Changes

''Lexington'' sailed next day to raid Japanese forces on Jaluit to relieve pressure on [[Wake Island]]; these orders were canceled 20 December, and she was directed to cover the ''Saratoga'' force in reinforcing Wake. When the island fell 23 December. the two carrier forces were recalled to Pearl Harbor, arriving 27 December.

''Lexington'' sailed next day to raid Japanese forces on Jaluit to relieve pressure on [[Wake Island]]; these orders were canceled 20 December, and she was directed to cover the ''Saratoga'' force in reinforcing Wake. When the island fell 23 December. the two carrier forces were recalled to Pearl Harbor, arriving 27 December.

''Lexington'' patrolled to block enemy raids in the Oahu-Johnston-Palmyra triangle until 11 January 1942, when she sailed from Pearl Harbor as flagship for Vice Adm. Wilson Brown commanding TF 11. On 16 February, the force headed for an attack on Rabaul, New Britain, scheduled for 21 February; while approaching the day previous, ''Lexington'' was attacked by two waves of enemy aircraft, nine planes to a wave. The carrier’s own combat air patrol and antiaircraft fire splashed 17 of the attackers. During a single sortie Lt. E. H. (Butch) O’Hare won the [[Medal of Honor]] by downing five planes.

''Lexington'' patrolled to block enemy raids in the Oahu-Johnston-Palmyra triangle until 11 January 1942, when she sailed from Pearl Harbor as flagship for Vice Adm. Wilson Brown commanding TF 11. On 16 February, the force headed for an attack on Rabaul, New Britain, scheduled for 21 February; while approaching the day previous, ''Lexington'' was attacked by two waves of enemy aircraft, nine planes to a wave. The carrier’s own combat air patrol and antiaircraft fire splashed 17 of the attackers. During a single sortie Lt. [[Edward O'Hare|E. H. (Butch) O’Hare]] won the [[Medal of Honor]] by downing five planes.

Her offensive patrols in the Coral Sea continued until 6 March, when she rendezvoused with [[USS Yorktown (CV-5)|''Yorktown'']]’s TF 17 for a thoroughly successful surprise attack flown over the Owen Stanley mountains of New Guinea to inflict heavy damage on shipping and installations at Salamaua and Lae 10 March. She now returned to Pearl Harbor, arriving 26 March.

Her offensive patrols in the Coral Sea continued until 6 March, when she rendezvoused with [[USS Yorktown (CV-5)|''Yorktown'']]’s TF 17 for a thoroughly successful surprise attack flown over the Owen Stanley mountains of New Guinea to inflict heavy damage on shipping and installations at Salamaua and Lae 10 March. She now returned to Pearl Harbor, arriving 26 March.