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“Lady Lex”: The USS Lexington (CV-2)
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“Lady Lex”: The USS Lexington (CV-2)

Tank WilliamsBy 14 Mins Read

The USS Lexington (CV-2) served as one of America’s first aircraft carriers, transforming from a battlecruiser design into a symbol of naval aviation power. “Lady Lex” fought valiantly in the Pacific Theater, leaving a legacy that influenced carrier design for generations.

USS Lexington (CV-2) leaving San Diego in October 1941. Planes parked on her flight deck include Brewster F2A fighters (forward), Douglas SBD scout-bombers (amidships) and TBD Devastator torpedo planes (aft). Image: U.S. Navy

Had history gone a different way, the United States Navy might have operated six battlecruisers. Instead, the first two were converted to aircraft carriers in the 1920s, and the other four were canceled entirely. It wouldn’t be hyperbole to suggest that those two vessels helped ensure America’s victory in the Second World War.

Wrong Course

A great irony is that the Lexington­-class battlecruisers were also developed in response to the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Kongō-class battlecruiser, the first of which was actually built in the UK.

At the time, the vessels were seen to feature an effective mix of speed, armor and firepower.

Dual-mount 8-inch gun turret installed aboard USS Lexington CV-2, showing the heavy armament carried by the converted Lexington-class battlecruiser carrier during World War II service. Lady Lex was equipped with eight 8-inch guns in four dual turrets along with a dozen 5-inch anti-aircraft guns when commissioned in late 1927. The Lexington aircraft carrier featured these battleship-caliber weapons because naval aviation was still considered experimental during the 1920s when the converted battlecruisers were completed. USS Lexington CV-2 retained the 8-inch gun armament throughout her service despite carrier doctrine evolving to rely primarily on aircraft for offense and defense. This dual turret mount represented transitional thinking when the United States Navy was uncertain whether carriers could operate effectively without heavy surface combat weapons. The Lexington-class carriers CV-2 and CV-3 Saratoga both carried these 8-inch guns on their converted battlecruiser hulls displacing 36,000 tons. USS Lexington operated under the Washington Naval Treaty provisions allowing battlecruiser conversions to aircraft carriers with added displacement for protection. Lady Lex earned two battle stars during five months of Pacific combat before being lost at the Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942.
USS Lexington CV-2 was armed with eight 8-inch guns mounted in dual turrets. “Lady Lex” also carried a dozen 5-inch anti-aircraft guns when commissioned in 1927. Image: U.S. Navy

However, naval historians now acknowledge that the concept had significant flaws notably that battlecruisers offered little savings in construction costs, yet were far more vulnerable than true battleships. As the large capital battle wagons became faster and armor protection was further improved, the battlecruiser concept became largely obsolete. In that regard, the United States Navy likely dodged a bullet. The two ships converted to aircraft carriers, USS Lexington (CV-2) and USS Saratoga (CV-3), proved invaluable when they were literally needed most.

The Washington Treaty

Following the First World War, attempts were made to prevent another conflict and the naval arms races of the early 20th century, notably the one between the UK and Germany. The Five-Power Treaty, also known as the Washington Naval Treaty, was negotiated at the Washington Naval Conference in late 1921 and early 1922. The British Empire, the United States, France, Italy, and Japan were its signatories.

It limited the construction of battleships, battlecruisers, and aircraft carriers. Not surprisingly, the various signatories sought to exploit loopholes, some of which were closed with the follow-up London Naval Treaty.

USS Lexington CV-2 underway at sea showing the massive converted battlecruiser-turned-aircraft carrier that served the United States Navy during early World War II Pacific operations. Lady Lex featured a 901-foot flight deck that was 100 feet wide operating with 86 aircraft including fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo planes. The Lexington aircraft carrier CV-2 was one of two Lexington-class carriers built under the Washington Naval Treaty after the battlecruiser construction program was canceled in the early 1920s. USS Lexington displaced 36,000 tons on the converted battlecruiser hull and was armed with eight 8-inch guns and twelve 5-inch anti-aircraft guns when commissioned in late 1927. This flattop participated in critical Pacific engagements including operations after Pearl Harbor, attempted Wake Island relief, raids on Rabaul, and the historic Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942. Lady Lex and sister ship Saratoga CV-3 were the largest aircraft carriers in the world when commissioned, pioneering carrier aviation tactics during 1930s naval exercises. USS Lexington CV-2 earned two battle stars before being lost at the Battle of Coral Sea on May 8, 1942, becoming the first American fleet carrier sunk in World War II.
The Lexington aircraft carrier steams at sea, showing the distinctive profile of the converted battlecruiser design. Image: U.S. Navy

