Through the past, sometimes with tears.

Here are the three that I made long trips on. These cover the years from 1974 to 1987, that is three sea tours for my rating, which at the time was 36 months. The first tour on Independence was as a member of The Ship’s Company. Ranger and Kitty Hawk were as part of the embarked Air Wing. The shot of Ranger was taken shortly after I had detached from VA-145 with orders to shore duty as an instructor in the A6 Fleet Replacement Squadron at Whidbey Island, Washington. The cruise before that was the Jimmy Carter Hostage Crisis Cruise of 10 September 1980 to 5 May 1981.

The last shot is of the Inactive Ship Facility at Bremerton, WA. Otherwise known as Bummertown. It shows John C. Stennis, Ranger, Connie and Independence. Stennis was there for maintenance and upkeep. The other three are awaiting their respective fates. Ranger is going to be a museum. I don’t know about Connie and Independence is due to be broken up or sunk as a target. It was originally planned to have Indy sunk as a reef but for whatever reason that is not going to happen.

There is part of it. I will start finding some shots of the squadrons and airplanes that were part of that career and get them up here.

Enjoy. I did for the most part. Could be why, at times I do miss it so very much.