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

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

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.

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

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: Photo taken on the christening platform. Caroline strikes the ship with the champagne bottle.

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.)

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

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

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.)

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.

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.

Aerial view, circa 1970-1973.

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

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.)

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

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.

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).

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 Center (# DN-SN-87-07322).

As above.

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

As above.

Photo available from the Defense Visual Information Center (# 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.

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.

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.

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 (DVIC id: DN-SC-87-05102).

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).

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 DefenseImagery.mil as # DN-SC-86-02405.

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 DefenseImagery.mil (# 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).