The United States canceled the battlecruiser program, with the first two warships converted to aircraft carriers during construction. Washington also used a loophole that allowed the 43,500-ton warships to be converted into carriers, each with a capacity of 33,000 tons. Yet, because they were already under construction, their respective displacement was increased to 36,000 tons, even as the treaty limited such vessels to 25,000 tons. The U.S. took advantage of a clause that specified the added weight would not be included if it was for providing protection from air and submarine attacks. The result was quite capable warships.

Overhead photograph of USS Lexington CV-2 underway in March 1932 showing the massive 901-foot flight deck of the converted Lexington-class battlecruiser carrier with aircraft arranged on deck. Lady Lex operated with 86 warplanes during this peacetime period when the United States Navy was developing and refining carrier aviation tactics through extensive naval exercises. USS Lexington aircraft carrier had participated in Grand Joint Exercise No. 4 just one month earlier in February 1932, conducting a simulated surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The Lexington CV-2 was commissioned in late 1927 under the Washington Naval Treaty that allowed battlecruiser hulls to be converted into carriers with 36,000-ton displacement. This overhead view shows the flight deck that was 100 feet wide with innovative lowerable crash barriers enabling the carrier to quadruple aircraft landing rates compared to other flattops. USS Lexington and sister ship Saratoga CV-3 were the largest aircraft carriers in the world operating twice the number of warplanes as comparable Royal Navy carriers. Lady Lex was still considered experimental when this photograph was taken but would prove highly successful during World War II Pacific operations before being lost at the Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942.
USS Lexington photographed from above in March 1932, showing the massive flight deck and aircraft arrangement. Image: U.S. Navy

For several years, CV-2 and CV-3 were the largest aircraft carriers in the world, outfitted with flight decks that were 901 feet long and 100 feet wide. Moreover, the ships were equipped with lowerable crash barriers, a simple yet still significant innovation that enabled the carriers to quadruple the landing rates of aircraft.

Each carrier operated with 86 aircraft, whereas the Royal Navy’s converted HMS Courageous operated with only half the number of warplanes.

USS Lexington CV-2 moored at Tacoma, Washington supplying emergency electrical power to the city between December 1929 and January 1930 during a severe drought that crippled hydroelectric generation. Lady Lex converted battlecruiser turbines generated enough electricity to power the entire city of Tacoma for over a month during this unique peacetime mission. USS Lexington aircraft carrier featured massive propulsion turbines on the 36,000-ton Lexington-class carrier hull that could be repurposed to generate commercial electrical power. The Lexington CV-2 earned the nickname "Covered Wagon" after this famous incident supplying power to Tacoma when drought conditions reduced water flow for hydroelectric dams. USS Lexington turbines produced megawatts of electricity that kept Tacoma's lights on, streetcars running, and businesses operating during the winter emergency. Lady Lex demonstrated the versatility of the converted battlecruiser design during this unusual mission between regular carrier aviation training exercises. USS Lexington was commissioned in late 1927 under the Washington Naval Treaty and would go on to pioneer carrier warfare tactics throughout the 1930s. The Lexington aircraft carrier earned two battle stars during World War II Pacific operations before being lost at the Battle of Coral Sea on May 8, 1942.
USS Lexington supplies emergency electrical power to Tacoma, Washington during the winter of 1929-1930 when drought crippled the city’s hydroelectric system. Image: U.S. Navy

Yet, as naval aviation was still in infancy, there were still those who believed aircraft alone were not enough, and the Lexington-­class were armed with eight 8-inch guns and a dozen 5-inch anti-aircraft guns. When the carriers were commissioned in late 1927, they were still considered “experimental,” but it was an experiment that proved to be highly successful.

