uss lexington cv 16 blue ghost

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10 need-to-know things about the Blue Ghost

Jump aboard the  USS LEXINGTON Museum on the Bay  and go back in time to discover history in real life. Step onto this WWII Aircraft Carrier and become part of the story. Here are 10 fascinating facts about the Blue Ghost… Remember how your mom told you that you were almost named Benji? USS Lexington wasn't always going be to the ship's name. Her first name was USS Cabot but then a different ship was named USS Cabot and the rest is history.

But trust us....you're on the right ship. THIS USS LEXINGTON, CV-16, is technically the second USS LEXINGTON. The first USS LEXINGTON, CV-2, was sunk in the Coral Sea, but was then replaced by the USS Cabot...which was then named USS LEXINGTON.

Photo via navyhistory.org The name Blue Ghost comes from a couple of places. It was reported, no less than four times, that USS LEXINGTON had been sunk. Japanese propaganda radio broadcasts, typically called Tokyo Rose, nicknamed her the Blue Ghost because she just kept coming back...and the paint helped too.

Photo via USS Lexington Museum on the Bay Facebook Speaking of ghosts, this ship is haunted...well, maybe. Throughout the years, many guests have reported encounters with "Charlie." Apparently, Charlie's Naval uniform and detailed ship tours make him one of the best tour guides on the ship! Except, there is no tour guide in uniform named Charlie...

Photo via USS Lexington Museum on the Bay Facebook  

Beat the Blast at the World's First Escape Room Aboard the USS Lexington! This is the most unique escape room experience in Corpus Christi! This high-tech and high-intensity challenge is set aboard the LEX. It’s a real WWII aircraft carrier and based on actual historical events. This challenge is so real and so intense that you’ll definitely want to complete the mission and Beat the Blast on the Lockdown on the Lex.

Even before stepping aboard the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay, you'll find pieces of history. Look up to see the Japanese flag, signifying the spot where a Kamikaze plane hit the deck during an attack; part of the first Kamikaze attacks during WWII. So. Much. History.

See all of the new (and not-so-new) ways that the USS Lexington Museum on the Bay is bringing history to the present. Test your skills at the Virtual Battle Stations, get up-close to vintage aircrafts, see a Captain in action and walk the narrow passageways of the WWII Aircraft Carrier! All aboard!

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Visit Corpus Christi is a 501c6 Destination Management Organization contracted by the city of Corpus Christi with a mission to create a better community by sharing Corpus Christi with the world.

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Haunting on the Blue Ghost 2023

Haunted House Open Saturdays & Sundays in October & Halloween

Member Overnight Adventure

Saturday, October 28th - Sunday, October 29th

LOCKDOWN ON THE LEX, Ultimate Escape Rooms

9am – 5pm

Normal hours: labor day/sept. through memorial day/may, 9am – 6pm, summer: memorial day/may through labor day/sept. spring break: march 11 – 18, 2023.

Adults (18 +) – $18.95 Seniors (60 +) – $16.95 Military – $14.95 Youth (13-17) – $16.95 Children (4-12) – $13.95 Parking – $5.00

Directions & Maps

Located on north beach in corpus christi, just steps from the texas state aquarium.

Now hear this! Get all the latest on LEX news, events and ceremonies.

Pearl harbor.

Relive every second in this ground-rumbling display of light and sound.

Lockdown on LEX

Escape Room on the LEX

• Flight Simulator

Get a jolt to the nerves behind the controls of a war plane.

Overnight Camping

An adventure awaits your group when they live aboard the uss lexington..

Smart Phone Tours

Exhibits come to life with video & photos. it’s easy.

Action & Exhibits

The action never stops, with endless features and exhibits.

• The Flight Deck

Experience our most popular attraction

Mega Theater

Experience all the action in 3d, free with admission.

Adults (18 +) - $18.95 Seniors (60 +) - $16.95 Military - $14.95 Youth (13-17) - $16.95 Children (4-12) - $13.95 Parking - $5.00

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HOURS OF OPERATION

• Blue Ghost at Kadabracon!
• USS Lexington Museum Top Gun Movie Night October 7th
• USS Lexington Museum Commemorates Patriot Day with Free Admission for First Responders Sept. 9th – 11th

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NavSource Online: Aircraft Carrier Photo Archive

Uss lexington   (cv-16) ( later cva-16 , cvs-16 , cvt-16 and avt-16).

