How many people died USS Lexington?
Frederick Sherman finally sounded the call to abandon ship. He would not leave his command behind until over 2,700 sailors, marines and aviators evacuated the stricken vessel, leaving behind 216 dead. The destroyer USS Phelps delivered the death blow, launching five torpedoes into the flaming wreck.
Did the USS Lexington ever sink?
Coral Sea, Sinking of USS Lexington In keeping with the rules of the sea, he was the last man off. Thereafter, the great carrier burned furiously, shrouded in smoke almost from stem to stern. She was finally scuttled by destroyer torpedoes and sank at about 8PM.
How many landings have occurred on USS Lexington?
Following her last qualification period, she had accomplished more than 493,000 arrested landings (493,248 according to DANFS; 493,760 according to "Naval Aviation News," July–August 1991 issue). Fate: Transferred as a museum ship to the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay, Corpus Christi, Texas, 15 June 1992.
How many times did the USS Lexington sunk?
Her planes destroyed 372 enemy aircraft in the air, and 475 more on the ground. She sank or destroyed 300,000 tons of enemy cargo and damaged an additional 600,000 tons. The ship's guns shot down 15 planes and assisted in downing five more. The Japanese reported LEXINGTON sunk no less than four times!
How far down is the USS Lexington?
The wreck of a US aircraft carrier that was sunk during World War Two has been found off the coast of Australia. The USS Lexington was found 3km (2 miles) underwater in the Coral Sea, about 800km off Australia's east coast. The ship was lost in the Battle of the Coral Sea, fought with Japan from 4-8 May 1942.
Was the USS Lexington in Top Gun?
In just two weeks, the movie grossed over $300 million domestically and $583 million worldwide with a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a near-unprecedented 00% audience rating. But, did you know you can see Maverick's F-14 Tomcat jet featured in the original movie in Corpus Christi? It's on board the USS Lexington.
How deep is the Lexington wreck?
3,000 metersWreck location It lies at a depth of 3,000 meters (9,800 ft) and at a distance of more than 800 kilometers (500 mi) east off the coast of Queensland.
Is the USS Lexington floating?
The USS Lexington, a retired aircraft carrier, is a floating museum docked at Corpus Christi Beach. This is one big piece of history.
Were there any survivors of the USS Lexington?
Manitowoc man survived USS Lexington sinking of 1942 in World War II.
What is the oldest aircraft carrier still in service?
What is this? First commissioned on May 3, 1975, the USS Nimitz is the oldest aircraft carrier still in service in the world. The Nimitz was authorized by Congress in 1967 and cost $1 billion (in 1975 dollars).
Does the USS Lexington still move?
Since 1992, the ship has been docked in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she operates as a museum.
What movie is the USS Lexington?
The famous F-14 Tomcat that was featured in the original movie can be seen on the Blue Ghost. CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Top Gun: Maverick released in theaters in May and the reviews were overwhelmingly positive.
Was the USS Lexington sunk at Pearl Harbor?
Lexington was at sea when the Pacific War began on 7 December 1941, ferrying fighter aircraft to Midway Island. Her mission was cancelled and she returned to Pearl Harbor a week later....USS Lexington (CV-2)HistoryUnited StatesNameLexingtonNamesakeBattle of LexingtonOrdered1916 (as battlecruiser) 1922 (as aircraft carrier)25 more rows
Is the USS Lexington still floating?
On 26 November 1991, the US Navy turned the Lexington over to the City of Corpus Christi. On 15 June 1992, the ship was donated as a museum and now operates as the "USS Lexington Museum on the Bay" at 2914 North Shoreline Boulevard, Corpus Christi, Texas.
When did the USS Lexington sink?
Searchers have found the wreckage of the USS Lexington, the aircraft carrier sunk 76 years ago near Australia during the world's first carrier-versus-carrier battle. The Lexington was critically damaged by Japanese forces during the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8, 1942, and the U.S. Navy was forced to scuttle it.
Was the USS Lexington used in the movie Pearl Harbor?
Parts of the movie Pearl Harbor were filmed on the USS Lexington Museum in 2001. The talented Blue Ghost played two roles in the movie - a Japanese ship and USS Hornet.
How many aircraft did the Lexington carry?
Lexington was designed to carry 78 aircraft, including 36 bombers, but these numbers increased once the Navy adopted the practice of tying up spare aircraft in the unused spaces at the top of the hangar. In 1936, her air group consisted of 18 Grumman F2F -1 and 18 Boeing F4B -4 fighters, plus an additional nine F2Fs in reserve. Offensive punch was provided by 20 Vought SBU Corsair dive bombers with 10 spare aircraft and 18 Great Lakes BG torpedo bombers with nine spares. Miscellaneous aircraft included two Grumman JF Duck amphibians, plus one in reserve, and three active and one spare Vought O2U Corsair observation aircraft. This amounted to 79 aircraft, plus 30 spares.
