Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Aircraft Carrier Photo Archive


Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS LEXINGTON   (CV-16)
(later CVA-16, CVS-16, CVT-16 and AVT-16)



Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Bravo - Golf - Victor
Tactical Voice Radio Call: "SPARTAN"


Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons







Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Presidential Unit Citation
2nd Row: Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2) / Navy Expeditionary Service Medal / China Service Medal (extended)
3rd Row: American Campaign Medal / Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (11 stars) / World War II Victory Medal
4th Row: Navy Occupation Service Medal ("Asia" clasp) / National Defense Service Medal (2) / Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3)
5th Row: Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon / Philippine Presidential Unit Citation / Philippine Liberation Medal (2 stars)

Essex Class Aircraft Carrier
Ordered Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Stricken
9 Sep 1940 15 Jul 1941 26 Sep 1942 17 Feb 1943
1 Sep 1955
23 Apr 1947
8 Nov 1991

8 Nov 1991
Builder: Bethlehem Steel Corp., Fore River, Quincy, Mass.

Specifications
(As built, 1943)
Displacement: 27,100 tons standard; 36,380 tons full load
Dimensions (wl): 820' x 93' x 28.5' (full load)  /  249.9 x 28.3 x 8.7 (full load) meters
Dimensions (max.): 872' x 147.5'  /  265.8 x 45 meters
Armor: 4"-2.5" belt; 1.5" hangar & protective deck(s); 4" bulkheads; 1.5" STS (top, side of pilot house); 2.5" (top) steering gear
Power plant: 8 boilers (565 psi, 850°F); 4 steam turbines; 4 shafts; 150,000 shp (design)
Speed: 32.7 knots
Endurance (design): 20,000 nautical miles @ 15 knots
Armament: 4 twin & 4 single 5"/38 gun mounts; 8 quad 40-mm/56-cal gun mounts; 46 single 20-mm/70-cal guns mounts
Aircraft: 96 (Air Group 16, February 1943)
Aviation facilities: 1 deck-edge, 2 centerline elevators; 1 flight deck catapult
Crew: 2,600+ (ship's company + air wing, as designed)

(After SCB-27C + SCB-125, 1955)
Displacement: 30,580 tons standard; 43,060 tons full load
Dimensions (wl): 820' x 103' x 30' 4" (full load)  /  249.9 x 31.4 x 9.2 (full load) meters
Dimensions (max.): 880' (894.5' over catapult booms) x 166' 10"  /  268.2 (272.6 over catapult booms) x 50.9 meters
Armor: belt replaced by blister with 60-lb STS
Power plant: (as above)
Speed: 30.7 (max) / 29.1 (sust) knots
Endurance (design): n/a
Armament: 7 single 5"/38 gun mounts; 4(?) twin 3"/50 gun mounts
Aircraft: ~70 (CVA role), ~50 (CVS role)
Aviation facilities: 2 deck-edge, 1 centerline elevators; 2 steam catapults (C 11)
Crew: 3,525 (ship's company + air wing)
Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
The Early Years — World War II
CV-16 Lexington
NS021646
238k

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. The photo is in the collection of the National Archives.

Lexington was sponsored by Mrs. Theodore D. Robinson, wife of the former Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1924–1929). Mrs. Robinson had also sponsored the previous Lexington (CV-2) in 1925.

Robert M. Cieri
CV-16 Lexington
NS021636
103k Launching. Quincy, Mass., Saturday, September 26, 1942. Haze Gray & Underway
CV-16 Lexington
NS021604
86k

USS Lexington (CV-16) steams through floating ice in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, on 17 February 1943, the day she first went into commission. Note snow on her flight deck, and open catapult track on the starboard side, forward.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-35657).

Scott Dyben
CV-16 Lexington
NS021647
255k

While on sea trials off the Virginia Capes, Carrier Air Group 16 flew aboard, thus the first landing was made by CAG LCDR T. B. Southerland, in an F6F-3 Hellcat on 23 April 1943. This is an Official US Navy Photograph in the collection of the National Archives.

Robert M. Cieri
CV-16 Lexington
NS021648
148k

Aerial view of USS Lexington (CV-16) as she arrives at Pearl Harbor for the first time, August 9, 1943. Official US Navy Photograph in the collection of the National Archives.

Robert M. Cieri
CV-16 Lexington
NS021605
68k

An F6F-3 Hellcat of Fighting Squadron Sixteen (VF-16) gets the take-off flag from Lieutenant John M. Clark, during operations in the Gilberts and Marshalls, 23 November 1943. VF-16 pilots shot down seventeen Japanese aircraft on that day.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-44605).

Scott Dyben
CV-16 Lexington
NS021610
63k

Aircraft return to the carrier during the Gilberts operation, November 1943. Crewmen in the foreground are sitting on the wing of an SBD-5, as an F6F-3 lands and a TBF-1 taxiies to a parking place on the forward flight deck. Photographed by Commander Edward Steichen, USNR.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-15290).

Scott Dyben
CV-16 Lexington
NS021614
105k

Fighting Squadron Sixteen (VF-16) Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Paul D. Buie, (center) briefs his pilots for an upcoming mission, during the Gilberts operation, November-December 1943. An F6F-3 Hellcat fighter is behind them. Note flight gear, markings on helmets and life vests. Pilot at left wears a .45 caliber pistol.

