Several Japanese warships sighted near New Guinea according to the U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee Daily summary dated 7 May 1942

An item reported that Allied aircraft saw Japanese warships including one aircraft carrier, a battleship or heavy cruiser, a heavy cruiser, 1 seaplane tender, 2 merchant ships and a submarine although not part of a formation on a distance of around 50 miles north east of the south east end of New Guinea around Woodlark Island.

 Source

Map Room Papers (Roosevelt Administration), 1942 - 1945. U.S. Joint Intelligence Committee. Daily summary No. 148 dated 7 May 1942