CV-67 was named after John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917–1963), 35th President of the United States of America (1961–1963).

For many observers, Kennedy's presidency represented the ascendance of youthful idealism in the aftermath of World War II. JFK was the youngest person elected US President, and the youngest to die in office.

NS027900: Portrait photo of President John F. Kennedy at his desk in the Oval Office, White House, Washington, D.C. This is the first White House photograph made of the President at his desk. Photo by Abbie Rowe.

(Read about LT John F. Kennedy, USNR, at the Naval History & Heritage Command website.)

LT(JG) John F. Kennedy, 1942. Photograph by Frank Turgeon, Jr.

Courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Library & Museum, accession number PP81.

LT(JG) John F. Kennedy aboard the PT-109 in Tulagi, Solomon Islands, 1 June 1943. Photograph in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston.

(Read about LT John F. Kennedy, USNR, WW2 service at the Naval History & Heritage Command website.)

Artist's rendition of the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67).

George F. Bowden worked as an Engineer in the Hull Design department and contributed to submarine and aircraft carrier new construction and overhaul.

©Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding photo, CV67 Kennedy B&W Archive Photos, document title 67-443-15, # DCS17-275-31.

The future USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) towers above Shipway #11 in November 1965.

©Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding photo, CV67 Kennedy B&W Archive Photos, document title 65-1091-1, # 3-DCS17-275-25.

A press photo of the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) as she was prepared for her christening. The photo is dated 11 May 1967, which was a little more than two weeks before the 27th May event.

"NEWPORT NEWS, MAY 16[, 1967]—DIGNITARIES WILL HELP HONOR CARRIER: The USS John F. Kennedy, mighty aircraft carrier now being completed at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., will be christened and launched here May 27, with President Johnson, Mrs. John F. Kennedy, and Caroline Kennedy on hand.(AP Wirephoto)."

President Lyndon B. Johnson chats with John F. Kennedy, Jr., Jacqueline Kennedy, and Caroline Kennedy prior to the christening.

©Huntington Ingalls Industries, Newport News Shipbuilding photo, CV67 Kennedy B&W Archive Photos, document title "67-515-2 Launching," # 18-DCS17-275-3.

Ship's sponsor, 9-year old Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, daughter of the late President, and ship's namesake, John F. Kennedy. Saturday, May 27, 1967.

NS026778a: Photo taken on the christening platform. Caroline prepares to christen the ship.

NS026778b: "In May 1967, a young Caroline Kennedy christened the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) with her mother Jackie Kennedy and brother John Kennedy Jr. at her side. The aircraft carrier was named for her father John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, who was assassinated on November 22, 1963."

NS026778f: Caroline Kennedy christens the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67). In the background, from left to right: President Lyndon B. Johnson; John F. Kennedy, Jr.; Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy; and Mr. D. A. Holden, President of Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. World Wide Photos.

NS026778e: Caroline Kennedy (sponsor); John F. Kennedy, Jr.; Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy; and President Lyndon B. Johnson. Newport News Shipbuilding photo.

(See also NS-cv67-comprg-cov.)

Preparations for the ceremony.

The crowd, estimated at 30,000.

Newport News Shipbuilding, Huntington Ingalls Industries photo, # DCS13-761-21.

The ship, as she was being backed out of the dry dock after her christening.

Jacqueline Kennedy and her daughter Caroline Kennedy watch the carrier John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) as she backs away from the christening platform. Note Newport News Shipbuilding President Donald A. Holden pointing out details to Caroline, who has just christened the vessel.

Newport News Shipbuilding Photograph, Hampton Roads Naval Museum Collection.

The aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) backs away from the christening platform at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia, on 27 May 1967, as thousands of guests and dignitaries such as President Lyndon B. Johnson, Senators Robert. F. ("Bobby") and Edward M. ("Ted") Kennedy, as well as Virginia Governor Mills E. Godwin, look on.

Newport News Shipbuilding Photograph, Hampton Roads Naval Museum Collection.

