Texas Now Magazine April 2015 | Page 10

corpus christi USS LEXINGTON... Part 2 Read Part 1 At TexasNOWmag.com Japanese propaganda specialist Tokyo Rose announced the Blue Ghost had been sunk after a hit by one of their torpedo planes. They had no idea… the Japanese would be in for a big surprise! Repairs were completed at Bremerton, Wash., Feb., 1944, and she was ready to re-enter the war. After a quick stop in Alameda, Calif., she sailed for Pearl Harbor to join Task Force 58. Adm. Marc Mitscher, commander of TF 58, was waiting for the Blue Ghost to meet them at the island of Majuro. TF 58 used Majuro as its home base for supporting 10 US ground forces as they island hop their way across the western Pacific. For the next 18 months TF 58 leads naval forces across the Pacific destroying Japanese strongholds. April 13, 1944, TF 58 participated in the landing at Hollandia. TF 58s’ next stop is Truk where the Ghost, despite heavy attacks by Japanese aircraft, received no damage. Tokyo Rose erroneously reported (for a second time) that the Lexington was lost to Japanese air attacks. On June 16, while supporting U.S. Marines at the battle for the island of Saipan, the Lexington fought off a heavy attack of Japanese torpedo planes based on the island of Guam. For a third time Tokyo Rose announced the Lexington had been sunk and again, she was wrong. By June 19, the Lexington was back in action anticipating ✯ texas now & THE ARTS TAGE, EVENTS, HERI Get Your History On At TexasNOWmag.com