US Navy's Last Conventionally Powered Carrier Retires:
Posted: 04 Sep 2008, 21:28
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US Navy's Last Conventionally Powered Carrier Retires:
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Posted: 04 Sep 2008, 23:52
So sad to see her go away...
Posted: 05 Sep 2008, 00:29
I agree! But, like all military equipment, there comes a time they must be retired for new gear.
I am sure the name "Kitty Hawk", will appear again in the future.
I am sure the name "Kitty Hawk", will appear again in the future.
Posted: 06 Sep 2008, 18:08
So sad to see an old friend go away. I did a cruise on her in 1984 with Carrier Air Wing 2. That would be the only time we would be on her out of my four cruises with the air wing. We became the first "ASW" carrier in the Navy at that time, as we ran over a Russian Victor submarine about 150 south of Vladivostock, Russia while doing operations with the South Korean Navy and the USS Midway's battle group. The Victor had been shadowing us for days, but happened to be in our way when we concluded air ops, and was turning back into the battle group to do a night refuel with the USS Wabash. Right after we turned back, we ran over the Victor, running her the length of our hull, amazingly not damaging the screws. One of my friends was working on the flight deck that night and overheard someone say that that was one big whale we just ran over. Then, somebody replied, that's one funny looking whale, it has a periscope sticking out of it's head 
We sent a couple of helos over to assist them, but they didn't want our help. Of course, in the time of the Cold War, there wasn't going to be any of that, helping each other out. That sub ended up getting towed home by another ship, and rumors surfaced that there had been some casualties on the sub, though never confirmed.
When we pulled into Subic Bay, Phillipines for a scheduled stop before heading to the Indian Ocean, the ship would be repaired from the damage. There was a 15 ft gash in the hull, in one of the aviation fuel tanks, where one of the blade of the sub's prop would be imbedded. Fortunatly, the tank was already drained of fuel, and only contained salt-water anyways. While out in town on liberty, shirts were made up with a cartoon picture of the carrier with a sub in it's mouth on the bow of the ship. The shirt also said " USS Kitty Hawk CV-63, US Navy only ASW carrier"
So long old friend, you have served your country well
We sent a couple of helos over to assist them, but they didn't want our help. Of course, in the time of the Cold War, there wasn't going to be any of that, helping each other out. That sub ended up getting towed home by another ship, and rumors surfaced that there had been some casualties on the sub, though never confirmed.
When we pulled into Subic Bay, Phillipines for a scheduled stop before heading to the Indian Ocean, the ship would be repaired from the damage. There was a 15 ft gash in the hull, in one of the aviation fuel tanks, where one of the blade of the sub's prop would be imbedded. Fortunatly, the tank was already drained of fuel, and only contained salt-water anyways. While out in town on liberty, shirts were made up with a cartoon picture of the carrier with a sub in it's mouth on the bow of the ship. The shirt also said " USS Kitty Hawk CV-63, US Navy only ASW carrier"
So long old friend, you have served your country well
Posted: 08 Sep 2008, 23:38
Hope she becomes a museum rather than being broken up.
Ron
Ron