▁and ▁for ▁two ▁weeks ▁in ▁May ▁by ▁six ▁P - 3 9 ▁A i rac ob ras ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁ 3 6 th ▁P urs uit ▁Squadron . ▁Despite ▁the ▁American ▁assistance , ▁the ▁daily ▁air ▁batt les ▁over ▁and ▁around ▁Port ▁M ores by ▁by ▁ 1 ▁May ▁had ▁reduced ▁No . ▁ 7 5 ▁Squadron ▁RA AF ▁to ▁just ▁three ▁air worth y ▁machines . ▁The ▁American ▁ 3 5 th , ▁and ▁the ▁full ▁ 3 6 th , ▁P urs uit ▁Squad rons ▁arrived ▁to ▁rel ieve ▁the ▁Australian ▁squad ron . ▁During ▁their ▁time ▁in ▁Port ▁M ores by ▁ 7 5 ▁Squadron ▁had ▁lost ▁ 2 1 ▁aircraft ▁and ▁ 1 2 ▁pil ots . ▁ ▁The ▁Battle ▁of ▁the ▁Cor al ▁Sea , ▁which ▁was ▁fought ▁mostly ▁in ▁the ▁waters ▁south - east ▁of ▁Pap ua ▁in ▁early ▁May , ▁di vert ed ▁a ▁Japanese ▁naval ▁attack ▁against ▁Port ▁M ores by ▁and ▁removed ▁the ▁immediate ▁threat . ▁However , ▁by ▁May ▁ 1 9 4 2 ▁the ▁Japanese ▁had ▁established ▁themselves ▁in ▁the ▁arc ▁of ▁islands ▁north ▁and ▁east ▁of ▁the ▁island ▁of ▁New ▁Guinea ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁in ▁the ▁region ▁around ▁La e ▁and ▁Mad ang ▁on ▁the ▁north ▁coast ▁of ▁the ▁main land . ▁ ▁References ▁▁ ▁Def ense ▁of ▁Port ▁M ores by ▁Path find er ▁Issue ▁ 1 0 3 ▁January ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁Retrieved ▁on ▁ 2 0 ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 9 . ▁Chapter ▁