The link has several photos.

https://www.stripes.com/news/u...r-australia-1.515140

USS Lexington, first aircraft carrier sunk in WWII, found near Australia

By WYATT OLSON | STARS AND STRIPES
Published: March 5, 2018

Searchers have found the wreckage of the USS Lexington, the aircraft carrier sunk 76 years ago near Australia during the world’s first carrier-versus-carrier battle.

The Lexington was critically damaged by Japanese forces during the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8, 1942, and the U.S. Navy was forced to scuttle it.

The ship’s wreck was located Sunday by the research vessel Petrel, which is owned by billionaire explorer Paul Allen. The wreck rested about 500 miles off the eastern coast of Australia and about two miles below the water’s surface.

Images released by the searchers show a wreck with stunningly intact features, including a 5-inch gun with the rifling still visible inside the barrel. The ship’s name remains visible on several areas, and an intact fighter plane is still emblazoned with U.S. star emblems.

“Lexington was on our priority list because she was one of the capital ships that was lost during WWII,” said Robert Kraft, director of subsea operations for Allen, in a statement. “Based on geography, time of year and other factors, I work with Paul Allen to determine what missions to pursue. We’ve been planning to locate the Lexington for about six months and it came together nicely.”

Adm. Harry Harris, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, whose father served on the Lexington and survived the attack, heralded the find.

“As the son of a survivor of the USS Lexington, I offer my congratulations to Paul Allen and the expedition crew of Research Vessel (R/V) Petrel for locating the ‘Lady Lex,’ sunk nearly 76 years ago at the Battle of Coral Sea,” Harris said in a statement issued from Australia, where he was meeting with that country’s military leaders.

“Our Navy’s strength comes from those who have gone before,” he said. “This is our heritage. Our Navy’s strength comes from those who serve now.”

After a series of initial successes in the Pacific — including the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 — Imperial Japan experienced its first military setback during the Battle of the Coral Sea.

The Lexington, launched in 1925 as one of America’s first carriers, went down with 35 aircraft aboard, and 216 crew members died in the battle.

The Lexington and the USS Yorktown faced three Japanese carriers during the Battle of the Coral Sea, which spanned May 4-8.

The Lexington was hit by multiple torpedoes and bombs during the final day of the battle. Uncontrollable fire on the ship forced the crew to abandon it.

The USS Phelps sank the hobbled Lexington with torpedoes, giving it the dubious distinction of being the first aircraft carrier to sink during wartime.

The Lexington’s 2,770 crew members were shuttled onto other nearby ships in the U.S. fleet.

The United States also lost the USS Sims and USS Neosho in the battle, with the USS Yorktown sustaining heavy damage.

The Japanese lost one light carrier, the Shoho, and one of its fleet carriers was heavily damaged.

The Battle of the Coral Sea marked a new era of Navy warfare, where battles would often be fought between carrier-launched planes, with ships never even coming within sight of each other.

Along with the Battle of Midway a month later, the Battle of the Coral Sea ended Japan’s advance in the Pacific.

Since deploying in 2017, the Petrel has made several discoveries of military ships in the Philippine Sea, including wreckage from the USS Ward, which fired the first shot of World War II at Pearl Harbor.

That guy is my hero. It is what I would probably do if I had all that disposable income. . .

Most hi-tech bajillionaires are doing things with their loot I consider useless at best and harmful at worst. I will give Bill Gates credit for what he is trying to do in health; and I will give Paul Allen tons of credit for supporting this historic work.

Wow!!! I can't believe the condition of the airplanes! And to see the flags still painted on the fuselage. Amazing!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 4x5,

My Dad had some shots mostly of Pearl Harbor and the damage done on that fateful day. This was among those old photos.

Wow nice find, My FIL was on the USS Neosho also sank during he Battle Of the Coral Sea. Told of how they survived for Four Day’s diving into the ship and getting supplies. The sharks were horrible and the sailors would take turns in the water hanging onto the life raft. Some just let go of the raft and disappear into the water. He was also on the Neosho when it was in Pearl Harbor the day of the attack. They came into harbor the night before. The attack was so planned each Japanese pilot had his assigned target. Since the Neosho was not in harbor no pilot had targeted it. The Neosho was a tanker and was full of diesel fuel and air plane fuel. The commander received the Navy Cross for moving the Neosho under battle out of the Harbor and behind Ford Island. RIP TR

Those were amazing clear images. I'm surprised the ship is in good shape after that long at the bottom of the sea

Allen does some cool stuff with his wealth. Some things not so cool, but overall better than the average billionaire..

That is incredible, thanks for sharing

Thanks for posting this.

I've always found the WWII Pacific theater fascinating.

The plane, looks like an SBD3 Dauntless to me, saw some action and helped sink a few from the looks of it.

God bless them.

The aircraft is an F4F Wildcat. The lack of corrosion is common due to the lack of oxygen.

A pal sent me this, it has more details plus a beautiful color video:

https://www.paulallen.com/uss-...k-located-rv-petrel/

You can still see Felix the cat on the wildcat! And that plane has 4 kills. Belongs in a museum, not down there.

quote:

Originally posted by Shaql:
You can still see Felix the cat on the wildcat! And that plane has 4 kills. Belongs in a museum, not down there.

Yes, perhaps. Paul also has a nice museum to put it in too which I’m fortunate to get to visit often :-) Its well worth a visit if you are in the Seattle area, especially on fly days and tank days in the Summer http://www.flyingheritage.com

simply amazing

---------------------------------------

Thought it was a rear gunner seat at first, so confused me a bit.

Hope they find and post more images

quote:

Originally posted by 4x5:
Wow!!! I can't believe the condition of the airplanes! And to see the flags still painted on the fuselage. Amazing!

Wow. Decay is slow in the dark, cold depths of 10,000 feet.

Fascinating find.

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:
That guy is my hero. It is what I would probably do if I had all that disposable income. . .

This guy along with a few other perfumed princes, Gates, Balmer et al dropped a million bucks, that's a million apiece, to fund the background check initiative in WA. AIR, NRA pungled up about 1/2 million and thanks for that.

Paul Allen can eat a bag of dicks, I believe is the expression that sums up my utter contempt for this hypocritical asshole.

Ok, did not know that. I rescind the 'hero' part, but I do admire him for recovering this lost history.

I never thought we would ever see the Indianapolis ever again.

The technology to find and photo and document this is amazing. Just wow!