USS JFK hits Hub for final port of call [Great Pictures]

Boston Herald ^ | Friday, March 2, 2007 | Joe Dwinell

[Non-Sequitur]

Yes. A full decade after nukes were in US Navy service.

But at roughly the same time as the first nuclear surface ships were being launched. It takes time to prove the concept. You also have to remember that the Enterprise, as the first of her kind, was horrendously expensive. I believe she cost almost as much as the America and the JFK combined. She has, or at least had when she was built, something like 6 or 8 separate reactors where modern carriers have only two. She was planned as a class of 6 and the remaining 5 were promptly cancelled until the Navy could the the design and costs under control. So it's not at all surprising that the JFK was conventional. That doesn't make her less effective or less successful than other carriers, just different.

[joe fonebone]

yeah...we also did israel on the kennedy, and went to egypt on both the kennedy and forrestal......i liked mayport better than " dogs and sailors keep off the grass " norfolk...

[Tatze]

I believe Japan has finally relented to allow a nuclear carrier to be stationed there. The Kitty Hawk is scheduled to be decommissioned next year. Not sure if the Bush will take that station, or another carrier.

I think that will also drop our active carrier roster from 12 to 11. Could be wrong on that. But if the JFK is decommisioned this month, and the Kitty Hawk next year, with only the GHWB being commissioned next year, we are losing a carrier group.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I had heard that there was only one of the Enterprise variety. Guess that's why.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Back then, I sailed with the USS AMERICA (CVN 78) Battle Group.

USS America was CV-66. CVN-78, USS Gerald R. Ford, has yet to be built.

[A.A. Cunningham]

USS George Washington will replace Kitty Hawk at Yokosuka. Kitty Hawk is tentatively scheduled to be decommissioned in 2009.

[David_G_Burnet]

Just got back from a 4 mile run down there to scope it out.

There were motorcycle police doing leapfrog traffic control all along my route. I thought I was going to see Gov. Coupe Deval drive by in his new Cadillac, or one of our other "Do You Know Who I Am?" Libtard MA politicians.

Turns out the police were clearing the route for about 30-40 sailors on a road run, returning to the boat.

At 08:40 there was already a HUGH line waiting for the boat tour and I got a warm fuzzy when the line broke into applause as the sailors ran by.

Thinking about doing the tour later today or tomorrow, will post pictures if I make it down there.

[David_G_Burnet]

Finally made it on board. The line was HUGH, about a 2-1/2 hour wait, but it was worth it (to me).

It was a balmy 34 degrees with wind chills in the teens, but all I kept thinking was that it was a walk in the park compared to what the shirts have to deal with under way during air ops (at night no less, yikes).

The most dangerous job in the world.

And they volunteer for it.

For us.

Thanks to them all.

Hangar deck jet and plaque

Liberty. Ladies, practice your Heisman...LOL

Captain & Officers

Ship's bell & plaque

Fantail & Chief

Jet, superstructure & Boston skyline

Jet and Naval Aviator

Jet and some Tourist Guy

Superstructure - vertical shot

Air boss

There he is again

Superstructure - side view

Beware of Jet Blast Propellers and Rotors

Jet and that annoying guy again.

Sorry, Army humor, just couldn't help myself.

Superstructure and him again

Bow flag & Old North Church Steeple (invisible to left side)

Launcher

Arresting gear

Catapult

Elevator ride - Weeee!

Deployments

"I served in the United States Navy" JFK quote.
In contrast to a certain recent Presidential wannabe who served in Vietnam and abandoned his crew after a few band aids, JFK knew what leadership was.

Dockside