From 1988, burned from a VHS copy of a program on WHYY 12 PBS serving Wilmington, Delaware & Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. USS Kitty Hawk at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
Just want to thank everyone for sharing all these wonderful memories from this video. My late father worked at the Naval Shipyards from 1980 to 1995 when they closed, and this video was uploaded from an old VHS my late brother owned who passed away from cancer about 4 months after this video was uploaded . He served in the United States Air Force from 1988 to 2006. This video is dedicated to my father and my brother. Thank you.
Thank you for posting this. I served from 85-89 on the Hawk and remember that day very well and recognized a lot of the ships force faces. Thanks again.
I couldn't stop watching this. Right around the time this was filmed, I was a 12 year old lad with a VHS copy of Top Gun and navy books stacked in my bedroom, including diagrams of Kitty Hawk, dreaming of going to Annapolis.
I served 3 tours of duty on her during the Vietnam war and loved every minute of it. 12 to 18 hrs every day on the flight deck during that war. Best time during the Typhon we encounter in 1966 as the ship rolled and pitched and watching rookies vomit and get seasick. I never did get sick as that ship rolled and pitched. Just loved the ride I got from her
I recall that typhoon, I was in your squadron during that time, we took some vicious rolls, The whole superstructure of our ship and life lines were coated in ice
I was stationed aboard the USS KITTY HAWK from '71 to '73, some of the best days of my life. I would have loved to have known that that ship, after 48yrs of service and the history of that vessel, as conventional carrier, I would have loved to have known that it would become a museum. It is a museum...no matter what.
I was in the Air wing on the 1987 world cruise. Squadron VAW-112 Golden Hawks. E-2C's . I've never seen this footage from Philly. Thanks and glad to find it.
Served aboard the kitty hawk from 1978-1981. Still remember crossing the equator for the first time with the commanding officer. Hard work everyday but a lot of good memories while serving on the kitty hawk. I made 2nd and 1st class on this boat.
I served the Hawk the same year as you did and cross the equator same time with you and also made 2nd and 1st class petty officer, what a coincidence. Still remember the Iran crisis that ended up 12 months instead of 9. Glad I was part of Hawk for guarding, protecting and depending the people and United States of America. PRESS ON.
I remember during the Vietnam war a lot of these carriers had nicknames. USS Kitty Hawk was called the USS shity Kitty. USS Hancock it's called the USS handjob. USS Forrestal was called the USS forest fire. USS Enterprise was called the USS Enterpussy Prize. USS Constellation was called the USS constipation. Just to name a few.
Served aboard the “Hawk” from 80-84 with 1 Westpac deployment. W division Gunners Mate Tech. Got to see her in Bremerton “from afar” again after 35 years and it sure brought back a lot of memories. Some of the best years of my life
I was an O-3 in the North Island Reserve Augmentation Det. during that time 'til '86. When she was in port I'd have lunch in the Wardroom. Some of our guys would come aboard during drill weekends and help the crew spiff up the boats or shipboard equipment. They let the guys "cruise" the bay as a reward. Good times. I left the reserves just before Ranger made this trip.
I work at where the Kitty Hawk was constructed in Camden New Jersey, now South Jersey Port Corporation. It used to be called the New York Ship Building company despite being in Camden near Philly.
I was stationed on the U.S. Navy dry dock Waterford ARD-5 in Groton C.T. 1991 to 1995 taking nuclear submarines out of the water. This brought back so many memories if the weeks leading up to the docking with all the preparation to bring the unit in. Miss them days a little
I was stationed on the Kittyhawk as a Marine guard from 1976 to 1978. She was in dry dock in Bremerton Washington when I went aboard. I was lucky enough to go on a west pac to Singapore, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Philippines, and got to dock in Pearl Harbor and see my younger brother who was a Marine in the air wing as a gunner on a Huey stationed there. Semper Fi to all my Marine brothers out there!
@@chancie3290 was he part of the Marine detachment do you know? There were about 60 Marines on ship and like 5000 swabbies (no disrespect, just what we called each other back then lol) so if he was a sailor the Marines and Sailors did not interact a whole lot?
I was on Sea Duty from 77-80 on the USS Coral Sea. Being from San Diego, I hoped to be on one of the three carriers in San Diego. NAS Alameda turned out to be a good time. 78 in the yards at Bremerton and then WestPac for Iranian Hostage crisis. Went back to Marine Barracks Bangor (Bremerton) a few years later as a SNCO..
I had the rare opportunity to spend a day on the Kitty Hawk in 1969, when it was in port at Coronado in San Diego. My uncle was a Petty Officer on the vessel. Got to eat Breakfast and tour the ship with my Marine cousin. My dad ( Marine SSGT, Armorer with the 1st Marine Division) was Stationed at Camp Pendleton at that time and was overseas in Viet Nam. I was 14. Completely amazing it was.
Served on 70-71 cruise to Nam was in aimd ships company and master at arms. That ship made a man of me.One of the greatest warships in the history of Navy.Loved port of subic bay and especially ologapo city.Anybody remember shit river.Stood shore patrol new years eve at the jungle section of town.Vets will know what i mean. Got catapolted off ship May 1971 to leave the navy,was on station in gulf of tonkin,what a thrill!.Will never foget and wear a KITTY HAWK hat with a button saying the hawk is my ship.Anchors away HAWK BROTHERS.