Photographed by Commander Edward Steichen, USNR.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-16053).

NHC
CV-16 Lexington
NS021606
80k

USS Lexington (CV-16) underway during the Gilberts operation, as seen from USS Monterey (CVL-26), November-December 1943. The original photograph is dated 5 December 1943, but must have been taken earlier than that.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-366924).

Scott Dyben
CV-16 Lexington
NS021602
75k

Photographed from USS Cowpens (CVL-25) during raids in the Marshalls and Gilberts Islands, November-December 1943. She is painted in camouflage Measure 21.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-K-102).

Naval Historical Center
CV-16 Lexington
NS021618
30k

Port bow view, underway at 25 knots, 14 February 1944. Lexington was torpedoed off Kwajalein, 4 December 1943, and reached Bremerton, Wash., 22 December for full repairs, completed in February 1944.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CV-16 Lexington
NS021650
111k

Bow view, starboard side, Puget Sound Navy Yard, 16 February 1944 (just a year after she was commissioned.) Lexington had been under repair for torpedo damage (see NS021618) and addition of more quad 40mm mounts to upgrade her AA capability.

PSNY photo # 577-44; BuShips photo # 60820.

David Buell
CV-16 Lexington
NS021650a
114k

Aft view, starboard side, as above.

PSNY photo # 579-44; BuShips photo # 60821.

CV-16 Lexington
NS021601
173k

USS Lexington after repair of torpedo damage. USN photo, probably taken on 20 February 1944.

David Buell
CV-16 Lexington
NS021619
50k

Underway on March 10, 1944.

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CV-16 Lexington
NS021603
147k

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).

Scott Dyben
CV-16 Lexington + DD-745
NS0574504
63k

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

National Archives (College Park, Maryland) photo.

Tracy White
CV-16 Lexington
NS021620
57k

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

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CV-16 Lexington
NS021651
86k

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

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

David Buell
CV-16 Lexington
NS021621
58k

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.

Tracy White
SCB-27C + SCB-125 Modernization
Undergoing Modernization
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021622
77k

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

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021623
49k

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

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021624
54k

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

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021625
70k

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).

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021626
70k

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

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021627
83k

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).

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021628
94k

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).

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021629
86k

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).

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021630
62k

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).

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021631
82k

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

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021632
45k

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

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021633
51k

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

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021634
58k

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

Seattle Branch of the National Archives photo.

Tracy White
CV-16 Lexington
NS021652
200k

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.

David Buell
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021637
168k

USS Lexington (CVA-16) steams out of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, circa September 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.

David Buell
After Modernization
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021611
163k

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).

NHC
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021638
107k

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).

Robert M. Cieri
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021639
129k

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).

Robert M. Cieri
CVA-16 Lexington
NS021654
181k

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

David Buell
As a Training Carrier
CVS-16 Lexington
NS021613
84k

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).

NHC
CVS-16 Lexington
NS021615
84k

USS Lexington (CVS-16) underway on 15 July 1963, with twenty-six T-28 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).

NHC
CVS-16 Lexington
NS021653
174k

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.

Robert M. Cieri
CVT/AVT-16 Lexington
NS021612
104k

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).

NHC
AVT-16 Lexington
NS021640
33k

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

Robert Hurst
AVT-16 Lexington
NS021642
82k

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.

Courtesy of the USS Lexington CV 16 Association
CVT-16 Lexington
NS021643
132k

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."

Robert M. Cieri
CVT-16 Lexington
NS021649
203k

"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."]

Officer John C. Driskill
AVT-16 Lexington
NS021641
93k

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

Robert M. Cieri
AVT-16 Lexington
NS021655
194k

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

Robert M. Cieri
USS Lexington Museum on the Bay
Corpus Christi, TX

Lexington Museum
NS021635
136k

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

DC2(SS) David Johnston, USNR
Lexington Museum
NS021644
128k

Brochure.

Robert M. Cieri
Lexington Museum
NS021645
167k

"Welcome Aboard.".

Robert M. Cieri

For more photos and information about this ship, see:

View the USS Lexington (CV-16 / CVA-16 / CVS-16 / CVT-16 / AVT-16)
DANFS History entry located on the Naval Historical Center Web Site.

Crew Contact and Reunion Information
Date:  
Place:  
Contact: Mr. John Miller Jr
Address: 2101 W Birchwood Ave
Milwaukee, WI, 53221-4265
Phone: 414-282-6831
E-mail:  
Web site: USS Lexington CV 16 Association
Remarks:  

Related Links
Hazegray & Underway World Aircraft Carrier Pages by Andrew Toppan.
Official U.S. Navy Carrier Website
CV-16 Lexington at the Researcher @ Large Website
USS Lexington CV 16 Association Website
USS Lexington CV-16 - USS Lex and Crew by Paty Cannon Vido

Main
Photo Index
Aircraft Carrier
Photo Index Page
Auxiliary Aircraft Landing Training Ship (AVT)
Index Page

Comments, Suggestions or Image submissions, E-mail Carrier Information
Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster

This page was created by Paul Yarnall and is maintained by Fabio Peña
All Pages Copyright © 1996 – 2008 Paul R. Yarnall ©2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.

Last update: 3 February 2008