How many men were on the Lexington?
Christened by Helen Rebecca Roosevelt, the wife of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Douglas Robinson, Lexington was launched on 3 October 1925. She was commissioned on 14 December 1927 with Captain Albert Marshall in command. By 1942, the ship had a crew of 100 officers and 1,840 enlisted men and an aviation group totaling 141 officers and 710 enlisted men.
What carrier did the Japanese destroy in the Battle of the Coral Sea?
They sank the light aircraft carrier Shōhō on 7 May during the Battle of the Coral Sea, but did not encounter the main Japanese force of the carriers Shōkaku and Zuikaku until the next day. Aircraft from Lexington and Yorktown badly damaged Shōkaku, but the Japanese aircraft crippled Lexington.
How did the Lexington ship work?
They were powered by four General Electric turbo generators rated at 35,200 kilowatts (47,200 hp ). Steam for the generators was provided by sixteen Yarrow boilers, each in its own individual compartment. Six 750-kilowatt (1,010 hp) electric generators were installed in the upper levels of the two main turbine compartments to provide power to meet the ship's hotel load (minimum electrical) requirements.
What was the Lexington named after?
Lexington was the fourth US Navy ship named after the 1775 Battle of Lexington, the first battle of the Revolutionary War. She was originally authorized in 1916 as a Lexington -class battlecruiser, but construction was delayed so that higher-priority anti-submarine vessels and merchant ships, needed to ensure the safe passage of personnel and materiel to Europe during Germany's U-boat campaign, could be built. After the war the ship was extensively redesigned, partially as a result of British experience. Given the hull number of CC-1, Lexington was laid down on 8 January 1921 by Fore River Shipbuilding Company of Quincy, Massachusetts.
What was the Navy's Fleet Problem XIV?
Before Fleet Problem XIV began in February 1933, the Army and the Navy conducted a joint exercise simulating a carrier attack on Hawaii. Lexington and Saratoga successfully attacked Pearl Harbor at dawn on 31 January without being detected. During the actual fleet problem, Lexington attempted to attack San Francisco, but was surprised in heavy fog by several defending battleships at close range and sunk. Fleet Problem XV returned to the Gulf of Panama and the Caribbean in April–May 1934, but the participating ships of the Pacific Fleet remained in the Caribbean and off the East Coast for more training and maneuvers until they returned to their home bases in November. Most notably during Fleet Problem XVI, April–June 1935, Lexington ran low on fuel after five days of high-speed steaming and this led to experiments with underway replenishment that later proved essential to combat operations during the Pacific War. During Fleet Problem XVII in 1936, Lexington and the smaller carrier Ranger routinely refueled their plane guard destroyers.
How long was the Lexington?
The ship had an overall length of 888 feet (270.7 m), a beam of 106 feet (32.3 m), and a draft of 30 feet 5 inches (9.3 m) at deep load. Lexington had a standard displacement of 3 6,000 long tons (36,578 t) and 43,056 long tons (43,747 t) at deep load.
When was the USS Lexington decommissioned?
Commissioned in 1943, she set more records than any other Essex Class carrier in the history of naval aviation.The ship was the oldest working carrier in the United States Navy when decommissioned in 1991. An Essex-class carrier, LEXINGTON was originally named the USS CABOT.
Where was the Lexington reactivated?
After the war, LEXINGTON was briefly decommissioned (1947-1955). When reactivated, she operated primarily with the Seventh Fleet out of San Diego, California. Although not involved in actual combat, LEXINGTON kept an offshore vigil during tensions in Formosa, Laos, and Cuba.
What was the 5th Fleet?
The Fifth Fleet was established April 26, 1944, at this time it was Central Pacific Force. During World War II, the carrier participated in nearly every major operation in the Pacific Theater and spent a total of 21 months in combat. Her planes destroyed 372 enemy aircraft in the air, and 475 more on the ground. She sank or destroyed 300,000 tons of enemy cargo and damaged an additional 600,000 tons. The ship’s guns shot down 15 planes and assisted in downing five more.
Why is the ship called the Blue Ghost?
The Japanese reported LEXINGTON sunk no less than four times! Yet, each time she returned to fight again, leading the propagandist Tokyo Rose to nickname her “The Blue Ghost.” The name is a tribute to the ship and the crew and air groups that served aboard her.
Where is the Navy Training Carrier?
In 1962, she sailed into Pensacola, Florida, and began training operations, eventually being officially designated CVT-16, Navy Training Carrier. Corpus Christi is privileged to be selected as the permanent home to this national treasure.
How long was the USS Lexington in water?
USS LEXINGTON suffers a class alpha fire and is dead in the water for over an hour when all boilers are shut down as a result.
