Lexington (CV 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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under heavy attack from japanese torpedo planes. As reported in Tarawa to Tokyo: L'At 7:07 p.m. our lookouts reported sighting ten twin-engine planes dead ahead and closing fast. When the Lexington opened fire with automatic batteries eight cFrances' were plainly visible on both port and starboard bows. The ship put up a volume of fire so great as at times to black the attackers from view, and brought five crashing into the water around the ship in flames. Two torpedoes, however, were launched at the ship. Captain Litch daringly maneuvered her between them, and they passed the length of the ship close aboard on either side. Simultaneously, one plane, flaming and out of control, flew the entire length of the flight deck, so close as to scorch the faces of those topside, and crashed off the port quarter. In this swift encounter, gunners of the Lexington displayed the highest degree of cour- age and coolness. They destroyed five of the at- A Grumman F617 Hellcat turns up before a deck-launch lCZk6-Off Tlzesingle seaterfghter has less than fonrhundred feet of flight deck in fiont of her. tacking planes without assistance from other ves- sels. . .and with assistance from screeningvessels destroyed two moref' Tokyo Rose had her usual words to say in describing the engagement: One U. S. carrier sunk - Lexington ! The enemy's carrier force was reportedly mov- ing towards the Marianas to attack our landing forces there, and on june 18 Task Force 58 steamed westward to intercept them and thus protect Saipan. The aircraft from the opposing navies tangled the next morning to open the Battle of the Philippine Sea. All day long waves

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of shipping, with a loss of only 25 aircraft. A novel feature of the operation was the laying of numerous mines in shipping channels-a first for carrieraircraft. Following their return to Majuro on April 6, the ships replenished Qduring which timeCaptain Ernest W. Litch relieved Captain Stump as Gom- manding Officerb and then sortied April 13 to support the Army landings at Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea-the largest amphibious operation yet undertaken in the Southwest Pacific. After launching preparatory attacks against airfields in the Tanahmerah Bay area, Lex covered the landings on April 22, and, except for a brief withdrawal for refueling, remained on station to offer support for the ground forces. The Task Force then left the scene, stopping to harrass Truk once more, April 29, on the way back to Majuro. Air Group 16 alone flew 202 sorties against the japanese-held fortress that day, leaving it so helpless that bombers from Eniwetok and the Admiralties subsequently had no further trouble keeping it neutralized. Whilg these strikes were going on, a couple of dive bombers made runs on Lex, but failed to score hits. However, this was all Tokyo Rose needed, for before the carrier arrived back at Majuro, she had reported HThe Blue Ghost sunk again, On june 6 Task Force 58 left the Marshalls, heading northwest, followed at a considerable distance by the amphibious forces,which included 535 ships and carried 127,000 troops. On June 11 the Task Force was 200 miles from Guam, and Vice Admiral Mitscher sent his Air Groups against the southern Marianas. In that day they destroyed 147 enemy planes C 81 airbornej ata cost of only 11 Navy fighters. Four days later Lex aircraft struck at shore de- fenses and gun emplacements in support of the landings, but the same evening the ship came

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