Tribute to bravery
grim anxiety of the ships’ company scanning the skies for incoming enemy bombers but also hoping and praying to see their own pilots returning safely from raids and reconnaissance missions,” Mr Turnbull said.
“We’ll never know the courage of the pilots who spent the last of their fuel in battle knowing they would never make it back to their ship and we’ll never know the anguish the sailors listening intently to radio communications who heard the heartfelt farewell from those brave men as they prepared to meet their death.”
Mr Turnbull was one of several dignitaries at the service, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Governor- General Sir Peter Cosgrove and Mayor Jenny Hill also in attendance.
The battle is remembered as the first naval battle fought entirely by Allied carrierborne aircraft where opposing fleets did not meet.
The US and Australian naval and air forces fought side-by-side, taking on the imperial Japanese Army to prevent them from invading Port Moresby.
Survivor Cecil Wiswell, who was only 17 when his ship, the USS Lexington, was sunk during the battle, laid a wreath during the touching service.
He said he still remembered his last moments on the ship as it was under attack.
“We were there in close range of the enemy probably for about days,” Mr Wiswell said.
“We never saw their ships, but we saw their planes for sure.
“The bombs and the torpedos started hitting us, but I wasn’t worried it would do much damage to us because I had faith in the ship’s integrity, but we started listing.
“I stayed aboard the ship fleet three after they abandoned ship for quite a while with the feeling maybe we could salvage her and then all of a sudden she dropped I guess 10 degrees further and I said, ‘Well it’s time to go’.”
Sir Peter said many men lost their lives in the historic battle.
“These sailors and airmen offered life and sacrifice in our name,” he said.