My grandfather was on the Kitty Hawk when it was put in to commission, and during the end of the Korean War. I remember fondly his stores about japan. Awesome ship. I'd like to see it in person some day. Edit: nevermind they're dismantling it 😒
My father was part of the original crew , their Weapons Officer. My sister's and I were little and got to have dinner and watch a movie on the flight deck before it took off for it's maide voyage.
My home 81-86 G-4 flight deck Ordnance. Last home AIMD I-5. 99-01. Met tons of great shipmates that I will always remember. You served us well old girl and you will be missed.
My first cruise 1970 with VAW-114. What a great experience and eye opener. Long hours. Long cruise but some super memories. Wouldn't trade experience or memories for anything. Retired CPO
I really appreciated this video. I served in #2 Main Machinery Room from 1970 to 1971. I was assigned to Kitty Hawk while it was in routine dry dock in Bremerton Washington, then during a Wes Pac cruise to the Tonkin Gulf.
James Nantz I served as an IC Electrician from Dec 1969 to Nov 1972! I also came aboard in Bremerton, and served on *TWO* WestPac cruises to the Tonkin Gulf.
My “home” from 77 -80 P-3 div 1&2 auxiliary Mach rm some of the best Memories of my life I really miss some of the men I served with God bless everyone of them
AIMD 04 DIVISION 90-93.....got to her in July of 90 she was ripped apart...put in tons of Armstrong commercial grade flooring and did alot of insulation remove and replace....we mustered in the GSE shop then worked alongside the shipyard crew...we used to get big shipyard trash bags fill em up with ice from the mess decks then go to base liquor store get beer ride around Philly and Jersey raising hell....great memories....we left there in 91 did qualifications down in Gitmo Cuba she was a great ship and when those engines were rebuilt she would get up and go God Bless....
I remember her coming in I was stationed at the old Navy Hospital on Broad and Patterson. If I remember correctly the USS Independence was just finishing her slep.
Saratoga 80-83 Forrestal 82-85 Independence 85-88 Kitty Hawk 87-91 Constellation 90-93 Forrestal-92-93 supposed to be a 16-18 upgrade but decommissioned in September 93. JFK didn't get a SLEP. 93-95
I remember that old ugly hospital near Vet Stadium. They tore in down in the 90's I believe. I work at the South Jersey Port in Camden where the Kitty Hawk was constructed (back then called the NY Ship building company)
Used to brief 175-1s to Tillotson, I believe that was at Cecil Field sometime during my tour there from '89-'93. My time in the Philly yard was with the Lexington in '84-'85, with a brief TAD aboard Forrestal for her post-SLEP sea trials, when she got caught in a Hatteras Low off Vacapes in March of '85. Anything to escape that stinking yard.
I remember seeing the Shitty Kitty across the water from the Naval base in SanDiego. When I was in, the Midway, the Ranger,, the Coral Sea, the Connie, the America and the Kitty Hawk were all operating in 1988 when I left the Navy
Capt. Tillotson was my commanding officer. Served on her in 86 - 87. I left her in Jan 88. When you stand on her flight deck in the yards you realize you are standing on a sleeping giant, and it takes all hands for this behemoth to perform the tasks it was designed to do. o7
I also served on KH under Tillotson and Huffman (Hoffman?) before him. So glad they replaced the terminator, that guy was such an asshat. I left about 9 months after you. I also sailed aboard America, Independence and the Lexington, but Kitty Hawk was the only ship that felt like home. Quite a lady.
I remember the money flowing in as early Jan 87. Boom just like that there was a new Motel at the Yard, a USO popped up, a Ginormous GYM, Diana Ross was booked, a Chief's club opened an enlisted club opened none of that was Available for the USS INDEPENDENCE's SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAM.
Me too! And I was around the same age! My father was the very 1st weapons officer on the newly commissioned ship. We got to eat dinner and watch movies on the flight deck!
i got catipulted off the carrier when my brother passed away , in 1992 we were off of Japan and in a typhoon so when that broke i was put on a s-3 viking and taken off the ship . then my return i had to wait in bahrain for the ship come back from mogadishu africa,
Bldg. 16, still there 2020, but all Mill work equip. gone, was the "SHAFT & PROP" rework shop, spent a lot of time there as "TEMP" WG-11" ,there rebuilding , with welders, 83'-87' .
Served on the Kitty’s sister Connie CV-64 from 84-88. V-2 Div, Waist Catapults. Great ships, both had impressive service histories. I remember for a short while being berthed right next to her at North Island. The sisters looked great together! Some say it’s just a story but our plank owners claimed CVA-63 was laid down originally at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and CVA-64 at the Philly Naval Yard. A huge fire gutted the almost completed Kitty Hawk (50 yard workers perished..RIP) so the uncompleted Constellation at Philly was re-named Kitty Hawk. Connie was rebuilt at Brooklyn later. Supposedly the lower decks of each ship have each other’s names displayed somewhere. My favorite recollection about the shitty Kitty was when I first got aboard Connie in 84. She comes cruising into San Diego with chunks of a Soviet sub embedded in her bow and a big red sub painted on her island. Freaking awesome! ComPacGru 7 made them paint over it but apparently a Soviet sub surfaced in front of them and the Kitty Hawk just rammed it. Totally badass! ✊
My dad was serving on the shitty kitty at the time this video was made, and then we were sent to Norfolk, Virginia from Philly. I spent alot of time on that ship visiting my dad. It was cool. Chief Petty officer Charles Thornton
I have worked at that yard, but now it's owned by a Norwegian company. It is huge place tho, even had it's own airport inside the yard back in the days
For information the number on a carrier is the year the Keel is laid not the year it was commissioned. On average its 3 to 3.5 years to construct and sea trial's.
