USS LEXINGTON DEPARTS PEARL HARBOR FOR MIDWAY ISLAND
Honolulu, Hawaii (JFK+50) On December 5, 1941 at 8:10 a.m., the last remaining American aircraft carrier, USS Lexington*, left Pearl Harbor bound for Midway Island. Doug Struck of the Baltimore Sun describes this event as one that cost the Japanese a chance for "total victory" in their scheduled attack for the morning of December 7, 1941.
Struck writes that the Japanese were aware of the need to destroy the carriers in order "to cripple the Americans long enough for Japan to seize and hold the Western Pacific and Indochina."
In April 1941, 4 of America's 7 carriers were in Hawaii, but circumstances had changed by December. Although Japanese naval officers were informed enroute to Pearl Harbor that no American aircraft carriers were there, it was "too late to stop." Besides, there were 8 "mighty battleships" and 88 other American ships remaining that offered pleasing targets.
*U.S.S. Lexington (CV-2), 'Lady Lex' was launched on Oct 3, 1925 & commissioned on Dec 14, 1927. She was sunk at the Battle of Coral Sea on May 8, 1942.
SOURCE
"U.S. Carriers Slip Out of Reach On December 5, 1941, Japanese Fleets Loses Chance For Total Victory," by Doug Struck, The Baltimore Sun, December 5, 1991, www.baltimoresun.com/
