The Aircraft of USS Lexington - Decades Underwater, Yet Still Intact

When I covered the wreck of USS Lexington, I briefly touched on the aircraft surrounding her. Not in any great detail, as that video focused on the ship herself. However, those aircraft are quite impressive in their own right.
Certainly, some of them are very rough. But others are incredibly well preserved. Looking almost like they just sank yesterday, obvious battle damage aside. Well, that and the rusted out engines.
This video will focus on those aircraft, in a bit of a break from the usual pattern.
Lexington Video: • General History: USS L...
Lex Wreck Video: • The Wreck of USS Lexin...
Petrel Albums:
media/set/?s...
media/set/?s...

[@elennapointer701]

There are no Devastators anywhere in any museum. There are two submerged in relatively shallow water on Jaluit Atoll, but "shallow" is another way of saying "covered in marine growth". The Lady Lex Devastators are pristine by comparison. If just one could be raised, it would be a treasure.

[@carltonstidsen8806]

There is a TBD-1 Mockup aboard the MIDWAY at San Diego , suspended from the overhead in the Hangar Deck . Only a mockup , but at least it is full size. Better than nothing .

[@zcole774]

Let the dead sleep. It's a graveyard.

[@stephenhargreaves9324]

@@zcole774 Trust me, they won't wake up.

[@silentsven1]

​@@zcole774the ship may be, the plane isn't

[@lzaffuto]

I've always felt that the Navy should recover and restore one of the devastators from here or Midway and restore it. There are currently no surviving airframes, and even though it would be insanely expensive I feel like they owe it as a memorial to the people that basically sacrificed themselves so that the dive bombers could be successful in their mission.

[@trainnerd3029]

I am with you 100%! The way the government squanders our tax dollars… I feel that project would be well received and welcomed by taxpayers!

[@aceofspadesattorney]

To my knowledge there IS a project in progress to possibly raise the Devastators and the Wildcat from Lexington (the Wildcat being rather historically significant in itself), but it’s having some trouble getting approved by US government authorities. Classic bureaucracy issues but yes, there is a chance in a few years the Devastators will see the light of day again!

[@h.db.9684]

@@trainnerd3029. Why preserve our own heritage and history? Ukraine and Israel need more money.

[@cdfe3388]

@@h.db.9684 You mean the Biden crime syndicate needs to launder more of our money!

[@trainnerd3029]

@@h.db.9684 right?! It’s ridiculous isn’t it?

[@bluzzjazz]

It's amazing how well the paint has held up over 80+ years!

[@paulh.5691]

Sure! But as the saying goes, the worse it stinks the better it is. Paint wise anyway.

[@Stooltoad5017]

Seeing the pictures of the underwater devastators is so surreal to me. We sadly have no survivors above water, yet to see the aircraft’s paint in good condition despite being deep in the ocean. The Devastators are fairly underrated, or at least, have a very negative reputation they don’t deserve. I hope they are able to take one and bring it the surface someday. Even if just for static preservation in a museum.

[@vicarus2728]

It's quite surreal watching the video about a wreck of the distinguished airplane, which fell in to the ocean eighty years ago alongside with it's legendary aircraft carrier... ...to then see Felix the Cat on it's side, perfectly preserved. That's not something i was expecting to witness today

[@Peace2U-ec6es]

Excellent content! My uncle was a cook on the 'Lady Lex', and she was always one of my favorites. Thank you for sharing this!

[@Bob-tn5xn]

My grandfather was a sea marine and first loader on the AA gun , and was one that reboarded and got some ice cream 😂

[@georgiabigfoot]

You have any Lex recipes you can share with us ? Even if it’s one made for 500 servings ?

[@michaelmclaren7373]

Somewhere down there is the rest of the Lex’ air wing that was left aboard. That’s the part that gets me - we’re only seeing the few they found and photographed.

[@navyav8r653]

Probably still chained down in the hanger deck. That would be an amazing sight to see

[@k1ross]

@navyav8r653 The hangar deck spaces suffered major sustained fires and several very significant explosions. I wouldn't bet on much surviving in what was essentially an exploding furnace.

[@navyav8r653]

@@k1ross consider the tug that's still chained down inside the hanger at the fantail. I'd bet there is something still there

[@Montana_horseman]

Very interesting to see and hear about. I grew up living next to what was a training base for numerous squadrons before they were deployed to combat operations in the Pacific Theater. Later in the war, that station was home to Marine squadrons that were trained to operate from aircraft carriers providing close air support for their fellow Marines on the ground. While there weren't many of the WW2 aircraft still flying out of there, I can clearly remember as a child hearing them start up and take off and occasionally they would fly right over our house. I love the sound of the old birds to this day.