• Initially named Cabot after the Continental Navy brig of that name (1775–1777). Renamed Lexington , 16 June 1942, to honor CV-2 ( lost one month earlier at the Battle of the Coral Sea), thus becoming the fifth US warship to bear the name of the town in Massachusetts where Minutemen fought a detachment of British troops, 19 April 1775, opening the Revolutionary War with the "shot heard round the world." The name Cabot was subsequently assigned to CVL-28 .
• Sponsored by Mrs. Theodore D. Robinson, who had also sponsored the previous Lexington (CV-2). Mr. Robinson was Assistant Secretary of the Navy at the time CV-2 was launched.
• Reclassified as an "Attack Aircraft Carrier" and redesignated CVA-16, 1 October 1952, while in reserve.
• Received SCB-125 modernization concurrently with SCB-27C at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash. Recommissioned in September 1955 with an angled flight deck, enclosed "hurricane" bow, steam catapults, etc.
• Reclassified as an "Antisubmarine Warfare Support Aircraft Carrier" and redesignated CVS-16, 1 October 1962.
• Replaced USS Antietam (CVS-36) as aviation training carrier in the Gulf of Mexico (homeported at Pensacola), 29 December 1962.
• Reclassified as a training carrier and redesignated CVT-16, 1 January 1969. CVT designation was rerated as "auxiliary," 23 September 1970.
• Reclassified as auxiliary aircraft landing training ship, and redesignated AVT-16, 1 July 1978.
• Lexington was the last Essex -class carrier in commission, and the last on the Naval Vessel Register.
• 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.

Close-up, in-flight view of a VB-16 Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless stenciled with the names of LT(JG) George T. Glacken (pilot) and his gunner Leo Boulanger, near New Guinea, early April 1944. LT Glacken was later awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on 20 June 1944.

USS Lexington (CV-16), beach party, 23 May 1944.

Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 1944 . An F6F-3 Hellcat fighter lands aboard USS Lexington (CV-16) during the "Marianas Turkey Shoot" phase of the battle, 19 June 1944. Note manned 40mm guns in the foreground, and 20mm guns along the starboard side of the flight deck.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-236955).

Lieutenant Alexander Vraciu, USNR, Naval Aviator. Released 8 August 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-46283.

Flying F6F Hellcat s in combat with VF-6 (USS Independence (CVL-22)), VF-16 "Pistol-Packin' Airdales" and VF-20 (USS Lexington (CV-16)), he scored 19 aerial victories and was one of the Navy's top six aces.

Lieutenant Alexander Vraciu, USNR, Naval Aviator, as he returns to his carrier following the air battle of Saipan. Released 8 August 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-46287.

TBM-1C Avenger s, VT-19, CVG-19, 12 October 1944.

"A message from the first Commanding Officer of the first modern Hornet ," VADM Marc A. Mitscher, Commander First Carrier Task Force, "to the Officers and Men of Task Force Thirty-Eight." Ulithi Atoll, 30 October 1944. Mitscher's flagship at the time was USS Lexington (CV-16).

USS Lexington (CV-16) under attack from a Japanese kamikaze . Shown here is one of four Mitsubishi A6M5 Navy Type 0 Fighter Model 52s from Mabalacat that dove on Lexington on 5 November 1944. Three were shot down, but the fourth broke through and crashed the after end of her island. In this photo [ NS021664 ], the Zeke can be seen still upright, as viewed from a 20 mm gun tub mounted high up the onboard face of the carrier's funnel. To the left is the after Mk 37 director with its FD radar. In the next photo [ NS021664a ], the Zeke has flipped over. Many pilots did this because it allowed them to keep the target in sight as it got closer and the angle of the dive steepened. Photos from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) facility, College Park, MD.

Photos and text from Fire From The Sky , by Robert C. Stern.

A series of four photos taken on 6 November 1944, after a Kamikaze strike the prior day. Photos NS021664 and NS021664a show this aircraft.

Damage to the aft starboard section of the island.

Parts of the Zero 's engine in the ship's interior. Note the pistons in view in the bottom center.

20mm group #7 wrecked the day after a Kamikaze strike on the island.

Wreckage of Secondary control, on the aft end of Lexington 's island.

USS Brush (DD-745) coming alongside USS Lexington (CV-16), January 25, 1945. Photo 80-G-299871.

National Archives (College Park, Maryland) photo.

LT Elvin Lester Lindsay, VF-19. Navy Ace (8 victories). CO, VF-19 (November 1944–January 1945) and VBF-19 (January–August 1945). Retired as a Lieutenant Commander.

Awarded the Navy Cross, 2 Silver Stars and a Distinguished Flying Cross.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander [then Lieutenant] Elvin Lester Lindsay, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane and Flight Leader in Fighting Squadron NINETEEN (VF-19) attached to the U.S.S. Lexington (CV-16), while assigned to strike major Japanese Fleet Units on 25 October 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, in the Philippine Islands. Skillfully directing his escort group on a strike against major enemy surface units, Lieutenant Commander Lindsay boldly dived through the intense barrage of hostile anti-aircraft fire and expertly maneuvered his plane to deliver a bombing and strafing attack upon a Japanese aircraft carrier, leaving her burning and in a sinking condition. During the ensuing action, he valiantly led his fighters through anti-aircraft fire to deliver a strafing raid upon a light cruiser. By his brilliant airmanship, indomitable courage and inspiring leadership, Lieutenant Commander Lindsay contributed materially to the infliction of overwhelming damage upon the Japanese Fleet during this Battle. Commander Lindsay's outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

LT(JG) Robert A. Farnsworth?, VF-19. Navy Ace (5 victories). Retired as a Commander, in 1963.

Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.

LT(JG) Lachlan Douglas McLaughlin, VF-19, receiving his Distinguished Flying Cross ( citation ) and Air Medal, probably in Hawaii.

Commodore Arleigh A. Burke , USN, Chief of Staff to Commander, Task Force 58, is highlined from USS Callaghan (DD-792) to USS Lexington (CV-16), while off Iwo Jima on 18 February 1945. Photographed from on board Lexington , with Callaghan 's starboard bow in the background. The latter's camouflage appears to be Measure 32 (or, likely, Ms. 31), Design 7D.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 80-G-307034.

F6F-5 Hellcat (VF-9?/VBF-9?) burning aboard USS Lexington (CV-16) after it crashed through the barrier and ruptured the center-line fuel tank, 23 February 1945.

Pilot, ENS Ardon R. Ives, survived the crash but was killed in a dogfight on 22 May 1945, aged 23. He is buried in his hometown, Rockford, Kent County, Michigan.

Photographed by PHOM Codyer.

All photos now in the collections of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

NS021694 : # 80-G-268186.

NS021694a : # 80-G-268187.

NS021694b : # 80-G-268188.

NS021694c : # 80-G-268189.

NS021694d : # 80-G-268190. Note Ives exiting cockpit.

NS021694e : # 80-G-268191. Note crewman helping pilot to safety off the wing.

NS021694f : # 80-G-268192. Note Ives being escorted away.

Dead ahead view, running trials after overhaul. May 14, 1945, Puget Sound, Wash.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Bow view, port side. Puget Sound Navy Yard, 21 May 1945, after overhaul.

PSNY photo #2426-45; BuShips photo # 83701.

USS Lexington (CV-16), May 1945, after overhaul. Location unknow—possibly Bremerton, WA, but might be the San Francisco Bay area or Pearl Harbor.

In 1945 there was still interest in a lightweight weapon able to quickly and independently engage incoming targets, such as kamikazes , with very high firepower. One alternative was the Army Mark 31 .50-cal quadruple mount, tested aboard the fast carriers Wasp and Lexington (six mounts each) and the escort carrier Cape Gloucester (four mounts).

This view of the forward, starboard mount on Lexington was taken sometime between May 1945 and August 1945; the report this picture was enclosed in was dated August and stated they were mounted by May 13, 1945.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo, Record Group 181.

Read the complete "Report on Service Experience with Six Caliber .50 Gun Mounts, Mark 31 mod. 0" , at the Researcher @ Large website.

