The remains of the aircraft carrier USS Lexington, which was sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea in May, 1942, has been found two miles under water by a research team led by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The Lady Lex was found about 500 miles from Australia by Allen’s Research Vessel Petrel, which located 11 of the carrier’s 35 planes on board, and took a close-up picture of a Grumman Wildcat, top.
The Lexington was hit by Japanese torpedo planes and dive bombers during what has been considered the first battle between aircraft carriers in the world. After a massive explosion and fire, the captain ordered “abandon ship.” During the battle, 216 crew members died, but 2,770 survived; they were picked up by other U.S. warships nearby.
Captain Frederick Carl Sherman and his Executive Officer, Commander Morton T. Seligman, were the last to leave the ship. They survived, as did the captain’s dog, Wags.
The ship will not be disturbed since it is considered a war grave.
Here’s a great story in The Washington Post about the Lexington and it’s discovery, plus a video, below:
