USS Independence 15"

The fifth USS Independence (CV-62), formerly CVA-62, is a Forrestal-class aircraft carrier that was launched by New York Navy Yard June 6, 1958; sponsored by Mrs. Thomas S. Gates, wife of the Secretary of the Navy; and commissioned January 10, 1959; Captain R. Y. McElroy in command.

One of the newest class of supercarriers at the time of her commissioning, Independence conducted shakedown training in the Caribbean and arrived her home port NS Norfolk, Virginia, June 30, 1959. On August 25th, during suitability trials on board Independence, an A3D Skywarrior, piloted by Lieutenant Commander Ed Decker, took off—at a gross weight of 84,000 pounds (38,000 kg), which at the time was the heaviest aircraft ever to take off from a carrier.

1960 – 1964

Independence operated off the Virginia Capes for the next year on training maneuvers, and departed August 4, 1960 for her first cruise to the Mediterranean. There, she added her great strength to the peace-keeping power of the 6th Fleet in that troubled region, remaining in the eastern Mediterranean until her return to Norfolk March 3, 1961. On (4 Aug 1961) she departed again for the Mediterranean to join the US 6th fleet for another cruise and returned (19 Dec 1961)to Norfolk.

Independence sailed April 19, 1962 for Sixth Fleet duty in support of President John F. Kennedy's firm stand on Berlin during a recurrence of stress in a critical area. She returned to Norfolk August 27th and sailed October 11th for the Caribbean Sea. Called on by President Kennedy on October 24th during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, Independence provided a strong, visible reminder of U.S. determination and resolve while it acted as a key participant in the U.S. naval blockade of Cuba. She arrived off Puerto Rico in response to the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba and took part in the quarantine operations which finally forced withdrawal of those missiles. She then returned to Norfolk November 25th for readiness exercises along the eastern seaboard, overhaul in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and refresher training out of Guantanamo Bay.

Independence departed Norfolk August 6, 1963 to take part in combined readiness exercises in the Bay of Biscay with sea-air units of the United Kingdom and France then entered the Mediterranean August 21st for further duty with the Sixth Fleet. Cruising throughout the Mediterranean, she gained much valuable experience during combined NATO exercises, including close air support to Turkish paratroops, reconnaissance, communications, and convoy strike support. President Makarios of Cyprus paid her a visit October 7, 1963, after which she joined in bilateral U.S.-Italian exercises in the Adriatic with Italian patrol torpedo boats, and U.S.-French exercises which pitted her aircraft against French interceptors and a surface action with French cruiser Colbert (C611). She returned to Norfolk March 4, 1964.

Following training exercises, ranging north to New York and south to Mayport, Fla., Independence departed Norfolk September  8, 1964 for NATO Teamwork exercises in the Norwegian Sea and off the coast of France, thence to Gibraltar. She returned to Norfolk November 5, 1964 and entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul.

1965 – 1970

On May 10, 1965, Independence deployed for more than seven months, including 100 days in the South China Sea off the coast of Vietnam, the first Atlantic Fleet carrier to do so. She also was the fifth U.S. carrier operating off Vietnam. Independence and her embarked Air Wing 7 received the award of the Navy Unit Commendation for exceptionally meritorious service from June 5th to November 21, 1965. They participated in the first major series of coordinated strikes against vital enemy supply lines north of the Hanoi-Haiphong complex, successfully evading the first massive surface-to-air missile barrage in aviation history while attacking assigned targets, and executing, with daring and precision, the first successful attack on an enemy surface-to-air missile installation. The carrier launched more than 7,000 sorties in sustaining an exceptional pace of day and night strike operations against military and logistic supply facilities in North Vietnam. "The superior team spirit, courage, professional competence, and devotion to duty displayed by the officers and men of Independence and embarked Attack Carrier Air Wing Seven reflect great credit upon themselves and the United States Naval Service."

Independence returned to her homeport, Norfolk, Va. arriving December 13, 1965. During the first half of 1966, she operated off Norfolk, replenishing and training air groups. On May 4,1966, she participated in Operation Strikex. The carrier departed Norfolk June 13th for European operations with the Sixth Fleet. Independence was involved with unit and NATO exercises from July into December. She then continued her Sixth Fleet deployment into 1967.