One day I was little, I got a box full of Legos, and the instructions read u.s.s kitty hawlk, only later did i find out it's the sister ship of the cv-64 u.s.s constalation, my uncle served as a Gunneres mate for a long time.
Tim Waygar -I served on Constellation CV-64 from 84-88. Ships lore was that the sister ships were being built simultaneously, one at the Brooklyn Navy Yard (CVA-63) and the other at the Philly Naval Yard (CVA-64). The Shitty Kitty was way ahead of Connie in construction..in fact she was largely completed up to the flight deck while Connie was still laying out her lower deck. A forklift operator knocked over some equipment on Kitty Hawk breaking off a diesel fuel fitting spilling thousands of gallons of fuel into the ship. A welder in the lower decks probably started the fire. A huge fire consumed much of the interior of the ship killing fifty shipyard workers. Ultimately the ship was saved but required significant rebuilding delaying her delivery. As a result her sister Constellation in Philadelphia was re-named Kitty Hawk and completed first. Those plaques were left to memorialize the tragic history. A similar plaque can be seen on Connie labeled “USS Kitty Hawk”. I’ve read elsewhere that this is just another Navy tale but the fire did occur and our plank-owners swear it’s the truth!
I was station on USS MIDWAY CVA-41 1974 To early 1975 in Yokosuka Japan. (Remember Club Tom Po Po's). I believe The Kitty Hawk came to Yokosuka for a West Pack Cruise in 1974. When Vietnam fell in April 1975. The whole 7th Fleet came to Subic Bay Philippines for the Evacuation and The Enterprize, Midway, Constellation, Kitty Hawk, Coral Sea and I believe more Carriers were there to. Mark V. Gutierrez. All Purpose All Feeling All United States Navy 1973 USS MIDWAY CVA-41 R-Division Pipe Shop, No GOREAHHEA today.😀😀😀☕☕☕😀😀😀.
They'll scrap her like the did the 4 other Super Carriers before her (Forrestal, Saratoga, Ranger and Independence) as it costs more to refurbish then to build a newer modern carrier. Quite a shame really, since USS Forrestal was the first Super Carrier built with the jet aircraft in mind, and veterans wanted her as a museum piece, as did the citizens of Pensacola Florida where they trained Naval Aviators. The carrier was sold for a measly penny!
A 'Plank Owner' on the "shitty Kitty", commissioned 19 April,1961. Spent a memorable 18th Birthday with a Brazilian Family in Rio de Janeiro. The 'Bird Farm' laid off, at anchor ⚓ in the Harbor. After 7eral Days got underway for Drakes Passage and the Pacific. Mail awaited in Valparaiso- or Callao? Letter frm F.B.I. ordering me to:"Sign-up for the Draft" or they'd hunt me down and arrest me. I was the Captain's Orderly at the time.😌Wish I kept that letter. CWO, U.S.M.C.ret'd.
Was in vf-114 from 68’-72’ and deployed on th Hawk for two 9 month tours. Inside flight control I believe where they spotted planes on deck was a brass plaque which was inscribed “The Hawk is my ship and she turns me on” I remember thinking that’s pretty neat.
I was on the Shitty Kitty during her stay in Puget Sound drydock Seattle Tacoma ?? Long time ago wat a miserable stay as far as weather and all tne trouble i got into,,lol etc.. I rember submarines near bye aswell, And i also rememeber a laundry mat with pool tables must have around 1979 plus cause a had 1979 Triumph Bonneville,,,.i have plenty of wild stories..lol
Kitty Hawk arrived Philadelphia Naval Shipyard July 1987 and departed July 1991. SLEP ORDER Saratoga FID Independence Kitty Hawk Constellation JFK only got a ROH America and the Ranger got nothing. FID was getting a 14 month ROH at Philadelphia in Sept 92- November 93. She received decommissioning orders in February 1993. The Navy then began decommissioning her. FID decommissioned 11 Sep 93.
Served on Connie 84-88....2 battle E’s, designated “America’s Flagship” by President Reagan when he visited, incredible Vietnam war service deployment history, VF-96 Aces Cunningham & Driscoll and lots of other notable Aviators flew from Connie, first carrier to enter Persian Gulf, first carrier to perform “extendex” (I was part of this), first carrier to deploy the F/A-18 Hornet, first carrier to conduct flight operations at anchor (flanchor- Diego Garcia lagoon).....she was one of the Navy’s best carriers back then.
Connie came out of N.Y.Shipbuilding B'kl'n New York. She had fire on board and 2 other Mishaps while being built which, delayed her completion and Commissioning. The "63" designation was transferred to Kitty HAWK down in P.P.N.S.Y. while Constellation picked up CVA-"64" and was commissioned late out of Bkln Navy Yard. Scuttlebutt had it that she was: a "Jinx" ship.
