USS Kitty Hawk CV-63 returns to San Diego for final time(photo thread)

United States Navy ^ | 7 August 2008

[A.A. Cunningham]

080807-N-7883G-363 SAN DIEGO (Aug. 7, 2008) The aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) moves past the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), in background, as Kitty Hawk prepares to moor at Naval Air Station North Island upon her return to San Diego Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. Kitty Hawk will be decommissioned next year in Bremerton, Wash. The 46- year-old carrier is the oldest active-duty warship in the Navy and will be replaced this summer George Washington as the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau/Released)

080807-N-7883G-255 SAN DIEGO (Aug. 7, 2008) The aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) prepares to moor at Naval Air Station North Island upon her return to San Diego Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. Kitty Hawk will be decommissioned next year in Bremerton, Wash. The 46- year-old carrier is the oldest active-duty warship in the Navy and will be replaced this summer by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), in the foreground, as the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau/Released)

080807-N-7883G-218 SAN DIEGO (Aug. 7, 2008) The aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) prepares to moor at Naval Air Station North Island upon her return to San Diego Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. Kitty Hawk will be decommissioned next year in Bremerton, Wash. The 46- year-old carrier is the oldest active-duty warship in the Navy and will be replaced this summer by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) as the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau/Released)

080807-N-7883G-228 SAN DIEGO (Aug. 7, 2008) The aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) prepares to moor at Naval Air Station North Island upon her return to San Diego Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. Kitty Hawk will be decommissioned next year in Bremerton, Wash. The 46- year-old carrier is the oldest active-duty warship in the Navy and will be replaced this summer by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) as the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau/Released)

080807-N-7883G-103 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 7, 2008) Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) display a homecoming pennant on the flight deck as the ship heads for San Diego. The ship is returning to e San Diego after operating for ten years in Yokosuka, Japan. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) will replace Kitty Hawk in September as the Navy's only carrier operating from Japan. Kitty Hawk is headed back to the U.S. mainland for decommissioning in early 2009. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau/Released)

080806-N-7883G-272 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 6, 2008) Two F/A-18C Hornets assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 launch from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) for the last time. Carrier Air Wing 5 aircraft flew off Kitty Hawk to join the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in San Diego. George Washington will replace Kitty Hawk as the Navy's only carrier operating from Japan in September. Kitty Hawk is headed back to the U.S. mainland for decommissioning in early 2009. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau/Released)

080806-N-7883G-154 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 6, 2008) An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 launches from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) for the last time. Carrier Air Wing 5 aircraft flew off Kitty Hawk to join the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in San Diego. George Washington will replace Kitty Hawk as the Navy's only carrier operating from Japan in September. Kitty Hawk is headed back to the U.S. mainland for decommissioning in early 2009. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau/Released)

080806-N-7883G-186 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 6, 2008) An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102 launches from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) for the last time. Carrier Air Wing 5 aircraft flew off Kitty Hawk to join the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in San Diego. George Washington will replace Kitty Hawk as the Navy's only carrier operating from Japan in September. Kitty Hawk is headed back to the U.S. mainland for decommissioning in early 2009. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau/Released)

080806-N-7883G-028 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 6, 2008) An EA-6B Prowler assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136 launches from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) for the last time. Carrier Air Wing 5 aircraft flew off Kitty Hawk to join the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in San Diego. George Washington will replace Kitty Hawk as the Navy's only carrier operating from Japan in September. Kitty Hawk is headed back to the U.S. mainland for decommissioning in early 2009. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau/Released)

080806-N-7883G-119 PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 6, 2008) An F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102 launches from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) for the last time. Carrier Air Wing 5 aircraft flew off Kitty Hawk to join the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in San Diego. George Washington will replace Kitty Hawk as the Navy's only carrier operating from Japan in September. Kitty Hawk is headed back to the U.S. mainland for decommissioning in early 2009. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kyle D. Gahlau/Released)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I’ve been on her. She’s an amazing ship. I wish this weren’t so! :(

[magslinger]

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[Sundog]

I served aboard her in Vietnam.

Yes, she has to go. She is old-old-old and very expensive to keep.

[Joiseydude]

Great pictures and story, thanks for posting it.

[ballplayer]

Former Plane Captain ,Vf143 Pukinn Dogs McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, USS Constellation CVA64 and USS Ranger CVA61
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[neodad]

I grew up going to San Diego every summer. I couldn’t wait to drive by the airport and see what carriers were in; Kitty Hawk, Constellation, or Ranger. She was also one of the first ships I toured when I was a kid. Good memories.

[ken21]

san diego,

the prettiest place i’ve ever lived!

[Egon]

Sorry to see this ship go. During my time aboard the Roanoke (also since decommissioned), we did refueling exercises with her.

[magslinger]

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[1rudeboy]

Note that she’s flying the Naval Jack in photos 2, 3, and 4.

[BigCinBigD]

“Sea-Fever”

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.

By John Masefield (1878-1967).
(English Poet Laureate, 1930-1967.)

Thank you Kitty, rest well.

[andyandval]

I served aboard her in Vietnam.

Thank you!

[RightField]

Thanks for the wonderful pictures. I recently moved from San Diego, and I do miss it sometimes. We used to go down near the naval air station to see the planes come in a day or so before the carrier arrives.

A carrier arrival is a Big Deal in San Diego. Definitely a "Proud to be an American" moment.

[Seruzawa]

My destroyer escorted the Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War. That ship is older than any serving sailor. Even older than the B-52. I guess the taxpayers got their money’s worth. LOL!

[Seruzawa]

Idiot. You meant older than most the people on it. Doofus. Where’s that coffee?

[gcraig]

Proud former chippy — VFA-195 Dambusters. I see they painted up one of the birds green on the final launch...

[mad_as_he$$]

Rest easy old girl, you earned. Thanks for the service and taking care of so many sailors and Marines for the last 46 years.

[Carbonsteel]

Was she not the last non-nuclear carrier in service?

[Bender2]

Okay, which carrier is that:

and is it getting mothballed or what?