Known as the “Blue Ghost,” the USS Lexington was originally commissioned in 1943 and played a significant role in World War II. After the war, the Lexington underwent extensive modernizations that transformed it into a more advanced carrier.
These modifications allowed it to serve until its decommissioning in 1991, making it one of the longest-serving carriers in naval history. The flight deck has been adapted to accommodate more advanced aircraft, and the island tower features a sleeker, more streamlined design to support modern radar and communication equipment.

The modernized USS Lexington served as a training vessel during its later years, preparing naval aviators for carrier landings and remained a symbol of American naval power well into the Cold War, before finally being decommissioned and preserved as a museum ship in Corpus Christi, Texas.