U.S.S. Lexington

WWII chart of the Pacific Ocean featuring the tracks of the U.S.S. Lexington.

This commemorative map of the Pacific Ocean shows the route traveled by the U.S.S. Lexington during 1943, 1944, 1945. Each year is represented by green, brown, and red ink, respectively, while each line has some variation in pattern to distinguish the dates of individual cruises. Four major actions undertaken by the ship and her crew are boldly identified in black ink; while a more detailed chronology of events is presented in the upper right corner.

Scattered throughout the images are several illustrations that reflect on life at sea during WWII, including enemy and allied planes, marine life, a Japanese pagoda, and a profile of the Lexington herself. Additional decorative elements are present in the title cartouche and compass rose, which features the ship’s classification (CV-16) in the center.

The map is signed JM-NJ Dunn in the lower right corner, possibly seamen aboard the Lexington, and was likely printed in late 1945 (based on the text “California Here We Come!”). In December of that year, the Lexington would make her final trip across the Pacific, ferrying soldiers home to the United States as part of Operation Magic Carpet. The ship was decommissioned in 1947 and can be visited today in Corpus Christi, Texas, where it resides as a museum ship.

The map is uncommon on the market – I’ve sold one copy previously to a private collector and a further example has been identified at Texas A&M University. OCLC# 1365112719.