USS Lexington (CV-16) on Deck

USS Lexington (CV-16) was the eighth ESSEX class aircraft carrier authorized by the US Navy during World War Two. Named for the earlier carriers Lexington (CV-2) lost in the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942, this new ship joined the fleet in early 1943. Lexington saw extensive action in the Pacific from late 1943, beginning with a raid on Japanese-held Tarawa. The Japanese claimed to have sunk Lexington several times, yet she shrugged off her attackers and took the fight to Japan. After World War II, Lexington was modernized and became an attack carrier before reassignment as the Navy's training carrier in December of 1962. She trained naval aviators in the challenging role of flight operations at sea until decommissioned in late 1991.