My father, who served aboard USS Kitty Hawk from 1961 to 1963 visits his former ship two days before its decommissioning ceremony.
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Looking forward on Kitty Hawk's hangar deck at the preparations for the decommissioning ceremony.
The First Navy Jack, displayed at the forward end of the hangar deck, signified that Kitty Hawk had, at the time, the longest period of active service of any ship currently serving in the US Navy. USS Kitty Hawk held that honor as of January 2009, when it passed to the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, which has also been decommissioned since then.
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Looking aft at the preparations for Kitty Hawk's decommissioning ceremony.
In nearly fifty years of service, this hangar deck accommodated a long list of US Navy aircraft. The doors visible with the ship's insignia painted on them could be closed to divide the hangar deck for damage control and fire fighting or other purposes.
Tags: 500+ views USS KItty Hawk Kitty Hawk CV-63 CVA-63 US Navy aircraft carrier Puget Sound Naval Shipyard PSNS Bremerton hangar deck decommissioning
My father stands on one of the elevators that delivered ordnance to the hangar deck with which to arm combat aircraft.
During his service aboard Kitty Hawk, my father was responsible for storage and handling of all conventional aircraft ordnance, as well as direction of the Terrier anti-aircraft missile system.
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My father discusses service aboard Kitty Hawk with one of the last Sailors to serve aboard her, a Machinist Mate 3rd Class.
Tags: USS Kitty Hawk Kitty Hawk CV-63 CVA-63 US Navy aircraft carrier Puget Sound Naval Shipyard PSNS Bremerton Sailor Machinist Mate 3rd Class MM3 Navy veteran