@@patrickmahoney4090 None of that is true. Connie was laid down, built and completed as CV-64 in brooklyn. Kitty Hawk was laid down, built and completed as CV-63 in Camden. Yes, 64 had a fire during construction (in Brooklyn) . That is one of the oldest wives tales out there that just wont go away. Not a bit of truth to it.
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Stationed onboard the Kitty with VFP-63 1979-80. Then again as ships company 83-86, OP Division. Many memories.
Just want to thank everyone for sharing all these wonderful memories from this video. My late father worked at the Naval Shipyards from 1980 to 1995 when they closed, and this video was uploaded from an old VHS my late brother owned who passed away from cancer about 4 months after this video was uploaded . He served in the United States Air Force from 1988 to 2006. This video is dedicated to my father and my brother. Thank you.
Thanks for posting this, it's kicking my nostalgia into overdrive.
Thank you for posting this. I served from 85-89 on the
Hawk and remember that day very well and recognized a lot of the ships force faces. Thanks again.
I couldn't stop watching this. Right around the time this was filmed, I was a 12 year old lad with a VHS copy of Top Gun and navy books stacked in my bedroom, including diagrams of Kitty Hawk, dreaming of going to Annapolis.
I'm just in awe. thanks. I thank you, every man and woman who served on this ship Kitty Hawk.
I think I was just two-years-old.
God bless everybody
I served 3 tours of duty on her during the Vietnam war and loved every minute of it. 12 to 18 hrs every day on the flight deck during that war. Best time during the Typhon we encounter in 1966 as the ship rolled and pitched and watching rookies vomit and get seasick. I never did get sick as that ship rolled and pitched. Just loved the ride I got from her
I recall that typhoon, I was in your squadron during that time, we took some vicious rolls, The whole superstructure of our ship and life lines were coated in ice
I was stationed aboard the USS KITTY HAWK from '71 to '73, some of the best days of my life. I would have loved to have known that that ship, after 48yrs of service and the history of that vessel, as conventional carrier, I would have loved to have known that it would become a museum. It is a museum...no matter what.
I was in the Air wing on the 1987 world cruise. Squadron VAW-112 Golden Hawks. E-2C's . I've never seen this footage from Philly. Thanks and glad to find it.
Yea bawling-112
Served aboard the kitty hawk from 1978-1981. Still remember crossing the equator for the first time with the commanding officer. Hard work everyday but a lot of good memories while serving on the kitty hawk. I made 2nd and 1st class on this boat.
Hard work? In the Navy?
"Me, Too , ... My Friend"
"Anchor's, ... Away !"
@@rfhentges "Oh ... Yeah"
I served the Hawk the same year as you did and cross the equator same time with you and also made 2nd and 1st class petty officer, what a coincidence. Still remember the Iran crisis that ended up 12 months instead of 9. Glad I was part of Hawk for guarding, protecting and depending the people and United States of America. PRESS ON.
Was at Nav Hosp
Philly/ NAS Willow Grove during this time.
spent a lot of time in 1989-1991 cleaning those bilges, a little work never hurt anyone!
I had to clean bilges too in 92. Firehose pressure washing LOL 😄 it kicked my ass
I remember during the Vietnam war a lot of these carriers had nicknames. USS Kitty Hawk was called the USS shity Kitty. USS Hancock it's called the USS handjob. USS Forrestal was called the USS forest fire. USS Enterprise was called the USS Enterpussy Prize. USS Constellation was called the USS constipation. Just to name a few.
Anyone who has served in the Navy knows why the Forrestal is called forest fire. LOL.
Plus Danger Ranger
Forrestal also sometimes knows as Firestal
@@darksideofthemoon488
I covered that one above a long with others.
You forgot "Suckin Sara" USS SARATOGA CVA60. ABH V-3 70-71 cruises to the Med.
You got it!
Served aboard the “Hawk” from 80-84 with 1 Westpac deployment. W division Gunners Mate Tech. Got to see her in Bremerton “from afar” again after 35 years and it sure brought back a lot of memories. Some of the best years of my life
Same here. 82-85 A Gang Hydraulics Engineering. Opening shot of the fantail and I thought of how many times I stood in that very spot!
Gunner's mate tech? What type of rate is that? Gunner's mate guns, GMG or Gunner's mate missiles GMM.
@@Wormhole798 I'm still wondering "W Division?"
I was an O-3 in the North Island Reserve Augmentation Det. during that time 'til '86. When she was in port I'd have lunch in the Wardroom. Some of our guys would come aboard during drill weekends and help the crew spiff up the boats or shipboard equipment. They let the guys "cruise" the bay as a reward. Good times. I left the reserves just before Ranger made this trip.
@@Wormhole798 Special weapons there was only about 16-18 of us in the division. Luckily we didn’t do nothing but train
I work at where the Kitty Hawk was constructed in Camden New Jersey, now South Jersey Port Corporation. It used to be called the New York Ship Building company despite being in Camden near Philly.