Readying for War

During the 1930s, USS Lexington and USS Saratoga were employed mainly to develop and refine carrier tactics via a series of naval exercises. During the training drills, each aircraft carrier launched simulated “surprise attacks” on Pearl Harbor and even on the West Coast of the United States. The first mock attack was carried out in February 1932 as part of Grand Joint Exercise No. 4, and again during the Fleet Problem XIX drills in March 1938.

USS Lexington CV-2 steaming off Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii with Diamond Head visible in the background on February 2, 1933 during peacetime naval operations. Lady Lex operated from Pearl Harbor throughout the 1930s conducting extensive naval exercises to develop and refine carrier aviation tactics. USS Lexington aircraft carrier had participated in simulated surprise attacks on Pearl Harbor during Grand Joint Exercise No. 4 in February 1932, one year before this photograph was taken. The Lexington CV-2 displaced 36,000 tons on the converted Lexington-class battlecruiser hull featuring a 901-foot flight deck operating 86 aircraft. USS Lexington and sister ship Saratoga CV-3 were the largest aircraft carriers in the world when this photograph was taken, pioneering carrier warfare doctrine from Hawaiian waters. Lady Lex was commissioned in late 1927 under the Washington Naval Treaty that allowed battlecruiser conversions to carriers with displacement exceeding standard treaty limits. The Lexington carrier would conduct another simulated attack on Pearl Harbor during Fleet Problem XIX drills in March 1938, exercises that proved prophetic when Japanese forces attacked in December 1941. USS Lexington CV-2 earned two battle stars during World War II Pacific operations before being lost at the Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942.
USS Lexington steams past Diamond Head off Honolulu in February 1933 during peacetime operations. Image: U.S. Navy

Such exercises should have been a portent of the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, yet any concerns were downplayed. Many naval officials of the era still put their faith in battleships, not aviation. Ironically, USS Lexington and the U.S. Navy’s other carriers were among the targets that IJN hoped to sink in its raid on Pearl Harbor, but by chance, none were at port on that fateful Sunday morning.

As the Japanese carried out the sneak attack, USS Lexington was part of Task Force 12, under the command of Vice Admiral Wilson Brown, having departed Pearl Harbor two days earlier. Joined by three heavy cruisers and five destroyers, the carrier was transporting Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 213 with 18 Vought SB2U Vindicator carrier-based dive bombers to Midway.

The sole surviving Vought SB2U Vindicator dive bomber on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, representing the aircraft type transported by USS Lexington CV-2 to Midway Island in December 1941. Lady Lex was ferrying 18 Vindicator bombers from Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 213 when Pearl Harbor came under Japanese attack. The Lexington aircraft carrier departed Pearl Harbor two days before the December 7th raid as part of Task Force 12 under Vice Admiral Wilson Brown. This older carrier-based dive bomber type served during the opening phase of the Pacific War before being replaced by more capable aircraft like the Douglas SBD Dauntless. USS Lexington CV-2 operated with up to 86 aircraft on its converted battlecruiser hull featuring a 901-foot flight deck. The Lexington-class carriers CV-2 and sister ship Saratoga CV-3 transported various aircraft types during early war missions. This museum artifact represents naval aviation history from the critical period when the United States Navy transitioned to carrier-centric warfare doctrine during World War II.
USS Lexington CV-2 operated various aircraft types, including the SB2U Vindicator during its brief but significant World War II service. This Vindicator is displayed at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. Image: Richard Johnson

Rear Admiral John H. Newton, commander of the carrier task force, received word of the attack on Pearl Harbor and was ordered to rendezvous with Admiral William F. “Bull” Halsey and search together for the Japanese fleet. Some historians have suggested that the aircraft’s search mission would have been better carried out from Midway, but instead, USS Lexington began the search. With more than eight decades of hindsight, it is easy to see that this could have ended in disaster for the United States Navy, as the carrier could have been lost in such a battle with the IJN.

