| USS Lexington (CV-2) is abandoned, during the afternoon. 1 destroyer, USS Morris (DD-417) is alongside her starboard side, and another, USS Hammann (DD-412), is standing off her stern. Photographed from a cruiser, probably USS Minneapolis (CA-36). Note the SOC Seagull scouting biplane, with a damaged wingtip, on the cruiser’s port catapult. In his After Action Report as Air Officer on Lexington, United States Navy Commander Herbert S. Duckworh (October 23, 1900 – May 29, 1990) reported: “After the first internal explosion at 1247 Hours, there were numerous small explosions until at 1442 Hours a large explosion occurred in the forward elevator well. This explosion raised the elevator about six inches (fifteen centimeters) [others reported about a foot (thirty centimeters) – Editor], and flames came out around the edges. Communication with the hangar deck had been intermittent for some time due to the large quantities of smoke. After some delay I learned from Lieutenant Morris A. Hirsch [(May 28, 1908 – December 7, 1988)] that the hangar deck sprinkling system was on and that the fire was confined to the forward elevator well. Fire hoses on the flight deck were able to put a little water down the elevator and succeeded in reducing the fire somewhat for a short time. Later this fire increased when all water pressure was lost on the flight deck. This fire slowly spread aft during the afternoon and finally reached and exploded the torpedoes on the hangar deck mezzanine after all hands had abandoned ship. Shortly after four o’clock the destroyer Morris came alongside and gave us two fire hoses which were put down the elevator but to no avail. Since the ship was slowly going down by the head we moved all planes aft to shift this much weight. This was accomplished about 1500 Hours.” All squadron personnel were assembled aft on the flight deck and were ordered to embark on the destroyers that were standing by. This word was given some time before 1700 Hours. These personnel plus wounded were removed by USS Morris and another DD [Destroyer] astern. The word to formally abandon ship was given by the Captain [Frederick C. Sherman (May 27, 1888 – July 27, 1957)] at 1707 Hours upon the advice of Rear Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch [(June 11, 1883 – May 22, 1978)]. All preparations had been completed some time before this. The disembarkation was conducted in a very orderly manner into life rafts thrown over the bow and stern. About 1750 Hours, the Captain, the Navigator and myself left the bridge, all hands forward being in the water and only a few remaining on deck aft. When we arrived on the flight deck, we discovered some 12 or 15 wounded men being disembarked alongside of the bridge and stack structure. These men had been brought forward from the after stations too late to be placed on USS Morris. The 3 of us assisted by Ensign Knox [unclear who this is – Ensign Leslie L. B. Knox (November 7, 1916 – May 8, 1942) from Fighting 42 off USS Yorktown (CV-5) was killed in action earlier in the day, and Ship’s Cook Petty Officer Edward W. Knox (September 27, 1919 – October 18, 2016) was aboard USS Lexington (CV-2) – Editor] put 4 wounded men over the side into a whale boat thus assisting 2 small parties headed by Lieutenant Junior Grade W. Ray Laird Junior (August 25, 1915 – November 18, 1988) and a boatswain’s mate. When this was completed, the Navigator and myself lowered ourselves into life rafts as the destroyer USS Hammann came alongside. By this time the fire had spread to the flight deck and the internal explosions were occurring every 2 or 3 minutes, making USS Hammann’s position very dangerous. After rescuing a large portion of the men in the water, she backed clear attempting to drag clear the remaining rafts with tow lines. As she backed clear, some 1.1 inch (28 millimeter) ammunition at batteries 3, 4, 11 exploded. Had USS Hammann remained alongside, her bridge would have been stripped. USS Hammann’s whale boat was sent back to pick up the remaining people in life rafts. USS Hammann then put her bow under the stern of USS Lexington, picking up men and attempted to pull clear the life rafts that were being held alongside by the drift of the ship. 2 violent explosions on the flight deck covered the destroyer (DD) with debris and on my advice of the danger of torpedo explosions in the hangar deck USS Hammann again backed clear. USS Hammann’s whale boat was again despatched in and finally succeeded in dragging clear the remaining 4 or 5 life rafts. I learned later that shortly after USS Hammann backed clear of the starboard side, a violent explosion blew out the quarterdeck door and killed 4 men in a life raft near by. Had USS Hammann remained alongside, this explosion would have blown her bow off together with some 100 men assisting in rescue work. I wish to take this opportunity to call attention to the outstanding performance of USS Hammann, her Captain [Lieutenant Commander Arnold E. True (January 23, 1901 – December 11, 1979)] and her crew. His seamanship was superb; their courage without equal. With total disregard for their own safety, the Captain twice placed his ship close aboard the burning Lexington withdrawing only on the advice of Lexington Officers when they felt that further risk of the ship was not warranted. Also to USS Hammann’s whale boat which time after time returned to the side of USS Lexington, removing the final survivors. The story is told in the total survivors on board – 478 officers and men. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1664.jpg |
| Image Size | 2.33 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5706 x 4529 |
| 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-7403 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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