Brett Thompson

An aircraft carrier is a large warship that serves as a mobile airbase for military aircraft. These ships are equipped with a flight deck for launching and landing aircraft, as well as facilities for storing and maintaining aircraft. Aircraft carriers play a crucial role in modern naval warfare by allowing countries to project air power far from their shores. They are typically the centerpiece of a naval task force and can carry a variety of aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters, and reconnaissance planes.

USS Lexington (CV-16) is an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, commissioned in February 1943. Nicknamed "The Blue Ghost," she earned her legend during World War II, participating in major Pacific battles such as the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and the attacks on the Japanese home islands. Lexington’s air groups contributed significantly to the destruction of enemy ships and aircraft, earning 11 battle stars for her wartime service. After World War II, she served as an attack carrier and later as a training carrier until her decommissioning in 1991; today, USS Lexington is preserved as a museum ship in Corpus Christi, Texas.