#USS Coral Sea

[judgemark45]

[ladiesandgenerals]

[usafphantom2]

And in glorious B&W, Bird farm, 14 pictured on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Coral Sea (CV 43) on October 4, 1979.

@CcibChris via X

[blackros78]

An F-4N Phantom II of the VMFA-323 Death Rattlers at full afterburner on the catapult aboard USS Coral Sea CV-43. November 1979.

[victusinveritas]

Some Princess Bride trivia for you.

[casposters]

1970 F-4B Phantom II USS Coral Sea VF-111 - box art Academy

[mareislandfoundation]

A Legacy

It is in the heart of the first United States naval base on the Pacific Ocean and it stands on the same foundation as the original commandant’s mansion. The first mansion was the home of one of the most famous naval officers in US history, Admiral David Glasgow Farragut, and it was destroyed in the Mare Island earthquake of 1898. Today’s mansion still stands on that original foundation, but much has changed from the days when that first mansion was constructed in the 1850’s. The mansion has transitioned from outdoor to indoor plumbing, oil lamps to electric lighting, carriage houses to garages etc. Of course, most of those changes were the result of the labors of public works employees or contractors, but the 10,340 bricks that constitute the walkways that meander through the spacious gardens were the work of one man who happened to command the naval base.

Vice Admiral Lowry was a man of small stature, but he was also a highly decorated naval officer who saw service in both World Wars. He was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service as Commanding Officer of the Heavy Cruiser USS Minneapolis (CA-36), during operations at the battle of the Coral Sea only 5 months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Following that attack Japanese forces had been rolling nearly unopposed across the Pacific. Then on 7 and 8 May 1942 his ship inflicted considerable damage on the Japanese and rendered vital protection to the US aircraft carrier USS Lexington to which it was assigned. The Battle of the Coral Sea was important as it was the first pure carrier-versus-carrier battle in history as neither surface fleet sighted the other. Though a draw, it was an important turning point in the war in the Pacific because, for the first time, the Allies had stopped the Japanese advance and lines of communication to Australia and New Zealand were kept open.

Admiral Lowry later commanded the invasions on the other side of the world at Salerno and Anzio (Italy). Lowry's Task Force 81 contained over 250 combat-loaded vessels and amphibious assault craft of all sizes and descriptions. Admiral Lowry also commanded the 74 vessels of Task Force X-Ray, assigned to see American forces safely ashore and to support their beachhead operations at Anzio. With the war ended, Admiral Lowry was soon put in command of Mare Island Naval Shipyard where he indulged one of his great passions, gardening. Admiral Lowry commanded Mare Island for 2 ½ years from 1947 to 1950 and during that time he constructed all the brick pathways that interlace the gardens behind the mansion.

Dennis Kelly

[carbone14]

Un destroyer et le USS Lexington (CV-2) bord à bord pendant l'évacuation de l'équipage du porte-avions – Bataille de la mer de Corail – Campagne de Nouvelle-Guinée – Guerre du Pacifique – 8 mai 1942

Photographe : Official U.S. Navy Photograph

©Naval History and Heritage Command - 80-G-7398

[roosterarts]

A bit late, but yesterday was the anniversary of the loss of the USS Lexington. Heavily damaged during the battle of the Coral Sea, the Lexington was scuttled by the US Navy on May 8, 1942.

The art here is an old piece that I did a while back but forgot to post.

[judgemark45]

USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) passing under the SF-Oakland Bridge with Midway (CVA-41) standing in the early 60s.

[ladiesandgenerals]

[usafphantom2]

US Navy F-8 Crusader by Linh Yoshimura Via Flickr: Vietnam, 1972 – A US Navy F-8 Crusader about to land on the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), still armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. Photo Credit Patrice HABANS Notice, the high-incidence angle of the wings of the aircraft, during each landing or taking-off phase, is one of the numerous particularities of the F-8 Crusader. Another particularity is its sharp nose. But also, the F-8 Crusader is a bit longer etc, in comparison with the A-7 Corsair II although the similar look en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable-incidence_wing www.aviationsmilitaires.net/v2/base/view/Model/457.html vietnam.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/f8crusader.html

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1970 Boss 429 Mustang

In 1970, lawyer and drag racer Al Eckstrand put together a Lawman Racing Team, consisting of two 780hp Boss 429 Mustang drag cars and six 428 Cobra Jet Mach 1s, to tour U.S. military facilities around the world. It was during the Vietnam War, and servicemen were happy to see some of the musclecars from back home.

Two Lawman Boss 429s were built, one for Eckstrand demonstrations in Southeast Asia and the other for use as a show car in Europe.

The first car was destroyed at sea when an 8-ton ship container fell on it (possibly the USS Coral Sea, ID 43).

So, Eckstrand hastily finished the second car, which was flown by Air Force transport to the south Pacific.

Over the next three years, the Lawman United States Performance Team performed demonstrations to an audience of over 240,000 servicemen.

In 1999, Eckstrand reacquired the Lawman Boss 429 from Sam Eidy, who had purchased the car and maintained it as a tribute to Eckstrand.

[usaac-official]

An AD-1 of VA-64 launches from USS Coral Sea (CVB-43), 14 September 1948

[lonestarbattleship]

"USS YORKTOWN (CV-5) in Dry Dock # 1 at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, receiving urgent repairs for damage received in the Battle of Coral Sea. She left Pearl Harbor the next day to participate in the Battle of Midway. USS WEST VIRGINIA (BB-48), sunk in the December 7, 1941 Japanese air attack, is being salvaged in the left distance."

Date: May 29, 1942

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command: 80-G-13065

Colorized by Steven Walker: link

[dangerousthingobservation]

An F-4B, most likely belonging to VF-51, approaches the USS Coral Sea, ca.May/June 1972 during WESTPAC/Vietnam ops.