USS Lexington CV-16, WW2 Aircraft Carriers, Model Ships.

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USS Lexington CV-16 Aircraft Carrier  All prices are subject to change without notice, click on item for the latest price. USS Lexington (CV-16) 1/700 Kit Plastic Model Aircraft Carrier Ship Kit Replicating the legendary Essex-class carrier USS Lexington (CV-16), the "Blue Ghost," this 1/700 scale plastic kit - which can be built in a waterline or full hull configuration - features finely molded superstructure parts; transparent flight and hangar decks that reveal interior details; optional-position hull-side doors and flight deck elevators; precision-tooled whip antennas; photo-etched detail parts; SB2C Helldivers, F6F Hellcats and TBF Avengers; a bonus tug boat; a display stand; and more. 15½" long; assembly required. #0092824 Price: $39.95 Here are two stories that were sent to me.  It is very, very important that you read both stories and you will learn a secret about the USS Lexington and a secret about Becoming a Man. STORY NUMBER ONE   Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic He was notorious forenmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder. Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was Capone's lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time. To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of  the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block. Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him.  Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong.  Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he was. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example. One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision.  Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done. He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great.  So, he testified. Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street.  But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine. The poem read: "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still." STORY NUMBER TWO World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he  looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the  fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes.. Wing-mounted 50 calibers blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible, rendering them unfit to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft. This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man. So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2. SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER? Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son. Click Here to read the rest of the story. USS Lexington CV-2 1/350 Kit with FREE Print! Plastic Model Aircraft Carrier Kit USS Lexington Aircraft Carrier CV-2 Replicating the USS Lexington as she was fitted when she was sunk by the Japanese on May 8, 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea, this 1/350 scale plastic kit is amazing in its detail. Your "Gray Lady" will include a choice of waterline or full hull configurations, intricate island and stern detailing, an assortment of realistic lifeboats and guns, and an exquisitely detailed flight deck that includes a variety of aircraft with clear canopies and optional folding wings. Measures 30½" long and includes a display stand with a nameplate; 583 parts, assembly required. Quite a Pair Stan Stokes. The year is 1928, and this naval Boeing F4B has a bird's eye view of the U.S. Navy's new, big carriers: the USS Saratoga and the USS Lexington. 16"x 11½" signed and numbered limited edition print. #0087220 Price: $139.00 Air Group 16 DVD Video We Came to Remember. Through archival footage and first-person accounts, this program tells the story of Air Group 16 and its pilots, radiomen and gunners who served on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-16), the "Blue Ghost," in World War II's Pacific Theater. You'll even meet the men and their families as they journey to Washington, D.C., for the dedication of the National World War II Memorial in 2004. Widescreen, color and B&W, 30 minutes. #00V8373 Price: $14.95 About the USS Lexington (CV-16) It was the fifth United States Naval ship to be named "Lexington."  The USS Lexington (CV-16), also known as "The Blue Ghost", was laid down as Cabot 15 July 1941 by Bethlehem Steel Company in Quincy, Mass., renamed Lexington 16 June 1942, she was launched on 23rd of September 1942. After Caribbean shakedown and yard work at Boston, the USS Lexington sailed for Pacific action thourgh the Panama Canal, arriving Pearl Harbor on 9 August 1943. She raided Tarawa in late September and Wake in October, then returned Pearl Harbor to prepare for the Gilbert Islands operation. From 19 to 24 November she made searches and flew sorties in the Marshall Islands and covering the landings in the Gilbert Islands. Her pilots downed 29 enemy aircraft on the 23rd and 24th of November. After the war, the USS Lexington was decommissioned at Bremerton, Washington on the 23rd of April 1947 and then entered the Reserve Fleet.  Designated attack carrier CVA-16 on 1 October 1952, she began conversion and modernization in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard 1 September 1953, receiving a new angled flight deck. Into 1969, the USS Lexington has operated out of her home port of Pensacola Florida as well as Corpus Christi Texan and New Orleans, qualifying student pilots and maintaining the high state of training of both active duty and reserve naval aviators. Her work has been of increasing significance as she has prepared the men vital to the continuing Navy and Marine Corps operations over Vietnam, where naval aviation played a major role.   The USS Lexington marked her 200,000th arrested landing 17 October 1967, and was redesignated CVT-16 on 1 January 1969. She continued as a training carrier for the next 22 years until decommissioned 8 November 1991. On 15 June 1992, the ship was donated as a museum and now operates as such in Corpus Christi, Texas.  There she has an IMAX theatre.  The USS Lexington has been designated a National Historic Landmark. The USS Lexington received the Presidential Unit Citation and 11 battle stars for World War II service.

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