At 09:15, Takahashi's strike force reached its target area, sighted "Neosho" and "Sims", and searched in vain for the U.S. carriers for a couple of hours. Finally, at 10:51 "Shōkaku" scout aircrews realized they were mistaken in their identification of the oiler and destroyer as aircraft carriers. Takagi now realized the U.S. carriers were between him and the invasion convoy, placing the invasion forces in extreme danger. At 11:15, the torpedo bombers and fighters abandoned the mission and headed back towards the carriers with their ordnance, while the 36 dive bombers attacked the two U.S. ships.