Assigned to Lex 89-Decommission. I remember this day just like it was yesterday. First time I ever saw an aircraft actually drop a bomb. Thanks for the memories!!!
i've stayed aboard the Lex 3 times back in high school with my jrotc unit and have visited it frequently my whole life. its always an awesome experience. i loved patrolling the ship on fire watch at night and getting to go into the closed off sections of the ship and seeing everything.
My father is a Plankowner on the Lex. He served aboard during WW2. He was assigned when she was being built in the Boston Shipyards and remained on board until 1946 when he left the Navy. He was always proud to have been one of her crew.
On the Lex 1982 - 1983 all over the Caribbean on flight ops, went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and then in July 83 back to my home town to do 2 years of inactive Reserve's then Honorably Discharged. Got out of the Navy after 4 years active and 2 inactive. Seems like yesterday, time sure has flown.
This is docked in my town of Corpus Christi. This ship is haunted as I experienced it first hand while on a field trip in mid 90s. Look up the footage and pictures. Amazing. Much respect to the men and women who served.
I've visited the Lady a couple times in Corpus Christi. Spent about 4 hours and didn't get to finish exploring. Awesome Lady! I knew the guy in charge of getting her settled in her home berthing in Corpus. Those were some wonderful discussions about the technicalities and difficulties of getting her set up.
I served aboard her from 1974-1978. Nothing but wonderful memories. A big part of me is and will always remain aboard The LADY LEX! I think of her almost every day of my life.
OMG!!! Thank you for uploading this!! I was there, I think, if this was the cruise where the Blue Angels also performed for us, then one hit the sound barrier as it zipped by the ship only a couple hundred feet off the water. So cool seeing a lot of familiar faces in this vid. I was on Side-Crew (Deck - 2nd Div.)
That's awesome. My soon to uncle at the time was stationed on the Lexington and took me on the Day Cruise in 1990. Was absolutely awesome to me as a 16 year old who was gung ho to join the military(went Air Force) but I always look back to that cruise. I remember that one of the props were warped or bent and the ship shook when we were actually in the Gulf. We didn't get A-7's that year though..it was the old T-2 Buckeyes. But was still an awesome sight to see them land and take off!
I served on the Gray Ghost from 67 to 89 out of this port... I was the ship's magazine editor back then. I used to give the commentary on civilian cruises.. like the gentleman doing it now..
I believe this was the last training cruise. I was living in Pensacola at the time. Amazing to see the old port before Hurrican Ivan destroyed most of the buildings in 2004.
Oh Yea....I served on her from '69-'73...Flight deck...Tilly man..man those were the days...even rode into the mouth and out the tail of Hurricane Camille; that was a night I'll never forget...Blue Eagle III%
I was surprised to see them training A-7s off this ship that late in its career. 1991 was the last year for BOTH the A-7 and Lexington in Navy service. They did use the A-7 in one squadron (based on JFK) in 1991 during the First Gulf War. The Essex-class ships got harder and harder tasked to operate jets and were increasingly less capable of supporting modern aircraft as they got into the 1960s. They operated A-4s and A-7s off those ships during Vietnam but not the A-6 which just too heavy from what I understand OR the F-4. They kept the F-8 operational onboard those carriers specifically until the last frontline Essex-class ships were decommissioned in 1976. They NEVER operated any fighter heavier than the F-8 on the Essex-class ships because the flight just couldn't take the pounding of heavier fighters like the F-4 and F-14. Oh my goodness, they would have been hard up to operate F-4s let alone F-14s! They seriously at one point considered basing F-4s on Essex-class carriers until they realized they would have to reinforce the flight decks to operate those ships. It just wasn't economically feasible and they were having problems and very limited in other aircraft types that just wouldn't fit onboard those ships, either, let alone a heavy fighter!
Jim Coffman V2 Cats 74-78 Good People Good times.1st day on the flight deck The Cat officer bet the Flight Deck officer he could keep more planes in the air than the Deck Officer could get on deck. If I remember correctly I had to drag 28 A4 bridles during that hour I was on deck.Damn things weighed about 180 lbs and I weighed 145 Yep Good times.
i wass on a tour 2 years ago and i snuck off into a room taped off with no lights on i was scared as sh** i took a picture for the flash and i saw a reepy ass manican i fell and got a concussion ive learned my lesson
i was at the USS Lexington for cob scouts they the ghost wher slam-en the doors and banging on the walls the hole pack wher scard charle a friend in in my den/pack say charle charle true name start with with a c he my friend forgot his name i was mad pack 802 acrazy1227
Assigned to Lex 89-Decommission. I remember this day just like it was yesterday. First time I ever saw an aircraft actually drop a bomb. Thanks for the memories!!!
i've stayed aboard the Lex 3 times back in high school with my jrotc unit and have visited it frequently my whole life. its always an awesome experience. i loved patrolling the ship on fire watch at night and getting to go into the closed off sections of the ship and seeing everything.
My father is a Plankowner on the Lex. He served aboard during WW2. He was assigned when she was being built in the Boston Shipyards and remained on board until 1946 when he left the Navy. He was always proud to have been one of her crew.
On the Lex 1982 - 1983 all over the Caribbean on flight ops, went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans and then in July 83 back to my home town to do 2 years of inactive Reserve's then Honorably Discharged.
Got out of the Navy after 4 years active and 2 inactive. Seems like yesterday, time sure has flown.
This is docked in my town of Corpus Christi. This ship is haunted as I experienced it first hand while on a field trip in mid 90s. Look up the footage and pictures. Amazing. Much respect to the men and women who served.