I was stationed on the U.S. Navy dry dock Waterford ARD-5 in Groton C.T. 1991 to 1995 taking nuclear submarines out of the water. This brought back so many memories if the weeks leading up to the docking with all the preparation to bring the unit in. Miss them days a little
I was stationed on the Kittyhawk as a Marine guard from 1976 to 1978. She was in dry dock in Bremerton Washington when I went aboard. I was lucky enough to go on a west pac to Singapore, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Philippines, and got to dock in Pearl Harbor and see my younger brother who was a Marine in the air wing as a gunner on a Huey stationed there. Semper Fi to all my Marine brothers out there!
Did you know my grandpa ? Charles (Chuck) McCoy ?
@@chancie3290 was he part of the Marine detachment do you know? There were about 60 Marines on ship and like 5000 swabbies (no disrespect, just what we called each other back then lol) so if he was a sailor the Marines and Sailors did not interact a whole lot?
I was on Sea Duty from 77-80 on the USS Coral Sea. Being from San Diego, I hoped to be on one of the three carriers in San Diego. NAS Alameda turned out to be a good time. 78 in the yards at Bremerton and then WestPac for Iranian Hostage crisis. Went back to Marine Barracks Bangor (Bremerton) a few years later as a SNCO..
I had the rare opportunity to spend a day on the Kitty Hawk in 1969, when it was in port at Coronado in San Diego. My uncle was a Petty Officer on the vessel. Got to eat Breakfast and tour the ship with my Marine cousin. My dad ( Marine SSGT, Armorer with the 1st Marine Division) was Stationed at Camp Pendleton at that time and was overseas in Viet Nam. I was 14. Completely amazing it was.
Served on 70-71 cruise to Nam was in aimd ships company and master at arms. That ship made a man of me.One of the greatest warships in the history of Navy.Loved port of subic bay and especially ologapo city.Anybody remember shit river.Stood shore patrol new years eve at the jungle section of town.Vets will know what i mean. Got catapolted off ship May 1971 to leave the navy,was on station in gulf of tonkin,what a thrill!.Will never foget and wear a KITTY HAWK hat with a button saying the hawk is my ship.Anchors away HAWK BROTHERS.
My grandfather was on the Kitty Hawk when it was put in to commission, and during the end of the Korean War. I remember fondly his stores about japan. Awesome ship. I'd like to see it in person some day. Edit: nevermind they're dismantling it 😒
I was stationed aboard, was definitely a good ship, good crew, however the CO Capt. D. Rainey was an epic piece of shit.
My father was part of the original crew , their Weapons Officer. My sister's and I were little and got to have dinner and watch a movie on the flight deck before it took off for it's maide voyage.
My home 81-86 G-4 flight deck Ordnance. Last home AIMD I-5. 99-01. Met tons of great shipmates that I will always remember. You served us well old girl and you will be missed.
I was fortunate to see the Kitty Hawk go out the Sydnney Heads for the last time on her way to brisbane and Home.
I remember being here for that. It was my first Navy home bringing her back home to Philly. It was a great cruise.
Mallorca was such a great liberty port.
Shot 10 rolls of 35mm film on safari in Kenya, too.
Kitty Hawks home was Camden New Jersey a mile away just like the Indianapolis
My first cruise 1970 with VAW-114. What a great experience and eye opener. Long hours. Long cruise but some super memories. Wouldn't trade experience or memories for anything. Retired CPO
I really appreciated this video. I served in #2 Main Machinery Room from 1970 to 1971. I was assigned to Kitty Hawk while it was in routine dry dock in Bremerton Washington, then during a Wes Pac cruise to the Tonkin Gulf.
James Nantz
I served as an IC Electrician from Dec 1969 to Nov 1972! I also came aboard in Bremerton, and served on *TWO* WestPac cruises to the Tonkin Gulf.
My “home” from 77 -80 P-3 div 1&2 auxiliary Mach rm some of the best Memories of my life I really miss some of the men I served with God bless everyone of them
Kevin Anderson On the Kitty 86 - 88. She was a good ship. Even though she had a rotten nickname, “shitty Kitty”.
Old school. Giving commands with a radio in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Love it.
BM 1976-1979 USS KITTY HAWK
GOD BLESS ALL THE CREWMAN AND WOMEN THAT SERVED ON THE KITTY HAWK
AIMD 04 DIVISION 90-93.....got to her in July of 90 she was ripped apart...put in tons of Armstrong commercial grade flooring and did alot of insulation remove and replace....we mustered in the GSE shop then worked alongside the shipyard crew...we used to get big shipyard trash bags fill em up with ice from the mess decks then go to base liquor store get beer ride around Philly and Jersey raising hell....great memories....we left there in 91 did qualifications down in Gitmo Cuba she was a great ship and when those engines were rebuilt she would get up and go God Bless....
I remember her coming in I was stationed at the old Navy Hospital on Broad and Patterson. If I remember correctly the USS Independence was just finishing her slep.
Hated that Hospital, broke mt arm and still cant get the X-Rays, personnel I met were lazy
Saratoga 80-83
Forrestal 82-85
Independence 85-88
Kitty Hawk 87-91
Constellation 90-93
Forrestal-92-93 supposed to be a 16-18 upgrade but decommissioned in September 93.
