CV67 USS John F. Kennedy
(Click on image of the Kennedy to see my pictures)
USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) is named for the 35th President of the United States. The ship’s keel was laid October 22, 1964, at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Virginia. President Kennedy’s 9-year-old daughter, Caroline, christened the ship May 27, 1967 in ceremonies held at Newport News. The ship subsequently entered naval service Sept. 7, 1968.
Kennedy was originally designated as CVA 67, attack aircraft carrier. In the early 1970s, the classification was changed to CV 67, indicating the ship was capable of supporting antisubmarine warfare aircraft, making it an all-purpose, multi-mission aircraft carrier.
Kennedy's maiden voyage was to the Mediterranean in response to a deteriorating situation in the Middle East. Subsequently, she made another seven deployments to this area of the world during the '70s. By the mid-'70s, Kennedy was upgraded to handle the F-14 Tomcat and the S-3 Viking. Kennedy underwent her first, yearlong, major overhaul ending in 1979. The ship’s ninth deployment, in 1981, marked her first trip to the Indian Ocean. Kennedy transited the Suez Canal, hosted the first visit aboard a United States ship by a Somali head of state, and achieved its 150,000th arrested landing.
In 1982, Kennedy won an eighth Battle Efficiency award and fourth Golden Anchor retention award. In 1983, as a result of growing crisis in Beirut, Lebanon, Kennedy was called upon to support what would define the ship’s operations into the next year. Awards received during that period included a ninth Battle “E,” the Silver Anchor Award for Retention, the Rear Adm. Flatley Award for Safety and the Battenburg Cup for being the overall best ship in the Atlantic Fleet.
Kennedy spent the winter of 1984 in drydock for a complex overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. In 1985, the ship received a fifth Golden Anchor Retention Award and several departmental efficiency awards. While in the shipyard, the ship received the inaugural Department of Defense Phoenix Award, signifying a level of maintenance excellence above Department of Defense components worldwide. In July 1986, Kennedy served as the centerpiece for a vast international naval armada during the International Naval Review in honor of the 100th Anniversary and Rededication of the Statue of Liberty. Kennedy departed for the Mediterranean Aug. 1986 and returned March 1987.
Kennedy departed Norfolk, Va. for her 12th major deployment to the Mediterranean in August 1988. On Jan. 4, 1989, embarked F-14 Tomcats shot down two Libyan MIG-23s that were approaching the battle group in a hostile manner.
Following a variety of exercises in early 1990, Kennedy paid visits to New York for Fleet Week and Boston July 4. In August, with just four days notice, Kennedy deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield.
Kennedy entered the Red Sea in September 1990 and became the flagship of the Commander, Red Sea Battle Force. On Jan. 16, 1991, aircraft from the ship’s Carrier Air Wing Three began Operation Desert Storm with attacks on Iraqi forces. The ship launched 114 strikes and 2,895 sorties, with aircrews of CVW-3 flying 11,263 combat hours and delivering more than 3.5 million pounds of ordnance in the conflict.
After the cease fire, Kennedy transited the Suez Canal for the fourth time in seven months and began its journey home. Kennedy arrived in its homeport of Norfolk on March 28, 1991, to the greatest homecoming celebration since World War II.
Kennedy then entered a four-month restricted availability period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The ship departed the shipyard in September with extensive repairs and maintenance to engineering systems, flight deck systems and equipment. The ship was readied to handle F/A-18 Hornet aircraft to replace A-7E Corsair IIs that had flown on their last deployment from the deck of Kennedy.
The 1992-93 deployment, from Oct. 7, 1992, until April 7, 1993, marked Kennedy’s 14th to the Mediterranean area. The tone of the deployment was set by turmoil in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. The ship conducted multiple exercises with the armed forces of Mediterranean littoral nations, hosted a great number of visitors in port and at sea, and spent substantial operating time in the Adriatic Sea. On Dec. 8, 1992, Kennedy passed a milestone by achieving its 250,000th aircraft trap.
Upon her return from cruise, JFK celebrated her Silver Anniversary, then moved north for a two-year, comprehensive overhaul in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. The overhaul was completed Sept. 13, 1995, whereupon Kennedy moved to its new homeport at Mayport Naval Station, Florida.
Kennedy departed Mayport April 1997 for its 15th deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and returned to Mayport October 1997. After a brief maintenance period, Kennedy participated in Fleet Week ’98 in New York City.
During 1999, continuing at-sea periods prepared Kennedy for its 16th deployment to the Mediterranean Sea/Arabian Gulf. After a heroic rescue of the crew from the foundered tug Gulf Majesty, during Hurricane Floyd in mid-September, Kennedy carried the banner of freedom to our friends and allies overseas, making history, once again. The ship made the first carrier port call to Jordan, and hosted the King of Jordan, allowing him to experience life at sea. JFK then participated in Operation Southern Watch, flying combat missions while enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq. The JFK/CVW-1 team set new records in bombing accuracy while employing the most lethal combination of precision weaponry ever put to sea, amassing 10,302 arrested landings along the way.
On Jan. 1st, JFK became the “Carrier of the New Millennium” by being the only carrier underway as the year 2000 arrived. Her triumphant return to Mayport on March 19, 2000, marked the completion of yet another successful forward-deployment as one of our nation’s most visible guarantors of support for our allies and freedom of the seas.
After a few weeks in port, Kennedy returned to the sea and headed for New York where ‘Big John’ participated in the 2000 International Naval Review over the July 4 holiday. After Independence Day, JFK went to Boston for Sail Boston 2000.
Upon returning to Mayport, Kennedy underwent a brief, but extensive availability period, installing components of the most recent technology. As a test bed for Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), “Big John” is flagship to the most technologically-advanced battle group in history. CEC enables battle group ships and aircraft to share sensor data and provide a single, integrated picture to all. With CEC, Kennedy can see and respond, with fire-control accuracy, to air contacts further from the ship than was previously possible. Secretary of the Navy, Gordon England, recognized Kennedy Battle Group members for their participation in the test and evaluation of CEC January 2002 with a Meritorious Unit Citation.
Kennedy's 17th deployment was accelerated by three weeks in response to terrorist attacks on America; Kennedy deployed Feb. 7, 2002 to the North Arabian Sea in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During Kennedy’s four months in the North Arabian Sea, their air wing, CVW 7, dropped more than 64,000 pounds of ordnance on Taliban and al Qaeda targets. Kennedy’s air wing flew day- and night-missions over Afghanistan, supporting American and coalition Forces on the ground with close air support. In early April, Kennedy became the only aircraft carrier operating in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Big John returned in mid-August, after more than six months away from homeport. The ship continues to support, serving as the east coast platform for carrier qualifications and will begin an extensive maintenance period in 2003.
