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the USS Lexington (CV-2) as configured when
she raided Japanese positions in the southwestern Pacific in May, 1942.
It had a complement of aircraft including F2A-1 fighters, SBD scout-bombers and
TBD-1 torpedo bombers. the famous
Dauntless dive bomber flown by Ensign John Leppla and ARM3/c radioman John Liska
of Scouting Squadron 2 in the May, 1942, Battle of the Coral Sea, during which
the two men shot down a combined seven Japanese aircraft (Leppla's four
victories made him the U.S. Navy's top-scoring SBD pilot).
1942 VMF-211 markings of Edward "Butch" O'Hare, who
received a Medal of Honor for single-handedly defending the USS Lexington
against a squadron of Japanese "Betty" bombers
Butch O’Hare Ewing & Lindstrom. One of the most famous
aviators of WWII, O’Hare’s life as a naval aviator is spectacular. Credited with
saving the carrier Lexington, in his F4F Wildcat, by shooting down five Japanese
bombers in one mission, he was awarded the Medal of Honor but suffered an
untimely death.
The "Lady Lex"
was the first of the great carriers that served with the U.S. Fleet until her
demise at the Battle of the Coral Sea.
Protecting the aircraft carrier USS Lexington CV-2
far below, Lt. Edward
"Butch" O'Hare, flying his
F4F Wildcat,
sets ablaze one of five G4M1 Betty bombers he shot down during the February 20,
1942, skirmish that made him the U.S. Navy's first ace and Medal of Honor
recipient in World War II
the USS Lexington (CV-2), the "Gray Lady," from her
1927 commission through her many refits and her loss in the 1942 Battle of the
Coral Sea.
the legendary Essex-class carrier USS Lexington
(CV-16), the "Blue Ghost, SB2C Helldivers, F6F Hellcats and TBF Avengers
Air Group 16 and its pilots, radiomen and gunners who
served on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-16), the "Blue Ghost," in World
War II's Pacific Theater
The U.S. Navy's tiny Sparrowhawks, which operated from
dirigibles during the 1930s, were among the most colorful fighters of the
era. Utilized primarily in conjunction with the USS Akron and USS Macon
airships, the Sparrowhawks also operated briefly from the aircraft carrier
USS Lexington.
Lt. Cook Cleland, who actually downed five enemy aircraft flying his SBD
Dauntless off of the USS Lexington in World War II, Lt. Cook also received
valor in action during the Battle of the Philippine Sea for which he was
awarded the Navy Cross.
the TBD torpedo bomber (one of the first TBDs
produced) flown off the USS Lexington (CV-2) in early 1938 by Lt. Cdr.
William Sinton when he was commander of Torpedo Squadron Two,
Off the coast of California, the flight deck of the
USS Lexington swarms with activity. Flying the premiere Navy fighter, the
Boeing F4B-4, pilots of Fighting Two ready for take-off. All Naval aviators
are considered pros but these men were unique. The flying Chiefs of VF-2
were selected from all rated enlisted pilots; it was both an honor and a
challenge to fly with Fighting Two |
