ship I was on pulled into Perth as part of the USS Coral Sea Battle Group. Not a man who went ashore was allowed to buy his own beer!

Lovely people, those Aussies!

Silverado57

Thank you for remembering their sacrifice.

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Kevin
Luceo Non Uro
NJ USA

Tbirdnz

Probably a fair price giving today's rates, I was in Cairns a month ago as you know Scratch and someone offered me the entire city for 50 bucks. As it didn't include the casino I turned it down.

Apart from the above the outcome of the Battle of the Coral Sea also saved New Zealand, all our troops inc the Aussies were in the Middle East fighting Rommel. Even if we had them here there was a good chance we would still have went under. We're also thankful for Midway too which was a month later.


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Ride on !

jp99tbirdnm

Thanks for remembering the brave young men that fought this battle. They fought selflessly and are our greatest generation. They should never be forgotten.

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Jerry

99 Triumph Thunderbird
05 H-D XL1200C

NEPatriots9

Thanks for that nice post Scratch. My Grandfather was in the Battle of the Coral Sea, gunners mate on the USS Cleveland, he was 18, imagine that...

RT

Hard to believe it was that many years ago, and how fast we are losing our vet's from that time period.

My father served in the Pacific theater with the army, and one of my uncles was in the Navy and served on a destroyer. My dad is gone and my uncle is in failing health. God bless all those that fought so many years ago to preserve the freedom of the world from tyrants. And to those that continue to fight today to preserve our way of life and protect us from those that want to do us harm.

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Confused and Prone to Wander

Ray548

Thanks for remembering, being an Army guy. We appreciate the Navy and what they did for the world.

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Raymond
San Fernando Valley, Calif
07 America

Wombat

WWII did get a bit closer to the east coast later in the month:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Sydney_Harbour

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Bob

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