We could see the Lexington in the distance. Just like anyplace there was construction going on, detours throughout the area. We finally found our way around the detours and parked near the Lexington entry.
The Lexington is a World War II era aircraft carrier.
These pictures are from a distance, didn't know if we'd get any closer!
The one on the left from beyond the detour, the one on the right after we made it through. The airplanes looked like toys perched on the ship. Once up on top, we felt like the toys. The planes looked like they could be made ready to take off at any moment. This "airport" on the Lexington is 910 ft. long and 142 ft. wide. Thinking, like a guy, you could have three footballs game being played at the same time on the
USS Lexington flight deck!
One of us was in a rush to board the ship and take the tours! Wonder which one? Had to halt, for a picture with Flat Stanley! Tours were self-guided, there were five of them! Joe made it through four.
We took these steps, 6 flights of them, to the top deck. There were various kinds of planes and helicopters. I took pictues of the Banshee and the Cobra. We made it to the top and up into the control rooms. Very tight places, for such important jobs. The steps were treacherous, for me! I was imagining the guys running up and down, taking two or three steps at a time. Guess you'd get used to them with time.
On the flight deck, we met two gentlemen that explained, with gusto, how the planes were catapulted from the deck, how planes were refueled, and that the Lexingtion underwent modifications, in the '50's, so she could stay in service
another 36 years. These gentlemen were father and son.
They served in WW II and the Vietnam War, respectively.
(They were very gracious and posed for a picture, with Flat Stanley.)
Seeing as Joe didn't get in the fifth tour, or view all of the films, we will one day return to Corpus Christi, to finish the tour. It was very interesting, but next time I'll be on the beach.
