‘The Fighting Lady’ follows life on WWII aircraft carrier

ASHLAND — The Eastern Kentucky Military Historical Society will have a discussion on the film “The Fighting Lady” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Highlands Museum and Discovery Center in Ashland, Kentucky.

Presented by Thomas Wilson, the film follows the WWII exploits of the Essex-Class aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in its first major operations following its commissioning in 1943. The movie was directed by William Wyler and is narrated by Lt. Robert Taylor, USNR.

The life of the crew is documented from July 1943 to June 1944, from its passage through the Panama Canal to its assaults on Marcus, Kwajalein, Truk and Tinian Islands, and culminating in the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

The movie features 16mm Kodachrome footage of combat operations and naval aviation is prominent throughout. The carrier can now be toured at Patriots Point, Charleston, South Carolina.

After a viewing of the movie, there will be a discussion.