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Photo # 80-G-7403:  Destroyers assist in abandonment of USS Lexington, 8 May 1942, seen from USS Minneapolis

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

Battle of the Coral Sea, 7-8 May 1942 --
Abandoning USS Lexington, 8 May 1942

Once the decision was made to abandon Lexington, her crew responded efficiently, if not happily. Destroyers came alongside to take some men. Others were transferred by boat, and many went over the side and swam to nearby ships. Meanwhile, the fires below continued to eat their way through the ship.

This page features views taken during the abandonment of USS Lexington on 8 May 1942.

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 #: NH 76562

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    USS Lexington (CV-2) burning on 8 May 1942, as she was being abandoned.
    Ships standing by include three cruisers and several destroyers. Ship in the right distance is USS Chester (CA-27).
    Photographed from USS Portland (CA-33).

    Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C., 1972. Collection of Captain Benjamin Perlman.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 315 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-7407

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    USS Lexington (CV-2) is abandoned, during the afternoon of 8 May 1942. One destroyer is alongside her starboard side, and another is standing off her stern.
    Photographed from a cruiser (probably USS Minneapolis). Note SOC scouting plane, with a damaged wingtip, on the cruiser's port catapult.

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

    Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 595 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-7403

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    Destroyers alongside USS Lexington (CV-2) to assist in the carrier's abandonment, after she had been mortally damaged by fires and explosions during the afternoon of 8 May 1942.
    Photographed from a cruiser (probably USS Minneapolis). Note SOC scouting plane, with a damaged wingtip, on the cruiser's port catapult.

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

    Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-7417

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    USS Lexington (CV-2) burning during the afternoon of 8 May 1942, at the time she was abandoned.
    Several destroyers are standing by to assist in removing the carrier's crew and a whaleboat full of men is in the center of the view, headed toward the camera.

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

    Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-11915

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    Destroyers assist with the abandonment of USS Lexington (CV-2), during the afternoon of 8 May 1942.
    See Photo # 80-G-7403 for a virtually identical view, cropped less tightly.

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

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 555 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-7402

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    USS Lexington (CV-2) is abandoned, after she had been mortally damaged by fires and explosions during the afternoon of 8 May 1942.
    A destroyer is alongside her starboard side, amidships, to assist in removing the carrier's crew.

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

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-7398

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    A destroyer alongside USS Lexington (CV-2) as the carrier is abandoned during the afternoon of 8 May 1942.
    Note crewmen sliding down lines on Lexington's starboard quarter.

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

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 585 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-7411

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    Crewmen sliding down lines at the stern of USS Lexington (CV-2), as the carrier is abandoned during the afternoon of 8 May 1942. A whaleboat is standing by off the ship's starboard quarter and a motor launch is astern.
    Note TBD, SBD and F4F aircraft spotted on the flight deck. Identification markings on the torpedo planes and fighters appear to be white, while those on the SBDs appear to be black.

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

    Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National A

     
    Photo #: 80-G-7392

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    Survivors of USS Lexington (CV-2) are pulled aboard a cruiser (probably USS Minneapolis) after the carrier was abandoned during the afternoon of 8 May 1942.
    Note man in the lower part of the photo who is using the cruiser's armor belt as a hand hold.

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

    Online Image: 131KB; 740 x 610 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