Aircraft Carriers: Midway Class

[Brian James]

USS Kitty Hawk pictured as she departs Fleet Activities Yokosuka to begin carrier qualifications in the western Pacific Ocean on May 15th 2007.

[Brian James]

USS Midway pictured in San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard drydock on December 13th 1968...On February 11th 1966 she entered the Dockyard for a massive modernization (SCB-101.66), which proved expensive and controversial. The flight deck was enlarged from 2.8 to 4 acres (122,000 to 174,000 sq ft)), and the angle of the flight deck landing area was increased to 13.5 degrees. The elevators were enlarged, moved, and given almost double the weight capacity. Midway also received new steam catapults, arresting gear, and a centralized air conditioning plant. Cost overruns raised the price of this program from $88 million to US$202 million, and precluded a similar modernization planned for Franklin D. Roosevelt. After Midway was finally recommissioned on January 31st 1970, it was found that the modifications had worsened the ship's seakeeping capabilities and ability to conduct air operations in rough seas, which made further modifications necessary to correct the problem.

[Brian James]

Cimarron Class Fleet Replenishment Oiler USS Manatee pictured conducting a RAS with USS Midway and Gearing Class Destroyer USS George K Mackenzie, off Okinawa c1960.

[Brian James]

North American FJ3 Fury flight ops...USS Coral Sea..February 15th 1955..https://digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/coll ... 511/rec/10

[Brian James]

USS Franklin D Roosevelt flight ops 1964..no audio....https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVA ... /query/uss

[Brian James]

USS Midway pictured on sea trials, post her Hunters Point Naval Shipyard modernisation refit in March 1970.

[Brian James]

USS Kitty Hawk pictured at Pearl Harbor on July 1st 2008.

[Brian James]

USS Midway....1988.

[Brian James]

Douglas AD-6 Skyraider of Attack Squadron (VA) 152 pictured before trapping on board USS Coral Sea operating in the Western Pacific on May 4th, 1961.

[Brian James]

USS Midway pictured on arrival at Long Beach Naval Shipyard on February 8th 1958.