USS Kitty Hawk 18

The supercarrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), formerly CVA-63, is the second naval ship named after Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the site of the Wright brothers' first powered airplane flight. With the decommissioning of USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) in 2007, the Kitty Hawk became the first and last active ship of her class.

Kitty Hawk was laid down by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey, December 27, 1956; and launched May 21, 1960, sponsored by Mr. Neil H. McElroy; and commissioned April 21, 1961 at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Captain William F. Bringle in command.

With the decommissioning of USS Independence (CV-62) on September 30, 1998 Kitty Hawk became the ship with the second longest active status in the Navy. (The USS Constitution sailing ship in Boston Harbor is 209 years old and is still retained on active Navy status.)

In 2008 Kitty Hawk will be replaced as the forward-deployed carrier at Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka, Japan by the USS George Washington (CVN-73). The Kitty Hawk will then return to the United States for decommissioning - exact date unknown. Given the commitment to retain 11 active carriers, she will most likely be decommissioned near the time of the commissioning of the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77).

With the decommissioning of USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) on August 1, 2007 Kitty Hawk became the only conventionally fueled aircraft carrier still in active service with the Navy.

For some time, she was one of only two aircraft carriers ever to be honored with flying the First Navy Jack (as of 2002, all U.S. Navy ships fly this jack.)

1961 to 1964

Following a shakedown in the Western Atlantic, Kitty Hawk departed Norfolk on August 11, 1961. After a brief stop at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she embarked the Secretary of the Brazilian Navy for a demonstration of exercise at sea with five Brazilian destroyers, the attack carrier rounded Cape Horn on October 1st. She steamed into Valparaiso, Chile on October 13th and then sailed 2 days later for Peru, arriving in Callao on October 20th where she entertained the President of Peru. At San Diego, Admiral George W. Anderson, Chief of Naval Operations, landed on her deck November 18th to witness antisubmarine demonstrations by USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG-7) and USS Blueback (SS-581), a Terrier missile demonstration by USS Topeka (CLG-8) and air demonstrations by Kitty Hawk.

Kitty Hawk entered San Francisco Naval Shipyard on November 23, 1961, for alterations. Following operations out of San Diego, she sailed from San Francisco on September 13, 1962. Kitty Hawk joined the US 7th Fleet on October 7, 1962, relieving USS Midway (CV-41) as the flagship.

After participating in the Philippine Republic Aviation Week Air Show, Kitty Hawk steamed out of Manila Harbor on November 30, 1962, and welcomed Admiral Harry D. Felt, Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, for a demonstration of modern naval weapons, December 3rd. The ship visited Hong Kong early in December and returned to Japan, arriving at Yokosuka January 2, 1963. During the following 2 months, she visited Kobe, Beppu and Iwakuni before returning to San Diego on April 2, 1963.

On June 6, 1963, President John F. Kennedy, with top civilian and military leaders, boarded Kitty Hawk to witness a carrier task force weapons demonstration off the California coast. Addressing the men of the task group from Kitty Hawk, President Kennedy told them that, as in the past, control of the seas still means security, peace and ultimate victory. He later wrote to President and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek who had witnessed a similar demonstration on board USS Constellation (CV-64): "I hope you were impressed as I was, on my visit to Kitty Hawk, with the great force for peace or war, which these mighty carriers and their accompanying escorts provide, helping to preserve the freedom of distant nations in all parts of the world."

Following a series of strike exercises and tactics reaching along the California coast and off Hawaii, Kitty Hawk again sailed for the Far East. While approaching Japan, she learned an assassin had shot President Kennedy. Flags were at half mast as she entered Sasebo Harbor November 23, 1963, the day of the President's funeral and, as senior ship present, she had the sad honor of firing memorial salutes. After cruising the South China Sea and ranging to the Philippines in readiness operations with the 7th Fleet, she returned to San Diego on July 20, 1964.

1965 to 1972

Kitty Hawk overhauled in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, then trained along the western seaboard. She sailed from San Diego October 19, 1965, for Hawaii thence to Subic Bay, Philippines, where she prepared for combat operations off the coast of Vietnam.

