The Lexington underwent sea trials off the Virginia Capes followed by a shakedown cruise in the Gulf of Paria, located off the South American coast and
well protected from the spying eyes of German U-boats. It was in this bay that
her air crews learned the art of carrier flight operations. She returned to the
Boston Naval yard for a final tune up before leaving for the Pacific theater of
operations. She traversed the Panama Canal July 26-27 after making a quick
stop in San Francisco, Calif., to load a battalion of U.S. Marines aboard. It took
two weeks to make the trip to Hawaii and during this time the Lexington’s crew
used it to receive training critical to the success of their mission. She arrived
at Pearl Harbor, located on the south side of the island of Oahu, Aug. 9, 1943.
Pearl Harbor was the “calm before the storm” for the crew of the Lexington. The
next several weeks at Pearl Harbor were spent replenishing stores and receiving
repairs before heading off to the war zone. Part of the crew toured Ford Island
where battleship row received the brunt of a surprise attack on the morning of
Dec. 7, 1941. Viewing the damage done by the Japanese on that Day of Infamy
provided the resolve needed to sail into harm’s way to stop the Japanese advance.
The Lexington left Pearl Harbor in September 1943 to join Task Force 50.1. For
the next two years the Lady Lex participated in most major naval operations
in the Pacific theater. From Sept. 18 thru Oct. 6, her planes raid