(1921-1991), AMMC2, U.S. Navy, 1942-1945, U.S.S. Lexington "Plankowner"
Early Life
After attending Rancocas Valley Regional High School , Ray went to work for the Eagle Textile and Dye Company in Mount Holly, New Jersey, around 1940, until his enlistment in the U.S. Navy in January 1942. During these early adult years, Ray married his high school sweetheart, the lovely Helen Bridge, also from Mount Holly, New Jersey, and they began to plan a family of their own.
U.S. Navy Enlistment
Ray joined the U.S. Navy in January 1942, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and spent his first year of service attending Aviation Mechanics School in Chicago, Illinois. In early February 1943, Ray was assigned to the first Essex Class Aircraft Carrier, the U.S.S. Lexington, in Rhode Island. As a "Plankowner" he was aboard for the sea trails in the Chesapeake Bay, the Gulf of Paria, Trinidad, and the British West Indies.
After a short trip back to Boston for post-shakedown availability, the U.S.S. Lexington entered the war and made her way to the Pacific via the Panama Canal on July 26, 1943, and arrived at Pearl Harbor to join the Pacific Fleet on August 9, 1943. 2
Life Aboard the Lady Lex
Ray was trained as an Aviation Machinist's Mate, 2nd Class, and assigned to the V-14 Air, V-5 Division. He spent his days working topside on the flight deck repairing airplanes such as the F6-F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, TBF/TBM Avenger and the SB2C Helldiver. The V-5 Aviation repair crews were nicknamed the "Airdales" and often spent 18 hour days keeping the planes of the legendary Squadrons 16 and 32 in top flying form. 3
Veterans of the Blue Ghost Home Page
George "Ray" Rabenstine
History Page
Helen Rabenstine History Pages
Chester "Pete" Zeller History Pages
Add Your Oral History! Questionnaire for Veterans of the Blue Ghost
US.S. Lexington Museum on the Bay
Tarawa to Tokyo Sabrina Roper's Fantastic site on the U.S.S. Lexington
U.S.S. Lexington CV-16 Association
NavSource Online: Aircraft Carrier Photo Archive
History of the U.S.S. Lexington at Wordiq.com
About Me
References
Send Some Love to "Iraqi Bill"
On December 5, 1943 the U.S.S. Lexington was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the Marshall Islands that heavily damaged the Sick Bay area and knocked out the steering capabilities of the ship. 2 When the torpedo hit, Ray was thrown across the flight deck and injured his knee. Although this would trouble him for the rest of his life he only received medical treatment for it on board the ship, and went right back to work. 5
Due to the damage caused by the torpedo attack, the U.S.S. Lexington sailed to Bremerton, Washington, for repairs and arrived on December 22, 1943. 2 Ray and his shipmates promptly took shore leave. Traveling by train Ray arrived back in New Jersey for a happy reunion with his wife and family, to include his 1 year-old daughter Rae.
After the repairs were complete, Ray and the U.S.S. Lexington returned to the sea in February 1944, and went on to partake in several historic battles in the Pacific, to include the "Marianas Turkey Shoot," on June 19 & 20, 1944. 2
On March 31, 1945, Ray left the U.S.S. Lexington for the last time to attend an advanced school in Chicago Illinois. In May of that same year he and his wife Helen, along with their daughter Rae and newborn JoAnn, traveled to Pasco, Washington where they were when the war ended.
Ray was discharged from the U.S. Navy on October 25, 1945, and he and his family returned home to Mount Holly, New Jersey. Ray went back to work for the Eagle Textile and Dye Company and retired from there in June 1986. 5
On December 15, 1991, Ray passed away at his home in Mount Holly, with his wife and daughters in attendance. He is survived by them in addition to 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Ray is buried at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Mount Holly, New Jersey, along with his parents George Frederick and Estelle Mary Rabenstine.