JFK didn't get a SLEP. 93-95
@@shawnp6744 Thanx Shawn, America wasn't selected for SLEP either. We (crew and air wings) never got a firm answer why. Skal, ^v^
Money.
61
66
67
All 3 never got SLEP's.
I remember that old ugly hospital near Vet Stadium. They tore in down in the 90's I believe. I work at the South Jersey Port in Camden where the Kitty Hawk was constructed (back then called the NY Ship building company)
I remember when an aircraft carrier desalinated sea water for an entire city in Italy.
Used to brief 175-1s to Tillotson, I believe that was at Cecil Field sometime during my tour there from '89-'93. My time in the Philly yard was with the Lexington in '84-'85,
with a brief TAD aboard Forrestal for her post-SLEP sea trials, when she got caught in a Hatteras Low off Vacapes in March of '85. Anything to escape that stinking yard.
I got 202 traps on my first cruise on her. 1981 WestPac VF-111, Sundowners.
I was an AT on board Kitty Hawk with VF-111 WESTPAC 1992-93
@@DiamondPaintWithDiamondDave I was on the same cruise, ships company. I remember the Sundowners too. Loved the unit logo.
there you are. Second to last row www.navysite.de/cruisebooks/cv63-81/197.htm
I got to watch this, just amazing that something that immense could be maneuvered with such precision.
I remember seeing the Shitty Kitty across the water from the Naval base in SanDiego. When I was in, the Midway, the Ranger,, the Coral Sea, the Connie, the America and the Kitty Hawk were all operating in 1988 when I left the Navy
I was onboard the CV-63 1987-1990 at the yards the same time this video was made
sailed with the Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War
Capt. Tillotson was my commanding officer. Served on her in 86 - 87. I left her in Jan 88. When you stand on her flight deck in the yards you realize you are standing on a sleeping giant, and it takes all hands for this behemoth to perform the tasks it was designed to do. o7
86 to87 Just childs play. 3 tours of duty off Vietnam 1966 to 1969
I also served on KH under Tillotson and Huffman (Hoffman?) before him. So glad they replaced the terminator, that guy was such an asshat. I left about 9 months after you. I also sailed aboard America, Independence and the Lexington, but Kitty Hawk was the only ship that felt like home. Quite a lady.
@@coriolass IM-3, 1985 to 1988. I Remember that when Hoffman was replaced, it was a lot better
aboard...
@@vitameat Tillotson was replaced by Rainey, another asshat POS. XO and below were all good men.
I served aboard the cv-63 1987-1990, when l checked on board in August 87' at the Philly naval shipyard she was already docked.
My Grandfather served on the Kittyhawk during the Vietnam war
My father was part of the original crew for her maiden voyage. He was the Weapons
Officer.
I WAS ON KITTY HAWK IN 1970. 1972 A6 KNIGHTRIDRR
Wow great video. In 1988 i was a snipe on BB62.
Unfortunately time catches up with all of us, Kitty Hawk is either being scrapped now or will be in the very near future in Brownsville Texas.
Scrapped!
my home for my last year of service
You were on it in Japan? I was on the George Washington when we switched out. For KH decommissioning.
@@joshdrake4011 I was gone in 85
oh I thought you said for its last year of service.
I remember the money flowing in as early Jan 87. Boom just like that there was a new Motel at the Yard, a USO popped up, a Ginormous GYM, Diana Ross was booked, a Chief's club opened an enlisted club opened none of that was Available for the USS INDEPENDENCE's SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAM.
Bernard Carbajal The SLEP program I was on its deck at Philly In 1990 working at NAVSES
I went on that ship when it was brand new, sitting beside the J. F. Kennedy in Norfolk Virginia. I think I was 8 or 9. LOL
The USS Kitty Hawk was commissioned in 1961, the JFK was commissioned in 1968.
Me too! And I was around the same age! My father was the very 1st weapons officer on the newly commissioned ship. We got to eat dinner and watch movies on the flight deck!
i got catipulted off the carrier when my brother passed away , in 1992 we were off of Japan and in a typhoon so when that broke i was put on a s-3 viking and taken off the ship . then my return i had to wait in bahrain for the ship come back from mogadishu africa,
03 Jun 22 today.
CV-63 just entered the breakers shipyard in Texas.
Goodbye old girl you did good.
God bless the American Navy!!!!
ABSOFLOGGINLUTELY!!!
Bldg. 16, still there 2020, but all Mill work equip. gone, was the "SHAFT & PROP" rework shop, spent a lot of time there as "TEMP" WG-11" ,there rebuilding , with welders, 83'-87' .
I knew a guy named Mr. Lawrence that was stores keeper on the Kitty Hawk and he wondered how that steel would float when he first saw it
My favorite ship.
Served on the Kitty’s sister Connie CV-64 from 84-88. V-2 Div, Waist Catapults. Great ships, both had impressive service histories. I remember for a short while being berthed right next to her at North Island. The sisters looked great together!
Some say it’s just a story but our plank owners claimed CVA-63 was laid down originally at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and CVA-64 at the Philly Naval Yard. A huge fire gutted the almost completed Kitty Hawk (50 yard workers perished..RIP) so the uncompleted Constellation at Philly was re-named Kitty Hawk. Connie was rebuilt at Brooklyn later. Supposedly the lower decks of each ship have each other’s names displayed somewhere.
