At 08:52, the Japanese strike force commander sighted the Hornet task force (the Enterprise task force was hidden by a rain squall) and deployed his aircraft for attack.
La 08:52, comandantul forței de atac japoneză a reperat grupul operațional Hornet (Task Force Enterprise era ascuns de o furtună de ploaie) și a desfășurat avioanele sale pentru atac.