gaillardcut

Sorry, but this not the Lexington, but her sister-ship, the USS Saratoga (CV-3) transiting the Panama Canal, during the carrier's maiden voyage toward her future home port of San Diego/North Island area, on 7Feb1928, after a two-day layover in Gatun Lake basin, after passing thru the Gatun Locks on the 5th. Saratoga has not received her funnel vertical black stripe as of this date (received in early part of 1929 after the Fleet Problem IX exercise), and would take aboard her air squadrons after operating off the lower West Coast during further sea trials, only several of the ship's Utility Unit's aircraft were aboard at the time of the photograph. Lexington had a black horizontal stripe surrounding the top of her funnel stack, as did the Saratoga when first launched, but Sara had her horizontal stripe painted over at Norfolk, VA. (which were used for covering the funnel's exhaust gases along the rim, not for identification as were used later on), before leaving on the ship's transfer to the US Battle Fleet. Hope this Helps! Michael Goforth

Michael Goforth Thanks!

This is also in the Panama Canal, early 1930s. The floatplane at left appears to be mounted on a trolley for catapult use. The catapult was removed in 1934. The crane at right was for recovering floatplanes from the water. The guns of No. 1 8" mount are just visible at the right. There are civilians with an officer at left, so this may be a demonstration for local officials. A sailor appears to be handling either fuel or fire hoses at right.

USS Saratoga CV-3 transiting the Panama Canal