 The Task Force, under the command of Admiral Wilson Brown, had avoided detection by the Japanese, and the approach of their aircraft from over the Owen Stanley Range enabled the attackers to appear seemingly out of nowhere.The distance from which the planes were launched provided security for the task force and helped ensure surprise against the Japanese.Approaching the northern landing areas, the attack commenced with the SBD Dauntless dive bombers of "Lexington"s Scouting Squadron 2 (VS-2), which struck the Japanese shipping at Lae at 09