| An explosion amidships on USS Lexington (CV-2), while she was being abandoned during the afternoon. This may be the explosion reported to have taken place at 1727 hrs, which was followed by a great explosion aft as stowed ordinance detonated on the hangar deck. Note whaleboat underway in the foreground. Chicago Tribune journalist Stanley Johnston (March 27, 1900 – September 13, 1962), had no duty station as a civilian reporter; he existed in a sort of reportorial limbo with no say in either the defense or salvation of the ship, evinced scant illusions as to what would likely happen. “The fires,” he wrote, “could not be shut off any longer, nor could they be extinguished with water, because the explosion had shattered the water mains that fed the fire hoses on these decks. Pumps – small, electrically operated auxiliary pumps that were scattered all over the ship to provide pressure in any area – were useless without water.” “Then, before extra lengths of hose could be led in from undamaged sections of the ship, the fires consumed the electric mains, cutting off light and power where they were needed most. Hoses from remote auxiliary pumps still operating did not supply nearly enough water…By this time the engineers were aware that the main fire was being fed from huge storage tanks in a section which could not be flooded.” Each explosion weakened the bulkheads surrounding the gasoline tanks within the ship’s innards, allowing more of the fuel to escape. It was directly ignited or vaporized in the mounting heat inside the Lexington, then exploded with devastating effect like an air-gasoline mixture within the cylinders of an automobile engine. Thus, the explosions were self-perpetuating. By warping or knocking holes in the bulkheads, the blasts allowed air to circulate. The onrush of oxygen set smoldering material into crackling flame. In turn, the fires were ready to ignite the next mass of vapor. The settling of the ship, too, as she took on more water and began to list anew, pushed up successive quantities of gasoline to the top of the broken tanks, which then spilled over, like a pitcher left under a running faucet. Chief Engineering Officer Lieutenant Commander Alexander F. “Heine” Junker (June 21, 1901 – May 23, 1956), methodically glanced at his wristwatch, estimated that more or less minor explosions were occurring “intermittently forward, at periods of about every twenty minutes,” with the new development of “white smoke…emitted around the side of the band room doors, indicating gasoline explosions.” Johnston, the correspondent, scribbled “The end.” Even so, Ensign Ashbury “Red” Coward III (November 4, 1914 – October 23, 1989), for 1, thought “it all looked good” so far. The commander of sky aft, however, was compelled to alter his mental assessment at 1443 Hours, when there occurred a “heavy explosion under forward elevator.” This doomed the ship. Eventually Junker couldn’t contain the fire, and he called Sherman and recommended that the crew abandon ship. The fires consumed Lexington from bow to stern. Captain Frederick C. Sherman wrote in his after-action report, “The picture of the burning and doomed ship was a magnificent but sad sight. The ship and crew had performed gloriously and it seemed too bad that she had to perish in her hour of victory. But she went to a glorious end, more fitting than the usual fate of the eventual scrap heap or succumbing to the perils of the sea. She went down in battle, after a glorious victory for our forces in which the Lexington and her air group played so conspicuous a part.” | |
| Image Filename | wwii1666.jpg |
| Image Size | 2.34 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5696 x 4496 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | May 8, 1942 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | Coral Sea |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-7406 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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