USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, TX

Give yourself a special treat when you visit the USS Lexington, anchored in Corpus Christi Harbor, Corpus Christi, Texas. For those who are interested in learning about US Naval history, the USS Lexington offers a unique look into the technology and military power of the United States during World War II. Guided and self-guided tours are available of this amazing aircraft carrier and special shows are given to show what life was like on-board the ship during times of active military battles. You can even experience what it was like to fly a war plane when you climb into the flight simulator and try your hand at the controls of a World War II plane.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRoMUMHX95g

Nicknamed the Blue Ghost, the USS Lexington was launched in September 1942 as an Essex Class aircraft carrier. Built in Quincy, Massachusetts at the Fore River Shipyard, the USS Lexington is the fifth ship to bear the name, honoring the Battle of Lexington during the Revolutionary War.

After the Japanese sunk the 4th USS Lexington in the battle of the Coral Sea, the new ship which was going to be named the Cabot, was launched under the name of the USS Lexington just a short time later. Because the ship bore the same name as the ship they had sunk, the Japanese saw the ships reappearance as a ghost ship. The dark blue camouflage design added to the ghostly look against the ocean waters and the Japanese forces began calling the ship the Blue Ghost.

The USS Lexington distinguished herself in the Pacific and eventually in the Atlantic/Mediterranean Oceans. She was used for over a quarter of a century as a training carrier in Pensacola, Florida. In 1991, the USS Lexington was decommissioned and donated as a museum, anchored in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The USS Lexington is approximately 850 feet long and could reach a speed of 33 knots. The ship included 4 shafts and 4 geared steam turbines. The aircraft carrier could carry 110 planes and had a complement of 2,600 enlisted men and officers.

Tours of this exciting aircraft carrier include a ready room briefing where you will receive details about what you will be seeing on the tour. You will also get the chance to experience what it was like to be part of the personnel on the ship as you go through the procedures to prepare a catapult launch and see how the planes were launched from the ship. You will also see how the aviation team kept track of the planes and how the got them back on board the ship safely.

Self-guided tours are also available for those who would like to take more time to learn about the workings of the aircraft carrier. The tours cover 11 decks, each one with its own unique features. The flight deck tour gives you a look at the launching and recovery of the planes, while the Foc’sle(Forecastle) tour includes the forward upper deck all the way to the bow. This tour includes the mechanical equipment that raises and lowers the anchors. The operation of the anchors was performed by the boatswain (“bosuns”) mate.

The third of the self-guided tours features the Gallery Deck Tour. The Gallery Deck is where the Combat Information Center(CIC) is located. The CIC along with the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center(CATCC) and the Air Operations Center(AirOps), all located near each other on the Gallery Deck, were responsible for the collection and evaluation of military intelligence information.

The fourth self-guided tour includes the lower decks where the propulsion systems are located. The massive power plant was capable of generating up to 150,000 horsepower. The fifth and last of the self-guided tours features the hanger deck where the planes were stored before being lifting onto the flight deck. Rearming, refueling, and maintenance of the aircraft all took place in the hanger deck.

The USS Lexington museum also includes attractions like the “Lockdown on the Lexington,” a unique escape room where you use historic naval equipment with state-of-the-art technology to attempt to escape from a lockdown. Other attractions include a 3-d Mega Theatre where you will experience the real look and feel of the attack on Pearl Harbor as shown on a 3D screen. You can also take part in virtual battle stations with interactive gaming that lets you navigate your own battle ship fleet.

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