Squeaky 135 Posted March 8, 2018 Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 Hey Everyone: I know many of you served in the Navy. I just wanted to share how folks are very excited at a model building website I visit because Paul Allen has found the remains of the U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2) that was sunk at the Battle of the Coral Sea. She's in three pieces, but things like deck guns are well preserved to such an extent that rifling can still be seen. However, folks are really going nuts over the relatively well preserved state of some of her aircraft in the debris field. These are very rare TBD Devastators, and early versions of the Dauntless dive bomber and Wildcat fighter plane that are mostly intact on the ocean floor. One Wildcat still clearly displays four Japanese kill markings. I just wanted to share this with fellow patriots. 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
evlblkwpnz 3,418 Posted March 8, 2018 Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 Hopefully, some of this recovery will be viewable at some point. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
netpackrat 566 Posted March 8, 2018 Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 The Navy will never let any salvage take place because the ship is considered a war grave. Even if the aircraft in the debris field don't fall under that classification, unless things have changed, no warbird enthusiast or organization will ever attempt to retrieve any because the Navy considers all wrecked navy aircraft (no matter how old or how long abandoned) to still be their property. This has caused problems in the past when former Navy wrecks have been recovered by private persons for restoration and the Navy has stepped in to deprive them of their legitimate salvage rights. AFAIK the Army, USAF, etc don't have this policy. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
evlblkwpnz 3,418 Posted March 8, 2018 Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 Typical gov't double standard. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jerry52 893 Posted March 8, 2018 Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 Let the dead lay in peace. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Squeaky 135 Posted March 8, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2018 Respect for the dead is already being exercised, of course. There are no plans (as far as I know) to try to salvage any part of the Lexington out of respect for her dead. It is hoped the Navy will allow salvage of aircraft with the deal being planes like the Wildcat with kill markings will go to the Naval Air Museum. Others will be allowed to enter collections. Given their rareness and historical value, I assume these planes will not be flown again. They might not even be restored to flying condition at all. They might just be retrieved from the bottom, treated for corrosion, and displayed as they are as a memorial to those who served. I admit I can't imagine what kind of hell those sea battles must have been like. I met a patient once who said he was in the Battle of the Philippine Sea (Marianas Turkey Shoot) as a 40mm Bofors gunner on one of the carriers. The hardest part was not being able go anywhere. You manned your station and did your best to hit a kamikaze plane screaming at your ship. You didn't have time for practice shots. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Photoguy 202 Posted March 9, 2018 Report Share Posted March 9, 2018 Glad to see someone found the old girl. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sim_Player 1,939 Posted March 12, 2018 Report Share Posted March 12, 2018 (edited) The videos have been popping up in my YouTube Recommended channels. Recover the aircraft, if they can be preserved, intact. The ship and sea is the true grave. Edited March 12, 2018 by Sim_Player Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rhodes1968 1,638 Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 I have to question this given how many they raise, like the Monitor. If they could they would have raised that entire ship, was not for lack of trying. What they didnt die in that one too? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlackHeart762 288 Posted March 13, 2018 Report Share Posted March 13, 2018 I think the only thing holding those aircraft together is the paint. They are likely to desegregate if disturbed BH 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jerry52 893 Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 Respect for the dead is already being exercised, of course. There are no plans (as far as I know) to try to salvage any part of the Lexington out of respect for her dead. It is hoped the Navy will allow salvage of aircraft with the deal being planes like the Wildcat with kill markings will go to the Naval Air Museum. Others will be allowed to enter collections. Given their rareness and historical value, I assume these planes will not be flown again. They might not even be restored to flying condition at all. They might just be retrieved from the bottom, treated for corrosion, and displayed as they are as a memorial to those who served. I admit I can't imagine what kind of hell those sea battles must have been like. I met a patient once who said he was in the Battle of the Philippine Sea (Marianas Turkey Shoot) as a 40mm Bofors gunner on one of the carriers. The hardest part was not being able go anywhere. You manned your station and did your best to hit a kamikaze plane screaming at your ship. You didn't have time for practice shots. re thinking this, if they did salvage some planes and found bodies the navy would honor them as the always have 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
G O B 3,516 Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 Most of the shallow water wrecks have already BEEN salvaged, for the scrap value, illegally and with NO respect for the dead. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hudson Hornet 40 Posted March 14, 2018 Report Share Posted March 14, 2018 The raised the Hunley along with the crew. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sjgusmc21 850 Posted March 15, 2018 Report Share Posted March 15, 2018 The Hunley and Monitor were hallmarks in Naval Battle. Their historical value is priceless IMO. If I ever get the chance to see them, I will. I am sure the dead were honored respectfully. Lady Lex will never be raised, but if they can preserve some of her treasures, and display them properly, I think it would be very respectful to those that died that their memories live on by being viewed in musuem's by thousands...as well as a swift reminder of what they gave and why. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gunfun 3,931 Posted March 29, 2018 Report Share Posted March 29, 2018 I think bodies should be taken care of carefully and with respect, but stuff is stuff, and shouldn't get reverence. Possibly preservation as historical items, but while I love history, one thing I've learned from it is that the living need land and materials more than the dead do, and that there are enough historical artifacts to avoid making shrines of them all. Normal maritime law allows salvage, and I see absolutely zero good from making two classes of citizens, military and other. If a civilian shipwreck is subject to salvage, so is a military shipwreck. If the laws say otherwise, we should fix the laws. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ronin38 2,117 Posted March 31, 2018 Report Share Posted March 31, 2018 The USS Juneau was recently found as well. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/03/20/five-sullivan-brothers-serving-together-were-killed-during-world-war-ii-their-ship-was-just-found/?utm_term=.594e5d4d61e1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.