Lexington (CV 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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Gen. Marshall and Admiral King watch air operations during the Lexington's training period. for duty as part of the Pacific Fleet. At this stage in the war the Navy had not yet captured the forward anchorages-Eniwetok, Ma4 juro, Ulithi-A--which were all the port that fleet personnel were to see at a later stage, and task forces were in the pleasant habit of retiring to Pearl l-larbor between operations. The Lexingtons first mission was such an operation -- -a one-day raid on Tarawa late in September, followed two weeks later by a two-day attack on Wake lsland, the ship returning to Pearl after each mission. From November 19 to 24 she supported the hard- fought landings in the Gilbert Islands, flying searches and a series of destructive strikes on Mille. On the twenty-third her fighters and fighter direc- tors got their first chance to exercise their skills, with brilliant success, when twelve fighters ac- counted for seventeen out of a flight of twenty Fighter pilots wait in the ready room before the Tarawa raid: Autographing 1000 lb. bombs before the Lexington s hrs! blow in the war-the raid on Tarawa. planes. The next day another twelve got twglve. more, Ship and air group were now a smooth. functioning combat team. ln the action report covering this engagement Captain Know Rear Admirall Stump, said, This Commanding Officer would be interested to know if, in the brilliant records of other Fighting Aircraft Units in this war, such a record has been equalled lt is probable that the courageous and aggressive action on the part of Fighting Sixteen, in promptly intercepting and shooting down twenty-nine lapae nese planes, demoralized the lapanese Air Com- mand in the Marshalls to such an extent that they were temporarily unable to send any more planes toward the Gilberts while we remained on the inter- cept station, and by thus stopping air attacks from the Marshalls, Fighting Sixteen contributed an ap- preciable share to the successful conclusion of the conquest of the Gilbertsf' THE LEX GETS l-llT After refueling, the force proceeded on their next mission, a raid on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshalls. Tough opposition was encountered and the Lexing- ton rose to the occasion. Over the target, twelve Lexington l-lellcats ran into approximately thirty Zekes. When the shooting was over, nineteen enemy fighters and one Betty bomber had been destroyed in the air, and three Bettys on the around. Meanwhile the bombers and torpedo planes attacking the shipping had damaged two cruisers and blown up a cargo ship. While returning from this strike the SBD's encountered enemy fighters 'K K.. fi, I, fl ,fr .1 ll' ,., I' f ,ft ,ty I, f til i ,1.-3 ' fa--' ' '..f fr, ,. l ll V, i.. vi' if l tll i l i l l i ati 0 Qt 6 44-1