How many times did the USS Lexington hit the wharf?
USS LEXINGTON hits a wharf three times in docking in New Orleans. USS LEXINGTON suffers a fire in a boiler room as the ship is in drydock in Boston, injuring two. USS LEXINGTON suffers a class alpha fire and is dead in the water for over an hour when all boilers are shut down as a result.
What is the name of the USS Lexington?
USS Lexington (CV 16) USS LEXINGTON was the eighth ESSEX - class aircraft carrier. Initially named CABOT, the carrier was renamed LEXINGTON on June 16, 1942, to honor CV 2, making CV 16 the fifth ship in the Navy to bear the name. Redesignated as attack aircraft carrier CVA 16 on October 1, 1952, and antisubmarine warfare aircraft carrier CVS 16 on ...
When did the USS Lexington leave Japan?
She supported the occupation of Japan until leaving Tokyo Bay 3 December 1945 with homeward bound veterans for transportation to San Francisco, where she arrived 16 December. After west coast operations, LEXINGTON decommissioned at Bremerton, Wash., 23 April 1947 and entered the Reserve Fleet there.
When was the USS Lexington decommissioned?
On November 8, 1991, the USS LEXINGTON was decommissioned after more than 48 years of service. The carrier was donated as a museum on June 15, 1992, and is now located in Corpus Christi, TX. General Characteristics: Awarded: 1940. Keel laid: July 15, 1941.
When did the USS Lexington arrive in Pearl Harbor?
After Caribbean shakedown and yard work at Boston, LEXINGTON sailed for Pacific action via the Panama Canal, arriving Pearl Harbor 9 August 1943. She raided Tarawa in late September and Wake in October, then returned Pearl Harbor to prepare for the Gilbert Islands operation.
What carrier replaced the CVS 36?
Redesignated as attack aircraft carrier CVA 16 on October 1, 1952, and antisubmarine warfare aircraft carrier CVS 16 on October 1, 1962, the LEXINGTON was chosen to replace the ANTIETAM (CVS 36) as aviation training aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Mexico in December 1962. In this new role the LEXINGTON was again redesignated training aircraft ...
How many men were in the Navy in 1945?
7. The male enlisted strength of the Navy V-J Day (2 Sep 1945) was 2,994,696.
What was the number of active duty on 7 Dec 1941?
Number on active duty on 7 Dec 1941 was: 2. The number of officers and enlisted personnel that served in the Navy during World War II. 3. Volunteers and Draftees in WWII: (of those inducted, 189,365 remained inductees; 1,359,920 voluntarily enlisted as USN-SV or USNR-SV) 4.
Overview
Service history
After fitting-out and shakedown cruises, Lexington was transferred to the West Coast of the United States and arrived at San Pedro, California, part of Los Angeles, on 7 April 1928. In June Lexington made a high speed run from San Pedro to Honolulu in the record time of 72 hours and 34 minutes.. Lexington was based in San Pedro until 1940 and mainly stayed on the West Coast, althoug…
Description and construction
Lexington was the fourth US Navy ship named after the 1775 Battle of Lexington, the first battle of the Revolutionary War. She was originally authorized in 1916 as a Lexington-class battlecruiser, but construction was delayed so that higher-priority anti-submarine vessels and merchant ships, needed to ensure the safe passage of personnel and materiel to Europe during Germany's U-boat campai…
Wreck location
Lexington's wreck was located on 4 March 2018 by research vessel Petrel during an expedition funded by philanthropist Paul Allen. A remotely operated underwater vehicle confirmed the ship's identity by the nameplate on its stern. It lies at a depth of 3,000 meters (9,800 ft) and at a distance of more than 800 kilometers (500 mi) east off the coast of Queensland.
The wreck lies on the seabed separated into multiple sections. The main section sits upright on t…
Honors and legacy
Lexington received two battle stars for her World War II service. She was officially struck from the naval register on 24 June 1942.
In June 1942, shortly after the Navy's public acknowledgment of the sinking, workers at the Quincy shipyard, where the ship had been built twenty-one years earlier, cabled Navy Secretary Frank Knox and proposed a change in the name of one of the new Essex-class fleet carriers curre…
Bibliography
• Anderson, Richard M.; Baker, Arthur D. III (1977). "CV-2 Lex and CV-3 Sara". Warship International. Toledo, OH: International Naval Research Organization. XIV (4): 291–328. ISSN 0043-0374.
• Berhow, Mark A., Ed. (2004). American Seacoast Defenses, A Reference Guide, Second Edition. CDSG Press. ISBN 0-9748167-0-1.
External links
• Shall We Make Junk Or The World's Finest Plane Carriers Out of Our Battle Cruisers by G. Schornsteimer Popular Science December 1922
• Preliminary battle report
• WWII Archives U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2) original Ship Action Reports Scanned in from the National Archives