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Queen of the flat-tops: The U.S.S. Lexington and the Coral Sea battle
Story of the U.S.S. Lexington in the Coral Sea.
234 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1942
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August 24, 2023
The U.S.S. Lexington (aka "the Lady Lex") was one of the earliest aircraft carriers. Originally designed as a battlecruiser, it entered service with the U.S. Navy in 1925 and helped to usher in a new type of naval warfare.
Here in "QUEEN OF THE FLAT-TOPS", Stanley Johnston, a journalist who was assigned to the Lexington in the earliest days of World War II in the Pacific, shares with the reader his experiences aboard her (based in large part on what he observed, as well as on interviews he had with various members of the crew - officers, pilots, and enlisted men) from the time the Lady Lex left Pearl Harbor to its final days in May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea. This battle was in unique in that it was the first naval battle in history in which the opposing ships never fired on each other, whose outcome was wholly dependent on the weight and might of air power.
Originally published in the latter half of 1942, "QUEEN OF THE FLAT-TOPS" offers to the reader a vicarious you-are-there perspective of life aboard an American aircraft carrier at a time when odds were heavily stacked against the U.S. Navy in the Pacific War.
Here in "QUEEN OF THE FLAT-TOPS", Stanley Johnston, a journalist who was assigned to the Lexington in the earliest days of World War II in the Pacific, shares with the reader his experiences aboard her (based in large part on what he observed, as well as on interviews he had with various members of the crew - officers, pilots, and enlisted men) from the time the Lady Lex left Pearl Harbor to its final days in May 1942 during the Battle of the Coral Sea. This battle was in unique in that it was the first naval battle in history in which the opposing ships never fired on each other, whose outcome was wholly dependent on the weight and might of air power.
Originally published in the latter half of 1942, "QUEEN OF THE FLAT-TOPS" offers to the reader a vicarious you-are-there perspective of life aboard an American aircraft carrier at a time when odds were heavily stacked against the U.S. Navy in the Pacific War.
August 1, 2022
A popular military history of the USS Lexington, told in an oddly bloodless style.
January 7, 2019
This is the story of the USS Lexington's action during the Battle of the Coral Sea. Because it was published in the immediate aftermath of the battle, there were certain restrictions placed on its content. For example, almost no other US ships in the engagement are mentioned by name. The other aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown, is only ever referred to as "Carrier II".
Other subsequent descriptions of the battle are undoubtedly more accurate as to the details of the battle. For example, as is typical in combat, claimed victories tend to be overstated. Two pilots may each claim the same kill, for instance. Near the end of the book, the author states that US forces inflicted twice the damage that they received. Although considered a strategic victory for the US, tactically the Battle of the Coral Sea was a minor victory for Japanese forces.
There are also a few other errors, none of which I found particularly bothersome. Planes from the Lex sank the Japanese carrier Shoho, which is identified here as the Ryukaku (likely a mis-translation).
The author was an Australian-American war correspondent. Although he had no formal training as a journalist, I found this book exceptional. He was the only journalist on board the Lexington. He was able to make significant notes of his time on board and managed to save most of them. He interviewed quite a few of the pilots and crew and uses their own words to tell many of the tales. These stories span the weeks before Coral Sea and are quite varied.
Highly recommended.
Other subsequent descriptions of the battle are undoubtedly more accurate as to the details of the battle. For example, as is typical in combat, claimed victories tend to be overstated. Two pilots may each claim the same kill, for instance. Near the end of the book, the author states that US forces inflicted twice the damage that they received. Although considered a strategic victory for the US, tactically the Battle of the Coral Sea was a minor victory for Japanese forces.
There are also a few other errors, none of which I found particularly bothersome. Planes from the Lex sank the Japanese carrier Shoho, which is identified here as the Ryukaku (likely a mis-translation).
The author was an Australian-American war correspondent. Although he had no formal training as a journalist, I found this book exceptional. He was the only journalist on board the Lexington. He was able to make significant notes of his time on board and managed to save most of them. He interviewed quite a few of the pilots and crew and uses their own words to tell many of the tales. These stories span the weeks before Coral Sea and are quite varied.
Highly recommended.
October 19, 2018
This book is the first person account of a man's experience onboard the USS Lexington during the early days of World War II in the Pacific. There is plenty of detail of life aboard ship and descriptions of the US Navy's first attempts to strike back at the Empire of Japan following Pearl Harbor, including several smaller actions in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea. The Fighting Lady came to her end during the Battle of Coral Sea, but she gave a severe thrashing to the numerically superior forces around her first. This is a great story, even if told in a somewhat dated manner. Several passages stood out to me, including this quote from an aviator taking part in the action around the Japanese-occupied town of Salamua:
"The romantic writers who spent years misinforming us by telling of Japanese immunity to fear and of the universal Japanese desire to be killed fighting for their emperor, should have seen the interest those Japs showed in remaining alive."
I also found it striking that sailors from the stricken, sinking Coral Sea had the presence of mind to pull up gallons of ice cream from the mess decks and eat it on the flight deck while waiting their turn to jump overboard and abandon ship. Even though leaking aviation fuel and fumes doomed the Lexington, the crew's departure was a well run, orderly affair.
"The romantic writers who spent years misinforming us by telling of Japanese immunity to fear and of the universal Japanese desire to be killed fighting for their emperor, should have seen the interest those Japs showed in remaining alive."