On April 30, 1968 the Independence was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea for a 9 month deployment. She returned to Pier 12 NOB Norfolk, VA on January 27, 1969. On September 3,1969 the Indepdendence departed Norfolk to participate in NATO exercises in the north atlantic, (NORLANT), returning home on October  9,1969. The Independence was again deployed to the Mediterranean on June 23, 1970, returning to Pier 12 on January  31,1971. It was during this cruise the Indy was awarded the Meritoreus Unit Commendation in support of actions against the PLO during the Jordanian crisis.

1970 – 1979

On September 25, 1970, word was received that Gamal Abdul Nasser, President of the United Arab Republic had died; an event that might plunge the entire Middle East into a crisis. Independence, along with John F. Kennedy, Saratoga, and seven other U.S. Navy ships were put on standby in case U.S. military protection was needed for the evacuation of U.S. citizens and as a counterbalance to the Soviet Union's Mediterranean fleet.

Pilots of VMA-142, -131, and -133 began qualification landings in A-4 Skyhawks aboard Independence on August 3, 1971. For the next three days, four active duty and 20 reserve pilots operated aboard the carrier]—the first time that Marine Corps Air Reserve squadrons qualified in carrier duty.

In May 1973, President Richard M. Nixon delivered his annual Armed Forces Day address from the decks of Independence. While based in Norfolk, the ship made deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean. From October 8th to October 13, 1973, Task Force 60.1 with Independence, Task Force 60.2 with Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42), and Task Force 61/62 with Guadalcanal (LPH-7) were alerted for possible evacuation contingencies in the Middle East as a result of the 1973 Yom Kippur War between Arab states and Israel. Independence operated off the island of Crete.

continued the tradition of steaming the Med while being shadowed by Soviet aircraft and ships. OnIn the summer of 1974, Independence departed Norfolk for yet another 'Med Cruise', operating with CTF 60.1 and CVW-7. Relieving FDR, Independence and Saratoga September  8, 1974 sailors were introduced to the new concept of terrorism when a bomb exploded in the cargo compartment of TWA Flight 841 high above. Steaming to the crash site, Independence and other ships spent two long days retrieving what little remained of the ill-fated jetliner, her crew, and passengers.

On June 20, 1979, Lt. Donna L. Spruill became the first female Navy pilot to carrier qualify in a fixed-wing aircraft. Lt. Spruill piloted a C-1A Trader to an arrested landing aboard Independence.

1980 – 1989

On November 19, 1980, Independence deployed to the Indian Ocean and was on watch on "Gonzo Station" as President Reagan took office and the Iranian Hostages were freed. Subsequently completing an Indian Ocean cruise, Independence transited the Suez Canal northbound, shortly after America had transited southbound, making America the first United States Navy carrier (and, thus, Independence the second) to transit the Suez Canal since Intrepid in 1967. Independence completed a deployment of 204 days, during which the crew saw liberty only three times -- 5 days in Mauritius, a week in Perth, Australia, and a short 1/2 day stop in Rota, Spain before crossing the Atlantic to return to Norfolk on June 10, 1981.

In 1982, Independence provided critical support to the multinational peacekeeping force in Lebanon. On June 25th, the greatest concentration of U.S. Navy air power in the Mediterranean Sea resulted when the battle groups of Forrestal and Independence joined forces with Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. After steaming together in the eastern Mediterranean Sea for several days, Forrestal and Independence relieved Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, the latter sailing home to Norfolk, Va., after a long deployment.

On October 25, 1983, aircraft from Independence's embarked air wing flew missions in support of Operation Urgent Fury, the action to liberate the Caribbean nation of Grenada. Returning to Lebanon that same year, the ship's air wing conducted air strikes against Syrian positions.

In 1984, she won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for the Atlantic Fleet.

On February 17, 1985, Independence arrived at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard to undergo a modernization and overhaul program to extend her service life by 15 years. The flight deck was improved to allow the recovery of high-performance aircraft while the ship traveled at slower speeds, and the NATO Sea Sparrow launchers were upgraded. Other improvements improved the ship's fuel consumption. Independence completed the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in June 1988. Setting sail August 15th from Norfolk, the ship transited the tip of South America and arrived at her new homeport of NS San Diego, California, October 8th.

The Paramount movie Flight of the Intruder (1991), starring Danny Glover, Willem Dafoe, and Brad Johnson was filmed partly on the USS INDEPENDENCE CV-62. The aircraft carrier went out for two weeks of filming in November of 1989, with the movie crew keeping the on-board fire party busy with numerous small electrical fires they started with their lighting equipment.

