Grumman S2F-1 Tracker Anti-Submarine Aircraft (Bureau # 136502) leaving the angled deck of USS Intrepid (CVS-11) in July 1962. Note vapor trails made by its propellers. This plane belongs to squadron VS-27.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (photo # NH 82271).

USS Intrepid (CVS-11) underway, sometime between 1962 and 1965.

Another photo of USS Intrepid (CVS-11) underway, from the same time frame, 1962–1965.

Boston, 14–19 August 1963. SH-3A Sea Kings and S-2F Trackers attached to Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group (CVSG) 56, and at least one EA-1E Tracer can be seen on deck.

This photo may have been taken around noon on Sunday, 12 September 1965. USS Intrepid (CVS-11) moved from the New York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, New York, to Naval Supply Center, Bayonne, New Jersey, to complete her FRAM (Fleet Rehabiliation and Modernization) overhaul. Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge (at the time spelled Verrazano, with a single "z") is in the distance.

USS Intrepid (CVS-11) underway in the second half of the 1960s.

"We were towing a target sled way behind the ship[, date unknown], and squadron aircraft practiced with guns and rockets—maybe bombs—and these landed so close to the fantail, it actually blew a blade off one of the screws. Back to Mayport while the Navy yard hunted up a replacement."

"Miss Pussy Galore," A-1H Skyraider BuNo 134577, of VA-165 "Boomers."

A-1 Skyraider of VA-165 "Boomers". Note plane guard destroyer in the background.

A-1 Skyraider "in the groove."

A-1H Skyraiders of VA-176 "Thunderbolts." On 9 October 1966, while flying a REScue Combat Air Patrol (RESCAP) mission, four squadron aircraft engaged four North Vietnamese MiGs. Lieutenant (jg) William T. Patton, flying AK409 (BuNo 137543), shot down one of the MiG-17s during the engagement (the second MiG-17 jet fighter shot down by propeller-driven Spads, see NS024126). For this action, LT(JG) Patton was awarded the Silver Star.

A U.S. Navy Douglas A-1J Skyraider (BuNo 142028) of Attack Squadron (VA) 176 "Thunderbolts." U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo # 1996.253.2886.

BuNo 142028 was later transferred to South Vietnam Air Force.

Bill Messer with A-4B Skyhawk BuNo 145013, of VA-15 "Valions."

Note this plane was assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 10's CAG, then CDR Tom B. Hayward, who in later years was CO of USS Graffias (AF-29), 1967–8; USS America (CVA-66), 1969–70; Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet, 1975–6; Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, 1976–8; and the 21st Chief of Naval Operations, 1978–82.

BuNo 145013 was subsequently sold to the Republic of Singapore and converted to an A-4S.

An A-4B Skyhawk of VA-15 "Valions" about to land aboard USS Intrepid (CVS-11). Note plane guard destroyer in the background.

An A-4B Skyhawk, BuNo 145059, of VA-95 "Green Lizards" taxiing on the flight deck of USS Intrepid (CVS-11). Years later this aircraft was sold to the Republic of Singapore and converted to an A-4S.

USS Intrepid (CVS-11) underway, August–November 1966, as seen from USS Wiltsie (DD-716).

"OVER SHE GOES—Rough seas make a ton of cargo swing on highline as Fleet stores ship USS Pollux (AKS-4) replenishes Seventh Fleet carrier [USS Intrepid (CVS‑11)] near Vietnam."

This photo was probably taken in the second half of 1966.

USS Intrepid (CVS-11) steaming in the South China Sea, with her attack air group parked on the flight deck, 13 September 1966. Photographed by V.O. McColley.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# K-33170).

Detailed photo of island, Mediterranean Sea, 23 May 1967. From USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858).

As seen from USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858), USS Intrepid (CVS-11) underway and launching an A-4C Skyhawk assigned to Attack Squadron (VA) 34 "Blue Blasters." Mediterranean Sea, 23 May 1967.

USS Intrepid (CVS-11) recovering an A-4 Skyhawk, Mediterranean Sea, 23 May 1967. As seen from USS Fred T. Berry (DD-858).

USS Long Beach (CGN-9) and USS Intrepid (CVS-11) at Subic Bay, 15–18 June 1967. Photo taken from USS Evans (DE-1023).

