Hara Chuichi

Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hara Chuichi (former CO of HARUNA) assumes command of CruDiv 8 from Rear Admiral Abe who is reassigned as the Commanding Officer of the new BatDiv 11's HIEI and KIRISHIMA.

Fletcher's force turns to engage Vice Admiral (Admiral, posthumously) Takagi Takeo's (former CO of MUTSU) Carrier Strike Force's Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hara Chuichi's (former CO of TATSUTA) CarDiv 5's SHOKAKU and ZUIKAKU, Takagi's CruDiv 5's MYOKO and HAGURO, six destroyers and an oiler.

After landing back at Truk, the pilot reported the results of the flight directly to Vice Admiral Hara Chuichi (former CO of TATSUTA), CINC, Fourth Fleet.Hara sent a coded report to Headquarters, Combined Fleet at Hiyoshi, in Kanagawa Prefecture.
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CPO Hataya then sent a message with the sighting details to Vice Admiral Hara and Admiral Toyoda.Enroute back to base, Lt Miki's C6N escaped from three P-38 "Lightnings" somewhere between Ulithi and Truk.After landing at Truk, IJN intelligence identified the carriers from Ito's photos as one SARATOGA type, four ESSEX types, three INDEPENDENCE types, seven escort carriers and four unidentified ships.When Admiral Toyoda received this information, he designated 11 March as D-Day. [4]

At slow speed, TOHO MARU refuels Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Hara Chuichi's (39)(former CO of TATSUTA) CarDiv 5's ZUIKAKU and SHOKAKU and Takagi's other ships.

7 May 1942: The Battle of the Coral Sea: In the predawn hours, Rear Admiral Hara persuades Takagi to break off refueling and reverse course southwards.At 0700, Hara launches recon aircraft to find the Americans.At 0900, a plane spots a "carrier and heavy cruiser", actually oiler NEOSHO (AO-23) and destroyer SIMS (DD-409).Takagi's carriers then launch three waves of attack planes that sink SIMS and so damage NEOSHO that she has to be scuttled four days later.

Rear Admiral Hara, commander of the 5th Air Flotilla, immediately ordered a full strength attack.
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62 Hara Chûichi, Hara Chûichi Shôshô no kaisô (Recollections of Rear Admiral Hara Chûichi).
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62 Hara Chûichi, Hara Chûichi Shôshô no kaisô (Recollections of Rear Admiral Hara Chûichi).