Photos of the USS Lexington

Woops!  My bad.  She does look good, though.

Thanks,

Rpn

The flag bridge was used as Navigation Department's work center since no flag officers sailed on her after becoming a training carrier. There was a brass historical plaque on the overhead that read: "On this spot, on June 19, 1944, during the battle of the Phillippine Sea, Admiral Marc Mischer gave the order to 'Turn on the lights'". The Lexington was his flagship during this battle (I think there were around 15 CVs in this task force) and, after a day of merrily wiping out the remainder of Japan's naval air force,  the aviators were coming home in the dark. The order to turn on the lights of the task force in order for the flyers to find their way home flew in the face of submarine evading tactics and was a pretty ballsy thing to do. It was effective though, and most of the planes made it back, even though many had to ditch and be rescued by plane guard DDs. This battle became known as the Great Mariana Islands Turkey Shoot.

Also, the lame movie "Midway"was filmed on board the Lexington and much of the footage showing Glenn Ford and Charleton Heston conversing was shot on the flagbridge. We, the crew, got an exclusive viewing of the movie prior to its release. It was in "Sensurround" sound and was actually a good movie to see in a theater that was equipped with this system.

Yup, the ol' lead barge, which what Dad called her,  was stricken from the Navy in 1991.  I got to go aboard her in 1978 with my dad and got the full enchilada of a tour and again in 1987.  Both times, he felt like going into a time warp since much of the equipment in his ET shop was still there, even the stools and Simpson volt meters were the same ones he used when they re-commissioned in 1956.

The Lex had two recent major fires, one in 1987 right after I visited her, and again in 2000 when paint fumes ignited and burned up the flag bridge.  There was some good articles about the second fire in both the Hook and Naval History.
Scott

Ron, I hate to let you down, but the Lex is decommissioned and a museum now at Corpus Cristi, Texas. She was deactivated in 1991 or 92 to the best of my knowledge. Still was in great shape for being 50 years old at the time. She was commissioned in 1943.

AMAZING!!  I was on the Antietam.  We sailed out of Pensacola in 1963 heading for decommissioning in Philly, and the Lex, old even then, relieved us.  It's like a time warp to see her still active.  My assumption is that she's training NavCads out of Corpus Christie NAS.  We did that with the Antietam periodically.  I think these Essex class carriers (I served in CarDiv 242 with Essex) were built essentially on battleship bottoms.  She looks good! Thanks for the memories!

Best,

Ron

Thanks for the link, I wasn't able to view them though. I was stationed on the Lex from 1975-76. I was in Navigation Division and got to drive the old boat. I am very proud to have been able to serve on this great ship and be a part of her proud history.

to be honest with you I don't know. There was no signs or anything that suggeted that there was any kind of fire damage. So my guess would be yes they did repair the damage, but like I am not a 100% sure.

Looks good, thanks for sharing.  My father was on the Lex from 56 to 58 and doesn't think he will ever get down to see her, so I forwarded these photos to him.  I get to Houston a lot but never have the time to get down to CC.

Have they repaired the damage to the flag bridge and island due to a fire a few years ago?
Scott

here I thought I would post a couple of pictures.







and here is a live link

http://photos.kitmaker.net/showgallery.php/cat/15875/page/9/perpage/10/what/allfields