USS Lexington Volunteer Organization

USS Lexington Volunteer Organization Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from USS Lexington Volunteer Organization, 2914 N Shoreline Boulevard, Corpus Christi, TX.

We are here! Time for briefing.
10/13/2025

We are here! Time for briefing.

The volunteers are on the road this morning! We’re off to visit the Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, TX!!
10/13/2025

The volunteers are on the road this morning! We’re off to visit the Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, TX!!

07/11/2025

Battle stations at Comic Con! The USS Lexington Museum is ready to kick off the weekend here at Corpus Christi Comic Con inside of the American Bank Center starting today, July 11th - Sunday, July 13th. Stop by our booth today where you can check out the incredible Blue Ghost Comic Book by Juan Carlos Ramos!

On this day in 1944 the USS Lexington CV16 was struck by Kamikaze aircraft. Today is the 80th Anniversary of the attack....
11/05/2024

On this day in 1944 the USS Lexington CV16 was struck by Kamikaze aircraft. Today is the 80th Anniversary of the attack.

One of our volunteers, Joe Sassman (now deceased) was a pilot with Air Group 19 onboard at the time.
Below are his remembrances of that day.

An Unforgettable Afternoon aboard USS Lexington.
During the morning of 5 Nov. 1944, as a pilot of Fighter Squadron 19, I participated in a strike against Japanese targets near Manila, Philippine Islands. After lunch I was assigned to a different division than my regular one for Standby, Combat Air Patrol (CAP). In the war zone during daylight hours there was always a Combat Air Patrol consisting of at least four fighter planes at ten thousand feet altitude and another four fighters at twenty thousand feet circling over the taskforce. For the Standby CAP, the ship had four planes (Grumman F6F Hellcats) spotted on the deck ready to be launches. The pilots were suited up and ready to go, standing by in the Ready Room until called. Pilots didn’t mind the Standby CAP duty as we felt that if launched, the Fighter Director in CIC might vector us in for an easy kill. About 1300 General Quarters sounded and we were told over the squawk box to man our planes. A bogie had sneaked in while our regular airborne CAP vectored off toward a much larger bunch of bogies, and our help was needed over the Task Force. Our division leader, LT. Henry Bonzagni, was on the port catapult and I, his wingman on the starboard. The other section behind us was made up of two night fighter pilots attached to our squadron. We started our engines, went through our checklist and were all set for takeoff. When suddenly all of the ships surrounding the Lexington started blasting away with all the firepower they had. We knew then that the ship would not launch us. About the same time, over the bullhorn, came the order to “cut your engines and take cover” We could see that the Lexington’s guns were firing at two planes almost overhead on the starboard side. I immediately cut my engine and hurriedly disconnected everything (I thought). I climbed out of the cockpit and started a running leap from the wing to the deck when suddenly my head was je**ed around abruptly by the oxygen mask and hose still connected inside the cockpit. Our squadron had an extra-long oxygen hose as our skipper didn’t want us to be restricted in any way from keeping our heads on a 360 degree swivel to spot enemy planes before they spotted you. I didn’t take time to unfasten anything. I was frantically slapping at the mask to dislodge the helmet snaps and fortunately they went flying before my feet hit the deck in a dead run to the port catwalk. I jumped down the catwalk just in time to turn around and see the Japanese plane hit the aft part of the bridge structure causing a big explosion.
I will never forget the scene with sailors running from the fire, some burnt, hurt and cussing those yellow so and so’s, while others began grabbing fire hoses and going about their job of damage control. They did a good job too, as our airborne planes were recovered about one hour later. My battle station was the ready room and I returned to it.
Contributed Joe Sassman
USS Lexington Volunteer

Congratulations to our volunteers for their participation in the annual Lexington Halloween costume contest this morning...
10/30/2024

Congratulations to our volunteers for their participation in the annual Lexington Halloween costume contest this morning. They proudly took the trophy for funniest costumes for their stick people! Way To Go Volunteers !!!

Volunteer’s are representing the USS Lexington for National Night Out. Come see us tonight at the RMB Fairgrounds.
10/01/2024

Volunteer’s are representing the USS Lexington for National Night Out.
Come see us tonight at the RMB Fairgrounds.

09/08/2024

In honor of Patriot Day and to thank our first responders for their dedication and hard work, the USS Lexington Museum is offering free general admission to all first responders this Saturday, September 7th, Sunday, September 8th, and Wednesday, September 11th. Family members can also enjoy $1 off their tickets!

Please bring a valid first responder ID (name badge, pay stub, or work ID) to receive your discount.

09/08/2024

Join us on the flight deck of the USS Lexington Museum for TWO Top Gun Movie Night events!

On Saturday, September 28, it’s an 80’s themed viewing party for the original 1986 Top Gun movie!

Then on Saturday, October 5, for the first time aboard the LEX, enjoy a screening of the 2022 hit, Top Gun: Maverick.

Be sure to dress in your best Top Gun outfit for a costume contest and a chance to win Top Gun themed prizes!

Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.classy.org/event/flight-deck-movie-night-events-2024/e614541

The USS Lexington Volunteer Organization is deeply saddened to post that Anne Noonan, wife of volunteer Bill Noonan pass...
08/22/2024

The USS Lexington Volunteer Organization is deeply saddened to post that Anne Noonan, wife of volunteer Bill Noonan passed away early yesterday morning.
Anne was such a sweet lady and always supported Bill in his 32 plus years of volunteering aboard the LEX.
She loved accompanying him on our volunteer training trips and at all of our volunteer events.
We will miss her dearly.
Please keep Bill and his family in your prayers.

Following are arrangements for her services.


Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Visitation - 5:30-7pm
Rosary: 7pm

Thursday, August 29, 2024
Funeral Mass: 9:30am

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church
1008 Austin Street
Portland, TX 78374


Burial will be at
11am Thursday, August 29, 2024
Veterans Cemetery:
9974 I-37 Corpus Christi, TX 78410

07/11/2024

On July 1st, 1978, USS Lexington CVT-16 was reclassified as an auxiliary aircraft landing training ship and re-designated AVT-16, her fifth and final designation. This solidified the Lexington's role as the main training carrier in the US Navy. This designation also allowed USS Lexington AVT-16 to become the first aircraft carrier to have women stationed aboard as crew members in 1980!

07/11/2024

Thank you to the Corpus Christi Hooks for making a guest appearance this morning in the USS Lexington Museum Plaza, handing out Hooks swag to museum guests!

Taken from the Lido deck on the Carnival Dream! Looking good Battleship Texas!
05/12/2024

Taken from the Lido deck on the Carnival Dream! Looking good Battleship Texas!

Address

2914 N Shoreline Boulevard
Corpus Christi, TX
78402

Telephone

+13618884873

Website

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