| USS Lexington (CV-16) Photographed from USS Cowpens (CVL-25) during raids in the Marshalls and Gilberts Islands. She is painted in camouflage Measure 21. After the Caribbean shakedown and yard work at Boston, Lexington sailed for Pacific action via the Panama Canal, arriving Pearl Harbor August 9, 1943. She raided Tarawa in late September and Wake in October, then returned Pearl Harbor to prepare for the Gilbert Islands operation. From November 19-24, she made searches and flew sorties in the Marshalls, covering the landings in the Gilberts. Her aviators downed 29 enemy aircraft on November 23-24. Departing Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 29, 1943, USS Cowpens arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on September 19, to begin the active and distinguished war career which was to earn her a Navy Unit Commendation. She sailed with Task Force 14 to strike the Japanese garrison Wake Island (October 5-6), then returned to Pearl Harbor to prepare for strikes on the Marshall Islands preliminary to invasion. She sortied from Pearl Harbor on November 10 to launch air strikes on Mille and Makin atolls (November 19-24), and on December 4, Kwajalein and Wotje, returning to her base on December 9. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1862.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.96 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5968 x 4747 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | December 31, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | Marshalls |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-K-102 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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