Kitty Hawk was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for exceptionally meritorious service from November 26, 1965 to May 14, 1966 while participating in combat operations displayed undaunted spirit, courage, professionalism and dedication to maintain their ship as a fighting unit under the most arduous operating conditions to enable her pilots to destroy vital military targets in North Vietnam despite intense opposition and extremely adverse weather conditions.

Kitty Hawk returned to San Diego in June 1966 for overhaul and training until November 4, 1966 when she again deployed to serve in waters of Southeast Asia. Kitty Hawk arrived at Yokosuka, Japan, on November 19th to relieve USS Constellation (CV-64) as flagship for Rear Admiral David C. Richardson, Commander Task Force 77. On November 26th, Kitty Hawk departed Yokosuka for Yankee Station via Subic Bay, and on December 5th, aircraft from Kitty Hawk began their around-the-clock missions over North Vietnam. About this time Kitty Hawk — already accustomed to celebrities as guests — entertained a number of extremely prominent visitors: William Randolph Hearst, Jr.; Bob Considine; Dr. Billy Graham; and John Steinbeck, among others. She remained in the Far East supporting the US in Southeast Asia until departing Subic Bay May 28,1967. Steaming via Japan, the carrier reached San Diego June 19th and a week later entered the naval shipyard at Long Beach for maintenance. Kitty Hawk returned to San Diego August 25th and began a rigorous training program to prepare her for future action.

On October 12, 1972 during the Vietnam War, Kitty Hawk was en route to her station in the Gulf of Tonkin when a racial brawl involving more than 100 sailors broke out. Nearly 50 sailors were injured in this widely-publicized incident. This incident resulted in a congressional inquiry into discipline in the Navy.

1973 to 1977

From January through July of 1973, Kitty Hawk changed homeports from San Diego to Hunter's Point. Kitty Hawk moved into dry dock January 14th of 1973, and work began to convert the ship from an attack (CVA) to a multi-mission carrier (CV). The "CV" designation indicated that Hawk was no longer strictly an attack carrier, in that anti-submarine warfare would also become a major role. Kitty Hawk became the first Pacific Fleet carrier to carry the multi-purpose "CV" designation. The conversion consisted of adding 10 new helicopter calibrating stations, installing sonar/sonobuoy readout and analysis center and associated equipment, and changing a large portion of the ship's operating procedures. One of the major equipment/space changes in the conversion was the addition of the Anti-Submarine Classification and Analysis Center (ASCAC) in the CIC area. ASCAC worked in close conjunction with the ASW aircraft assigned aboard Carrier Air Wing 11. During the yard period, the Engineering Department underwent a major change in its propulsion plant. The Navy Standard Oil (black oil) fuel system was completely converted to Navy Distillate Fuel. The Air Department added several major changes to the flight deck, including enlarging the jet blast deflectors (JBD) and installing more powerful catapults in order to handle the new Grumman F-14 Tomcat, which Kitty Hawk was standing by to receive for its next deployment. Enlarging JBD#1 meant the No. 1 Aircraft Elevator had to be redesigned, making Kitty Hawk the only carrier at the time having an aircraft elevator which tracked from the hangar deck to the flight deck angling out six degrees. Kitty Hawk moved out of dry dock on April 28, 1973, and the next day, on her twelfth birthday, was named a Multi-Purpose Aircraft Carrier (CV).

Kitty Hawk stayed busy throughout the mid-1970s with numerous deployments to the Western Pacific and involvement in a large number of exercises, including RIMPAC in 1973 and 1975.

