 TF 17 completed refueling the next day, but TF 11 reported that they would not be finished fueling until 4 May.Fletcher elected to take TF 17 northwest towards the Louisiades and ordered TF 11 to meet TF 44, which was en route from Sydney and Nouméa, on 4 May once refueling was complete.TF 44 was a joint Australia–U.S.