Crace was senior in time in rank to Fletcher .
The Australian Commonwealth Naval Board assented to a request from King that Allied naval carrier forces in the area operate under the command of a US flag officer ( Lundstrom ( 2006 ) , p. 133 ) .
Crace was senior in time in rank to Fletcher , but the Australian Commonwealth Naval Board assented to a request from King that Allied naval carrier forces in the area operate under the command of a US flag officer ( Lundstrom ( 2006 ) , p. 133 ) .