Kitty Hawk departed San Diego on March 8, 1976, and on March 12th entered dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, to commence a US$100 million complex overhaul, scheduled to last just more than 12 months. This overhaul configured Kitty Hawk to operate with the F-14 and S-3A "Viking" aircraft in a total CV sea control mode. This included adding spaces for storage, ordnance handling and maintenance facilities for the two aircraft. Also included in the work package were more efficient work areas for airframes and a repair facility for ground support equipment and the addition of avionics support capability for the S-3. The ship also replaced the Terrier Surface-to-Air missile system with the NATO Sea Sparrow system, and added elevators and modified weapons magazines to provide an increased capability for handling and stowing the newer, larger air-launched weapons. Kitty Hawk completed the overhaul in March 1977, and departed the shipyard April 1 of that year to return to San Diego. After a six month pre-deployment workup, Kitty Hawk departed NAS North Island September 25, 1977 for another WESTPAC and returned May 15, 1978.

1979 to 1998

In 1979, the ship teamed with Carrier Air Wing 15 for another WESTPAC deployment, which included Vietnamese search and assistance operations ordered by then-Commander-in-Chief, President Jimmy Carter, to aid Vietnamese refugees who were attempting to escape the Socialist Republic of Vietnam via small boats. During that deployment, Kitty Hawk also offered contingency support off the coast of Korea following the assassination of Republic of Korea President Park Chung Hee. The deployment was then extended two-and-a-half months to support contingency operations in the North Arabian Sea during the Iran hostage crisis. For their actions in the region, Kitty Hawk and CVW-15 were awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal.

During this cruise, Kitty Hawk was filmed entering Pearl Harbor for a cameo appearance in the 1980 movie The Final Countdown, starring Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen. In this role, Kitty Hawk played the part of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) in the movie, with the crew manning the rails.

Kitty Hawk returned to San Diego in February 1980 and was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Naval Air Force Pacific Battle Efficiency "E" as the best carrier in the Pacific Fleet.

In April 1981, Kitty Hawk left San Diego for her thirteenth deployment to the Western Pacific. Following the cruise, the crew was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal for the rescue of Vietnamese refugees in the South China Sea.

In January 1982, Kitty Hawk returned to Bremerton for another yearlong overhaul. Following the comprehensive upgrade and a vigorous training period with Carrier Air Wing 2, Kitty Hawk deployed in 1984 as the flagship for Battle Group Bravo. Kitty Hawk logged more than 62,000 miles on this deployment and remained on (Gonzo) station in the North Arabian Sea for more than 60 consecutive days. On March 21, 1984 at the end of Team Spirit exercises, a Soviet nuclear-powered Victor class (Project 671) attack submarine that had been shadowing the exercises surfaced under the Kitty Hawk in the Sea of Japan (If the submarine had surfaced ahead of the Kitty Hawk, the collision would have split the submarine in two). At the time of the accident, Kitty Hawk is estimated to have carried several dozen nuclear weapons, and the submarine probably carried two nuclear torpedoes. The ship pulled into the U.S. Naval Base, Subic Bay Philippines to pull out one of the screws from the sub that was stuck in her hull, along with other repairs. The ship returned to San Diego on August 1, 1984. Seven months later, Kitty Hawk was awarded another Battle Efficiency "E" Award.

In July 1985, Kitty Hawk and CVW-9 deployed again as flagship for Battle Group Bravo. Kitty Hawk and CVW-9 combined to set a standard for operations, completing their second consecutive fatality-free deployment.

CVW-9 crews logged more than 18,000 flight hours and 7,300 arrested landings while Kitty Hawk maintained her catapults and arresting gear at 100 percent availability.

Kitty Hawk bid farewell to San Diego on January 3, 1987, as the ship departed her homeport of 25 years and set out on a six-month world cruise. During the circumnavigation, Kitty Hawk and CVW-9 again showed their commitment to safety by conducting a third fatality-free deployment. Kitty Hawk spent 106 consecutive days on station in the Indian Ocean and was again awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Meritorious Unit Commendation for its service. The world cruise ended at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on July 3. Six months later, Kitty Hawk began a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) overhaul. Kitty Hawk emerged from the yards on August 2, 1990. The overhaul was estimated to have added 20 years of service to the ship.

With the return of CVW-15 to its decks, Kitty Hawk began its second deployment around "the Horn" of South America to her original homeport of San Diego on December 1, 1991.