Aerial view of USS Lexington (CV-16) underway, circa 1945.

Aerial views of USS Lexington (CV-16) underway after her May 1945 overhaul. Official US Navy Photographs in the collections of the National Archives .

Some sources give an exact date for these photos: 16 May 1945. On this date Lexington was engaged in a high-speed trial run near Blake Island, Puget Sound, and carried no aircraft.

(Thanks to Massimiliano Stola, who noted the date originally posted was in error.)

SB2C-4E Helldiver of Bombing Squadron (VB) 94 pictured on the deck of USS Lexington (CV-16) after a landing accident, June–July 1945.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, January 11, 1954. Island and flight deck starboard side - looking forward. (Photo # NY8-10012).

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, January 11, 1954. Erection of new blister framing. Port side looking aft. (Photo # NY8-10020).

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, April 13, 1954. No. 1 and 2 sections of new bow looking aft. (Photo # NY8-11021).

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, April 13, 1954. Installation of bulkheads second to main deck in way of new blister, port side looking aft. (Photo # NY8-11022).

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, April 13, 1954. Flight deck looking forward showing removal of structure for No. 3 deck edge elevator. (Photo # NY8-11023).

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, May 8, 1954. Removal of bent extensions outboard girder and flight deck overhang in way of canted deck. Port side looking forward. (Photo # NY8-11194).

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, June 16, 1954. Looking at flight deck plating removal in way of new landing area (25# STS plating), and new hangar deck extension over the blister. (Photo # NY8-11381).

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, June 16, 1954. Starboard side of flight deck looking forward showing the installation of bents and girders in the after centerline elevator area and also the new smoke pipe cowl. (Photo # NY8-11382).

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, June 16, 1954. Installation of two of the three flight deck sections removed earlier in the conversion. Starboard side, forward. (Photo # NY8-11383).

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, September 15, 1954. Flight deck with all canted deck bents installed. (Photo # NY8-11653).

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, September 22, 1954. Bow section on flat car prior to installation. (Photo # NY8-11733).

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, September 22, 1954. New bow section in place. (Photo # NY8-11734).

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, September 22, 1954. Installation of new bow section. (Photo # NY8-11735).

Color postcard of Lexington at the time she was completing her SCB-27C and -125 modernizations. Shangri-La (CVA-38) and Midway (CVA-41) appear just behind her. This photo would have been taken in the summer of 1955, given the presence of Midway and the clear skies in Bremerton. The other Essex -class carrier, in the background, is probably Yorktown (CVA-10), which finished her own SCB-125 conversion in October 1955.

Ektachrome photo by Roger G. Ewbank, published by J. Boyd Ellis, Arlington, Washington.

USS Lexington (CVA-16) steams out of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, circa summer 1955, headed for her initial sea trials after SCB-27C & -125 conversions. USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42), in the background, is well into her SCB-110 modernization. USS Midway (CVA-41), in the middle distance, is in the very early stages of (or being prepared for) her own SCB-110.

This photo appeared on "Naval Aviation News," November 1955 issue, and on "Our Navy" magazine, 15 February 1957.

"(SE1) BREMERTON, Wash., Aug. 16[, 1955]—THE LEX' REBORN—The modernized aircraft carrier Lexington nestled to her pier after recommissioning ceremonies yesterday as guests and crewmen stream aboard. The Lex' , carrying a name as old as the U.S. Navy, underwent 22 months of modernization, including installation of a new canted deck and a steam catapult for launching her 100 planes. She was decommissioned in 1946. Capt. A.S. Heyward will command the carrier. (AP Wirephoto) (wts22145mbr) 1955"

USS Lexington (CVA-16) steaming in Puget Sound, Washington, 6 September 1955 (colorized photo).

USS Lexington (CVA-16) at Yokosuka, Japan, during her 28 May–17 December 1956 WestPac cruise. Air Task Group (ATG) 1 was aboard. Parked aft on the flight deck are AD-6 Skyraider s from Attack Squadron (VA) 196 "Main Battery."

USS Rainier (AE-5) during underway replenishment with USS Lexington (CVA-16) in August 1957.

