1945 Dunn World War II Route Map of the U.S.S. Lexington in the Pacific Theater

Follow the U.S.S. Lexington through three years of the Pacific War.

This 1945 World War II route map of the U.S.S. Lexington focuses on the theater rarely addressed in the route map genre: the Pacific War. Most World War II route maps focus on the European Theater, but this piece follows the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lexington in the Pacific theater from 1943-1945. It highlights battles and traces the Lexington's movements in detail, offering a day-by-day account of the aircraft carrier's campaigns.

A Closer Look

Three colors trace the Lexington's movements in 1943 (green), 1944 (brown), and 1945 (red). It is unclear what the symbols that make up the tracks, including Xs, diamonds, dots, and double lines, indicate, but they likely reflect the Lexington's activities. Dates are provided for many parts of each year's track, and bold text marks major engagements, such as the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the Battle of Leyte Gulf (here, Battle for Leyte Gulf). The only other block text is 'CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME!' as the Lexington leaves Tokyo Bay on its way home. A detailed record of the Lexington's movements is included in the upper-right corner. An illustration of the Lexington appears along the right border, and an illustration of an American aircraft (likely an F4F Wildcat) is situated along the left border in China. An illustration of a kamikaze is included along the top border.

U.S.S. Lexington (CV-16)

The U.S.S. Lexington (CV-16) is a U.S. Navy Essex-class aircraft carrier. Construction began on the Lexington on July 15, 1941, when it was originally set to be named Cabot. However, after the U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2) was scuttled after it suffered catastrophic damage during the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 4-8, 1942), the CV-16 was renamed the Lexington and became the sixth U.S. Navy ship to be named after the Battle of Lexington during the American Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783). Lexington was commissioned on February 17, 1943, and, after shakedown cruises in the Caribbean, was sent to join the war in the Pacific. Lexington arrived in Pearl Harbor in August and by September was already participating in raids on Japanese bases in the Pacific. During a raid on Kwajalein in December 1943, Lexington was hit by a torpedo. The explosion killed nine sailors and knocked out her steering gear. After emergency repairs, Lexington managed to limp back to Pearl Harbor, and then was sent to Bremerton, Washington, for full repairs.

Lexington returned to the Pacific by early March 1944. She immediately became the flagship of Task Force 58 and took part in several raids in March, April, May, and June, before taking part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea (June 19-20, 1944).  After the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Lexington continued operations in the Pacific, striking targets from Guam to the Philippines. Lexington's next major battle was the Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 23-26, 1944). After Leyte Gulf, Lexington continued pursuing the Japanese Navy and suffered a direct kamikaze strike on November 5, which killed 50 and wounded 132 aboard. In December 1944, Lexington became the flagship of Task Group 58.2, which attacked Luzon and Formosa in January 1945 and then continued into the South China Sea, where she stayed until January 20. After replenishing her supplies, Lexington attacked airfields near Tokyo on February 16-17, 1945, in support of the Iwo Jima landings. After this attack, Lexington was ordered back to Washington for overhaul. She was back in combat by late July, when she was part of a task force that attacked the Japanese home islands until Japan surrendered on August 15.

After World War II, Lexington remained in reserve until September 1953, when she was modernized to be able to operate jet aircraft. After this update, Lexington remained on active duty until 1962, when she became a training carrier in the Caribbean. Lexington served as a training carrier until November 8, 1991, when she was decommissioned. After decommissioning, the Navy gave the Lexington to the City of Corpus Christi, where she remains to this day as a museum ship.

Publication History and Census

This map was drawn by JM-NJ Dunn and published c. 1945. We note a cataloged example in the World War II Service Maps Collection at Texas A and M University. An empty OCLC entry also appears for this map, suggesting it was created by an institution that was previously a member of OCLC.

Condition

Very good. Light wear along original fold lines.

References

Texas A and M University G9231.S7 1945.U87. OCLC 1365112719.

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