Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
 

As the 75th Anniversary of the battle approaches, I've wondered who the top scoring fighter pilots were, both US and Japanese.

So, who were they?

Cheers,

Bruce

Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
 

US
John Leppla=5 (VS-2)
John Liska =3 (VS-2)
Noel Gayler=3 (VF-2)
William Hall=3 (VS-2)
Stanley Vejtasa=3 (VS-5)

Michel

Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
 

Leppla had only four claims in the Coral Sea. His fifth claim was on October 26, 1942 at Santa Cruz. Jimmy Flatley is credited with two, and five assists (NC citation). It appears that assists may have been counted as half shares at this time, since otherwise I cannot account for his score of 6.5. It also appears at this time that shared victories received full credit for each pilot (as per World War 1).

Enjoy!

Frank.

Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
 

Oups! sorry for Leppla:my finger slipped on the wrong key!
Michel

Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
 

Perhaps interesting to note that at the time of the Coral Sea battles, John Leppla was a Dauntless scout/dive-bomber pilot in VS-2 and John Liska was his gunner. Stanley Vejtasa was also a Dauntless pilot with VS-5.

...geoff

Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
 

Thanks for your contributions. Can someone please provide a breakdown of Gayler's claims? And also Flatley?

Any clues as to who the most successful IJN pilots were?

Bruce

Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
 

Noel A.M. Gayler
20/2/42=3 "Bettys(2 shared) 4°Kokutai
08/5/42=2 "Scout Bombers"
08/5/42=1 "Zeke"(no known Japanese loss)

IJN
Shokaku
Ichiro Yamamoto=4

Michel

Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
 

Thanks Michel

Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
 

Bill Leonard, VF-42, was credited with 3. Two F1Ms near Tulagi on 4 May and 1 D3A on 8 May.

Re: Battle of Coral Sea: top scorers
 

Thanks for that extra information.