USS Lexington (CVA-16) arriving in San Francisco Bay, California, circa early 1958, after a four and one-half month overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington. The "Lady Lex" has the letters "USO" spelled out on her flight deck by members of her crew, in observance of the United Services Organization fundraising drive then being conducted. Note automobiles parked aft, and a wingless UF Albatross behind the island. The original print has the date 8 May 1958 stamped on its reverse.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 97496).

USS Lexington (CVA-16) underway in WestPac waters, with Carrier Air Group 21 (CVG-21), August 16, 1958. Just eight days later, on August 24, Communist Chinese artillery began shelling the Nationalist Chinese islands of Quemoy and Matsu, prompting Blue Ghost 's deployment to the Taiwan Straits at various times during the next four months, along with other units of the Seventh Fleet.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# CVA-16-2720-(L)-8-58).

Another photo of USS Lexington (CVA-16) underway with Carrier Air Group 21 (CVG-21), probably taken during the same deployment (July 14–December 19, 1958; see NS021638 ).

USS Lexington (CVA-16) underway with Carrier Air Group 21 (CVG-21), circa 1958.

USS Lexington (CVA-16) underway with Carrier Air Group 21 (CVG-21).

Bob Brodkin writes: "This photo was taken in 1959 the week that Hawaii became the 50th state in the union. [Hawaii officially became the 50th State on 21 August 1959.] I was attached to Admiral's Staff COMCARDIV 5 aboard the Lex at that time, and I was among the crew on deck at the time of this photo."

"SAN FRANCISCO from the BAY—The natural deep water port of San Francisco could anchor all the 'Flat Tops' and all the navies of the world with room to spare. The City of San Francisco and adjacent areas house about 2,500,000 persons." USS Lexington , late 50s–early 60s.

"Merry Christmas," 1950s–60s.

F3D-2 (F-10B under the 1962 designation system) Skyknight , BuNo 127065, Experimental and Development Squadron (VX) 4. Late 1950s–early 1960s.

USS Halibut (SSGN-587) firing a Regulus missile in front of USS Lexington (CVA-16), 25 March 1960, the first nuclear-powered submarine to successfully launch a guided missile.

USS Lexington (CVA-16) underway, probably during (or shortly before or after) her 1961–62 WestPac cruise.

USS Lexington (CVA-16) launches a North American FJ-4B Fury , BuNo 143524 (modex NP206), from Attack Squadron (VA) 212 "Rampant Raiders," 11 April 1961. Another identifiable FJ-4B is BuNo 143553 (NP207); a Douglas A3D-2 Skywarrior parked on deck aft of the island is BuNo 147650, Heavy Attack Squadron (VAH) 4 "Fourrunners."

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) photo, # USN 1056564.

USS Lexington (CVS-16) underway as a training carrier. U.S. Navy photo, probably taken in the early 1960s.

A nice view of USS Lexington underway as a training carrier, sometime in the 1960s.

Grumman S-2D Tracker anti-submarine aircraft on the port catapult of USS Lexington (CVS-16), 22 January 1963. The Catapult Officer is at left, giving the "launch" signal.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 97498).

USS Lexington (CVS-16) underway on 15 July 1963, with twenty-six T-28 Trojan training planes parked forward and amidships. At this time, Naval Academy midshipmen were riding the ship to observe carrier qualifications.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, # USN 1086588.

USS Lexington (CVS-16) underway. This photo may have been taken within minutes from the photo above .

"Sept. 13[, 1964] A RARE SIGHT—Aircraft carriers and battleships aren't seen together at sea these days, primarily because all of America's battlewagons are in mothballs. But two historic veterans of WW II, the carrier Lexington [(CVS-16)] and the battleship Alabama [(BB-60)] got together in the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend. The Lexington , still in service, was enroute to New Orleans for a visit; the Alabama was being towed to Mobile where it will be enshrined."

"U.S. Navy photographer Gordon Jones of the Lexington took this picture from a helicopter. (OFFICIAL U.S. NAVY PHOTOGRAPH) (AP WIREPHOTO)"

This is TF-9J Cougar , BuNo 142979, from Chase Field, TX-based VT-25 "Cougars," which missed all arresting wires when trying to recover aboard USS Lexington (CVS-16), 24 May 1966. Pilot could be rescued, fortunately.

