USS Lexington
at the Battle of the Coral Sea
by
Marii Chernev
The USS Lexington, the 'Lady Lex', is shown as she takes a torpedo hit from a Japanese 'Kate' torpedo plane during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Attacked while her very own compliment of torpedo and dive bombers, along with their escorting fighters were attacking the Japanese fleet, the Lady Lex was left near defenseless, with her anti-aircraft guns and that of her supporting ships the only defense against the Japanese onslaught. Despite the gallant efforts of her heroic crew, multiple hits on the Lexington doomed the pride of America's carrier fleet to a watery grave. Although considered a tactical defeat for the Americans, the Battle of the Coral Sea is now recognized as a strategic victory for the U.S. in that it stopped the Japanese advance along New Guinea and thereby saving Australia, but more importantly it directly led to the Battle of Midway which turned out to be turning point in the Pacific War.

Original Image Size: 36" x 24"
Price: Sold

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