On August 1, 1992, Kitty Hawk was appointed as Naval Air Force Pacific's "ready carrier." The ship embarked Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group 5; Commander, Destroyer Squadron 17 and CVW-15 for three months of work-ups before deploying to the Western Pacific on November 3, 1992. While on deployment, Kitty Hawk spent nine days off the coast of Somalia supporting U.S. Marines and coalition forces involved in Operation Restore Hope. In response to increasing Iraqi violations of United Nations sanctions, the ship rushed to the Persian Gulf on December 27, 1992. Just 17 days later, Kitty Hawk led a joint coalition offensive strike against designated targets in southern Iraq.

Kitty Hawk set sail on her 17th deployment June 24, 1994, with the goal of providing a stabilizing influence operating in the Western Pacific during a time of great tension in the Far East, particularly concerning North Korea.

Kitty Hawk began her 18th deployment in October 1996. During the six-month underway period, the ship visited ports in the Persian Gulf and Western Pacific. Kitty Hawk returned to San Diego April 11, 1997, immediately beginning a 15-month, $110 million overhaul, including three months in dry dock in Bremerton, from January to March 1998.

1998 to present (Homeport: Yokosuka)

Kitty Hawk departed San Diego on July 6, 1998, to assume new duties as America's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier from USS Independence (CV-62). Kitty Hawk also welcomed aboard Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, operating from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. Kitty Hawk arrived at her new operating location of Yokosuka, Japan, on 08-11-1998.

With the decommissioning of USS Independence on September 20, 1998, the Kitty Hawk became the second oldest active warship in the US Navy and was authorized to fly the First Navy Jack.

Kitty Hawk set sail for a planned three-month underway period March 2, 1999, which included Exercise Tandem Thrust off Guam. Following the exercise, the Kitty Hawk/CVW-5 team was ordered to the Persian Gulf to enforce the No-Fly Zone over Southern Iraq. CVW-5 pilots flew more than 8,800 sorties in 116 days, including 1,300 combat sorties, dropping more than 20 tons of ordnance. On the return trip to Japan, Kitty Hawk made port visits to Perth, Western Australia, and Pattaya, Thailand. Kitty Hawk returned to Yokosuka August 25, 1999. She was again underway to the Sea of Japan October 22nd to participate in Exercises Foal Eagle and AnnualEx 11G.

On April 11, 2000, Kitty Hawk departed Yokosuka, Japan for routine local area operations and to participate in Exercise Cobra Gold with the navies of Singapore and Thailand. Kitty Hawk participated in Exercise Foal Eagle in Fall 2000, and deployed again in March 2001 for a Spring underway period with a historic stop. On March 22nd, Kitty Hawk became the first aircraft carrier to ever moor pier-side in Singapore, as the ship visited the brand new Changi Pier, located at the Republic of Singapore Navy's Changi Naval Base. On April 29th, shortly after a visit to Guam, Kitty Hawk celebrated 40 years of active service as the ship and crew sailed south to participate in Exercise Tandem Thrust 2001 with the Australian and Canadian navies. The ship returned to Yokosuka June 11, 2001.

On October 27, 2000, two Russian aircraft, a Su-24 Fencer and a Su-27 Flanker, overflew Kitty Hawk at about 200 feet of altitude. At the time, Kitty Hawk was in the midst of an underway replenishment in the northern Sea of Japan, between the island of Hokkaido and the Russian mainland. Following the overflight, the Russian pilots e-mailed pictures of their overflight to Kitty Hawk’s web site. Russian aircraft also overflew Kitty Hawk on October 12th and November 9th.

In October 2001, Kitty Hawk again made history and helped redefine roles. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks at The Pentagon and World Trade Center, Kitty Hawk deployed to the North Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The ship served as an afloat forward staging base for U.S. special forces, showing the continued adaptability of U.S. aircraft carriers.

In April 2002, Kitty Hawk was underway for her scheduled spring training. Along with a Guam port call, the spring underway included port visits to Singapore and Hong Kong, where the crew celebrated Kitty Hawk’s 41st birthday. In the fall of 2002, Kitty Hawk was training in the Western Pacific. Kitty Hawk and her battle group combined with U.S. Air Force units and elements of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force to conduct AnnualEx 14G in the waters surrounding Japan. Later, Kitty Hawk’s crew made a port visit to Hong Kong.

