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Part 2 cont'd
Some pictures can be viewed full screen by clicking on them and
display best on a 24 bit screen
• Hornet
• On the Viewing Deck
• 705
• Docking
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Back on the main deck an F-18 aviator gave us a clue about what they do and we were able
to clamber up on one to get a good look.
We were coming into Fremantle as we made our way up to the viewing deck above
the Bridge. The crew was "manning the rails" as 80,000 tons of ship glided into her berth.
Down again, we made our way to the Captain's in-port cabin, where we received
a Kitty Hawk cap and souvenir photos and, with our farewells and grateful thanks
we made our way back to the shore.
It wasn't quite the end, the next day I came back with my ex and daughter
and thousands of the locals to get another look. That night we were invited
to a reception on the main deck, the highlight was the ship's marine detachment
slowly descending on a deck elevator to the marine hymn and doing one of their
drills (hoo-rah!).
But it was finally time to take our leave of the ship and head for home.
It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life - I wouldn't have
missed it for the world.
My thanks go to Gary Sheehan the CO of the Association of Naval Aviation
55 squadron, Perth and the rest of the guys who had to put up with me, and especially
Rear-Admiral Peter A. C. Long, Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Five,
Captain Steven Tomaszeski, Commanding Officer and the crew of the mighty USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63).
pictures and text copyright David McCandless 1997
This is an ongoing project, if you have any opinions or ways I can improve
it, please conntact me: David McCandless
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