<prompt> Bhala okuqhubekayo kwalesi sigaba - Ngemva kokuhlaselwa kwePearl Harbor, kwakudingeka imikhumbi yempi ngokuphuthumayo ePacific futhi uHughes wasuka eNorfolk, eVirginia ngoDisemba 18, 1941, wafika eSan Diego, eCalifornia enkampanini ka-, ngoDisemba 30. Waphuma eSan Diego ngoJanuwari 12, 1942 njengomphathi wemikhumbi eyayiletha izinsiza eSamoa. Hughes wabe esehamba ngomkhumbi esuka eSamoa njengengxenye yebutho elihlaselayo lomkhumbi elakhiwe eduze komthwali Yorktown. Wavikela othwalayo ekuhlaseleni eJaluit, Makin, Mili, naseCanton Islands, wabe esekela i- Yorktown Task Force 17 TF17, njengoba ihlasela izisekelo zaseJapane eLae naseSalamaua ngo-10 Mashi 1942. Elahlekelwe yiMpi YaseCoral Sea ngesikhathi ehamba nomkhumbi othwala uphethiloli oya eNouméa, uHughes wafika ePearl Harbor ngesikhathi ukuze ahlanganyele eMpini yaseMidway  <response>: . futhi. 