After the attack, CV-2 returned to Pearl Harbor, staying just two days before heading back to sea, where she was ordered to part in the soon-to-be-aborted attempt to relieve Wake Island. Again, that decision was likely for the best.

In early 1942, Task Force 11 was spotted by Japanese submarines near the Johnston Atoll, but depth charges launched by the carrier’s Douglas TBD Devastators allowed the flotilla to avoid another disaster. There were reports that at least one Japanese submarine had taken damage.

CV-2 and Lt. O’Hare’s MoH Flight

Beginning on January 11, 1942, USS Lexington patrolled the Oahu-Johnston-Palmyra triangle, monitoring for Japanese activity. Just over a month later, as the flagship for Vice Admiral Brown, CV-2 departed to raid Rabaul in eastern New Britain, Papua New Guinea, which had fallen to the Japanese.

Its capture had caused great concern in Australia, as there were fears its harbor could serve as a marshalling and supply center for the IJN’s carriers and other warships. It also meant that the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, New Hebrides, and New Caledonia were within striking distance of Japanese forces.

USS Lexington CV-2 flight personnel handling torpedo ordnance on the flight deck prior to World War II during peacetime naval exercises. Lady Lex operated Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo planes that carried these weapons during carrier aviation training throughout the 1930s. USS Lexington aircraft carrier crews trained extensively with torpedoes and other ordnance during naval exercises from Pearl Harbor that developed tactics for carrier-based strike operations. The Lexington CV-2 operated 86 aircraft including torpedo planes, dive bombers, and fighters from the massive 901-foot flight deck on the converted Lexington-class battlecruiser hull. USS Lexington torpedo planes would launch attacks during World War II Pacific operations including the Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942. Lady Lex Devastator aircraft participated in the successful attack on Japanese carrier Shōhō during the Coral Sea engagement before CV-2 was lost to torpedo and bomb damage. USS Lexington was armed with torpedoes stored in the hangar deck that would later detonate during internal explosions on May 8, 1942, contributing to the carrier's loss. The Lexington aircraft carrier earned two battle stars during five months of World War II combat operations before being abandoned and torpedoed by destroyer USS Phelps.
USS Lexington flight personnel handle torpedoes on the flight deck during pre-war operations. Image: U.S. Navy

Brown called for USS Lexington to move to within 125 miles of Rabaul in the nighttime hours, and then at 0400 hours (4 am) on February 21, launch aircraft to strike the Japanese. It didn’t go as planned. On the morning of the 20th, 350 miles east of Rabaul, CV-2’s radar picked up incoming Japanese aircraft, and the American carrier came under attack with two waves of nine aircraft each.

The air wing of USS Lexington responded, shooting down most of the attackers. Although the raid on Rabaul was canceled, in total, 18 Japanese aircraft were destroyed, with the loss of two planes and one pilot from the U.S. carrier.

It was during that action that Lt. Edward “Butch” O’Hare, flying a Grumman F4F Wildcat, became the first U.S. Navy “ace” of the Second World War. O’Hare was one of just two fighters available when the second wave attacked. He was credited with engaging nine Japanese bombers that approached the carrier, and he single-handedly shot down five Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” bombers, one of which attempted to crash on CV-2’s flight deck.

USS Lexington CV-2 moored at Long Beach, California in September 1936 during a publicity visit showcasing the massive aircraft carrier to the American public. Lady Lex made port calls along the West Coast during the 1930s while conducting extensive naval exercises to develop carrier aviation tactics. USS Lexington aircraft carrier featured a 901-foot flight deck operating 86 warplanes on the converted Lexington-class battlecruiser hull displacing 36,000 tons. The Lexington CV-2 had participated in simulated attacks on West Coast cities and Pearl Harbor during training exercises that demonstrated carrier strike capabilities. USS Lexington and sister ship Saratoga CV-3 were the largest aircraft carriers in the world when this publicity photograph was taken, still considered experimental but proving highly successful. Lady Lex was commissioned in late 1927 under the Washington Naval Treaty that allowed battlecruiser conversions to carriers with innovative lowerable crash barriers on the flight deck. USS Lexington would continue refining carrier tactics throughout the 1930s before participating in critical World War II Pacific operations. The Lexington carrier earned two battle stars during five months of combat before being lost at the Battle of Coral Sea on May 8, 1942.
A publicity photo of the USS Lexington at Long Beach, California in September of 1936. Image: U.S. Navy

For his actions, O’Hare was awarded the Medal of Honor.