I also found it striking that sailors from the stricken, sinking Coral Sea had the presence of mind to pull up gallons of ice cream from the mess decks and eat it on the flight deck while waiting their turn to jump overboard and abandon ship. Even though leaking aviation fuel and fumes doomed the Lexington, the crew's departure was a well run, orderly affair.
June 16, 2018
I am lucky enough to own a first edition. This is an amazing book. embedded journalists are nothing new. Stanley Johnston brings the U.S.S. Lexington to life. really makes it personal, you know and feel for the crew as they battle across the Atlantic. This is the first historical account which made me cry. I wept through last chapter as the mighty warship and her crew face the end. Incredibly powerful and moving, if you do not read history, read this one.
April 30, 2023
First hand account of a journalist onboard the USS Lexington at the time of the Battle of Coral Sea that survived the sinking. Written soon after the battle the author could not identify the cruiser that rescued him; and refers to the other US Navy carrier involved in the battle as Carrier #2. This was the USS Yorktown.
February 28, 2020
Gosh I read this one 50+ years ago (printed 1942, obtained my library 1946) and certain facts stuck in my head came from this read. Propaganda (yes) Missing Facts (also yes) Still a very good read and helps the reader understand the First Naval Battle between Aircraft Carriers.
October 5, 2020
我读的是中文版，由于这本书写在战争期间，珊瑚海海战的真实战果并没有得到准确无误的统计。交战各方在紧张激烈的战斗中，总是倾向于高估本方战绩。由于没有第三方提供记录，很多的记录都是一笔糊涂账。由此可见更早的历史上的战争记录，即使有当时第一手的原始记录，具体的细节方面的可信度也不能全盘接受。美国海军的训练和管理水平相当高，每次战斗之后都会及时召集复盘总结会议，将战场上的经验第一时间在整个单位之内共享。损害管制和物资再利用的有序也让人印象深刻。
March 13, 2019
Good History and good anecdotes with a personnel touch.
March 29, 2019
it's not about brief history, but author's very own experience board the ship during the event.
Precious records, and an nice book to read.
Precious records, and an nice book to read.
October 13, 2023
First hand account written within a short time of event. Great read
April 22, 2025
This is an excellent account of the U.S.S. Lexington’s adventures during the Battle of the Coral Sea in WWII which culminates in the sinking of the Lexington. It was written in the middle of the war, so there are some elements which have been censored by the Navy, most notably the names of some U.S. ships.
May 9, 2012
A contemporary account of life on a carrier. It covers episodes such as the crossing of the Line (the Equator) and the initiation of those that hadn't done it before, raids on Japanese outposts, and finally the Battle of the Coral Sea.
The reader should be aware that this book is at least partly propaganda - but it feels like good-natured propaganda. The US was in need of some good news, and here they are in book format. It's clear that the author emphasises all the good points in the US Navy and skims over relatively quickly the sadder parts of the story, such as the casualties.
All in all it was an extremely good and interesting read, full of little interesting technical details. The only caveat is precisely that it is a very biased view, but as long as the reader is aware of it, no harm is done.
Recommended!
The reader should be aware that this book is at least partly propaganda - but it feels like good-natured propaganda. The US was in need of some good news, and here they are in book format. It's clear that the author emphasises all the good points in the US Navy and skims over relatively quickly the sadder parts of the story, such as the casualties.
All in all it was an extremely good and interesting read, full of little interesting technical details. The only caveat is precisely that it is a very biased view, but as long as the reader is aware of it, no harm is done.
Recommended!
June 13, 2013
An eyewitness account of the wartime life of the first USS Lexington (CV-2) through her sinking in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Stanley Johnston was a journalist embedded within the crew and provides a running narrative based on his own personal observations as well as interviews with various crewmembers. An interesting read as it brings to life many details of life aboard a wartime carrier that one misses with most writings.
This book should be read by someone with a working knowledge of the events of the early Pacific War - the narrative has not been altered and includes many inaccuracies that were later identified and corrected in the war (misidentifying the Japanese carrier Shoho as the Ryukaku, Japanese Messerschmitts, etc...).
This book should be read by someone with a working knowledge of the events of the early Pacific War - the narrative has not been altered and includes many inaccuracies that were later identified and corrected in the war (misidentifying the Japanese carrier Shoho as the Ryukaku, Japanese Messerschmitts, etc...).
February 12, 2016
I read this book a very long time ago (long enough that I seem to recall some sticker-shock when I shelled out the $1.25 cover price :)), but I still remember the impression it made on me. It was one of the first eye witness accounts of a WWII battle I had read. Johnston's descriptions of life on an aircraft carrier and of the heat and confusion of battle made it all very real to the kid I was at the time. After that I was hooked and have been fascinted by WWII history ever since.
July 24, 2013
An excellently written, first person, eyewitness account of the Battle of the Coral Sea. The USS Lexington, at the time one of our two largest aircraft carriers, and her crews, fought a fine, heroic battle against a larger Japanese fleet and came out the victors, only to succomb to her injuries hours after the battle was over.
July 3, 2014
This is the classic book about WWII aircraft carrier battles in the Pacific. You can't say you have really read widely about WWII unless you have read this. The real life drama, the technology, heroism, etc this book is overflowing with all that.
July 16, 2008
An eyewitness account from the 'Lex' during her final voyage, and a brief history of how she came to be. Excellent!
November 5, 2014
An interesting read about the early years of the war in the Pacific in WWII.
October 28, 2014
My grandfather served on the Lex and was onboard when she was crippled. He could hardly talk about it, and so I'm glad to have this account.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews