USS Lexington, Corpus Christi, Texas

The USS Lexington, a CV-16, is a WWII vintage Essex Class Aircraft Carrier.  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. During World War II, final construction was being completed at Massachusetts’ Fore River Shipyard when word was received that the original carrier named USS Lexington, CV-2, had been sunk in the Coral Sea. The new carrier’s name was changed to Lexington.

After training maneuvers and a shakedown cruise, LEXINGTON joined the Fifth Fleet at Pearl Harbor. 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.

Flight Deck

AH-1S Cobra

The AH-1 was conceived for the U.S. Army by Bell Helicopter as an efficient, tank-killing, weapons platform. Originally known as the Huey Cobra, the basic design was created in 1965. The AH-1 was was developed from the UH-1 Huey helicopter, which was used in Viet Nam. The Huey Cobra evolved to provide an armed escort for the troop-laden Hueys. The Huey Cobra introduced a novel power turret in the nose. The turret was connected to the gunner's helmet and moved as the gunner moved his head aiming the gun just by looking at the target. 

Barber Shop

During WWII, if pie was on the menu, bakers made nearly 450 pies for one day.

We always have a good time touring the different ships, and as you can see, we have look at a lot of them within the past few years.

Monster Bar

The monster bar is used to lift and move the anchor chain links that weigh 130 pounds each.

Quote for the day: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
~~ George Santayana, American Philosopher & Poet