1990 – 1995

In August 1990, with Carrier Air Wing 14 embarked, Independence was sent to deter Iraqi aggression during Operation Desert Shield. Arriving on station in the Gulf of Oman on August 5th, Independence was the first carrier to enter the Persian Gulf since 1974. The ship remained on station for more than 90 days and permanently reestablished a U.S. naval presence in the region. She returned to San Diego on December 20, 1990.

Independence changed homeports again on September 11, 1991—this time to Yokosuka, Japan, embarking Carrier Air Wing 5 and becoming the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, and flagship for Commander, Carrier Group Five.

On August 23, 1992, Independence entered the Persian Gulf, under the Command of Captain Carter B. Refo prepared to enforce an Allied ban on Iraqi flights over south Iraq below the 32nd parallel. On August 26th President George H. W. Bush announced that the United States and its allies had informed Iraq that in 24 hours Allied aircraft would fly surveillance missions in southern Iraq and were prepared to shoot down any Iraqi aircraft flying south of the 32nd parallel. The action was precipitated by Iraq's failure to comply with U.N. Resolution 688 which demanded that the Iraqi government stop the repression of its Shiite population in southern Iraq.

Persian Gulf allies began to enforce the ban on Iraqi planes from flying south of the 32nd parallel on August 27th in Operation Southern Watch. Any Iraqi planes that violated the ban would be shot down. Twenty Navy aircraft from CVW-5 aboard Independence in the Persian Gulf were the first coalition aircraft on station over Iraq as Operation Southern Watch began. Southern Watch was the enforcement of a ban on Iraqi warplanes and helicopters from flying south of the 32nd parallel.

Independence became the most battle experienced ship in the Navy's active fleet, and the first carrier in history to hold that distinction, on June 30, 1995. With this honor, Independence displayed the Revolution-era First Navy Jack, commonly called the "Don't Tread On Me" flag, from her bow until her decommissioning. The flag was presented to Independence commanding officer Capt. David P. Polatty III in a formal ceremony on July 1st. The flag was received from Mauna Kea (AE-22) upon her decommissioning.

In November 1995, the Independence and Carrier Air Wing Five team returned to Japan after successfully completing their third deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch.

1996 – 1998

In March 1996, Independence was deployed to the waters east of Taiwan to provide a stabilizing presence amid the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis. She was joined in the area by the Nimitz as the People's Republic of China lobbed missiles into Taiwanese territorial waters. Upon returning to Yokosuka in April 1996, the ship was visited by President Bill Clinton as part of an official state visit to Japan.

In 1997, Independence made a four-month deployment, covering several major exercises and seven ports of call. Included in these ports of call were two historic port visits. The first was February  28, 1997 to the island territory of Guam. Independence was the first aircraft carrier to pull into Guam in 36 years.

The second, two months later, was to Port Klang, Malaysia. Independence became the first aircraft carrier in the world to make a port visit to Malaysia.

Before sailing back to Yokosuka, Japan, Independence made its last port call of the deployment in May 1997 to Hong Kong. Independence's port visit was the last U.S. naval port visit to the territory before its handover to China on July 1, 1997.

Independence deployed to the Persian Gulf in January 1998 to support negotiations between the UN and Iraq and to again participate in Operation Southern Watch.

Independence was decommissioned in ceremonies at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, on September  30, 1998. At the conclusion of this ceremony, in keeping with naval tradition, Independence's last commanding officer, Captain (later Rear Admiral) Mark R. Milliken, USN, was the last person to depart the ship.

Independence's commissioning pennant was hauled down 39 years, 9 months and 20 days after it was first hoisted, and the "Don't Tread on Me" First Navy Jack was transferred to the Navy's next oldest active ship, the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk (CV-63).

Decommissioning and fate

After decommissioning, Independence remained in mothballs for five and a half years before being struck on March 8, 2004. During her time in mothballs, ex-Independence was said to have been heavily stripped to support the active carrier fleet, especially the Kitty Hawk-class carriers. Her port anchor and both anchor chains were used on the new Nimitz-class carrier USS George H W Bush. The recycling of parts and the poor material condition of Independence at the time she was retired made a strong argument against retaining her as a potential museum ship. Her sisters Saratoga and Ranger were retained, and remain on donation hold as of 2008. In April, 2004, Navy officials identified her as one of 24 decommissioned ships available to be sunk as artificial reefs. As of February, 2008 however, she was scheduled to be dismantled in the next five years along with USS Constellation.