b'V tAitsittroar Ac titornacstionsThe U.S.S. Lexington CVA-16 was commissioned in 1943 and christened in honor ofFamed Japanese propagandist Tokyo Rose, after reporting in error on numerous the original Lexington, which was lost in 1942 at the Battle of the Coral Sea at theoccasions that the Lexington had been sunk, nicknamed the ship the Blue Ghost, start of World War II. The new Lady Lex set more combat records than any carrier inwhich has stuck to this day. The Lex is credited with destroying over 800 enemy air-U.S. Naval history and today rests in Corpus Christi Bay as the U.S.S. Lexington Muse- craft, 300,000 tons of enemy ships and damaging another 600,000 tons, in Pacific War um on the Bay, a tribute and memorial to those who served defending America. Thebattles that included the Kwajalein Raid, Battle of the Philippine Sea, Battle of Leyte Lexington is the oldest remaining aircraft carrier in the world. Gulf, and in bombing attacks on Japanese home islands at the end of the war.The carriers first action in the war was the raid on Japanese naval forces at KwajaleinEleven of the ships 16 decks are included in tours of the Lex, including the flight deck Atoll in the Marshall Islands, in which her pilots and crew sank a cargo ship, damagedwhere 20 military aircraft are tethered, ranging from a vintage N3N-3 Yellow Pearl bi-two cruisers, and destroyed thirty-two aircraft. The Lexington was stuck by a Japaneseplane to a Blue Angels F/18 Hornet. The popular state-of-the-art, 16 passenger Flight torpedo in an attack that caused major damage, and cost the lives of nine sailors. Simulator is located on the hanger deck, as is the Virtual Battle Stations game center.In what would be the biggest carrier-versus-carrier battle in history, and later knownThe Joe Jessel Mega Theater features both vintage and ultra-modern, aviation and as the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot, over 300 enemy planes were shot down, includ- other adventure films in thundering digital sound and brilliant video projection. Give ing six on a single mission by Navy flying ace, Alexander Vraciu, from the deck of theyourself a good half-day to fully enjoy the U.S.S. Lexington Museum on the Bayan USS Lexington. The fighting capacity of Japanese naval aviation was all but knockedunmatched educational experience in American history.out and the war in the Pacific took an irreversible turn. 2914 N. Shoreline Blvd. on North Beach(361) 888-4873USSLexington.comleft to right :USS Lexington departs an icy Boston Harbor on Feb. 17, 1943, headed for battle in the South Pacific. Torpedo bombers on the flight deck ready to take off, at war in the Pacific. Pilots planning their attack on the deck of the USS Lexington. Ship commanders in the chart room, World War II.44 TEXAS COASTAL BEND GUIDE TheC talBend.comom54 THE COAS TAL BEND TOUR & RELO GUIDE TheCooasastalBend.c'