Our Nation’s Inspiring Naval Heritage

USS Lexington CV-16 underway, November 1943

Some years ago, when Mom and Dad were still with us, and healthy, they were excited to be taken on a tour of “Big Mamie,” the battleship USS Massachusetts moored in Fall River. A floating museum, this wonderful exhibit is a living memorial to the brave crew and officers who served aboard her during World War II.

Dad was mesmerized. He had served aboard an aircraft carrier in the war and found many similar features aboard the Massachusetts, such as the narrow, crowded racks that the seamen slept in, elbows locked in the frame to keep from being tossed out in heavy seas. His descriptions of life aboard, roaring seas, battle stations, manning the twin-barrel 20mm antiaircraft gun, chipping paint, peeling spuds in the galley, veered between deadly boring and just plain deadly.

A few months ago, on a trip to Corpus Christi, Texas to visit his big sister, our 93-year-old aunt, we were stirred by these memories to visit the USS Lexington (CV-16), another floating museum. “The Blue Ghost,” an aircraft carrier launched in September, 1942, was initially to be named the Cabot. But when word arrived that the prior USS Lexington (CV-2) had been lost in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May of 1942, CV-16 quickly assumed her predecessor’s name, becoming the fifth US Naval vessel to honor the opening salvo of the Revolutionary War, the battle at Lexington, Massachusetts.

The prior Lexington, CV-2, was originally intended as a battlecruiser in 1916, but was repurposed as an aircraft carrier in 1922 due to a vestige of World War I which was intended to limit the number of battleships in the world’s navies. Little did the negotiators know at that time that aircraft carriers would become far more powerful than battleships. CV-2 was fortunate to be at sea during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and thereby survived to become part of the avenging fleet.

In May, 1942, Lexington CV-2 participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea. While US forces suffered heavy losses, this was considered a strategic victory. Lieutenant Edward “Butch” O’Hare, flying an F4F Wildcat from the flight deck of the Lexington, destroyed five attacking Japanese bombers and disabled one more, thereby preventing an attack on the Lexington. As a result of his bravery and effectiveness, he became the first naval recipient of the Medal of Honor. His citation read as follows:

“Having lost the assistance of his teammates, Lieutenant O'Hare interposed his fighter between his ship and an advancing enemy formation of 9 attacking twin-engine heavy bombers. Without hesitation, alone and unaided, he repeatedly attacked this enemy formation, at close range in the face of intense combined machine gun and cannon fire. Despite this concentrated opposition, Lieutenant O'Hare, by his gallant and courageous action, his extremely skillful marksmanship in making the most of every shot of his limited amount of ammunition, shot down 5 enemy bombers and severely damaged a sixth before they reached the bomb release point. As a result of his gallant action—one of the most daring, if not the most daring, single action in the history of combat aviation—he undoubtedly saved his carrier from serious damage.”

In spite of O’Hare’s bravery, the Lexington was attacked again on May 7, 1942, and was seriously, grievously, damaged. As a result, she was fired upon by an American destroyer to be scuttled, thereby avoiding her capture.

Following the loss of Lexington CV-2, O’Hare was reassigned to the USS Enterprise. The center of momentum of the war was changing in our favor, but the Japanese were still very dangerous. In November of 1943, he was lost in an attempt to repulse an attack on the Enterprise. His F4F Hellcat was never found. The first air ace, and naval Medal of Honor winner of World War II, was gone.

Meanwhile, the new Lexington CV-16 was creating havoc for the Japanese. Repeatedly attacked and reported sunk, she continually reappeared, patched and repaired. The Japanese called her the “ghost ship,” as she kept showing up after supposedly being sunk. This, along with her dark blue camouflage, inspired her crew to call her “The Blue Ghost”. She participated in several major World War II battles and survived, not decommissioned until 1991.

The Lexington is well worth a visit, if you venture to Corpus Christi. Many Navy veterans have served aboard her, including dear friends of ours.

And the next time you travel by air and pass through O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, be aware that you should be honoring Lt. Edward “Butch” O’Hare.