USS Intrepid refuels USS Agerholm (DD-826), July 1967.

Although designated as an anti-submarine carrier, Intrepid made three deployments to Vietnam as an attack carrier with Attack Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 10 assigned. This picture was taken during the second deployment, 11 May–30 December 1967. Three Grumman E-1B Tracer AEW aircraft, with their distinctive radomes, are spotted on the end of the flight deck. These aircraft belonged to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, Det.11, "Griffins." (Thanks to Robert Hurst.)

All of these images were taken in the summer of 1967 in either the Gulf of Tonkin or Hong Kong.

I served aboard the USS Bausell (DD-845), a Gearing-class FRAM I destroyer attached to DesRon Five.

Larry Backus

E-1B Tracers of VAW-121 "Griffins" and A-1 Skyraiders of VA-145 "Swordsmen."

"Willy Fudd" (E-1B Tracer, BuNo 147226(?), modex AK-701) and "Spad" (A-1J Skyraider, BuNo 142033, modex AK-501.)

UNREP from Intrepid. Plane closest to camera is RF-8G Crusader BuNo 145637, modex AK-401.

Intrepid's band.

Intrepid's island.

USS Intrepid during UNREP. Plane forward of the island is an A-4B Skyhawk assigned to VSF-3 "Chessmen." Helicopter is an UH-2 Seasprite of HC-2 "Fleet Angels."

Breakaway from USS Intrepid (CVS-11).

A Sea King lands during UNREP.

All of these images were taken in the summer of 1967 in either the Gulf of Tonkin or Hong Kong.

I served aboard the USS Bausell (DD-845), a Gearing-class FRAM I destroyer attached to DesRon Five.

Larry Backus

UNREP with USS Castor (AKS-1). Planes of Carrier Air Wing 10 (CVW-10) are parked forward on the flight deck of USS Intrepid.

Breakaway from USS Castor (AKS-1) and USS Intrepid (CVS-11).

Flight ops with USS Intrepid (CVS-11).

Left to right: USS Intrepid (CVS-11); USS Agerholm (DD-826) and USS Porterfield (DD-682) (in the background), and USS Mount McKinley (AGC-7). Hong Kong, 1–6 September 1967.

USS Intrepid (CVS-11) in Hong Kong, 1–6 September 1967.

USS Intrepid (CVS-11), with Carrier Air Wing (CVW-10). Hong Kong, possibly during the 1–6 September 1967 port call.

"Intrepid Marines." This was on the Marine Detachment Office door, 1967–68.

"The Bomb Farm." USS Intrepid (CVS-11) with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 10, 1967. Plane number AK104 is a Douglas A-4B Skyhawk, BuNo 144929, assigned to Anti-Submarine Fighter Squadron (VSF) 3 "Chessmen."

A-1J Skyraider ("Spad"), BuNo 142016, AK507, VA-145 "Swordsmen," ready to launch.

This plane was later transferred to the U.S. Air Force and, even later, to the South Vietnamese AF.

"Stop the war, send in the dancing girls . . . Tonkin Gulf standown" (possibly 27 July 1966).

COD aircraft, C-1A Trader, BuNo 136752.

COD aircraft, C-1A Trader.

COD aircraft, C-1A Trader.

USS Camden (AOE-2) conducting an underway replenishment (UNREP) with USS Intrepid (CVS-11), WestPac, second half of 1968.

U.S. Navy pilots of Attack Squadron (VA) 36 "Roadrunners" with one of their Douglas A-4C Skyhawk aircraft (BuNo 149523, modex AK-506) on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVS-11) off Vietnam, circa 1968. VA-36 was part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 10.

(This aircraft collided mid-air with A-4C BuNo 147839 near Switzerland, south of Jacksonville, FL, 25 November 1969. Both planes crashed, and both pilots were killed.)

A Douglas A-4E Skyhawk attack plane (BuNo 152069, modex AK-207, Attack Squadron [VA] 106 "Gladiators") is brought to the launching position on a steam catapult aboard USS Intrepid (CVS-11), during flight operations in the Gulf of Tonkin, September 1968. Note nosewheel steering bar in use.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1135374).

USS Intrepid (CVS-11) underway in the Western Pacific, October 1968.

Operating in the Gulf of Tonkin, 9 November 1968. U.S. Navy photo.