However, O’Hare didn’t survive the war; he was killed in action in late November 1943 during the Battle of Tarawa. The United States Navy named DD-889, a Gearing-class destroyer, in his honor, while Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is also named for him. A Grumman F4F-3, similar to the one he flew during the Medal of Honor action, is now on display in the airport’s Terminal 2.

Battle of Coral Sea

On May 6, 1942, the Philippines fell to the Japanese forces. It was a significant setback for the Allied forces in the Pacific, paving the way for the IJN to move southward virtually unmolested. Two days before the final U.S. and Filipino forces surrendered in the Philippines, the first naval engagement in which carriers fought one another had begun, and the first without the warships seeing or firing each other directly.

Five-inch/25 caliber antiaircraft guns firing during practice exercises aboard USS Lexington CV-2 around 1928, shortly after the carrier was commissioned in late 1927. Lady Lex was armed with twelve 5-inch antiaircraft guns along with eight 8-inch guns on the converted Lexington-class battlecruiser hull. USS Lexington aircraft carrier crews trained extensively with gunnery and aviation operations as the United States Navy developed carrier warfare doctrine throughout the late 1920s and 1930s. The Lexington CV-2 featured these antiaircraft weapons because early carrier design philosophy assumed aircraft alone would be insufficient for naval combat and air defense. USS Lexington displaced 36,000 tons on the converted battlecruiser hull that was originally designed for surface combat before conversion under the Washington Naval Treaty. Lady Lex 5-inch guns provided defense against aerial attacks during World War II Pacific operations including engagements near Pearl Harbor, Rabaul, and the Battle of Coral Sea. USS Lexington antiaircraft guns helped defend the carrier during Japanese aerial attacks on May 8, 1942, though the flattop was ultimately struck by two torpedoes and multiple bombs. The Lexington aircraft carrier earned two battle stars during five months of combat before being lost at the Battle of Coral Sea.
Five-inch anti-aircraft guns aboard USS Lexington CV-2 fire during practice exercises around 1928. Image: U.S. Navy

The Battle of the Coral Sea has been described as a battle of errors, with both sides making costly mistakes. It was also the first time that the Japanese advance in the Pacific was checked.

The U.S. Navy had an advantage as it had learned of Japanese movements through signals intelligence and dispatched two carrier task forces, along with a joint Australian-American cruiser force, to oppose the offensive. USS Lexington and USS Yorktown (CV-5) arrived and began to search for the enemy.

USS Lexington CV-2 under air attack during the Battle of Coral Sea on May 8, 1942, photographed from a Japanese aircraft during the assault on the American carrier. Lady Lex maneuvers to evade bombs and torpedoes as Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft press their attack against the Lexington-class carrier. USS Lexington aircraft carrier was struck by two Type 91 torpedoes at 1120 hours followed by multiple aerial bombs during this engagement. The Lexington CV-2 operated 86 aircraft from the 901-foot flight deck on the converted battlecruiser hull displacing 36,000 tons when Japanese carrier planes attacked. USS Lexington antiaircraft guns including twelve 5-inch mounts fired at attacking bombers and torpedo planes during this assault captured from enemy pilot perspective. Lady Lex suffered catastrophic damage during the Battle of Coral Sea attack with torpedo hits and bomb strikes including a 1,000-pounder that destroyed Admiral Aubrey Fitch's cabin. USS Lexington crew fought fires throughout the day but internal explosions from detonating ordnance made the carrier impossible to save. The Lexington aircraft carrier was abandoned in late afternoon with more than 300 crew evacuated before CV-2 was torpedoed by destroyer USS Phelps.
USS Lexington under air attack as photographed from a Japanese plane. Heavy black smoke from her stack and white smoke from her bow indicate that the view was taken just after those areas were hit by bombs. Image: U.S. Navy

On May 7, 1942, seaplanes spotted an enemy task force, and CV-2’s air group was launched, followed shortly after by aircraft from CV-5. In total, 92 planes flew to the coordinates provided by the search aircraft. They found nothing but stormy weather.

Then Lt. Commander Weldon L. Hamilton, flying a Dauntless dive bomber from CV-2, spotted an IJN task force consisting of four heavy cruisers, one destroyer, and most notably the light carrier Shōhō. Hamilton alerted the air group, which shortly after began its attack. Shōhō became the first Japanese carrier to be sunk by aircraft from a U.S. Navy carrier.

A Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber aircraft in flight during World War II Pacific operations, similar to those flown from USS Lexington CV-2 during combat missions in 1942. The Lady Lex aircraft carrier launched numerous Dauntless bombers during early war engagements including operations near Wake Island and the Battle of Coral Sea. This carrier-based dive bomber type served as the primary attack aircraft aboard the Lexington-class carriers CV-2 and CV-3 Saratoga during the critical opening months of the Pacific War. Navy aviators flying from the USS Lexington flattop conducted strike missions against Japanese naval forces and installations throughout the Coral Sea campaign. The converted battlecruiser-turned-aircraft carrier operated with 86 aircraft including dive bombers, torpedo planes, and fighters. Dauntless dive bombers from Lady Lex participated in the sinking of the Japanese light carrier Shōhō in May 1942. These naval aviation assets proved invaluable as the United States Navy transitioned from battleship-centric warfare to carrier-based operations during World War II Pacific theater combat.
Navy dive bombers proved essential during early Pacific operations when the USS Lexington CV-2 and other carriers scrambled to respond to Japanese advances. Image: U.S. Navy

It prompted the now infamous radio message from Lt. Commander Robert Ellington Dixon of, “Scratch one flattop!”

The warship went down quickly with 631 men on board, while only 132 of her crew were rescued. Shōhō was just the first, but not the last, carrier to be lost in the engagement.

USS Lexington CV-2 crewmen sliding down lines from the stern of the burning aircraft carrier during abandonment on the afternoon of May 8, 1942 at the Battle of Coral Sea. A whaleboat stands by off the starboard quarter of Lady Lex while a motor launch waits astern to collect evacuating sailors. More than 300 Lexington crew members descended from lifelines into the warm Coral Sea waters after Captain Frederick C. Sherman ordered abandon ship in late afternoon. USS Lexington CV-2 had suffered two Type 91 torpedo hits and multiple aerial bomb strikes causing uncontrollable fires throughout the converted Lexington-class battlecruiser carrier. The Lexington aircraft carrier crew fought fires for hours but internal explosions from detonating ordnance knocked out engine room ventilators making the flattop impossible to save. Admiral Aubrey Fitch told Captain Sherman to evacuate the crew after it became apparent USS Lexington couldn't be salvaged despite heroic damage control efforts. Every living soul aboard Lady Lex was rescued by escorting vessels including USS Minneapolis CL-36 and destroyers though 216 sailors and aviators had been killed during Japanese attacks. Admiral Fitch and Captain Sherman were the last to leave the doomed carrier before USS Phelps torpedoed the burning flattop.
Crewmen sliding down lines as the USS Lexington (CV-2) is abandoned during the afternoon of May 8, 1942. Image: U.S. Navy

As the first significant battle between carrier planes, both sides learned valuable lessons, notably the performance of each other’s aircraft. Japanese aviators found that the American warbirds were tough and rugged, which added to the challenge of shooting them down. Even the Devastators, which should have been replaced by more capable aircraft, served with distinction. Of the 92 aircraft launched, all but three returned from the initial sortie.

The next morning, the U.S. sought to find and attack the fleet carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku. In the late morning, a Devastator attack was carried out on the Shokaku, inflicting heavy damage, forcing the IJN carrier to withdraw.