[@robby_fulton]

Wow - the preservation is amazing. They should really bring one of these up.

[@ronammologist16]

Outstanding job on this video. God bless our vets please! Living and diseased, and all generations.

[@thegreat_I_am]

Don’t forget the living and healthy ones.

[@Hjerte_Verke]

No more brother wars.

[@shelad]

I love the educational value your videos offer. Please keep up the great work. I look forward to every video.

[@RDEnduro]

I really kept rewinding and looking at the planes in the other video so Im all about this

[@saparotrob7888]

I really appreciated this video. I know some aviation modelers who love to check out the aircraft markings.

[@jeffskillman6161]

Great video and comprehensive commentary, thank you. I have mixed emotions at seeing the aircraft: devastated, wild but undaunted!

[@aproudamerican2692]

For many years I would take my family to Corpus Christi Texas on vacation to tour the USS Lexington. We lived in San Antonio for 20+ years so it wasn't far to visit The Blue Ghost.

[@sailormike1089]

I served on the Lex (AVT16) for 2 1/2 years in the late 80's. worked on the flight deck in arresting gear training student and requalifying pilots out of Pensacola. Lucky you to see her as a museum. Haven't been on the Lex since it opened as a museum. The Blue Ghost is named for CV-2 thats in this video.

[@user-gb6re9eg3i]

REALLY INCREDIBLE, AMAZING STUFF!!! THANK YOU!

[@stephenbrooker7097]

One reason for raising a Devastator is as a memorial to commemorate the men who gave their lives a Midaway in them. Another is a deep recovery training exercise/learning opportunity.

[@DardanellesBy108]

Very surprised how well those planes looked considering all the circumstances. Awesome video, thanks!

[@ButchNackley]

Wonderful video, Thank You.

[@dennisvandermarkt8263]

Outstanding video

[@Jpdt19]

Hooray! New video

[@MM22966]

Ha-ha! I can't believe the paint marks & roundel on that Wildcat are still so clear!

[@user-mu8ho3tt7p]

These planes were not manned and no pilotes were in the craft when they were sunk. So these planes should not be considered as war graves n need to be retrieved as museum artifacts. Strongly believe this!!

[@RebeccaCampbell1969]

Good argument. Either saving the best one for preservation, or making a public memorial from the other two planes with victory records… left there, but show to the public to remind us what happened

[@JD-tn5lz]

Uh no. There already is a replica on display, none of these could ever fly again, and the cost would be prohibitive. Sorry, but just because it's a "neat idea" doesn't mean that any more of my paid tax dollars should go into the bottomless abyss of the Federal deficit. Oh, and by the way, before your all little emotions get all pent up about my insensitivity, I am the son of a WW2 Pacific navy veteran and the nephew of three others. The Navy and my tax dollars have better things to do.

[@user-mu8ho3tt7p]

@@JD-tn5lz sorry, but you do not know what you are talking about. The USN wastes more money on pie in the eye projects than it would to retrieve the old torpedo bombers. By the way my Dad served in the Pacific n lost a brother in Italy in '45..

[@checkpointcharlie1788]

@@JD-tn5lz Could you sound a little more pompous and condescending please.

[@CountCraigula]

Those planes would never make it to the surface without disentigrating.

[@FroggyFrog9000]

fascinating pics.

[@mackenzienowak6346]

Look at how well its been preserved

[@daffyduck1974]

I hope they bring them up. It’d b interesting to b part of the plans on how to bring them up. I see an alley framed perspex type box, that you could fill with foam.

[@malcolmwaddilove1822]

Wow!!! That's all amazing!

[@user-ff2iz5qc6l]

Thanks for the video. I understand that the folks at A&T are in discussions with the Navy. This outfit has recovered several of the planes that ditched in Lake Michigan over the years. I wish the Navy would change their policy on ownership of these abandoned aircraft. Many years ago someone discovered a TBD off the coast of Florida. The Navy wanted that plane but wouldn’t allow it to be salvaged and wouldn’t do it themselves. It is still there further corroding away. Just a shame.

[@BHuang92]

How about the aircrafts that are taken out of Lake Michigan that are amazingly still able to be flown?

[@allangibson8494]

Fresh water makes a difference. No chloride corrosion.