USS Intrepid (CVS-11) underway in the South China Sea, 15 November 1968, while serving as a "special attack carrier." Photographed by PHCS K. Shrader.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1136993).

A U.S. Navy Boeing Vertol UH-46D Sea Knight departs the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CVS-11) after delivering a load of supplies. Supplies and crewmen were taken below by elevator during operations with the fast combat support ship USS Camden (AOE-2) in the South China Sea, December 1968.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1137094).

CVS-11-8881-10-30-69—The Antisubmarine Warfare Support Aircraft Carrier USS Intrepid (CVS-11) underway off the coast of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 30 October 1969.

CVSG-52 embarked with the following squadrons: VS-28 "Hukkers" and VS-31 "Topcats," S-2E Tracker; HS-5 "Night Dippers" and HS-11 "Sub Seekers", SH-3D Sea King; and VAW-121 "Griffins," E-1B Tracer.

Official US Navy Photograph (# 1149147) by PH3 Preslar. From the Naval Photographic Center, Naval Station, Washington DC. 20390.

USS Intrepid (CVS-11) underway off the coast of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, October 30, 1969.

Official US Navy Photograph (# CVS-11-8880) by PH2 Toedtman. From the ship's photo lab.

Aerial view of the Carrier Pier at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island, 23 September 1970. It shows USS Intrepid (CVS-11), left and USS Wasp (CVS-18), right.

Official US Navy Photograph (# USN-1151462) by PH3 James Phillips.

Soviet Bear with US plane on tail; North Atlantic.

USS Wasp (CVS-18) and USS Intrepid (CVS-11), Newport, Rhode Island, 1971.

Two pictures of USS Intrepid (CVS-11), with Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group (CVSG) 56, taken in December 1972 at Rota, Spain. Intrepid was relieving USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) from her Mediterranean duties that had lasted some 10 months. These photos were taken by Phil from the deck of FDR just before their departure for the States.

Decommissioning Booklet and Commemorative Coin, March 15, 1974.

"In commemoration of the officers and crew who served aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Intrepid (CVS-11) during her over thirty years of faithful service to her country on the occasion of her decommissioning, 15 March 1974, at Quonset Point, Rhode Island"

Official Decommissioning Invitation for USS Intrepid (CVS-11), held at the Carrier Pier of Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, RI on 15 March 1974.

Official Invitation to the Reception held at the Commissioned Officers' Mess after the ceremony.

"Elderly warship decommissioned"

Crewman runs across deck of aircraft carrier Intrepid to lower flag during decommissioning ceremony at Quonset Point Naval Air Station yesterday. Warship, which served nation in three wars, will be towed to Philadelphia Monday [March 18, 1974] to become a member of mothball fleet."

Newport, RI, newspaper clip, March 16, 1974.

"The unique Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City features dramatic exhibits of America's pioneering advances in sea, air and space. Historic aircraft are displayed on the Flight Deck (pictured above). In the Hangar Deck below, visitors can explore four exhibit halls—Intrepid, Navy, Pioneers, and Technologies Halls—running the entire length of the ship."

"The tug is a Philadelphia-based one, and that plus the E-1 Tracer on the flight deck indicates this was taken when Intrepid was about to be towed from Philadelphia Navy Yard to her new home in New York, in 1982."

New York City, October 1986.

Intrepid's sponsor, Mrs. John Howard Hoover (née Helen Braconier Smith), presented the ship with a Good Luck token—a horseshoe. It was mounted in the ship's pilot house.

"Additional museum ship help on 9/11 included the aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid (CV-11), which stepped out of retirement. In the days following the attack, the US military deployed several assets to New York City to prevent further attacks and begin the investigation into the attacks. USS Intrepid, now a museum at Pier 88 in Manhattan, opened her doors to the FBI and allowed them to use her as a field headquarters, as she was far away enough from the World Trade Center to properly investigate. Additionally, helicopters from the US Air-Force Special Operations unit, made use of her flight deck. Intrepid's staff had moved aircraft around on the flight deck to make room for the landing helicopters."

Circa 2003. Also a part of the Museum, decommissioned destroyer ex-USS Edson (DD-946) and decommissioned submarine ex-USS Growler (SSG-577) can be seen across the pier.