John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) was launched on May 27, 1967.

John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) shortly after launching, May 27, 1967.

"ANOTHER STEP FORWARD—'The USS John F. Kennedy will allow the Navy to utilize its advanced aircraft to maximum advantage in carrying out responsibilities in support of the nation's foreign policy.'—VAdm. Charles T. Booth II, Commander Naval Air Force, Atlantic"

Naval Aviation News, May 1968 issue.

A press photo of the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) at her outfitting pier at Newport News Shipbuilding. It was taken in July 1968, the week before her initial sea trials.

Photo taken at the Commissioning Ceremony for the USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67), September 7, 1968, at Newport News Shipbuilding Company. (From United Press International (UPI), #NN-090708, from their New York Bureau.)

The picture shows the Commanding Officer, CAPT Earl Yates, USN saluting smartly, while members of the Kennedy family look on. From left to right: John, Jr.; Jacqueline; and Caroline.

(See also NS026779.)

"NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Sept. 7[, 1968]—SPEAKING OF HIS BROTHER—Sen. Edward Kennedy speaks to some 10,000 persons on hand for the commissioning of the Aircraft Carrier USS John F. Kennedy today. At left is the family of the late President Kennedy and Capt. Earl Yates. From left: John F. Kennedy Jr., Mrs. John F. Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy and Capt. Yates. (AP WIREPHOTO)(pa71720stf-pa)"

Commissioning of USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67). Saturday, 7 September 1968.

Here is a picture of the first landing of any kind of aircraft on the JFK. It was taken just prior to her shakedown cruise.

This very same helicopter, a Kaman UH-2A Seasprite of Squadron HC-2, BuNo 149015, performed the carrier's second and third rescues, on February 20 and June 14, 1969. Aviation Electrician's Mate 1st Class (AE1) Donald L. Lewis was part of the rescue crew in both cases. (AE1 Lewis was also involved in the first rescue operation, on February 19, 1969 aboard UH-2A Seasprite BuNo 149748.)

Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, November–December 1968. Seen from USS John W. Weeks (DD-701).

USS John F. Kennedy being pushed into position by the large harbor tugs (foreground to background) Wapakoneta (YTB-766), Marinette (YTB-791) and Dahlonega (YTB-770). This photo was taken at Newport News, VA (note coal piers in the background), possibly in December 1968, when JFK returned to her builder's yards for post-shakedown availability.

Flight deck activity, USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, circa 1969. Identifiable aircraft are as follows: F-4B Phantom IIs from VF-14 "Tophatters" and VF-32 "Swordsmen;" A-4C Skyhawks from VA-81 "Sunliners," VA-83 "Rampagers" and VA-95 "Green Lizards;" RA-5C Vigilantes from RVAH-14 "Eagles;" KA-3B/EKA-3B Skywarriors from VAH-10 "Vikings;" an E-1B Tracer from VAW-121 "Griffins;" and an UH-2C Seasprite from HC-2 "Fleet Angels."

Format: Audio Video Interleave (.AVI)  Duration: 3' 33"  Size: 720 x 480

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) comes under surveillance by Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 Bears maritime reconnaissance aircraft, 1969. F-4B Phantom IIs from VF-14 "Tophatters" and VF-32 "Swordsmen" escort the Soviet snoopers.

Boeing Vertol UH-46D Sea Knight from HC-4 "Black Stallions" conducts a VERTREP.

A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 149502 provides the backdrop for a group shot of VA-81 "Sunliners" officers.

Format: Audio Video Interleave (.AVI)  Duration: 3' 2"  Size: 720 x 480

A photo of USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) taken from a Tupolev TU-95RTs (Bear D) flown by Major Pilot Ivan Fyodorovich Gladkov, former Commander of the 392nd ODRAP (Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Regiment) of the Soviet Naval Aviation, based at the Fedotovo Garrison, Kipelovo, Vologda, USSR. The photo was taken during a flyby over JFK on 20 April 1969, when she was about one day sail away from Rota, Spain.