[@tbd-1]

It's all about the US Navy. Unlike the US Army once the Navy pays for something they will not let it go. It's not finders-keepers with them.

[@paulbishop6932]

And MUCH shallower depths to be recovered from. And relatively closer to land, so both points make them less costly to recover.

[@paulh.5691]

What do you think is actually flyworthy, be it found at great dephts at sea or in a shallow lake? Just some tags found on a wreck, the rest is all made anew. Not that much to romanticize.

[@williamr3840]

Amazing, the condition of those planes! :0)

[@michaelinsc9724]

Awesome video! I'd be in favor of raising some of them, though there are myriad technical questions to be answered, includ8ng if the planes would have sufficient structural integrity to survive being raised and support their own weight out of water.

[@robertbenson9797]

Very interesting episode. It’s interesting to see the early war US Star with the red circle in the middle. This was changed because of confusion with the red rising sun emblem of the Japanese. The B-25s of the Doolittle raid still had the red circles in the stars in April of 1942. There was some conjecture from the US air crews that the red circles confused the Japanese defenders. Most Japanese had never seen the white American star on a plane but they had seen the rising sun emblems on planes. The fact that in the run-up to their bomb runs, the B-25s experienced little opposition from the Japanese. We’ll never know for sure but it is very interesting to see the early war emblems. Most Americans today would have had little knowledge of the early war differences.

[@mikewhite6288]

Its amazing the condition of some of these planes

[@user-ng4vk1lg9b]

it would be great to see a devastator in the Erin space museum sometime in the future! Great video love the early American white star markings as well <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="827">13:47</a>

[@colliswilliams8992]

Fun fact: At any given moment worldwide, the US Navy has more planes in the ocean than submarines in the sky.

[@HDCAMAN]

Incredible

[@german-engineering1963]

The lead paint is amazing. I could never image that the paint last this long in such highly corrosive saltwater conditions.

[@stevegrepps4600]

Can you do any videos of ships sunk and planes downed at the second landings in southern France or the landing in Sicily.

[@RebeccaCampbell1969]

Engines have a higher rate of degradation than the rest of the plane’s fuselage because they are made from cast iron probably, while the fuselage is made from aluminium. The structure might have iron bolts, if not plates, to reinforce the tail section… and that’s why the tails are easily detached from the rest of the plane even if they survived the sinking. I would like that Devastator to be salvaged, and a memorial built along side the other one with the two bomb kits record and the Wild Cat with the victory markings. Not touching them, making something public to honor the pilots, the downed fighters and the sank ships. Some things should not be forgotten

[@markbehr88]

Excellent

[@timbonjovi]

Some of these Devestators are in better shape than other planes that have been restored .

[@alephalon7849]

I'd like to think Lex's aircraft are keeping her company at the bottom of the sea all these years.

[@ald1144]

That Wildcat--I may have just found my next project for a plastic model. Pre-submerged version, though.

[@cuziamtnt8338]

Excellent content, as always. Thanks. Much appreciate the time you take on research as well. But, for clarity, I believe the F4F wing is not separated, but just pivoted slightly at its fold point. The pivot is roughly mid-wing and the wings fold aft-ward against the fuselage. Maybe someone with more knowledge can back up my layman's observation. This aircraft is in extremely good condition. Again, that's for the video.

[@Alobo075]

That was my thought as well.

[@tbd-1]

The F4F-3 didn't have wing folds.

[@nx014]

Skynea History - wondering when you will do a video on the USS Sims ( DD-409) which was sunk during the Battle of Coral Sea?

[@cecilboatwright3555]

Nice!

[@Dino6961]

A woman across the street from us Sally, her husband was killed on the USS Lexington.Her and her husband were living in that house at the time the war started,he was already in the navy and stationed at Long Beach Ca.They had young daughter naned Maureen who had to grow and with her father. Sally never remarried and Maureen stayed in that house for the rest of her life with her mom.

[@hodaka1000]

Twenty years ago or more ago I met a beautiful lady called Sally who was an Australian nurse in Singapore and had a permanent injury to her arm from a Japanese bayonet

[@paulbishop6932]

I wonder what metal is present in the alloys of the engines that they corroded so much quicker and thoroughly the the rest of the airframes?

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

Probably magnesium. The engine mounts are steel and rust away pretty quickly which is why all the engines are laying at odd angles.

[@georgemichael9106]

I was out on the beach the day when the other USS Lexington sailed in for its final resting place to North Beach Corpus Christi Tx.

