the light aircraft carrier (CVL) Shoho and the fleet carrier Shokaku. But the Coral Sea was a relative warm-up for the SBD Dauntless’ most important moment in the war, the Battle of Midway.

Pilot John Leppla, right, was a WWII Navy ace, credited with shooting down five Japanese aircraft in aerial combat before he was shot down and declared Missing in Action. (U.S. Navy/National ...