George Popp was born in Aurora, IL on October 18, 1922, he was the only son of John and Anna (Talpos) Popp. George graduated from East Aurora High School. He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. He was aboard the USS Lexington on 8 May 1942 when it was torpedoed and sunk. After he was rescued, George developed a heart murmur and was honorably discharged.
"In early May, the Lexington returned to the South Pacific in time to join USS Yorktown (CV-5) in successfully countering the Japanese offensive in the Coral Sea. On 7 and 8 May 1942 her planes helped sink the small Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho and participated in attacks on the large carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku. In turn, however, she was the target of Japanese carrier planes and received two torpedo and three bomb hits. Though initial damage control efforts appeared to be successful, she was racked by gasoline explosions in the early afternoon of 8 May. When the fires raged out of control, Lexington was abandoned by her crew and scuttled, the first U.S. aircraft carrier to be lost in World War II."
The USS Lexington, burned and sunk after her crew abandoned ship during the Battle of the Coral Sea: it "was struck by a torpedo to port. Seconds later, a second torpedo hit to port directly abreast the bridge. At the same time, she took three bomb hits from enemy dive bombers, producing a 7 degree list to port and several raging fires. By 1300 her skilled damage control parties had brought the fires under control and returned the ship to even keel; making 25 knots, she was ready to recover her air group. Then suddenly Lexington was shaken by a tremendous explosion, caused by the ignition of gasoline vapors below, and again fire raged out of control. At 1558 Capt. Frederick C. Sherman, fearing for the safety of men working below, secured salvage operations, and ordered all hands to the flight deck. At 1701, he ordered, "abandon ship," and the orderly disembarkation began. Men going over the side into the warm water were almost immediately picked up by nearby cruisers and destroyers".: http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l/lexington.htm
Along with the Battle of Midway a month later, the Battle of the Coral Sea ended Japan's advance in the Pacific. https://www.stripes.com/news/uss-lexington-first-aircraft-carrier-sunk-in-wwii-found-near-australia-1.515140
In 1952 he married Anita Mae Parkhurst. He worked for the City of Aurora and died at the age of 38 of a heart attack while working on the land for the Carson's store that was to be built in Aurora on the corner of Island Avenue and Galena Boulevard. He had a sweet nature, everyone loved him.
"In early May, the Lexington returned to the South Pacific in time to join USS Yorktown (CV-5) in successfully countering the Japanese offensive in the Coral Sea. On 7 and 8 May 1942 her planes helped sink the small Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho and participated in attacks on the large carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku. In turn, however, she was the target of Japanese carrier planes and received two torpedo and three bomb hits. Though initial damage control efforts appeared to be successful, she was racked by gasoline explosions in the early afternoon of 8 May. When the fires raged out of control, Lexington was abandoned by her crew and scuttled, the first U.S. aircraft carrier to be lost in World War II."
The USS Lexington, burned and sunk after her crew abandoned ship during the Battle of the Coral Sea: it "was struck by a torpedo to port. Seconds later, a second torpedo hit to port directly abreast the bridge. At the same time, she took three bomb hits from enemy dive bombers, producing a 7 degree list to port and several raging fires. By 1300 her skilled damage control parties had brought the fires under control and returned the ship to even keel; making 25 knots, she was ready to recover her air group. Then suddenly Lexington was shaken by a tremendous explosion, caused by the ignition of gasoline vapors below, and again fire raged out of control. At 1558 Capt. Frederick C. Sherman, fearing for the safety of men working below, secured salvage operations, and ordered all hands to the flight deck. At 1701, he ordered, "abandon ship," and the orderly disembarkation began. Men going over the side into the warm water were almost immediately picked up by nearby cruisers and destroyers".: http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l/lexington.htm
Along with the Battle of Midway a month later, the Battle of the Coral Sea ended Japan's advance in the Pacific. https://www.stripes.com/news/uss-lexington-first-aircraft-carrier-sunk-in-wwii-found-near-australia-1.515140
In 1952 he married Anita Mae Parkhurst. He worked for the City of Aurora and died at the age of 38 of a heart attack while working on the land for the Carson's store that was to be built in Aurora on the corner of Island Avenue and Galena Boulevard. He had a sweet nature, everyone loved him.