[@iamrichrocker]

Sky//you piqued my interest in the Gayler stpry you hinted ay..PLEASE do a video on that Hero...another great video that makes eonderment in that horrific war and the relics left behind..

[@redtailpunk]

we can only hope to one day see a video from you breaking down the images of someone raising the planes for display

[@hodaka1000]

Makes you wonder what's still out there waiting to be discovered

[@richb.4374]

It would be awesome if one of these planes could be recovered and restored for future generations to see and enjoy.

[@johnzeszut3170]

I have read that the "Lady Lex" went down with her Colors flying! She hung tough.

[@scottmurphy650]

There _IS_ a surviving and fully restored Devastator at the National Museum of Naval Aviation. I saw it yesterday.

[@robdedrick2052]

Makes you wonder about the depth and planes composition .

[@Milkmans_Son]

There is a number 3 on that first Devastator at 9m00s, but it looks like it's on the tip of the vertical stab so it's in the wrong place and also oriented wrong... but it is there.

[@level5565]

The Navy needs to be petitioned about the recovery of those historically significant planes, raise all of the devastators and the wildcat. Including the ones that are a mess, they might contain enough usable parts to restore at least a few planes for display!

[@banana_junior_9000]

Wow!

[@yoohoo909]

As much as i would like to see these planes restored and in a museum, being that mother nature has done such an incredible job of keeping these historical aircraft in such pristine condition (original paint and all - exposed to air even in a museum, the paint would deteriorate/fade), might it not be better to leave them where they fell? No telling what kind of structural damage they have and what might fall off in the process of raising them. Not to mention possible evidence for future hydrodynamic evidence in the aircrafts sinking (not critical, but nonetheless interesting). Much is done now with 3D modeling analysis and chromatically corrected digital imagery and much more cost effective.

[@OrbitFallenAngel]

The first video you did about the USS Lexington I kept rewinding the parts with the Wildcats on it. It's amazing to see a fighter plane from WW2, 80 Years Ago... And to see how pristine they are compared to other Carrier wrecks. I was shocked to see the Devastators, they weren't the best torpedo planes...Because they were so slow and then they had to be very low and slow to be able to release their torpedoes... Unless they had fighter protection they wouldn't make it... Idk how I feel about the US Navy raising the WW2 era planes...because no matter what anyone says they are nearby gravesites...these are nearby the USS Lexington...that in my opinion is grave robbing...and I don't believe in it! Unless the US Navy could find the same exact planes at other known Battles, then I'd say NO! I mean it would be amazing to have the planes raised and reconstructed...But not at the risk of disturbing any gravesites of our US Navy.... Thank you so much for covering the WW2 era planes near the USS Lexington!! Always appreciate your insight and detailed videos.

[@markmaki4460]

Those engines being so gone at this point, despite having been the most solid parts of the planes when they sank, and the comparatively almost new appearance of the paint, fabric, and other metals, reminds me of something a biology professor (i think) shared in a college lecture i was in many years ago. The instructor stated that the best single way to cause an explosion of life in the middle of the ocean is to simply drop a large amount of iron ion into it, since that is the most essential requirement of life as we know it that is absolutely missing there, while other essential components are all present, though not perhaps as abundantly as near land.

[@therideneverends1697]

absolutely. And its interesting to see that in practice, leave iron around and microorganisms will be relatively uninterested in everything else

[@walter-bz7ox]

my father was a aviation machinist , chief petty oficer on the lexington with three planes directly under him . after the lexington sunk he transfered to the Enterprise rest of the war . I could write a book . he joined the Navy seven months before Pearl harbor & the at Pearl day before the attack

[@francisbusa1074]

Interesting. Does the Navy still have any jurisdiction over these wrecks?

[@JGCR59]

The painted over the red dot between Coral Sea and Midway it seems.

[@charleslloyd4253]

My father was aboard the Lexington when she went down. And was rescued by the USS Hammann A destroyer that returned their survivors to Pearl. Dad was transferred to the Enterprise for Midway. where. Where the USS Hammann was sunk. Dad had mixed emotion of the Midway victory.

[@NCD3000-fp9ix]

Gonna have to do a video on the Kommuna soon as the latest WW2 wreck.

[@davetomlinson9063]

Will never be dry again .

[@petepanozzo6854]

Please examine more aircraft!

[@andrewnicholls7376]

My great grandfather served on the Lexington as a tail Gunner in a devastator

[@andrewnicholls7376]

He was at the Battle of Coral Sea and survived

[@edwardbrophy9749]

There was some talk, of "possibly" bringing up some Devastator's! Any news on that??