I served aboard this wonderful ship from 1971-74 as a new Warrant Officer in the Captain's Office. Many fond memories and wonderful crew.
Just visited the Lexington at Corpus Christi Texas, that woulda been awesome to take a cruise on it , now it sits parked as a museum
I've visited the Lady a couple times in Corpus Christi. Spent about 4 hours and didn't get to finish exploring. Awesome Lady! I knew the guy in charge of getting her settled in her home berthing in Corpus. Those were some wonderful discussions about the technicalities and difficulties of getting her set up.
Served on the Lex from 69 thru 72. S-3 division in ship"s stores and S-3 sales Office. Great times!!
I was aboard her from 78 to 80.really good times
M DIVISION FORWARD ENGINE ROOM.
What an honor it would've been to serve aboard the Lex. She looks so vibrant in this footage.
I served aboard her from 1974-1978. Nothing but wonderful memories. A big part of me is and will always remain aboard The LADY LEX! I think of her almost every day of my life.
OMG!!! Thank you for uploading this!! I was there, I think, if this was the cruise where the Blue Angels also performed for us, then one hit the sound barrier as it zipped by the ship only a couple hundred feet off the water. So cool seeing a lot of familiar faces in this vid. I was on Side-Crew (Deck - 2nd Div.)
When the ole girl was in port the fishing was great between the ship and the dock . I have also had the honor to sail on four day cruises.
My father was a plank walker and served from 1943-1945 as a AOMC 1.
FYI ... those jets are Vought Corsairs. Not Grumman.
I was TAD on the Lexington in 1977 with VA174.
I served on the Lexington in 1971 as a QM3. I was on the bridge in navigation. I am glad she still around.
I was in deck department from 1985 - 1990. with best years I had in the navy were on the Lex.
That's awesome. My soon to uncle at the time was stationed on the Lexington and took me on the Day Cruise in 1990. Was absolutely awesome to me as a 16 year old who was gung ho to join the military(went Air Force) but I always look back to that cruise. I remember that one of the props were warped or bent and the ship shook when we were actually in the Gulf. We didn't get A-7's that year though..it was the old T-2 Buckeyes. But was still an awesome sight to see them land and take off!
I served on the Gray Ghost from 67 to 89 out of this port... I was the ship's magazine editor back then. I used to give the commentary on civilian cruises.. like the gentleman doing it now..
wow!!! that's awesome! its my favorite aircraft carrier and i go to the museum once in a while in cirpus.
Awesome footage!
Thank you
1984-1987
I believe this was the last training cruise. I was living in Pensacola at the time. Amazing to see the old port before Hurrican Ivan destroyed most of the buildings in 2004.
When I was a cadet Lt. in NJROTC we spent a week on the Lady Lex for flight ops...what a blast! Good times!
Oh Yea....I served on her from '69-'73...Flight deck...Tilly man..man those were the days...even rode into the mouth and out the tail of Hurricane Camille; that was a night I'll never forget...Blue Eagle III%
i have stayed a few nights aboard lex with my JROTC unit, gotta say, had some real good times, especially doing fire watch at night
I was surprised to see them training A-7s off this ship that late in its career.
1991 was the last year for BOTH the A-7 and Lexington in Navy service. They did use the A-7 in one squadron (based on JFK) in 1991 during the First Gulf War.
The Essex-class ships got harder and harder tasked to operate jets and were increasingly less capable of supporting modern aircraft as they got into the 1960s. They operated A-4s and A-7s off those ships during Vietnam but not the A-6 which just too heavy from what I understand OR the F-4. They kept the F-8 operational onboard those carriers specifically until the last frontline Essex-class ships were decommissioned in 1976. They NEVER operated any fighter heavier than the F-8 on the Essex-class ships because the flight just couldn't take the pounding of heavier fighters like the F-4 and F-14.
Oh my goodness, they would have been hard up to operate F-4s let alone F-14s! They seriously at one point considered basing F-4s on Essex-class carriers until they realized they would have to reinforce the flight decks to operate those ships. It just wasn't economically feasible and they were having problems and very limited in other aircraft types that just wouldn't fit onboard those ships, either, let alone a heavy fighter!
I was on that ship 2 years ago for cub scouts
Served as admin asst to XO 70-71. I’d do it again!
Where the 2 turrents on the deck
She also appeared in the movie Midway ..
So they used to give a cruise?
I was on board 80 to 82 as a Hull Tech
I served aboard 77-80 Deck 1st div good times
jazzmaster I was aboard in 1980 what is your. name?
The officers sucked. No leadership. I was a slave to officer and I still hate them to this day.
Remember Sarcone????
Jim Coffman V2 Cats 74-78 Good People Good times.1st day on the flight deck The Cat officer bet the Flight Deck officer he could keep more planes in the air than the Deck Officer could get on deck. If I remember correctly I had to drag 28 A4 bridles during that hour I was on deck.Damn things weighed about 180 lbs and I weighed 145 Yep Good times.
CHANCE-VOUGHT A-7E CORSAIR II.... not Grumman......
I went back in '08
now it rest at corpus christi as a museum.
i wass on a tour 2 years ago and i snuck off into a room taped off with no lights on i was scared as sh** i took a picture for the flash and i saw a reepy ass manican i fell and got a concussion ive learned my lesson
i was at the USS Lexington for cob scouts they the ghost wher slam-en the doors and banging on the walls the hole pack wher scard charle a friend in in my den/pack say charle charle true name start with with a c he my friend forgot his name i was mad pack 802 acrazy1227