When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Item:US Navy WW2 Bombing Squadron Two USS Lexington Painted Souvenir Mini Life Ring
Markings:"BOMBING . SQUADRON . TWO" painted in gold along the upper front, and "U.S.S. LEXINGTON" painted in gold along the lower front, with the iconic white star on a blue background with a red dot in the middle US Navy aircraft roundel in the middle at each side. It's worth noting these are the early war roundels used from before Pearl Harbor through about May 1942. Shortly thereafter, the red dot was removed from the middle, so not as to be confused with the "rising sun" found on Japanese aircraft.
Condition:This miniature life ring is in Very Good Condition. Some scattered darkening at front and back. Measures 6" in diameter. Classic white oilcloth construction with white HBT web tapes tautly securing the white drawcord around the edge.
Historical Background:In the early days of WW2, US Navy squadron numbers matched their aircraft carrier numbers. The USS Lexington was CV-2, so bomber, torpedo, and fighter squadrons assigned to her were of the same number. After Midway and Guadalcanal, the "meat grinder" aspect of the naval air war meant squadrons were being raised at such a prodigious rate that they soon exceeded and no longer matched the carrier numbers. US Navy Bombing Squadron Two (VB-2) served aboard the Lex during the pivotal Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. On May 7, VB-2 pilotsflying Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers scoreddirect hits and sunk the Japanese light carrier Shoho. The following day,VB-2 pilots pressed home their attacks against the Japanese fleet carrier Shokaku, scoring multiple hits on her flight deck that forced her to retire from the battle. Concurrently, heavy damage saw the abandonment and scuttling of their parent carrier, the USS Lexington, scattering VB-2's surviving personnel and aircraft.
*Abramsantiques appreciates your positive response and full five star ratings. We strive to make every transaction an exceptional one, and your complete satisfaction is our utmost concern. If for any reason you cannot leave fully positive response, contact us first and we will make it right.