[@DK-gy7ll]

Sunken US Navy ships and aircraft remain the property of the Navy, and their permission is needed to salvage them. Unfortunately getting the Navy to give such permission is like pulling teeth.

[@therideneverends1697]

"work in progress" ostensively. a company wants to do it, the navy is interested but alot of formalities need to be completed between point A and point B

[@edwardbrophy9749]

What kind of formalities we talking about? Imagine the history in & around the planes themselves 👍

[@therideneverends1697]

@@edwardbrophy9749 Basically, its still navy property, so they either have to formally contract a firm to retrieve their property, or they have to strike it from their inventory list to describe it simply

[@kylecephus]

R/V Petrel fell off the blocks while in drydock in Scotland. One died and many injured.

[@jason60chev]

If Ehrhart's plane is ever found, it should be in similarly well preserved condition.

[@matrox]

US Stars...don't fade.

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

I see the depth on the photo. Is that in feet or meters. Thx

[@superdidly1]

Prity sure at the start he mentions 3000 meters

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

@@superdidly1 it’s showing 2800+ in the pictures. Just verifying.

[@billlombard9911]

No reason all can’t be raised , on Lexington there is an entire air wing below that I’m sure a few more can be salvaged for a museum

[@outfield1988]

Recover the TBD PLEASE

[@jimbresnahan7786]

always thought William Ault's story was a sad one, bombed Shokaku, then lost at sea unable to get back to the Lex..not sure why the Japanese simply didn't hold off on Coral Sea and bring 6 to 8 carriers to Midway (6 fleet, 2-3 smaller jobs) if the whole idea was to eradicate US carriers

[@malcolmgibson6288]

Something of an aviation deepdive.

[@rayworthy8022]

What is the depth of those aircraft underwater?

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

Over 9K feet. Almost two miles down. No free diving without tanks here.

[@OriginalCoalRollers]

Staking my place at #1

[@sly2392]

back when the united states made everything with pride and precision. my mother was a rosie the riveter and she would tell me stories as to what she did to help with making sure the united states received everything it needed to defeat the enemies of the free world. there is a reason my mothers generation is called the great generation. without these men and woman whom fought in world war 2, the freedoms we now take for granted would not exist without them. thank you mom and every man and woman that has allowed me to have the freedoms to live my life in this great country of ours. GOD BLESS EVERY ONE OF YOU. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

[@robwernet9609]

The navy should absolutely go after atleast one of those devastators. I wouldn't wanna see them restored tho. It's be much cooler to recover one or more, resubmerge it in saltwater and try to recreate the conditions it lies in now. Leave the display in the dark or dimly lit room. More or less try to take that aircraft and the section of ocean it lies in now and put the whole thing in a museum!

[@pickeljarsforhillary102]

We need a Devastator raised.

[@Relic67]

Thank goodness for Aluminum

[@kingtigertank72]

How many planes went down with Lex ?

[@therideneverends1697]

i believe it was 34 though i could be wrong

[@kingtigertank72]

thnaks buddy, ive searched for this answer and finally got a hint. THANKS AGAIN@@therideneverends1697

[@billt6116]

According to the starboard side of Gaylor's wild cat, He had 3 kills and one probable..?

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

Which countries Navy put the Lady Lex on the ocean floor as I am feeble and forgetful ?

[@VaucluseVanguard]

What di he pass in 2011? I would like to know when he died.

[@m.m.7511]

Some rich dude will raise one and rebuild it... they deserve to be rebuilt!

[@stephenfarthing3819]

Officially four kills shows a steady tally - one short of an ace! But I suppose the pilot got more kills and became an ace!

[@capspik]

Sad its only the paint keeping those birds together

[@MoxNixTV]

USS Lexington (AVT-16)

[@TheFunkhouser]

Couldnt they lift that last one!?

[@royburns651]

You mabe looking at blue paint .The metal behind is probably gone.

[@marine-kj4ct]

My grandpa was on cv-62 in 53

[@vf12497439]

It would be so hard to raise these aircraft. I would imagine they are terribly fragile.

[@rudyho3790]

yeh...ocean saltwater not as corrosive then... interesting indeed🤔👍

[@WilliamMurphy-uv9pm]

Not on painted aluminum. Iron is another story.

[@kevadonis]

I believe they all could be recovered and restored. Sadly it is more about money than our history.

[@FyoutubemadridMadrid]

Very new for 80 years on salt water 😮