Massive mushroom cloud rising from USS Lexington CV-2 after a catastrophic explosion aboard the burning aircraft carrier on May 8, 1942 during the Battle of Coral Sea. This tremendous explosion probably resulted from torpedo warheads stored in the starboard side of the hangar aft detonating at approximately 1727 hours following an earlier explosion amidships. Lady Lex had been fighting uncontrollable fires since being struck by two Type 91 torpedoes at 1120 hours and multiple aerial bombs from Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft. USS Lexington CV-2 crew spent hours battling flames throughout the converted Lexington-class battlecruiser carrier but internal explosions knocked out engine room ventilators. The Lexington aircraft carrier explosion from detonating torpedo warheads created this mushroom cloud visible for miles across the Coral Sea. This devastating blast convinced Admiral Aubrey Fitch and Captain Frederick C. Sherman that USS Lexington couldn't be saved despite heroic damage control efforts. The carrier was abandoned shortly after this explosion with more than 300 sailors evacuating into the Coral Sea before being rescued by USS Minneapolis and destroyers. Lady Lex became the first United States Navy fleet aircraft carrier lost in World War II after earning two battle stars during five months of Pacific combat.
A mushroom cloud rises after a heavy explosion on board USS Lexington (CV-2). This is probably the great explosion from the detonation of torpedo warheads. Image: U.S. Navy

However, the returning U.S. aircraft found that both USS Lexington and USS Yorktown had come under attack. At 1120 hours on May 8, two Type 91 torpedoes had struck CV-2. It was followed by multiple aerial bombs that crippled the American flattop. A 1,000-pounder even destroyed the cabin of Admiral Aubrey Fitch, who had taken command of the Task Group 17.5 from Brown.

Fortunately, the Japanese fleet was in no shape to press on. With the loss of its light carrier, along with a destroyer and several minesweepers, plus the damage to Shokaku, the IJN was forced to head for home. It seemed like an American victory.

That changed as the day continued.

Massive explosion rocking USS Lexington CV-2 and blowing aircraft off the flight deck during the Battle of Coral Sea on May 8, 1942. Lady Lex suffered catastrophic internal explosions after being struck by two Japanese Type 91 torpedoes and multiple aerial bombs during morning attacks. The Lexington aircraft carrier crew fought uncontrollable fires throughout the day before cascading explosions from detonating ordnance made abandoning ship necessary. USS Lexington CV-2 explosions ignited aviation fuel and torpedo warheads stored in the hangar deck of the converted Lexington-class battlecruiser carrier. Internal detonations knocked out engine room ventilators and threatened to destroy the entire 36,000-ton flattop displacing warplanes from the 901-foot flight deck. The Lexington carrier had been operating 86 aircraft when Japanese attacks crippled the converted battlecruiser during the first major carrier-versus-carrier engagement. Captain Frederick C. Sherman ordered abandon ship after Admiral Aubrey Fitch determined USS Lexington couldn't be saved despite hours of damage control efforts. More than 300 crew members evacuated Lady Lex with every survivor rescued though 216 sailors had been killed during the attacks.
A heavy explosion on board USS Lexington (CV-2) blows an aircraft over her side, 8 May 1942. Image: U.S. Navy

CV-2’s crew spent much of the day fighting the fires that had broken out, but by the late afternoon, it became apparent that the carrier couldn’t be saved. The fires were uncontrollable, and an internal explosion knocked out the ship’s engine room ventilators. There were very real concerns that the heat would detonate the ordnance on the hangar deck and storage areas. The decision was made to abandon ship, with the flag transferred to the New Orleans-class cruiser USS Minneapolis (CL-36).

Admiral Fitch told Captain Frederick C. Sherman, commanding officer of USS Lexington, “Ted, let’s get the men off.”

More than 300 sailors descended from lifelines into the warm waters of the Coral Sea. Fitch and Sherman were the last to leave the doomed carrier. Although 216 had been killed in the attacks, every living soul on board, including the captain’s dog, was subsequently rescued by that evening.

Surprisingly, despite the pounding she had taken, USS Lexington wouldn’t sink — a lasting testament to her design and construction. Flames continued to shoot hundreds of feet in the air.

