Lady Lex Located

[nittany03]

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your...crosoft-co-founder-locates-lost-wwii-carrier/

Paul Allen and his crew did it again. This time, they’ve found CV-2 beneath the Coral Sea. Along with a Wildcat that the future VFA-32 had turned over to her air group that hadn’t even had Felix the Cat painted over yet.

 

[VMO4]

That is an totally cool pic of the wildcat, are those four Japanese kill flags on the side as well?

http://www.iflscience.com/environme...-lexington-discovered-by-microsoft-cofounder/

 

[GroundPounder]

It's bound to come up, might be intresting to get your takes on the prospect of recovering items from the wreck to restore or for display.

My personal thoughts are that although it is a graveyard , and should not be plundered, that if there were the possibility to recover some of the items in the open that it would be a good tribute to those who lost their lives, as well as to all veterans of the Pacific theater. I believe the Navy is of the opinion that once theirs, it is always theirs , so it could not be done without the permission of the Navy.

Even though this is my opinion, I can also relate to those who would view any recovery as a desecration, which I why I'm interested to hear others' views.

 

[Griz882]

A TBD Devastator from the mission. Just amazing.

 

[Griz882]

It's bound to come up, might be intresting to get your takes on the prospect of recovering items from the wreck to restore or for display.

My personal thoughts are that although it is a graveyard , and should not be plundered, that if there were the possibility to recover some of the items in the open that it would be a good tribute to those who lost their lives, as well as to all veterans of the Pacific theater. I believe the Navy is of the opinion that once theirs, it is always theirs , so it could not be done without the permission of the Navy.

Even though this is my opinion, I can also relate to those who would view any recovery as a desecration, which I why I'm interested to hear others' views.

I have to go to a meeting (stupid need for money). I will comment on this when I get back.

 

[hlg6016]

The preservation level of this is amazing. IMO don't touch a thing on her. With modern computers they can photograph every inch of her.

 

[picklesuit]

I’d think it would be appropriate to bring out a few items for historical purposes, if able. Maybe a plane, a placard, something easily retrievable with minimal impact. Thankfully the depth and expense of recovering should dissuade most poachers.

Otherwise leave her in place, as a final resting spot.

 

[Gatordev]

The preservation level of this is amazing.

I was thinking the same thing. It's interesting to see how well the aluminum is holding up, but how the engine is almost gone. I'm guessing the engine is acting as a zinc for the fuselage.

 

[xj220]

Well the tail is missing so who knows what other damage there may be.

 

[jmcquate]

The integrity of the paint is amazing. TBD is one of the Holy Grails of war-birds. Currently 0 in museums or private collections.

 

[xj220]

I didn’t know that, that’s awesome. I wonder how hard it would be to recover one?

 

[Pags]

That is an totally cool pic of the wildcat, are those four Japanese kill flags on the side as well?

http://www.iflscience.com/environme...-lexington-discovered-by-microsoft-cofounder/

Would look like it!

Here’s another VF-3 F4F about a month earlier with similar markings:

 

[jmcquate]

I didn’t know that, that’s awesome. I wonder how hard it would be to recover one?

I think there's a few wrecks in shallow water, someone will get one,

 

[Pags]

I think there's a few wrecks in shallow water, someone will get one,

According to Wikipedia:
“
TBD-1, Bureau Number 0298
Ex-VT-5 / USS Yorktown (CV-5) "5-T-7", Jaluit Lagoon, Marshall Islands.[34]
TBD-1 BuNo 0353
Ex-NAS Miami, Atlantic Ocean, Miami, Florida.[35]
TBD-1 BuNo 1515
Ex-VT-5 / USS Yorktown (CV-5) "5-T-6", Jaluit Lagoon, Marshall Islands.[32]
TBD-1 BuNo 0377
Ex-VT-2 / USS Lexington (CV-2) "6-T-7", Pacific Ocean, Mission Beach, California.[33][36]”

Looks like the Pensacola Museum was after the CA TBD a few years ago but there hasn’t been any recent news on recovery efforts.

 

[Griz882]

Would look like it!

Here’s another VF-3 F4F about a month earlier with similar markings:
View attachment 18376

I've been digging around. These kills could only have come from February 20, 1942. USS Saratoga had been torpedoed during a failed raid on Wake Island. VF-3 was taken off and sent over to the Lexington so VF-2 could "school up" on that fancy new Wildcat. Lexington departed Pearl to sweep down south and raid along the Gilbert and Marshall's chain. On February 20, 1942 IJN Rear Admiral Goto, ordered his 24th Air Flotillla (sound cools, why don't we have "air flotilla's?) to send all 17 of her Mitsubishi "Betty" bombers from Rabul to strike at the Lexington. To better search for the Americans, the Japanese split their aircraft into two groups and Lexington's radar acquired one of these at 16:25. The CAP (VF-3) tore into these teams of bombers destroying all 17. In fact, this is where Butch O'Hare cut his teeth.

Looking at the wreck, the airplane is marked either F-5 or F-6 (I think F-5) meaning it is the second or third aircraft in the second section of the squadron. (The one in the image is the third aircraft of the first section.) with a little bit of homework it would be easy to find out who was in that section and maybe even that ship. What I am fascinated by is the small red mark to left of the kills. Is that a "fighter sweep" broom? Did this ship strafe a submarine conning tower? There is more here than a stunning view of an old hero.