August 30, 2005. Most planes in the extensive aircraft collection are on display on the flight deck: they span decades of military aviation history and include planes that were still in service when the photo was taken, like the Air Force's F-16 Fighting Falcon (6th from top, port), the Marine Corps AV-8 Harrier (top, starboard), and the Navy's F-14 Tomcat (3rd from top, starboard). Foreign aircraft are also represented: four sternmost planes are, bottom to top, an Israeli Kfir ("lion cub"); a French Étendard IVM; a British F-1 Scimitar; and a Polish, Soviet-designed, MiG-21 (codenamed Fishbed). First (top) plane on the port side is an A-12 Blackbird, a strategic reconnaissance aircraft able to fly at Mach 3+ and above 80,000 feet (24,384+ m).

Across the pier, a Concorde airliner sits on a barge. This particular aircraft made the fastest Atlantic crossing by any Concorde: 2 hours, 52', 59" (February 7, 1996).

Note: Ex-USS Edson (DD-946) is no longer located at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (see NS021139).

Detailed view of the bow of an Essex-class carrier after SCB-27C, SCB-125 and FRAM modernizations: enclosed ("hurricane") bow; steam catapults, as indicated by protruding bridle catchers; between them, a row of portholes shows the location of a secondary conn station; stem-mounted anchor to clear the SQS-23 sonar dome in her forefoot, with a secondary anchor retained on the starboard side. Note the prominent knuckle forward, a feature of the ships initially modernized with open bows; Lexington, Bon Homme Richard and Shangri-La, which received SCB-27C and SCB-125 modernizations simultaneously, had smoothly faired bows — see NS023115 for comparison.

New York City, October 31, 2006.

(Compare these photos to NS-cv11-mn002, taken in 2014.)

New York City, October 31, 2006.

Six days later (November 6), after 24 years at the same Hudson River Pier 86, Intrepid was to be towed to Bayonne, NJ, for a 2-year, $60 million restoration. Six tugboats tried to take advantage of the yearly high tide to move the carrier, but they were able to move her barely 15 feet before she got stuck in the mud. A seventh tugboat was also unable to wiggle her free.

On November 11 it was announced that the Navy would give support to try to free the ship (see photo NS021193.)

(Thanks to Chester Morris & Robert Hall, who helped compile this information.)

New York City, December 5, 2006 (see photo NS021174.)

A second attempt succeeded and Intrepid was towed to Bayonne, where her hull would be sandblasted and repainted. She will be towed again to Staten Island in late spring, to have her exhibition spaces renovated, and is expected to return to Pier 86 in November 2008.

Not only will the Museum be better, but it could be used as an emergency headquarters for various government agencies should an incident occur.

Sixteen Intrepid's former crewmen unfurled a giant American flag in honor of those killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks ("Honor Our Heroes") as the ship passed "ground zero," in what has become a ritual for naval ships.

NS021193a: Ellis Island in the background.

NS021193b: The Statue of Liberty in the background.

(Thanks to Chester Morris, Robert Hall & Michael J. Tricarico, Jr. who helped compile this information.)

The retired Essex-class aircraft carrier ex-USS Intrepid approaches the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, N.Y., 5 December 2006, on her way to Bayonne, N.J., for two years of maintenance. Intrepid served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam and is now a museum at Pier 86 in New York City.

NS021193c: U.S. Coast Guard photos by Chief Public Affairs Specialist Tom Sperduto (# 061205-G-9409S-500).

NS021193d: U.S. Coast Guard photos by Chief Public Affairs Specialist Tom Sperduto (# 061205-G-9409S-501).

Bayonne, NJ, May 28, 2007 — Decommissioned aircraft carrier Intrepid (CV 11) sits at Bayonne Dry Dock and Repair Corp. to have her hull water blasted, primed and repainted. Intrepid is scheduled to return to a brand-new, state-of-the-art Pier 86 on Manhattan's west side in the fall of 2008. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth R. Hendrix (#070528-N-5758H-068).

After a 58-day stay at Bayonne Dry Dock & Repair, Intrepid was towed to Staten Island on June 6, 2007 to begin the next phase of her refurbishment — and make her interior as gleaming as her freshly painted exterior.

See a slideshow of Intrepid in dry dock, at the New York Times website.

