Lexington (CVA 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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6 commander carrier dwusncmm five 1 1 I 1 3 l 1 wear admiirall clhmalrles it. booth, Ill Rear Admiral Charles Thomas Booth II was graduated and commissioned from the Naval Academy in June, 1931. After graduation he had flight training at the Naval Air Stations Norfolk, Virginia and Pensacola, Florida, being designated a Naval Aviator on .lanuary 27, 1933. From 1933 to 1937 RADM Booth served in Observation Squadron ONE, Fighting Squadron SIX, Patrol Squadrons 3F and 5F. In 1937 he received instruction in Aeronautical Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School and MIT Kfrom which he received a Masters of Science degreei. From 1951 to 1953 RADM Booth was director of Electronic Tests, Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center, after which he was a student at the National War College. In June, 1954 he assumed command of the USS BADOENG STRAIT KCVE-1161 and, in 1955, saw duty on the Staff of Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet. In 1957 he was Commanding Officer of the USS RANGER. In February 1958 RADM Booth was designated Chief of Statf and Aide to COMNAVAIRLANT. In 1959 he became Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics for Plans and Programs, and later served as Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Naval Weapons for Program Management. RADM Booth assumed command of Carrier Division FIVE, at sea, aboard the flagship USS CORAL SEA in May, 1961. RADM Booth was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as Commanding Officer of a Fight- ing Squadron during the assault and occupation of French Morocco, November 8-11, 1942 ... He also has the American Defense Service, Fleet Clasp: European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign: American Campaign: ' World War Two Victory: and National Defense Service Medals. 147 Married to the former Miss Peggy Maltman of Baltimore, Maryland, Rear Admiral Booth has three children makes his residence in Lynn, Massachusetts.

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Commander Martin J. Stack, LEXINGTON'S XO, entered the Navy through the NROTC Unit at the University of Washington. ln 1942 he received his commission and wings from Corpus Christi. Duty stations have included a series of squadrons with tours as Com- manding Officer of VA95 and VA42. He was Officer-in-Charge of Paciflc Fleet tactical developments and, earlier, a technical advisor to the Naval Warfare Publication series Cspecialty: anti .submarine warfare! in Washington. Technical training has included both the US Naval Line School at Monterey, California and the Naval War College in Washing- ton, DC. During his career CDR Stack has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice, six Air Medals, a Presidential Unit Citation, a letter of commendation, plus various theatre and campaign ribbons. CDR Stack's famous nickname Lucky was earned one night when he was the last of his squadron taking oft for a raid. Just then a Japanese raid flew over-off went the fleld lights and on went the searchlights. His squadron continued their flyolt. With only four planes ahead of him, he looked up and saw in the searchlights' beam four bombs coming down toward him. They all landed within 100 feet of his aircraft but all were duds. CDR Stack is married to the former Miss Shirley Gresham of Seattle, Washington. They have two children, Bill, age 13 and Shiella, age 8. August 1960- February 1962 exeeeiiee effieee February 1962 - CDR T.H. Moore, USN, Executive officer of the USS LEXINGTON graduated from Roanoke College and was a graduate studentlinstructor at Duke University. He received flight training at Pensacola, Florida and was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve in June, 1942 followed by winning his wings in August. From October 1943 to early 1945 CDR Moore served with Fighter Squadron THREE aboard the USS YORKTOWN. He flew F6F Grumman HeIlcats against the enemy in the Philippines, Formosa, Indochina, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Japan. In March VF3 was transported back to the States aboard the old LEXINGTON, the famed Blue Ghost of the Pacific. CDR Moore reported to NAS Glenview, Illinois to take the Officer's Combat Information course in late 1947 and graduated, April, 1948. He was subsequently officer-in-charge of the CIC School, Norfolk, Virginia from October 1950 to September 1952. CDR Moore, flying his F95-8 Cougar, collided in mid-air May, 1956. He PUl'UChUTed to Safety, but was hospitalized for several months. CDR Moore's service awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross with one gold star, the Air Med dential Unit Citation. Cam al with two gold stars, and the Presi- PUISII and service medals include the American Defense Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Area Medal with one silver star, the European Oc- ld War Two Victory Medal. cupation Medal, and the wo,- HCDR Moore's wife is the former Miss Mary Garcia of Jacksonville, .d . 0l'l C- They have two children-Thomas Jr., aged 10 and Michael, age 5.

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capi iim smclilcfbrm 0 slmm CAPTAIN Stockton B. Strong, USN, graduated from the Naval Academy in 1937. After a short sea-duty tour aboard the USS VINCENNES he was detached for flight training, receiving Naval Aviator wings in April, 1940. During his tour of duty with Scouting Squadron FIVE he was awarded the Navy Cross fer fiercely engag- ing in the combined attack of enemy bombing and torpedo planes and their heavy fighter support in the attack on Tulagi Harbor. In August, 1942 he transferred to Scouting Squadron TEN and was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism as section leader of a s t' cou ang flight from the USS ENTERPRISE during the engagement of enemy naval and air forces near the Santa Cruz Islands. CAPT St h ' ' ' ' rong as held staff positions with the Ch ef of Naval Air Basic Training at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas and the Chief of Naval Air Technical Training, NAS, Memphis, Tennessee. He ioined the USS CORAL SEA as Executive Officer in S eptember 1953 and in March 1955 was detached for test pilot training at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland. Upon completion of training he served as Director of Armament Test until 1958, when he assumed command of the USS ONSLOW. Prior to assuming command of the USS LEXINGTON on July 8, 1960 he underwent a course of instruction at the National War College, Washington DC. In addition to the Navy Cross with two Gold Stars, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three Gold Stars, and the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon, Captain Strong has the Ameriqqn Defense Servige Medal, American Campaign Medal Asiatic Pacific Cam ' I - palgn Medal, World War Two Victory Medal, Navy Oc- cupation Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal CAPT Strong is married to the former Miss Mani Mar ' I querlte Graham. They live in Coronado, California with their two children. Q