George Popp was born in Aurora, IL on October 18, 1922, he was the only son of John and Anna (Talpos) Popp. George graduated from East Aurora High School. He enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. He was aboard the USS Lexington on 8 May 1942 when it was torpedoed and sunk. After he was rescued, George developed a heart murmur and was honorably discharged.
"In early May, the Lexington returned to the South Pacific in time to join USS Yorktown (CV-5) in successfully countering the Japanese offensive in the Coral Sea. On 7 and 8 May 1942 her planes helped sink the small Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho and participated in attacks on the large carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku. In turn, however, she was the target of Japanese carrier planes and received two torpedo and three bomb hits. Though initial damage control efforts appeared to be successful, she was racked by gasoline explosions in the early afternoon of 8 May. When the fires raged out of control, Lexington was abandoned by her crew and scuttled, the first U.S. aircraft carrier to be lost in World War II."
The USS Lexington, burned and sunk after her crew abandoned ship during the Battle of the Coral Sea: it "was struck by a torpedo to port. Seconds later, a second torpedo hit to port directly abreast the bridge. At the same time, she took three bomb hits from enemy dive bombers, producing a 7 degree list to port and several raging fires. By 1300 her skilled damage control parties had brought the fires under control and returned the ship to even keel; making 25 knots, she was ready to recover her air group. Then suddenly Lexington was shaken by a tremendous explosion, caused by the ignition of gasoline vapors below, and again fire raged out of control. At 1558 Capt. Frederick C. Sherman, fearing for the safety of men working below, secured salvage operations, and ordered all hands to the flight deck. At 1701, he ordered, "abandon ship," and the orderly disembarkation began. Men going over the side into the warm water were almost immediately picked up by nearby cruisers and destroyers".: http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l/lexington.htm
Along with the Battle of Midway a month later, the Battle of the Coral Sea ended Japan's advance in the Pacific. https://www.stripes.com/news/uss-lexington-first-aircraft-carrier-sunk-in-wwii-found-near-australia-1.515140
In 1952 he married Anita Mae Parkhurst. He worked for the City of Aurora and died at the age of 38 of a heart attack while working on the land for the Carson's store that was to be built in Aurora on the corner of Island Avenue and Galena Boulevard. He had a sweet nature, everyone loved him.
"In early May, the Lexington returned to the South Pacific in time to join USS Yorktown (CV-5) in successfully countering the Japanese offensive in the Coral Sea. On 7 and 8 May 1942 her planes helped sink the small Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho and participated in attacks on the large carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku. In turn, however, she was the target of Japanese carrier planes and received two torpedo and three bomb hits. Though initial damage control efforts appeared to be successful, she was racked by gasoline explosions in the early afternoon of 8 May. When the fires raged out of control, Lexington was abandoned by her crew and scuttled, the first U.S. aircraft carrier to be lost in World War II."
The USS Lexington, burned and sunk after her crew abandoned ship during the Battle of the Coral Sea: it "was struck by a torpedo to port. Seconds later, a second torpedo hit to port directly abreast the bridge. At the same time, she took three bomb hits from enemy dive bombers, producing a 7 degree list to port and several raging fires. By 1300 her skilled damage control parties had brought the fires under control and returned the ship to even keel; making 25 knots, she was ready to recover her air group. Then suddenly Lexington was shaken by a tremendous explosion, caused by the ignition of gasoline vapors below, and again fire raged out of control. At 1558 Capt. Frederick C. Sherman, fearing for the safety of men working below, secured salvage operations, and ordered all hands to the flight deck. At 1701, he ordered, "abandon ship," and the orderly disembarkation began. Men going over the side into the warm water were almost immediately picked up by nearby cruisers and destroyers".: http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l/lexington.htm
Along with the Battle of Midway a month later, the Battle of the Coral Sea ended Japan's advance in the Pacific. https://www.stripes.com/news/uss-lexington-first-aircraft-carrier-sunk-in-wwii-found-near-australia-1.515140
In 1952 he married Anita Mae Parkhurst. He worked for the City of Aurora and died at the age of 38 of a heart attack while working on the land for the Carson's store that was to be built in Aurora on the corner of Island Avenue and Galena Boulevard. He had a sweet nature, everyone loved him.
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