On September 11, 2002, all US Navy ships were ordered to fly the First Navy Jack. Having lost the honor of being the only ship authorized to do so, the Kitty Hawk began to issue ball caps that included the design.

The ship once again departed Yokosuka on January 23,  2003 for a routine training mission, but a short time later, orders were received to transit to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to support the Global War on Terrorism and to prepare for future contingencies. Kitty Hawk was soon involved in Operations Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom in the North Persian Gulf. Although the cruise was originally intended to be short, the ship ended up serving 104 continuous days at sea. Kitty Hawk returned to Yokosuka 05-06 -2003, immediately entering an extensive dry-dock period, or dry-docking ship's restricted availability (DSRA).

On July 3, 2005, Kitty Hawk pulled in at Sydney, Australia for shore leave. Later, during the same cruise, the Kitty Hawk made a port call in Guam for four days. In November of 2005, the Kitty Hawk anchored at Hong Kong, and was there for Thanksgiving. In June 2006, after a six month SRA period, the Kitty Hawk once again got underway, was overflown by a Russian IL-28 May, and shortly after pulled into Otaru, which is on the Japanese island of Hokkaidō, and Singapore. In August 2006 the carrier pulled into Fremantle, Australia for shore leave. In September 2006, the Kitty Hawk made the final port call of her Summer deployment at Pattaya, Thailand, after which she returned to her home port of Yokosuka.

In the month of October 2006 the Kitty Hawk and her escort warships were undergoing exercises near Okinawa, and a Chinese Song class submarine shadowed the group then surfaced within five miles of the group on October 26, 2006. It was considered to be quite rare for Chinese subs to operate that far from their homeports on the mainland, though with this incident that may be changing. Reports claim that the submarine had been undetected until it surfaced.

On January 11,  2007 Kitty Hawk entered a scheduled period of maintenance in Yokosuka, her place being taken by the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) which made an unscheduled deployment three weeks later. This refit is "smaller than the one the ship completed [in 2006]" which took six monts.

On July 5, 2007, Kitty Hawk pulled in at Sydney, Australia for six days of shore leave after participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre. Kitty Hawk returns from summer deployment

On September 21, 2007, Kitty Hawk pulled into Yokosuka, Japan , after a four-month summer deployment..

In November 2007, the USS Kitty Hawk and other US Navy ships performed a joint military exercise, in the Bay of Bengal. Other nations that took part in this exercise were Australia, India, Japan and Singapore. Later that month, the Kitty Hawk was scheduled to dock at Hong Kong for Thanksgiving. However, China denied entry to the Kitty Hawk and the rest of her carrier group. China then reversed its position based on humanitarian grounds but by that time the Kitty Hawk was too far away to dock in time for the holiday. The cause of the Chinese refusal remains unclear.

The Kitty Hawk was deployed off of China along with two other ships during the Taiwan election on March 20, 2008. After the elections, it will head back to the states for decommissioning.

Decommissioning

On December 1, 2005, the United States Navy announced that USS George Washington (CVN-73) will replace Kitty Hawk in 2008 as the forward-deployed carrier in Japan and it will also assume Carrier Air Wing 5.

There is no official decommissioning date for USS Kitty Hawk. However, the official Navy press release on the USS George Washington-Kitty Hawk turnover notes that the ship will return to the States for decommissioning. Given the commitment to retain 11 active USN carriers, it will be decommissioned this year, in line with the commissioning of USS George H. W. Bush  (CVN-77).

In March 2007, the Navy announced that Captain Todd Zecchin, the captain responsible during the decommissioning of the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), has been tasked with overseeing the decommissioning of Kitty Hawk.

Future Plans

A group based in Wilmington, North Carolina is lobbying to bring the ship to the city after decommissioning to serve as a floating museum alongside the USS North Carolina (BB-55).

The Government of India may also be interested in purchasing the Aircraft Carrier.