This picture may have been taken on the same occasion as the film above.

Major Pilot Ivan Fyodorovich Gladkov, Commander of the 392nd ODRAP (Independent Long-Range Reconnaissance Regiment) of the Soviet Naval Aviation, based at the Fedotovo Garrison, Kipelovo, Vologda, USSR. Major Gladkov was the pilot of a Bear D that flew over USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) on 20 April 1969. Major Gladkov perished in an accident in September 1971, when his TU-95 fell some 5 kms from the landing strip and crashed due to bad weather, when landing at Kipelovo.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) at anchor off Genoa, Italy, 27 May 1969.

Gulf of Naples, June 1969.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) anchored off Corfu, Greece, on 6 July 1969, with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, tail code AB, arrayed on deck: A-4C Skyhawks of Attack Squadrons VA-81 "Sunliners," VA-83 "Rampagers," and VA-95 "Green Lizards;" RA-5C Vigilantes from Reconnaissance Attack Squadron RVAH-14 "Eagles;" E-1B Tracers of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron VAW-121 Detachment 67 "Griffins;" F-4B Phantom IIs of Fighter Squadrons VF-14 "Tophatters" and VF-32 "Swordsmen;" and KA-3B Skywarriors from Heavy Attack Squadron VAH-10, Detachment 67 "Vikings." USN Photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class G.G. Cottrill.

Pawcatuck (AO-108) refueling John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) and Dewey (DLG-14), 13 July 1969, Mediterranean Sea. This was Big John's maiden deployment. US Navy photo (CVA 67-2124-7-69 13 July 1969) by PH2 Weaver.

As above.

As above.

As above.

Aerial overhead view of USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67), almost certainly taken in 1969. The crew on the flight deck is spelling out: "1949 NATO 1969". April 1969 marked NATO's 20th anniversary, and JFK made her maiden deployment to the Mediterranean, April 5 – December 21, 1969.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) underway in the 1970s.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) at sea with other ships of her group, circa 1970.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) underway with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1), 1970–1971. Official US Navy photograph.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1), 1970–1971. Official US Navy photograph.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1), 1970–1971. Official US Navy photograph.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67), with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1), refueling USS Barney (DDG-6), 1970–1972.

Aerial view, circa 1970-1973.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) underway, circa 1970-1973. From the NAVSEA Journal.

The difference in their size illustrated strikingly, USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) refuels the Dutch anti-submarine destroyer Hr. Ms. Gelderland (D811), her forward guns trained skyward, in the North Atlantic, 21 February 1971. USN photograph by Photographer's Mate 1st Class W. H. Hosier.

Big John, with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, was nearing the end of her second Mediterranean deployment, 14 September 1970–1 March 1971.

"For those of us who have been there and done that, it still is a surreal scene. The steam of the cat and the busy, dangerous activity around this moment say it all... only in the navy do you see a takeoff like this. This photo, via J.J. McKenna, is a F-8H, BuNo 148684."

This is a VF-202 "Superheats" Crusader, USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67), August 1971.

Official US Navy Photograph #CVA-67-A5305-11-72 of USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67,) underway with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1.) Photographed by the CVA-67 Photo Lab. Photo is dated November 1972 — that month, the ship conducted a fast cruise, then shifted to Portsmouth to begin eight weeks of restricted availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) in company with USS Saratoga (CVA-60), right, and USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42), center background, at NavSta Mayport, 20 February 1973. U.S. Navy photo by PH1 Deverman.

"Emerging from her overhaul on 5 January 1973, John F. Kennedy, earmarked to deploy to Southeast Asia, worked-up in the Virginia capes operating areas, but during her 8–17 February in-port period received word that, in the wake of the Paris peace accords, she would deploy to the Med in April instead of the western Pacific in March. The carrier then began her ORI with flight operations off the Virginia capes and down off the Florida coast, including operations against the Pinecastle, Florida, target range. On the first launch of the day on [18] February, a division of Intruders from VA-46 sank its quarry, ex-Meade (DD-602). Soon thereafter, the ship visited Mayport, Florida (20 February) before returning to Norfolk on 22 February." (Quoted from DANFS, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.)

