Lexington (CVA 16) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 29 text:

HOLIDAY ENDS LEX LOADS FDR LAUNCH WINGS FOLDED, a Douglas AD Skyraider is lowered aboard by San Diego crane. AN EXPECTANT MONDAY MORNING Gracefully the huge cranes swung the first planes the new Lex had ever seen onto her flight deck. Her hangar deck was jammed with men and equipment which were unfamiliar to a great many of the crew. The holidays were most definitely overg everyone seemed excited over the idea that the Lex was finally going to perform the operations for which she had been designed and constructed. Then, on a Monday morning alive with expectancy, the Lex pulled out of San Diego to begin her first week of carrier qualifications operations.

Page 28 text:

..s:s.-sa , -ts-fy -arm. ssL.aw,4m ,..., sv f..,, ,-,- . . ,, W f y , , , ., , GLISTENING CUTOUT sign procaims days for the other shipls, ferries in the the season's greeting to folk of North harbor. Many rnen took advantage of Island, and at night, her island svvathed holiday leave. in f-nlmpwl Iighrs the Lex honored holi- GREEN GRASS FOR CHRISTMAS Coils Xmos Hos Everything But Snow N0 REINDEER, kids, Santa landed aboard the Lex in a Cougar. 18-ft. tree lighted hangar deck for holidays. Men lived it up on New Yearls: first air ops ahead. NX X

Page 30 text:

CDR. GEORGE DOUGLASS, Air Boss of the Lex Qrightl and co-pilot Cdr. Worley, VS-23. LATE AFTERNGON shadows string rushes down the thin track to become across flight deck as SZF 'iSentinal first plane launched by the new Lex. Air Boss Picks S2F Sentinel For Historic Hop The first launch and landing of the new Lexington was postponed three times on the afternoon of January 9, 1956. As the day wore on, it looked. as if the Lex flight deck would have to wait to get its christening. But around 1700 the okay was given. Commander George, M. Douglass, Air Officer, was to have the privilege. For his co-pilot he chose Commander C.C. Worley of VS-23, the squadron that he had skippered before coming to the Lex. His plane was a Grumman SZF Sentinel, an aircraft used primarily for antisubmarine warfare and one which would ordinarily never be operated from the Lex. It was the personal choice of Cdr. Douglass: the pictures on this page record the events which began air operations of the Lex. PERFECT TOUCHDOWN FOR SENTINEL AND AIR BOSS AS NUMBER ONE ARRESTED LANDING IS LOGGED IN HISTORY.