My favorite recollection about the shitty Kitty was when I first got aboard Connie in 84. She comes cruising into San Diego with chunks of a Soviet sub embedded in her bow and a big red sub painted on her island. Freaking awesome! ComPacGru 7 made them paint over it but apparently a Soviet sub surfaced in front of them and the Kitty Hawk just rammed it. Totally badass! ✊
Just for the historical record, no other Soviet subs ever presented themselves as targets for the Kittyhawks bow. Lesson learned!
Was on USS Kitty Hawk from 87-91 1st division
Hey Beau! Nice to see an old shipmate. R-Div
Thanks! My ship 82-85. We press on!!!
Outstanding shipmates. Press on. USS Kitty Hawk CV-63. Jan 1980 to July 1983.
My dad was serving on the shitty kitty at the time this video was made, and then we were sent to Norfolk, Virginia from Philly. I spent alot of time on that ship visiting my dad. It was cool. Chief Petty officer Charles Thornton
The Kitty was built in Camden right across the river.
Kitty Hawk home to me '73 -'75 , Radioman, Faccon.
I have worked at that yard, but now it's owned by a Norwegian company. It is huge place tho, even had it's own airport inside the yard back in the days
That shipyard pilot is the king of cool.
I caught a connection flight in PHI and flew over Kitty Hawk while she was in SLEP.
Best E Ticket ride I ever had.
I was there in Philly that day on the Independence I had duty that day and watched the Kitty Hawk moved into dry dock
It was built in Camden a mile away
For information the number on a carrier is the year the Keel is laid not the year it was commissioned. On average its 3 to 3.5 years to construct and sea trial's.
How did the Kitty Hawk end up in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington?
The Hawk was a West Coast carrier. She went to PNSY for SLEP, then returned to the West Coast.
US NAVY!
My dad did war on the kitty hawk #63
Rocky the Husky same my dad was on the kitty hawk
Nice
My brother in law chuck Cornish was on this kitty hawk in Philadelphia in the united states navy he will be missed by all of us
One day I was little, I got a box full of Legos, and the instructions read u.s.s kitty hawlk, only later did i find out it's the sister ship of the cv-64 u.s.s constalation, my uncle served as a Gunneres mate for a long time.
I was on the Connie CVA 64 1969 to 1972
Did you know that on the floor of the USS Kitty Hawk, is a plaque which reads, CV-64. Seen it myself !! :-)
CVA 64 (USS Constellation) served 69-72 Boiler tech.remarked sometime after I had.left,Both carriers. Became CV.
Tim Waygar -I served on Constellation CV-64 from 84-88. Ships lore was that the sister ships were being built simultaneously, one at the Brooklyn Navy Yard (CVA-63) and the other at the Philly Naval Yard (CVA-64). The Shitty Kitty was way ahead of Connie in construction..in fact she was largely completed up to the flight deck while Connie was still laying out her lower deck.
A forklift operator knocked over some equipment on Kitty Hawk breaking off a diesel fuel fitting spilling thousands of gallons of fuel into the ship. A welder in the lower decks probably started the fire. A huge fire consumed much of the interior of the ship killing fifty shipyard workers. Ultimately the ship was saved but required significant rebuilding delaying her delivery.
As a result her sister Constellation in Philadelphia was re-named Kitty Hawk and completed first. Those plaques were left to memorialize the tragic history. A similar plaque can be seen on Connie labeled “USS Kitty Hawk”.
I’ve read elsewhere that this is just another Navy tale but the fire did occur and our plank-owners swear it’s the truth!
THANKS YOU FOR THE VIDEO !!
Nice I was there 12 years later.
I watched her go out, at linwood
Grammar school.
I fotoed tge KH heading out for tge last time, out past the Sydney Heads a few years back...
'84-'87 Ships company A.I.M.D. '87 World Cruise from San Diego to Philadelphia
IM-3...85-88 Palma was every bit as great as Subic but more expensive.
Did the 85 WESPAC on her. Was in VF-211 TAD TO AMID/IM3?TARPS. She was a good ship.
I was a Pier 6 commando with for a while. Never was on her during dry dock.
I was station on USS MIDWAY CVA-41 1974 To early 1975 in Yokosuka Japan. (Remember Club Tom Po Po's). I believe The Kitty Hawk came to Yokosuka for a West Pack Cruise in 1974. When Vietnam fell in April 1975. The whole 7th Fleet came to Subic Bay Philippines for the Evacuation and The Enterprize, Midway, Constellation, Kitty Hawk, Coral Sea and I believe more Carriers were there to. Mark V. Gutierrez. All Purpose All Feeling All United States Navy 1973 USS MIDWAY CVA-41 R-Division Pipe Shop, No GOREAHHEA today.😀😀😀☕☕☕😀😀😀.
US should put in dry dock and give a good refurbishing so it can come out as brand new. Dont waste such beautiful ship. It can still serve.
They'll scrap her like the did the 4 other Super Carriers before her (Forrestal, Saratoga, Ranger and Independence) as it costs more to refurbish then to build a newer modern carrier. Quite a shame really, since USS Forrestal was the first Super Carrier built with the jet aircraft in mind, and veterans wanted her as a museum piece, as did the citizens of Pensacola Florida where they trained Naval Aviators. The carrier was sold for a measly penny!
