Lynn,
I tend to disagree just a little bit. Before the explosions started, Lex had already launched a mixed inner air and combat air patrol of SBDs and F4Fs, as much to clear the deck as anything else, so the planes on deck weren't for that.
The planes were spotted in a way that
suggests a strike was being prepared, key word "suggests." As you state, the belief was that Shokaku was seriously damaged or perhaps sunk, so it was two versus one in the eyes of Fletcher and Fitch. At worst, if Lex had to depart the odds would be even. The question was, how much of the preparations were underway when the Lex's internal explosions started? In other words, how much of "the order" had been given or anticipated? "Black Shoe Carrier Admiral" states that Fletcher wanted to renew the attack as soon as possible, and if Lex's condition did not improve to rearm the Yorktown with her planes, sending Lex back to Pearl. That may have occurred that day or probably the next depending upon circumstances. Yorktown fairly quickly worked back up to 30 knots and appeared ready to continue the fight, alone if necessary late that day or the next although Fletcher had some pretty clear misgivings about Japanese fighter superiority and this may have been what eventually made him change his mind. Aboard Lex, the deck was spotted as it normally would be deference to the take off runs needed - TBDs aft, SBDs in the middle, F4Fs forward. What's interesting is that the attack jammed both of Lex's elevators in the up position, and yet the aircraft on deck were still spotted in their usual order. So... Either this was a random chance event dependent upon landing order, or a conscious choice requiring a lot of pushing and pulling of planes with (mostly) nonfolding wings, and a conscious choice would mean that it was being done for a clear reason.
So, the real issue is had the Lex begun to rearm her planes when the explosions began? They were certainly spotted as they normally would be for a strike, but was this intentional or happenstance? Were they simply being placed in that order in anticipation of being sent over to Yorktown? If so, would they be sent over there armed or unarmed? Was it affected by the operations of Lex's elevators? Were the explosions seen on Lex's flight deck that flung planes over the side caused by ordnance on the planes cooking off or by some other sources? We may never know. Its fun to think about though!
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I had a chance today to meet with 96 year survivor uss northhampton, nicest gentleman,
Awesome. I was fortunate about ten years ago to meet the South Dakota's helmsman from "that night" in November, 1942. All those years later, he still had some very definite opinions about the USS Washington!
Bob