Ling-Temco-Vought A-7B Corsair II, VA-46 "Clansmen," modex AB305, BuNo 154481, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1.

Ling-Temco-Vought A-7B Corsair II, VA-46 "Clansmen," CVW-1, recovers aboard JFK.

Sikorsky SH-3G Sea King, HC-2 Det. 67 "Fleet Angels," in flight. McDonnell F-4B Phantom II, VF-32 "Swordsmen," modex AB200, BuNo 151510, partially visible on the flight deck.

Highline transfer between JFK and a Leahy-class guided-missile frigate (later guided-missile cruiser).

Launching planes. The aircraft on the catapult and the two to its right are Grumman Intruders from VA-34 "Blue Blasters." The one closest to camera is a KA-6D variant, modex AB531, BuNo 152611.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67), with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, 30 May 1973. Several F-4B Phantom IIs from VF-14 "Tophatters" and the radar "dish" of an E‑2B Hawkeye from VAW-125 "Torchbearers" can be seen parked aft on the flight deck. Note 8-cell Mk.25 BPDMS launcher (starboard quarter) and twin chaff launchers (extreme stern, to port, and by the island, protruding to starboard).

Photo by Marius Bar, Toulon, France.

Gulf of Naples, mid-1970s, with CVW-1 aboard.

The last operational Grumman TF-9J Cougar trainers of Training Squadron (VT) 4 making their final launches from the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) in February 1974. U.S. Navy photo by PH3 M. Rizza, USN. U.S. Navy publication Pistons to Jets, Volume 2 of a 75th Year of Naval Aviation commemorative collection. Chapter II: "Tactical Jet Missions."

A LTV A-7B Corsair II (Buno 154502, modex AB311), Attack Squadron (VA) 46 "Clansmen," Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, preparing for a "cat-shot" from the deck of USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), circa 1975. This aircraft carries practice missiles on its fuselage pylons and long-range tanks on the outer wing pylons.

US Navy photo.

A Grumman F-14A Tomcat [probably BuNo 159011] from Fighter Squadron VF-14 "Tophatters" in flight in 1975. VF-14 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea from 28 June 1975 to 27 January 1976. This was the first deployment of the F-14 Tomcat in the Atlantic (and Mediterranean Sea).

Scan from Robert L. Lawson (ed.): The History of US Naval Air Power, The Military Press, New York (USA), 1985. ISBN 0-517-414813, p. 214. US Navy cited as source.

USS Truckee (AO-147) refueling the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) and frigate USS Thomas C. Hart (FF-1092), 14 August 1975. John F. Kennedy, with embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, was deployed to the Mediterranean from 28 June 1975 to 27 January 1976.

USN Photo from National Naval Aviation Museum, Robert L. Lawson Photo Collection, #1996.488.128.017.

A Grumman F-14A Tomcat (BuNo 159024, modex AB106) from VF-14 "Tophatters" prepares to launch from USS John F. Kennedy's number two catapult, 28 August 1975, during the ship's fifth Mediterranean deployment. The large sign on the forward end of the island: "BEWARE OF JET BLAST, PROPELLERS AND ROTORS" reminds readers of dangers inherent on the flight deck, and the ceaseless vigilance required during flight operations. USN Photo K-110369, Photographer's Mate 3d Class T. Beitz.

Tuesday, 30 September 1975, Kithira Strait, Eastern Mediterranean. USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, and other American warships at anchor after Deep Express, a major NATO exercise that occurred in the Aegean Sea and on Turkish soil (22–27 September).

Photos taken from the Soviet Project 61 (Kashin)-class DDG Krasnyi Krym (Red Crimea).