USS Lexington CV-2 crewmen being rescued and pulled aboard USS Minneapolis CL-36 after abandoning the burning aircraft carrier during the Battle of Coral Sea on May 8, 1942. Lady Lex survivors descended from lifelines into the warm waters of the Coral Sea after Captain Frederick C. Sherman ordered abandon ship in the late afternoon. More than 300 sailors evacuated the doomed Lexington carrier after two Type 91 torpedoes and multiple aerial bombs struck the converted battlecruiser causing uncontrollable fires. USS Lexington crew fought fires throughout the day but internal explosions knocked out engine room ventilators and threatened to detonate ordnance in hangar deck storage areas. Admiral Aubrey Fitch told Captain Sherman to get the men off the carrier after it became apparent the flattop couldn't be saved. Every living soul aboard USS Lexington CV-2 was rescued by escorting vessels including the New Orleans-class cruiser Minneapolis and destroyers, though 216 crew had been killed during Japanese attacks. Lady Lex Admiral Fitch and Captain Sherman were the last to leave the burning carrier. USS Lexington wouldn't sink despite the pounding and was finally torpedoed by destroyer USS Phelps to prevent capture by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Survivors of USS Lexington are pulled aboard the cruiser USS Minneapolis after the carrier was abandoned during the afternoon of 8 May 1942. Image: U.S. Navy

Finally, at 1915 hours, the Porter-class destroyer USS Phelps (DD-360) fired five torpedoes into CV-2 to ensure the carrier wouldn’t be captured by the IJN. USS Lexington became the first United States Navy aircraft carrier lost in the conflict, although the USS Langley (CV-1), which had been a collier converted to a carrier and then to a seaplane tender, had been scuttled two months earlier.

On June 24, 1942, USS Lexington was officially struck from the Naval Register.

Legacy of USS Lexington

The loss of USS Lexington was a heavy blow for the U.S. Navy, but it was part of the price paid to halt the Japanese expansion. Although her service in the Second World War was just over five months, she was awarded two battle stars, along with the American Defense Service Medal with “Fleet” clasp, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Group of United States Navy sailors rescued from USS Lexington CV-2 posing for photograph after being returned to Hawaii following the Battle of Coral Sea on May 8, 1942. Lady Lex survivors were evacuated from the burning carrier after Captain Frederick C. Sherman ordered abandon ship in late afternoon when uncontrollable fires made salvage impossible. USS Lexington aircraft carrier crew members descended lifelines into the warm Coral Sea waters before being rescued by USS Minneapolis CL-36 and escorting destroyers from Task Group 17.5. More than 300 Lexington CV-2 sailors were pulled from the water with every living soul aboard the carrier saved including Captain Sherman's dog. USS Lexington had been struck by two Type 91 torpedoes and multiple aerial bombs during Japanese attacks that morning causing catastrophic fires throughout the converted Lexington-class battlecruiser. Lady Lex survivors were transported back to Pearl Harbor after the Battle of Coral Sea though 216 crew members and aviators had been killed during the attacks. USS Lexington CV-2 became the first United States Navy fleet aircraft carrier lost in World War II after earning two battle stars during five months of Pacific combat operations.
Sailors rescued from the Lexington aircraft carrier gather for a group photo after arriving back at Pearl Harbor. Image: U.S. Navy

On March 4, 2018, an expedition to the Coral Sea led by Microsoft founder and philanthropist Paul Allen from the research vessel RV Petrel discovered the remains of CV-2. USS Lexington remains at a depth of approximately 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) at a distance of more than 500 miles (800 kilometers) from Queensland, Australia.

The name USS Lexington also lived on with the Essex-class carrier, CV-16, which was commissioned in February 1943. She went on to see extensive service in the Pacific War and remained in service until 1991. She is now preserved as a museum ship at Corpus Christi, Texas. Although her surviving sister ships — including the USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Intrepid (CV-11), and USS Hornet (CV-12) — have lower hull numbers, CV-16 was laid down and commissioned earlier, with USS Lexington now remaining the oldest remaining fleet carrier in the world.

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