Photo credit: Credit - Twitter @WWIIpix

Mr Paul Allen, the Microsoft co-founder and now retired billionaire who decided to do a ‘whole lot of other things’ with his money, has been able to find the wreckage of the USS Lexington aircraft carrier that sunk to the bottom of the sea in a fight with the Japanese navy in 1942. It has been discovered some 500 miles off the Australian coast by a team of explorers.

Mr Allen said in a statement: "To pay tribute to the USS Lexington and the brave men that served on her is an honor."

"As Americans, all of us owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who served and who continue to serve our country for their courage, persistence, and sacrifice."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We've located the USS Lexington after she sank 76 yrs ago. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RVPetrel?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RVPetrel</a> found the WWII aircraft carrier & planes more than 3000m (~2mi) below Coral Sea near Australia. We remember her brave crew who helped secure 1st strategic US win in the Pacific Theater <a href="https://t.co/20ehjafD7d">https://t.co/20ehjafD7d</a> <a href="https://t.co/HIvxNUDbsX">pic.twitter.com/HIvxNUDbsX</a></p>— Paul Allen (@PaulGAllen) <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulGAllen/status/970721650969755648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2018</a></blockquote>

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"The Battle of the Coral Sea was notable not only for stopping a Japanese advance but because it was the first naval engagement in history where opposing ships never came within sight of each other."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Respect to Paul Allen for finding this remarkable warship. What a tribute to the extraordinary Americans (and Allies) who sacrificed so much in the defense of freedom in WWII. <a href="https://t.co/hgIyyxN5lJ">https://t.co/hgIyyxN5lJ</a></p>— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) <a href="https://twitter.com/RealJamesWoods/status/970914080008499201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2018</a></blockquote>

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At the time of its sinking, the aircraft carrier fought along with the USS Yorktown and a fleet of other smaller ships against three Japanese aircraft carriers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">More fm <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LEXINGTON?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LEXINGTON</a> CV2. This is a Grumman F4F-3 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Wildcat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Wildcat</a> fighter of VF-31 Fighter Squadron 31, the Tomcatters. Note 4 Japanese kills & squadron's Felix the Cat insignia. B&W shot is April 1942: both these planes went down w/Lex. F1 flown by LCDR John Thach; F13 by LT Ed O'Hare. <a href="https://t.co/ApKHM6tnwi">pic.twitter.com/ApKHM6tnwi</a></p>— Chris Cavas (@CavasShips) <a href="https://twitter.com/CavasShips/status/970804230482284544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Due to its succeeding in stopping the Japanese advance at the time, it is credited with helping to stop the capture of New Guinea and Australia by the Japanese forces.

Source:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/wreckage-found-wwii-aircraft-carrier-uss-lexington-005616775.html