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06-03-2018, 05:59 PM | #1 | ||
I am Groot
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Burnett Heads, Qld
Posts: 6,840
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USS Lexington found: Paul Allen finds aircraft carrier that saved Australia in World War II
IT was the day that decided Australia’s fate. The aircraft carrier USS Lexington was lost in 1942 in a desperate bid to block a Japanese invasion force. Now, 76 years later, she’s back....... Amazing, see links for full story video & pics....... http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-0...al-sea/9517986 http://www.news.com.au/technology/sc...5a12cd1782d2f1
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.. McLaren F1 Dick Johnson Racing "Those were the days when the cars were cars, they weren't built out of an Ikea pack like they are now and clothed in plastic; they were real cars." John Bowe |
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06-03-2018, 07:13 PM | #3 | ||
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: sa
Posts: 198
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Don't get carried away. It supposedly saved Australia. Anyway, I think its cool that it has been found.
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06-03-2018, 08:51 PM | #4 | ||
Pity the fool
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wait Awhile
Posts: 8,997
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Love those photos. Was curious if the 8 inch guns were still on it but they were removed in March 1942.
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Fords I own or have owned: 1970 XW Falcon GT replica | 1970 XW Falcon | 1971 XY Fairmont | 1973 ZG Fairlane | 1986 XF Falcon panel van | 1987 XFII Falcon S-Pack | 1988 XF Falcon GLS ute | 1993 EBII Fairmont V8 | 1996 XG Falcon ute | 2000 AU Falcon wagon | 2004 BA Falcon XT | 2012 SZ Territory Titanium AWD Proud to buy Australian and support Ford Australia through thick and thin |
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06-03-2018, 09:16 PM | #5 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: St Marys Tasmania
Posts: 3,556
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That's cool..I think one shot even showed one of the aircraft that was still well and truly looking like a plane as with the ship itself . Quite remarkable after well over 70 years. I trust that the right sort of respect will be paid for the wreck now that it's location is now known . For so many souls it's their final resting place.
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08-03-2018, 03:10 PM | #6 | ||
I totalled my XR6
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,193
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There are internationally recognised laws in place that protect the wreck as a war grave.
Hopefully these laws aren't ignored as they have been so many times in the past...
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08-03-2018, 09:04 PM | #7 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Perth
Posts: 7,206
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Like in Indonesia where they've been raiding ship wrecks for scrap metal and even admit finding human bones, but that doesn't stop them.
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jaydee351 4DV8 |
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09-03-2018, 08:07 AM | #8 | |||
I am Groot
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Burnett Heads, Qld
Posts: 6,840
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Quote:
Hopefully sitting at a depth of nearly 2 miles will keep the rats away....
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.. McLaren F1 Dick Johnson Racing "Those were the days when the cars were cars, they weren't built out of an Ikea pack like they are now and clothed in plastic; they were real cars." John Bowe |
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09-03-2018, 08:10 AM | #9 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Pt Lincoln far side South Oz
Posts: 5,842
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did you know there are more aircraft in the seas and oceans than there are ships in the sky.
Thought that would brighten your day
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09-03-2018, 08:49 AM | #10 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 976
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That doesn't sound right!! I'm gonna Google it ;-)
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Steve Current rides 2012 Mondeo Titanium wagon (TDCI) Moondust silver 2016 Focus Trend, 1.5ecoboost, 6sp manual. Frozen white Previous 2004 Berlina Wagon (LS1) Vespers Blue 1995 Camry 2.2, white 1971 Ford Fairmont wagon 302w, C4 Polar white 1971 TC Cortina, 2L 4sp, Ermine white |
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09-03-2018, 11:46 PM | #11 | ||
Pity the fool
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Wait Awhile
Posts: 8,997
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Apparently Australia doesnt have a "treaty" with Indonesia protecting war graves. Hence the scumbags have been allowed to pillage the wreck of HMAS Perth. The US apparently has such a treaty and the wreck of USS Houston has been left alone. Highly doubt there'd be any bones left though.
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Fords I own or have owned: 1970 XW Falcon GT replica | 1970 XW Falcon | 1971 XY Fairmont | 1973 ZG Fairlane | 1986 XF Falcon panel van | 1987 XFII Falcon S-Pack | 1988 XF Falcon GLS ute | 1993 EBII Fairmont V8 | 1996 XG Falcon ute | 2000 AU Falcon wagon | 2004 BA Falcon XT | 2012 SZ Territory Titanium AWD Proud to buy Australian and support Ford Australia through thick and thin |
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11-03-2018, 01:25 AM | #12 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,318
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RIP... we would mostly be speaking Japanese (and Deutsch as a secondary language) if it wasn't for these strangers.
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11-03-2018, 03:11 AM | #13 | ||
Donating Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,429
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The year 1942 was a crucial year for both the allies and the axis powers.
As I recall from relatives and school (some details could be a little of) after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour in December of 1941, the US officially entered the war. The US armed forces really were not war ready. The Pacific Fleet was a shambles, yet quickly saved what ships it could. Some key ships were fortunate to have been put at sea during the attack and a strategy was put in place to make as many ships as possible visible in as many places a possible to give an appearance of a still healthy Fleet. Here in what we call the spring of 1942 the Lexington found itself in a not so desirable situation that made it a grave memorial today. The US ground forces scattered across many locations in the Pacific were under maned, lacking wartime training and discipline, and under equipped. I am only speculating, but I imagine the Australian forces were in a similar situation at the time. The US Army Air Force (USAAF) of the time had, for the most part, under performing aircraft. The saving grace being the proliferation of the 1919 .50 cal Browning Machine gun. Under performing aircraft when equipped with these guns could put enemy targets under very heavy "weight of fire" and at good distances. The now infamous Industrial War Machine launched into life. Daily life changed. Many were conscripted and many volunteered. Two uncles went to Europe to fly twin engine bombers. Two other uncles left their black powder rifles at home in Appalachia and discovered what it means when a US Marine was issued an older 1903 Springfield with funny looking sights. Even today all Marines are Riflemen. The ones with '03 Springfields in 1942 were Snipers. Beginning our summer of 1942, these 2 found themselves on the Island of Guadalcanal. They quickly discovered why they were issued these bolt action rifles instead of the semi automatic M1 Grands. This skills they had learned from hunting in the thick woods of the Appalachian mountains with their single shot black powder rifles primarily "gifted" them with 2 qualities needed for them in this role. 1, each shot has to count. 2, get to your position quietly when needed and remain out of sight. They actually felt bad about their role. To them taking out the Japanese officers in charge of command and control gave them a sense of remorse over time. Their targets never knew they were targets. During that same summer to the west of Guadalcanal several groups of outnumbered and under equipped Australian soldiers, also considered Riflemen, found themselves at what would become known as the Kokoda Track Campaign. This Campaign included the Battle of Isurava where the outnumbered and outgunned Australian forces, taking fire from multiple directions convinced the Japanese that was as far as they were going to go as far as that piece of property. The tenacious fighting on ground, sea and air during that year was a turning point on Imperial Japanese expansionism. |
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11-03-2018, 09:45 AM | #14 | ||
Au Falcon = Mr Reliable
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: North West Slopes & Plains NSW
Posts: 4,076
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Dont forget the brave & enterprising Australian coastwatchers too, their role in protecting the north of Australia in ww2 can never be underestimated & forgotten imo.
cheers, Maka
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