Planes of the USS Lexington CV16 @ Corpus Christi

[67N20]

Took a weekend trip to Corpus a few weekends ago. While my daughter and wife went to the beach, I went aboard the Lex. My last trip was 15 years ago and don't remember much about it. They are in the process of reconditioning the flight deck and I saw wood planking (WWII era?). I have the SN/Buruea #s for all except the Avenger, SBD, and AH1. All but the A6 and AH1 were on loan from the Naval Vaiation Museum in Pensacola acording to the placards. Pictures are in reverse order of how I actually took them, someday maybe I'll figure out Photobucket.

[Pat Carry]

Frickin nice, thanks. The 4 surviving Essex carriers are floating history.

[Ryan Harris]

Few realize this, but the TF-9J was one of the Blue Angel two seaters and the TA-4J, BuNo 158722 was THE Blue Angel two seat A-4. They used 3 other TA's during the time they flew them, but only when 158722 was in maintenance. Yes, the museum is aware that they have two Blue Angel two-seat jets on board. The Cougar lived in the hangar deck in Angel paint at one point in very nice condition, and when I discovered that the TA-4 was a team jet as well, we were told that they had one Blue Angel painted airplane and they didn't need two. Apparently this frame of mind now applies to the Cougar as well since they have the Hornet. They could say that they are the only museum in the country with 3 different types of Blue Angel aircraft that actually flew with the team. Even the Naval Air Museum can't say that.

[The Inspector]

Very nice! One question, what's with the DGA-15 and why is it in three tone?

[RickH]

The Howard was used as an instrument trainer by the Navy.

[cozmo]

Thanks for the new pictures. She, and her brood, look a lot different than just a few years ago.

You would think that just being on the other side of the little ol' state I would be able to visit more often.

[Sasquatch]

That F-4 Phantom looks to be an -A model...any more info on it?

Thanks either way...

--tom

[Clifford Bossie]

That F-4 Phantom looks to be an -A model...any more info on it?

Thanks either way...

--tom

She is indeed an F-4A (F4H-1F) Bu. No. 145315.




The first time I saw her was in Dec 1999 when I visited the ship with my daughters. At that time she was in restoration. The next year she was on display in the hangar deck and later on the flight deck.

[Sasquatch]

Very cool Clifford...that's a rare bird, then! Thank you for the update.

--Tom

[Pat Carry]

Do you know if the hanger deck lift(s) work? One of USS Midway's lifts work, IIRC. I wonder if topside aircraft are brought in when they have a hurricane.

I was wondering the same thing about the USS Yorktown since she is subject to hurricanes on the eastcoast.

[RickH]

Port elevator works. Don't know if they still run it with power. Saw them hand cranking it once.

The Lex is sitting in a dug trench, they backed her in filled the bottom three decks with ionized water then had tugboats backfil the trench. It will take a 30 ft storm surge to float her. I understand she is the hurricane command post for the Coast guard and their helos.

[Obergrafeter]

The starboard elevator was working when we filmed "Pearl Harbor" on her. Don't know now.

[N3Njeff]

It must be just me but that N3N sure does look pretty!!!!

[viking73]

That F-4 Phantom looks to be an -A model...any more info on it?

Thanks either way...

--tom

She is indeed an F-4A (F4H-1F) Bu. No. 145315.

The first time I saw her was in Dec 1999 when I visited the ship with my daughters. At that time she was in restoration. The next year she was on display in the hangar deck and later on the flight deck.

And ten years before that in December of 1989, I shot this photo of her outside behind the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola in what must have been her last real colors:



Interesting that she now wears bogus Marine Corps colors.

-Derek