Christening the USS Lexington CV-16 was Mrs. Theodore Douglas Robinson,
who was not only the civilian sponsor for both the Lexington CV-2 and CV-16,
but also would have the privilege of having christened both ships. The Boston
Naval Yard performed her final outfitting as the crew prepared for her shakedown cruise and sea trials. The Lexington CV-16 was commissioned on Feb. 17,
1943, a full year ahead of schedule!
The Lexington measured 910 feet long and the flight deck was 191 feet wide!
She displaced 42,500 tons fully loaded and could reach a top speed of 33 knots
powered by eight boilers! She carried a complement of 80-100 planes and was
staffed by a crew of approximately 3448. Captain Felix Stump was given the
assignment as the Lexington’s first skipper.
In essence, the Lexington was nearly as fast as a 1940’s high speed recovery boat
and big enough to be called an air force base. 80 to 100 planes!!! That’s HUGE!
The first Lexington was a sixteen-gun brig
that was purchased in March 1776
by the Continental Congress.
The aircraft carrier USS Lexington slanting
after taking hits from Japanese torpedoes,
during the Battle of Midway, 1941.
Lexington (CV-16) on the ways at the
Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, MA, prior
to her Christening and Launching on
Saturday, 26 September 1942. The Blue
Ghost, aka Lady Lex, was completed
well ahead of schedule.
16
Pilots pleased over their victory during the Marshall Islands attack aboard USS Lexington (CV16), after shooting down 17 out of 20 Japanese
planes heading for Tarawa. November 1943.
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