NS0267aob: JFK with USS Spartanburg County (LST-1192) and an unidentified Gearing-class destroyer.

NS0267aoc: Big John in the background, USS Shreveport (LPD-12) in the foreground.

Aerial view of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) as she prepares to launch two F-14A Tomcats during operations in the Ionian Sea, October 22, 1975.

A view of damage sustained by the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) when she collided with the guided missile cruiser USS Belknap (CG-26) during night operations on Nov. 22, 1975. US Navy photo, author unknown, taken on 23 November in the Ionian Sea.

Photo available from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (# DN-SN-87-07322).

As above.

Photo available from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (# DN-SN-87-07323).

As above.

Photo available from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (# DN-SN-87-07325).

Damage to USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) was severe, but far less than that received by USS Belknap (CG-26). This view shows damage to the port side overhang where the cruiser struck the carrier. National Archives photo.

E-2C Hawkeye (BuNo 159108) of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125 "Torchbearers" of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 has just made an arrested landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) with engines at full power for a bolter. Circa 1975–77. USN photo.

Ling-Temco-Vought A-7B Corsair IIs, Grumman A-6E and KA-6D Intruders, a Grumman EA-6B Prowler, Grumman F-14A Tomcats and Sikorsky SH-3D Sea Kings, part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), circa 1976–77. USN photo.

Marinette (YTB-791) underway at Naval Station Mayport, FL., circa March 1978. In the background moored at the pier at left USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), at right USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69).

A flight of three U.S. Navy Vought A-7E Corsair IIs, two Royal Navy McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.Mk Is and a Royal Navy Blackburn Buccaneer S.Mk. 2 in 1976. The Corsairs were from Attack Squadron (VA) 46 "Clansmen", Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). The Phantoms were from No. 892 Naval Air Squadron, and the Buccaneer from No. 809 Naval Air Squadron, of HMS Ark Royal (R09)'s air group.

Naval Aviation News, July 1976 issue, p.22.

A-6E Intruder, BuNo 158047 (modex AB-503), Attack Squadron (VA) 34 "Blue Blasters," Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), Spithead, England, 24 October 1976.

Photo by Martin Pettit.

USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) moored to pier 12, Naval Station Norfolk, VA, on a very quiet Sunday in April, 1978.

Bow view of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) underway with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1), sometime in 1976–1979.

Another bow view of USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), very similar to the one above, but taken in 1978–1980, when CAPT Myers was commanding officer. Air Wing was still CVW-1.

Aerial view of the Norfolk Naval Station, probably taken sometime in the 1980s. USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) is in the upper left quarter of the photo. Other identifiable ships are: USS Guam (LPH-9), USS Saipan (LHA-2), USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2), USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7), USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), and USS Shenandoah (AD-44).

Undated (possibly 1980–81) image of a Grumman F-14A Tomcat on the "cat" of USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) with its leading edge slats fully deployed for maximum lift during launch. The misisle on the wing pylon is an AIM-9L Sidewinder for closer work than the Phoenix. A LTV A-7E Corsair II of VA-72 waits its turn in the background. USN photo.

Undated (possibly 1980–81) picture of a Grumman F-14A Tomcat (BuNo 160919), of Fighter Squadron (VF) 32 "Swordsmen" from the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). Note six Hughes AIM-54 Phoenix AAMs. US Navy photo.

An aerial port beam view of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), foreground, and the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) at anchor in the Mediterranean. US Navy photo by PH1 Cline, dated January 24, 1982 (see NS026995).

DVIC id: DN-SC-87-05102.

An aerial starboard quarter view of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), right, with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, and USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), with CVW‑3, at anchor somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo is dated 24 January 1982; on that date both carriers were participating in National Week XXXI. (See NS026764.)

DOD Imagery, photo # DN-SC-87-05101, by PH1 Cline.

A view of the air launch missile room aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). Indian Ocean, April 1, 1982. US Navy photo by PH2 Kent S. Egenberger (DVIC id: DN-ST-82-05410).

