A startling new book thanks the United States for saving Australia from invasion in the second world war. Dr Tom Lewis’s work The Battle of the Coral Sea Explained argues that if the 1942 action off Queensland had not been fought and won the way it was, then the US Navy may well have faced six aircraft carriers at Midway rather than four. If they had been defeated then they may have withdrawn to their west coast – and Australia would have stood alone, but for how long?
Coral Sea was the first naval battle fought entirely by aircraft. Both sides had three types: dive bombers, torpedo/level bombers, and fighters for protection. The Japanese were trying to invade Port Moresby. If they had succeeded they could have run submarines, surface ships and aircraft down the east coast of Australia – and denied access for the United States. That would have stopped the mightiest Allied power of the Pacific from basing forces in Australia, and cutting the track to Japan by 40 per cent – and made the war much more difficult.
It was a very confusing battle fought over several days, with two Australian warships in the mix as well. Dr Lewis does in this book what he is renowned for: explains military history so anyone can easily understand it.
The battle was a major setback for the Japanese at a time when their war machine waged supreme. It also saw huge consequences for the Battle of Midway fought just weeks later as two key Japanese aircraft carriers were so damaged and weakened they couldn’t take part.
In early 1942, the Japanese had debated invading Australia. Some in the Navy wanted to; the Army did not, arguing they did not have the necessary divisions. But Japan still wanted the prize of the resource-rich southern countries. Even as late as 1943 the Japanese were looking thoughtfully at the prospect. The Ministry of Health and Welfare produced a study arguing that Australia and New Zealand should be colonised. An Investigation of Global Policy with the Yamato Race as Nucleus envisaged a future Asia-Pacific as under Japanese control, with the two Antipodean countries being necessary acquisitions as part of ‘securing the living space of the Yamato race’.
Author Tom Lewis interviewed Gordon Johnson, who served on the light cruiser HMAS Hobart in the action. He said:
Coral Sea was more important than Gallipoli. If the Japanese had made it to Port Moresby they would have been through our front door. The battle area is only 880km from Townsville…They were incredibly close.’
It was certainly the case that Australia realised Coral Sea had saved the country. In 1949 the Adelaide Advertiser proclaimed, ‘Anniversary of a Battle that Saved Australia’. The following year the Age ran a headline, ‘A Battle that Saved Australia’. For the first ten-year anniversary the Newcastle Sun proclaimed, ‘Sea Battle that Saved Australia’ while the West Australian was much the same with, ‘A Battle that Saved Australia’. The following year the Age used, ‘The Air-Sea Battle that Saved Australia’ while the Cairns Post proclaimed ‘Coral Sea Battle Saved North from Invasion’.
It was during this time that a lasting monument to Australian-Americans fighting together in the war was begun. The Australian-American Memorial – in the middle of Canberra’s Russell Offices Defence complex – was designed by Richard M. Ure after a national competition. An 80-metre column topped with a stylised American eagle was constructed in 1953-54 and opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 16 February 1954. Its inscription reads: ‘In grateful remembrance of the vital help given by the United States of America during the war in the Pacific 1941-1945.’
It is worth noting what Australia could not do in the second world war. It could not build any aircraft bigger than a two-engine medium bomber, and could only construct the lighter warships such as destroyers. It had no submarines, battleships or aircraft carriers. Notably, its air defence was flown by the Americans for most of 1942 – there was not one Australian fighter flying against the Japanese in the north during that first raid; and for almost all of the rest of the year it was the USAAF that flew against the enemy attacks.
Without the brave and aggressive actions of the United States both at Coral Sea and beyond, we may well have been doomed.
By drawing on the official wartime US Navy Combat Narrative, this highly readable book examines the mighty Coral Sea battle through the accounts of the US pilots and sailors there. It explains the weapons, technology and tactics involved. Aimed at the non-expert reader, the book sets forth how one of the most important battles for Australia played out.
The author is a former naval officer and author of 26 books, who was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to naval history. He is well known for explaining military history – here he is at his finest.
Lavishly illustrated, with a photo or graphic on almost on every page, The Battle of the Coral Sea Explained will appeal especially to those of us in the American-Australian Association who understand the value of the Alliance today – and want to know more about its beginnings. Highly recommended.
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