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Photo # 80-G-16802:  View on USS Lexington's flight deck, as fires burn in her hangar, 8 May 1942

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- World War II in the Pacific --

Battle of the Coral Sea, 7-8 May 1942 --
Views of Damage on Board USS Lexington, 8 May 1942

This page features views taken on board USS Lexington after she was hit on 8 May 1942.
These images include several of the damage caused by the bomb that hit on the port side of the flight deck, a view of the midships torpedo damage, and two flight deck scenes taken later in the afternoon as fires got out of control below decks and as the crew prepared to abandon ship.

For links to other Battle of the Coral Sea photographs taken on 8 May 1942, see:

  • Events of 8 May 1942.

    For links to additional pictorial coverage on the Battle of the Coral Sea, see:

  • Battle of the Coral Sea, 7-8 May 1942 -- Overview and Special Image Selection.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 80-G-16809

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    Flight deck damage on USS Lexington (CV-2), from a Japanese bomb that hit near the after end of the port forward 5-inch gun gallery, during the Battle of the Coral Sea, 8 May 1942.
    This hit was evaluated as being from a relatively small bomb, instantaneously fuzed.
    Photographed from the carrier's island, with the flight deck palisade is at right, and the port forward corner of the forward aircraft elevator in the lower left.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-16803

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    Damage in the port forward 5-inch gun gallery of USS Lexington (CV-2), from a Japanese bomb that hit near the gallery's after end during the Battle of the Coral Sea, 8 May 1942.
    The ship's # four 5"/25 gun is in the left center of the view, which looks forward.
    Staining on the photographic image is possibly due to water damage received when the photographer abandoned ship.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-16805

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    Damage in the port forward 5-inch gun gallery on USS Lexington (CV-2), from a Japanese bomb that struck near the gallery's after end during the Battle of the Coral Sea, 8 May 1942.
    View looks aft, with the ship's number two 5"/25 gun in the foreground, still manned and in operation. Number four 5"/25 gun is immediately beyond, trained out to port and aft.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-16807

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    Damage in the port forward 5-inch gun gallery on USS Lexington (CV-2), from a Japanese bomb that struck near the gallery's after end during the Battle of the Coral Sea, 8 May 1942.
    View looks aft, with the damaged number four 5"/25 gun in the foreground, trained to port and aft.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 139KB; 740 x 625 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-17039

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    Repair crew at work on USS Lexington (CV-2), soon after she was hit by Japanese dive bombing attack on 8 May 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea.
    View looks aft along the port side of the flight deck from alongside number six 5"/25 gun, which was put out of action by a bomb hit nearby. Flight deck damage visible in the center of this view was caused by that bomb.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 96KB; 690 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

    Note:
    The original prints at the National Archives and the Naval Historical Center are printed backwards. Orientation has been corrected in this digital reproduction.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-16806

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    Planes returning on board USS Lexington (CV-2) at about 1400 hrs. on 8 May 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea.
    View looks aft along the port side of the flight deck from the front of the bomb-damaged port forward 5-inch gun gallery. Number two 5"/25 gun is in the foreground, trained out and still in operation. The damaged number four and number six 5"/25 guns are immediately beyond.
    A TBD-1 torpedo plane is on the flight deck, taxiing forward after landing, and a F4F-3 fighter is approaching to land.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-16804

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    View on the port side of USS Lexington (CV-2), looking aft and down through torn flight deck life nettings, showing damage from the aftermost of the two torpedo hits received during the Battle of the Coral Sea, 8 May 1942.
    This hit was centered at about Frame 85, and blew some of the ship's hull blister plating up and out, as seen at the waterline in this photo.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 620 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-16802

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    View on the flight deck of USS Lexington (CV-2), at about 1500 hrs. on 8 May 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea. The ship's air group is spotted aft, with Grumman F4F-3 fighters nearest the camera. SBD scout bombers and TBD-1 torpedo planes are parked further aft. Smoke is rising around the after aircraft elevator from fires burning in the hangar.
    Note fire hose, wheels, propellers, servicing stands and other gear scattered on the flight deck.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 625 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-16811

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    View on the flight deck of USS Lexington (CV-2), at about 1700 hrs. on 8 May 1942, as the crew prepares to abandon ship, after the series of explosions that produced uncontrollable fires and brought her to a stop.
    Photographed from the ship's island, looking forward, with fire hoses and debris (including an aircraft landing gear wheel) visible on the flight deck.
    USS Minneapolis (CA-36) is faintly visible in the center, crossing Lexington's bow.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     


    For links to other Battle of the Coral Sea photographs taken on 8 May 1942, see:

  • Events of 8 May 1942.

    For links to additional pictorial coverage on the Battle of the Coral Sea, see:

  • Battle of the Coral Sea, 7-8 May 1942 -- Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 26 July 2000
    Coding updated 6 May 2001