Stern view of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) underway in the Mediterranean Sea, 27 June 1982. US Navy photo by Stukenberg (DVIC id: DNST8208866).

USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, at anchor in The Solent, near Portsmouth, UK, 20 June 1983.

The F-14A Tomcat spotted foremost, to port, is BuNo 159422, modex AC201, Fighter Squadron (VF) 31 "Tomcatters," nominally assigned to the squadron's commanding officer, CDR William V. Cross II. Commander Cross had been selected by the Navy as a candidate for the Space Shuttle Astronaut Program (1977). He was later CO of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), 1990–1993, and attained the rank of Rear Admiral.

Rio do Janeiro, Brazil, October 1983.

Underway in the mid-1980s, location unknown.

Underwater shock tests off the east coast of Florida, August 1984.

The first picture shows the carrier dead in the water, in preparation for the tests. The booms in the left of the photo belong to USS Charleston (LKA-113), the main support ship for the operation.

Photos NS026767a–NS026767d show the actual under water explosion of the shock test. The object in the left side of pictures NS026767a & NS026767b is the jackstaff of Charleston.

An elevated beam view of the aircraft carriers (front to back) USS America (CV-66), USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) moored at piers No. 11 and 12, Naval Station Norfolk, VA, sometime between October 18th and 26th, 1985.

America returned from Exercise Ocean Safari on 9 October, and Nassau (LHA-4), readily visible in the background, on 12 October. JFK arrived in Norfolk on 18 October, after post-overhaul trials and a visit to Fort Lauderdale, FL. Nimitz arrived from the Med on 4 October. Dwight D. Eisenhower had returned from the Caribbean on 22 August and began a COH at Newport News on 26 October.

U.S. Navy photo, available from Defense Visual Information Distribution Service as # DN-SC-86-02405.

Four Newport News-built carriers at the Norfolk Naval Base. Another view, as above.

Grumman E-2C Hawkeye (BuNo 162618?, modex AC603), Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126 "Seahawks," Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), circa 1986.

Several U.S. Navy aircraft, most of them from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) during a storm in the western Atlantic, 12 March 1986. Front to back: a Lockheed S-3A Viking from Sea Control Squadron (VS) 22 "Checkmates;" a Grumman A-6E Intruder (BuNo 159567) from the Naval Air Test Center; an A-6E from Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron (VMA(AW))-533 "Hawks;" a Grumman EA-6B Prowler from Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 140 "Patriots;" and five A-6Es from Attack Squadron (VA) 75 "Sunday Punchers" and VMA(AW)-533. Photo taken by PH1 Phil Wiggins, USN, available from Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (# DN-ST-86-06081).

"[U]ndated photo of a Grumman F-14A Tomcat as it starts its climb away from the port catapult of the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) as a U.S. Marine Corps A-6E Intruder prepares to follow. Photo US DoD."

Photo and text from Carriers: The Men and The Machines, by David Miller and Lindsay Peacock.

This photo was taken by PH2 Don Koralewski during NATO Exercise Display Determination 86 (19 September–13 October 1986), a large-scale multi-national three-part exercise extending from the eastern Mediterranean into the Aegean Sea. The F-14 is from Fighter Squadron (VF) 14 "Tophatters," the A-6 from Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron (VMA(AW))-533 "Hawks."

A bow view of aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), guided missile destroyer USS Richard E. Byrd (DDG-23) and frigate USS W. S. Sims (FF-1059) operating with Carrier Battle Group Eight off the coast of Lebanon. Although this picture is dated February 5, 1979 other photos in the same batch show Captain John Moriarty and Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) — therefore, correct date is probably February 5, 1987.

US Navy photo by PH2 Day (DVIC id: DNST8704586).

A port bow view of USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) leaving the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, 17 August 1987.

US Navy photo by PH1 Mccoy, USN, now in the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), # 330-CFD-DN-SC-88-05873.