Posted on 03/16/2018 5:20:45 AM PDT by w1n1
Searchers from vessel Petrel, owned by billionaire explorer Paul Allen have found the wreckage of the USS Lexington.
The aircraft carrier sunk 76 years ago near Australia.
The Lexington was critically damaged by Japanese forces during the battle of the Coral Sea on May 8, 1942.
"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.
One of the first US aircraft carriers ever built, the vessel dubbed "Lady Lex" was located at the bottom of the Coral Sea nearly two miles below the surface by the expedition crew of Research Vessel Petrel on Sunday, Allen said.
The Lexington was lost in May 1942 along with 216 of its crew and 35 aircraft during what is considered the first carrier battle in history the Battle of the Coral Sea. Read the rest and see the video of USS Lexington found here.
Found? The USN (and pretty much every one else) have always known the coordinates where she sank.
I think claiming they found the ship is a bit of a stretch. They may very well be the first group to dive to and observe/photograph the wreckage, and that is impressive, but it’s not like they located a long-lost shipwreck.
“Off Australia” is a bit of a stretch, the battle was a lot closer to the Solomons than any place in Australia.
BBC said and they have no plans to Raise it ,D’oh
Thanks w1n1.
Victory at Sea bump
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.