@@jeffburnham6611 Ditto for Saratoga. Mayport wanted her, but the Navy kept increasing the price tag.
Boa tarde to passando pra da uma força no seu canal 💯💯💯
A 'Plank Owner' on the "shitty Kitty", commissioned 19 April,1961. Spent a memorable 18th Birthday with a Brazilian Family in Rio de Janeiro. The 'Bird Farm' laid off, at anchor ⚓ in the Harbor. After 7eral Days got underway for Drakes Passage and the Pacific. Mail awaited in Valparaiso- or Callao? Letter frm F.B.I. ordering me to:"Sign-up for the Draft" or they'd hunt me down and arrest me. I was the Captain's Orderly at the time.😌Wish I kept that letter.
CWO, U.S.M.C.ret'd.
Was in vf-114 from 68’-72’ and deployed on th Hawk for two 9 month tours. Inside flight control I believe where they spotted planes on deck was a brass plaque which was inscribed “The Hawk is my ship and she turns me on” I remember thinking that’s pretty neat.
I was in VF 213 and came aboard the “Hawk” for 2 tours of Vietnam. She was a fine lady and I have so many memories. Fly Navy. 1968-1971
@@joeestano9661 I was VF 114 ordnance 68-71. Lots of fellow ordies in 213.
BTW, VonduMozze is just my handle.
17:36 what’s the other ship at the dry dock. Looks like an amphibious assault ship
Tarawa class?
My dad was on the kitty hawk
My ship for Westpac 81. Good times. HS-4 squadron. (PR-2)
Me too!
Anybody know Billy D?
May God bless in reupgrading the Kitty Hawk, Enterprise, etc,etc....
dad dave gaddis was on this retired 1970 at E6
I was on the Shitty Kitty during her stay in Puget Sound drydock Seattle Tacoma ?? Long time ago wat a miserable stay as far as weather and all tne trouble i got into,,lol etc.. I rember submarines near bye aswell, And i also rememeber a laundry mat with pool tables must have around 1979 plus cause a had 1979 Triumph Bonneville,,,.i have plenty of wild stories..lol
Hey Pete, I was on 76 to 78 and went aboard when in dry dock. Ended up going on a westpac though. How bout Subic Bay huh? Worth everything! Lol
I'll get back to you in a little bit
Served 85 cruise, Airwing 9.
back in 2003 the Indian Navy should have acquired the USS Kitty Hawk prior to it's decommissioning when it was offered to India by the US Navy!!!
One of my brother in laws was on her during Nam... AOSN Brad Irvin...
Philly Pride ✊🏼
Kitty Hawk is Camden Pride. Not Philly pride.
3:31 that's actually federal law. it's in the U.S. Code.
Kitty Hawk arrived Philadelphia Naval Shipyard July 1987 and departed July 1991.
SLEP ORDER
Saratoga
FID
Independence
Kitty Hawk
Constellation
JFK only got a ROH
America and the Ranger got nothing.
FID was getting a 14 month ROH at Philadelphia in Sept 92- November 93.
She received decommissioning orders in February 1993. The Navy then began decommissioning her. FID decommissioned 11 Sep 93.
16:59
"Easy big boy, easy"
"Easy on the big boy"
Yes. Cool tug name. The rest were all named after rivers or women. Big Boy named after a burger chain!
30 knots?
:)
I remember the boat used to vibrate when it got up to speed because of that big ding on the front end when it ran into the sub lol
Kitty Hawk should be put back to service..put in Nuclear reactors, 2, what the hack......old are gold....
Wanna give a shout out to Fred Butterfield, class act
Never anything on the USS Constellation CVA-64. Oh well, guess it was never important.
Tomas Jay The Connie! Helped dock her in Philly.
Just plain 'Connie' for her.
Served on Connie 84-88....2 battle E’s, designated “America’s Flagship” by President Reagan when he visited, incredible Vietnam war service deployment history, VF-96 Aces Cunningham & Driscoll and lots of other notable Aviators flew from Connie, first carrier to enter Persian Gulf, first carrier to perform “extendex” (I was part of this), first carrier to deploy the F/A-18 Hornet, first carrier to conduct flight operations at anchor (flanchor- Diego Garcia lagoon).....she was one of the Navy’s best carriers back then.
Connie came out of N.Y.Shipbuilding B'kl'n New York. She had fire on board and 2 other Mishaps while being built which, delayed her completion and Commissioning.
The "63" designation was transferred to Kitty HAWK down in P.P.N.S.Y. while Constellation picked up CVA-"64" and was commissioned late out of Bkln Navy Yard.
Scuttlebutt had it that she was: a "Jinx" ship.
@@patrickmahoney4090 None of that is true. Connie was laid down, built and completed as CV-64 in brooklyn. Kitty Hawk was laid down, built and completed as CV-63 in Camden. Yes, 64 had a fire during construction (in Brooklyn) . That is one of the oldest wives tales out there that just wont go away. Not a bit of truth to it.
8:24 that's almost 209 megawatts!!!
was caped 2 1stvclass in 1980 s8 division lpo. ha fast eddi ski pardy says hi mate.
PNSY closed
So stupid to build new one, refurbuish it...upgrade...?