this postcard image shows the first USS Lexington, CV-2, which was laid down 8 January 1921 and sunk 8 May 1942. This postcard is from the 1930s (my best guess); it is at Long Beach CA, so maybe knowing when she was based there/visited there that would pin-point the date better. The planes appear to be bi-planes, so this my alter the date into the 1920s, too. [this type of postcard wasn't made in the 1920s, but the image might be from the '20s.)
[just looked at my notes on the back of this card; Long Beach was home to the Pacific Fleet until May 1940 when it was moved to Honolulu; don't have the 'start date'.]
