...FROM IMAGINATION by Roger Williams
TO REALITY
A Story
The U.S. fleet encountered the Japanese kamikaze for the
first time at the second battle of the Philippine Sea. On Nov.
Five, the fleet is attacked by hordes of kamikazes.
Already in flames from repeated anti-aircraft fire a
lone kamikaze slams into the Lexington’s starboard
(right) side; shrapnel and burning air fuel is sent flying
onto the flight deck which destroyed most of the ship’s
command island. Within 20 minutes damage control
parties brought the fires under control which allowed
normal air operations to continue. The attack killed
50 and injured 132 of Lexington’s blue jackets. Structural
repairs are completed at the Navy’s repair base located at
the Ulithi atoll. Tokyo Rose declared her sunk for a fourth
time, but the Ghost returned to the fleet for the invasion of Iwo
Jima, Feb. 19, 1945.
the next onslaught of Japanese carrier and land-based planes.
During the next two days the U.S. Navy sank three Japanese
carriers, two refueling ships and destroyed 600+Japanese
airplanes. American air forces lost 128 planes during the battle
which became known as the “Marianas Turkey Shoot” when
pilots bragged that it was like “shooting turkeys up there.”
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The Lexington returned to Bremerton, Wash., for a much
needed overhaul and to provide shore leave for her exhausted
crew. May 22, overhaul completed, she sailed for San Pedro
Bay located on the island of Leyte, Philippines.
Vice Adm. John S. McCain’s Task Force 38
was waiting on the Lady Lex to assist
with the final assault of the war
against Japan. She mounted air
attacks against the industrial
texas now
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