The USS Lexington, an American war ship sunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea during WWII, has been discovered 3000m below the surface of the Coral Sea.
Billionaire Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen funded the expedition which uncovered the lost wreckage 76 years after it was sunk on May 8, 1942, as the battle for the Pacific was raging on.
The wreckage was located 800km off the Australian coastline and was the first ever aircraft carrier to be sunk in WWII.
The USS Lexington, an American war ship sunk in the Battle of the Coral Sea during WWII, has been discovered 3000 metres below the surface of the Coral Sea
The planes that went down with the ship included Douglas TBD Devastators, Douglas SBD Dauntless’ and a single Grumman F4F Wildcat
‘(This is) to pay tribute to the USS Lexington and the brave men that served on her,’ he told 9 News.
The wreckage lies in three sections, a far cry from the imposing figure it had as it cut through the ocean during WWII.
The ship was affectionately known as ‘Lady Lex’ and was sunk during the battle after it took damage from multiple torpedoes, with 216 of the 2735 crewman killed and all 35 planes on board sinking with it.
The ship was affectionately known as ‘Lady Lex’ and was sunk during the Battle of the Coral Sea after it took damage from multiple torpedoes
The planes that went down with the ship included Douglas TBD Devastators, Douglas SBD Dauntless’ and a single Grumman F4F Wildcat.
The nearby USS Phelps was ordered to scuttle the ship after it was damaged in the battle in order to prevent the enemy capturing the advanced American ship.
Mr Allen said that as Americans, the expedition crew owed a lot to those who served and sacrificed with courage and honour.
He said finding the ship was a small token of that gratitude.
The ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee states that the Battle of the Coral Sea was fought in May 1942, between the 4th and the 8th, and was the first aircraft carrier battle ever fought.
The battle was significant for also being the first time during the WWII campaign that the Japanese were defeated in a major operation and it was the defeat that halted the Japanese advance on Port Moresby.
For many war historians it is considered to be the battle that ‘saved Australia’, although some historians dispute that Japan ever had intentions to invade Australia.
During the course of the five-day battle 966 servicemen lost their lives.
The USS Lexington burning during the Battle of the Coral Sea in May of 1942. The ship was damaged so badly that another American ship scuttled it and sent it to the bottom
The USS Lexington leaving San Diego, California, 14th October 1941