Lexington USS
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:17 pm
Four special commemoratives for the 25th anniversary of the war in the Pacific were issued by the Territory of Papua and New Guinea on August 30, 1967. The 50 cents stamp, designed by Mr. G. Wade, depicts his impression of an action in the Battle of the Coral Sea. It seems to me that the stamp designer has depicted an attack on the U.S.S. Lexington and the silhouette shows her huge funnel.
Originally the Lexington was designed as a battle cruiser and was to have had seven funnels, but when it was decided to alter her to an aircraft carrier during construction, the seven funnel uptakes were trucked together in one gigantic funnel casing. As the ship's bridge and control tops would have become almost untenable because of the heat from the equivalent of seven funnels in one, the bridge and control structure were separated. This is quite clearly shown on the stamp, and there is no doubt in my mind that the U.S.S. Lexington is the carrier depicted. To American Naval personnel the ship was affectionately known as "Lady Lex". Commanded by Capt. Frederick C. Sherman, she was known as a happy ship throughout the U.S. Navy, many of her crew having served in her since she was commissioned in 1927, In the Battle of the Coral Sea, she was flagship of Task Force No. II, with Rear-Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch on the bridge. On May 7, aircraft from the task force sank the Japanese carrier Shoho. She was smothered by 13 bomb and seven torpedo hits and sank within half-an-hour of the first attack, three carrier plane group attacks being made on her, with the loss of six U.S. Navy aircraft. The following day, May 8, at about 8.15 a.m., American aircraft located the Japanese carriers Shokaku and Zuikako, Japanese aircraft at the same time locating the American carriers Lexington and Saratoga.
Between 09.00 and 09.25 both sides launched air strikes. In the ensuing battle the Lexington was hit by a torpedo at 11.20 but continued to receive returning aircraft. At 12.47 there was a major explosion on board the carrier, caused by the ignition of fuel vapour by a motor generator which had been left running. Another major explosion occurred at 14.45, and the fires, despite valiant efforts by the entire ship's company, soon passed beyond control. The Yorktown recovered all aircraft still serviceable, but evacuation became necessary and was carried out at 17.10, four U.S. Navy ships taking off the Lexington's crew safely. At 19.56 hours, the U.S.S. Phelps was ordered to sink "Lady Lex" and she went down at 20,00 hours after being hit by five torpedoes.
Papua New Guinea SG120, Solomon Is SG?, Marshall Is SG672
Originally the Lexington was designed as a battle cruiser and was to have had seven funnels, but when it was decided to alter her to an aircraft carrier during construction, the seven funnel uptakes were trucked together in one gigantic funnel casing. As the ship's bridge and control tops would have become almost untenable because of the heat from the equivalent of seven funnels in one, the bridge and control structure were separated. This is quite clearly shown on the stamp, and there is no doubt in my mind that the U.S.S. Lexington is the carrier depicted. To American Naval personnel the ship was affectionately known as "Lady Lex". Commanded by Capt. Frederick C. Sherman, she was known as a happy ship throughout the U.S. Navy, many of her crew having served in her since she was commissioned in 1927, In the Battle of the Coral Sea, she was flagship of Task Force No. II, with Rear-Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch on the bridge. On May 7, aircraft from the task force sank the Japanese carrier Shoho. She was smothered by 13 bomb and seven torpedo hits and sank within half-an-hour of the first attack, three carrier plane group attacks being made on her, with the loss of six U.S. Navy aircraft. The following day, May 8, at about 8.15 a.m., American aircraft located the Japanese carriers Shokaku and Zuikako, Japanese aircraft at the same time locating the American carriers Lexington and Saratoga.
Between 09.00 and 09.25 both sides launched air strikes. In the ensuing battle the Lexington was hit by a torpedo at 11.20 but continued to receive returning aircraft. At 12.47 there was a major explosion on board the carrier, caused by the ignition of fuel vapour by a motor generator which had been left running. Another major explosion occurred at 14.45, and the fires, despite valiant efforts by the entire ship's company, soon passed beyond control. The Yorktown recovered all aircraft still serviceable, but evacuation became necessary and was carried out at 17.10, four U.S. Navy ships taking off the Lexington's crew safely. At 19.56 hours, the U.S.S. Phelps was ordered to sink "Lady Lex" and she went down at 20,00 hours after being hit by five torpedoes.
Papua New Guinea SG120, Solomon Is SG?, Marshall Is SG672