An A-7A Corsair II of VA-174 "Hell Razors" ready to be launched. VA-174, the East Coast A-7 Readiness Air Group (RAG), operated A-7A's from October 1966–July 1968.

Aerial starboard bow view of the training aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CVT-16) underway. Although the photo is dated 1985, it must have been taken before 1970, as the ship is still fitted with Mk.24 Mod. 11 5-inch 38-cal open gun mounts.

Defense Visual Information Distribution Service , # DN-ST-86-02002.

USS Lexington (CVT-16), sometime in the 1970s.

Kenny behind the island aboard USS Lexington in the 1970s.

Flight deck activity during the 1970s or 1980s. A TA-4J Skyhawk is parked in the center, as another passes overhead.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 97497).

USS Lexington (AVT-16) underway with two Rockwell T-2C Buckeye s of VT-26, based at NAS Chase Field, Beeville, TX, flying overhead, date (1970s–1980s) and location unknown.

The 250,000th arrested landing was made on the USS Lexington (AVT-16) on June 17, 1969, by CAPT Wayne E. Hammett and CDR Donald Jensen (CO of VT-4 training squadron) in a T-2B Buckeye .

Commemorating the 300,000th landing on the USS Lexington .

Tim McGuire notes: "The date was 22 May 1972. They had a big celebration on the flight deck: big cake for all the Air Dept. I was there, somewhere in this picture."

Tom Sawyer comments: "I was serving aboard as a MM3 in Main Control at the time. Better than average chances I was on throttles at the time."

"In 1972, I was stationed on the Lexington (CVT-16) as a PH3. President Richard Nixon asked Don Garlits to do a "Fly Navy Promo" with his car the Swamp Rat 16 . We photographers mates were allowed to photograph the scene while assisting the photographers from "Hot Rod" Magazine. We had to swear we would not sell the photographs we took to any other magazines. This is my shot of the Swamp Rat 16 on the flight deck of the Lexington ," [ready to race an A-7E Corsair II of VA-81 "Sunliners."]

William Carter Fields adds: "The Catapult Officer is LCDR Mckinney, Flight deck Photographer (back to camera) is PH2 John Signaigo, Phone Talker is AN Parrish. I was Flight Deck Control Phone talker when the photo shoot was done."

USS Lexington (AVT-16), Pensacola, FL, 1974. Island.

TA-4J Skyhawk , VT-24 "Bobcats" (Chase Field, Beeville, TX), aboard USS Lexington (AVT-16), Pensacola, FL, 1975.

T-2 Buckeye aboard USS Lexington (AVT-16), Pensacola, FL, 1975.

USS Lexington (AVT-16) underway in the Gulf of Mexico, 1978.

Aerial view of tugs assisting USS Lexington (AVT-16), circa 1980. The ship was docking at the Allegheny Pier, Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, # 1996.488.051.016.

Port bow view of the auxiliary aircraft landing training ship USS Lexington (AVT-16) docked at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, October 1980. U.S. Navy photo.

Konoka (YTM-151) alongside USS Lexington (AVT-16) at Pensacola, FL, circa 1981.

USS Lexington (AVT-16) arriving in Pensacola, near the end of her career.

The training aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CVS-16/CVT-16/AVT-16) moored at Allegheny Pier of the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida (USA). Chevalier Field is visible on the right and the buildings of the mainside portion of the air station are in the background. The photo is dated 1985.

National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) photo, # 1987.171.003.

A TA-4J Skyhawk is catapulted from the training aircraft carrier USS Lexington (AVT-16). Photo is dated 24 October 1985.

Defense Visual Information Distribution Service , # DN-ST-86-00545.

An air-to-air right side view of a restored PBY Catalina aircraft over Naval Air Station, Pensacola, during the celebration of the 75th anniversary of naval aviation. The training aircraft carrier USS Lexington (AVT-16) is in the background. Photo dated 3 May 1986. Photographer unknown.

Defense Visual Information Distribution Service , # DN-SC-87-03196.

An aerial port view of the training aircraft carrier USS Lexington (AVT-16) underway, 1987.

Defense Visual Information Distribution Service , # DN-SN-87-08866.

A Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk aircraft of Training Wing TW-3 waits behind the blast deflector for its turn at the catapult as another Skyhawk clears the flight deck of the auxiliary aircraft landing training ship USS Lexington (AVT-16) during pilot carrier training, 1 April 1989. Photo by Jim Bryant. U.S. Defense Visual Information Distribution Service photo # DN-ST-89-08973.

USS Lexington (AVT-16) returning to her berth at Pensacola Naval Air Station on 30 October 1989. While at sea, there had been a deadly crash of a T-2C Buckeye aboard the ship.

National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) photo, # 1996.488.051.053.

A magnificent photo of USS Lexington (AVT-16) underway in the Gulf of Mexico, 1991.

On 8 March 1991 a milestone trap occurred on this flight deck. LT Kathleen P. Owens of VRC-40 became the last pilot to land aboard USS Lexington (AVT-16), following a Navy decision to decommission the ship. Owens thus became the first female pilot to attain that distinction on a carrier. Lexington also was the first carrier with female crewmembers. The C-2A Greyhound flight crew included LT Paul Villagomez, AM1 Donnie E. Kicklighter, and AD2 Mark F. Pemrick.

Official captions state that these photos show Lexington as she arrives and departs (?) Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on 22 January 1992, but this cannot be correct, as she was decommissioned on 8 November 1991.

NS0216aj : National Naval Aviation Museum photo.

NS0216aja : Defense Media Activity photo, # DN-SC-92-04819.

NS0216ajb : Defense Media Activity photo, # DN-SC-92-04820.

An official Navy photograph of USS Lexington (AVT-16) at Pensacola. The photo shows the Blue Ghost being readied for towing to Corpus Christi, Texas, in December 1991. There is a piece of heavy equipment (painted yellow) on the forward end of the flight deck. This device would be used to attach the tow cable to the anchor chain.

As can be seen in this view, the catapult tracks have been covered over. She is sporting a brand new paint job with the hull and the upper part of the island in Haze Gray 5‑H. The forward part of the island and mast are painted black. The flight deck has a new coat of "anti-skid."

Midway (1976), directed by Jack Smight, with Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn, Glenn Ford, Hal Holbrook, Toshirô Mifune, Robert Mitchum, Cliff Robertson, Robert Wagner. (Aka The Battle of Midway .)

USS Lexington (CVT-16) played the role of all three US carriers involved in the battle—USS Yorktown (CV-5), USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Hornet (CV-8)—and also represented the Japanese carrier Hiryu , with the image reversed to show the ship's island on the port side.

The TV miniseries War and Remembrance was partially filmed aboard USS Lexington (AVT-16) in 1987. The series, directed by Dan Curtis and starred by Robert Mitchum, Jane Seymour, Hart Bochner, Victoria Tennant, and John Gielgud, aired in 1988–1989.

Lexington was altered, to the extent possible, to resemble the World War II USS Enterprise (CV-6).

NS021699a : A motion picture camera rests on the flight deck of Lexington during the filming of War and Remembrance , 12 September 1987, in Pensacola, Florida. Two North American T-6 Texan training aircraft, resembling SBD Dauntless dive bombers and painted in 1942 camouflage, are in the background. US Navy photo by PHC (SW) Jeff Hilton (National Archives identifier: 6432449; local identifier: 330-CFD-DN-ST-88-01792.jpeg).

Lexington , by then a Museum ship, was used to film Pearl Harbor (2001), directed by Michael Bay and starred by Ben Affleck, Kate Beckinsale, Josh Hartnett, Cuba Gooding Jr., Tom Sizemore, Jon Voight, Colm Feore and Alec Baldwin.

Lexington was altered to represent a Japanese carrier, and also USS Hornet (CV-8).

This picture was taken in July 2005, from the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi.

USS Lexington Museum, 19 September 2009.

"Welcome Aboard." .

• Commanding Officers of USS Lexington (CV-16)
• Memorabilia

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The USS Lexinton the Blue Ghost

by JC Findley

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The USS Lexington nicknamed the Blue Ghost

June 21st, 2021

Viewed 213 Times  -  Last Visitor from Romeo, MI on 10/05/2023 at 1:52 AM

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