Intrepid returning from Homeport Pier, Staten Island, to her home at Pier 86, Manhattan, 2 October 2008.

Lockheed A-12 Oxcart, serial no. 60-6925. The A-12 was a high-speed reconnaissance aircraft that would perform sensitive intelligence gathering missions while flying at speeds over Mach 3.

Hawker Siddeley AV-8A Harrier, USMC, BuNo 159232, converted to AV-8C standard.

Bell AH-1J Sea Cobra, USMC, BuNo 159218 (?).

North American FJ-3 Fury, USN, BuNo 135868. This Fury is painted in the colors of Fighter Squadron (VF) 33 "Tarsiers," which flew from USS Intrepid in 1957.

Regulus I missile, essentially a small turbojet aircraft, 42 feet (12.8 meters) long, with a wingspan of 21 feet (6.4 meters). Speed was Mach 0.91 (about 550 knots). Regulus was launched from an inclined ramp and was command-guided, initially out to the radar horizon, then by using a relay submarine nearer the target to track and steer the missile to the final aim point. Either a 40–50 kiloton nuclear warhead or a 1–2 megaton thermonuclear device could be carried.

Port side view of Intrepid's island.

Starboard side view of Intrepid.

Bow view of Intrepid.

View of island and mainmast, looking aft.

Grumman F11F-1 (F-11A) Tiger, BuNo 141859(?), painted in the colors of the "Blue Angels" flight demonstration team.

Polish-built, Soviet MiG-17F (NATO code: Fresco), painted in the colors of the North Vietnam Air Force.

Plaque for the Polish-built, Soviet MiG-17F (NATO code: Fresco), painted in the colors of the North Vietnam Air Force.

Soviet MiG-15 (NATO code: Fagot), painted in the colors of the North Korea Air Force.

Soviet MiG-21PFM (NATO code: Fishbed), painted in the colors of the Poland Air Force.

Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir C-2, 1976.

Between 1985 and 1989 the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps leased 12 Kfirs from Isarel to be used for training in what is called Dissimilar Air Combat Training. Given the designation F-21A, the Kfirs gave the American pilots experience against an adversary of unknown capability. (Quoted from the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.)

F-8K Crusader, BuNo 145550, wearing markings of Fighter Squadron (VF) 111 "Sundowners" to honor then LT Tony Nargi, who shot down a MiG-21 on 19 September 1968—the last MiG shot down by a Crusader during the Vietnam War.

Note: There is some confusion as regards this aircraft. The plane actually flown by LT Nargi for his MiG kill was F-8C BuNo 149961, modex AK103, nominally assigned to LT Joe Thompson. AK102 was BuNo 149981, another MiG killer (MiG-17, by LCDR Bobby Lee, 19 May 1967, VF-24 "Red Checkertails," off USS Bon Homme Richard [CVA-31]). Probably, the similarity in Bureau Numbers is a major factor contributing to the confusion.

Starboard side.

Ship's bell.

A-4B Skyhawk, BuNo 142833, painted in VA-95 "Green Lizards" scheme, serving aboard Intrepid in 1966.

TBM-3E Avenger.

(This aircraft is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola, Florida. The Mark 13 torpedo is on loan from the U.S. Navy.)

Ship's propeller. It is on display in the Hangar Deck of the Museum and has a diameter of about 15 feet (4.57 meters).

"USS Intrepid aircraft carrier which is home to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is seen in the late afternoon on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 in New York City. Earlier in the afternoon NASA transferred title and ownership of the space shuttle Enterprise to the museum. The transfer is the first step toward Intrepid receiving Enterprise in the spring of 2012."

NASA/Bill Ingalls photo.

Fighting I, Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum, New York, NY, 19 July 2014.

An XBT2D-1 Dauntless II, one of the prototypes of what became the AD/A-1 Skyraider. Its BuNo is 09102 (but has 109102 painted on its side) and has markings of Attack Squadron (VA) 15 "Valions" and the tail code of Carrier Air Group/Wing (CVG/CVW) 8, even though VA-15 was not part of CVG-8 in the times of the Skyraider.

Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum, New York, NY, 19 July 2014.

Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly, commander, U.S. Southern Command, delivers the keynote address during the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum's Memorial Day ceremony, 25 May 2015. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist Seaman Jake Mathews (# 150525-N-ZZ999-097).