USS America CVA-66
Attack Squadron Sixty-Four (VA-64) A-4C Skyhawks fly over the USS America (CVA-66) in formation.
USS America (CVA-66) was laid down at Newport News Shipbuilding Co in January 1961. She was launched in February 1964 and commissioned in January 1965. America is nominally the third Kitty Hawk-class carrier, and the third ship in the Navy to bear her name. In fact, she had sufficient differences from the Kitty Hawk ships as to warrant additional class designation: Kitty Hawk/America. After shakedown, trials and training, off the east coast and in the Caribbean, she made the first of her many deployments to the Mediterranean in December 1965. That cruise lasted seven months and included Fleet, bi-lateral, and NATO exercises. She returned to Norfolk in July. With the notable exception of three Vietnam tours, between 1968 and 1972, America's further 19 deployments to the Mediterranean, and later to the Indian Ocean and Mid-east waters - interspersed with training and exercise operations in the Atlantic and Caribbean-became the standard for her throughout her 30 year career. Though not undergoing SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) America was afforded frequent periods of yard availability lasting from a few months to as long as 15 months, during which she was updated and refitted to handle ASW aircraft and missions, and evolving aircraft and weapons systems. In addition to combat operations in Vietnam, the Middle East, North Africa and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and contingency operations in Somalia, America saw some highlights of naval aviation and participation in international events of historic proportion.
In 1966 America initiated carrier service for the A-7A Corsair II and took part in feasibility trials for no-hands landings by an F-4 Phantom and an F-8 Crusader. America's second Mediterranean deployment commenced in January 1967, with routine exercises/visits until April, when political unrest in Greece had America and her battle group positioning for possible evacuation duty. While that need did not materialize, in May increasing tensions between Israel and surrounding Arab states saw the arrival on board of a large number of newsmen and deployment to the mid-Mediterranean, off Crete. The period was also marked by significant harassment of battle group elements by Soviet ships, and then war broke out between Israel and the Arab states. On 8 June 1967 USS Liberty (AGTR-5) was attacked by Israeli torpedo boats and jet fighters, in international waters approximately 15 miles north of El Arish. America's aircraft commenced a response but were recalled. Ships from America's battle group were detached to render aid, putting medical personnel on board Liberty. America also rendezvoused with Liberty, transferring casualties.
In January 1968 America entered a period of training, inspections, and exercises preparatory to Far East deployment. She sailed from Norfolk in April, calling at Subic Bay, en route to Yankee Station. On 31 May she launched aircraft for combat for the first time. She continued combat operations until 29 October, broken with port visits. America returned to Norfolk in December. The following year brought exercises, a nine-month overhaul and trials, and test of the feasibility of operating the U-2R reconnaissance plane from a carrier. America returned to Vietnam in 1970 for five periods on Yankee Station and successful introduction of the A-7E to combat. That Vietnam tour ended on November.
Following exercises in the Atlantic and Caribbean, some yard availability, and a Mediterranean cruise America was once again ordered to the Gulf of Tonkin, recommencing combat operations on 12 July 1971. That was the Linebacker/peace talks period. A machinery casualty, a fire that shut down one catapult, and needed repair visits to Subic Bay imposed breaks in combat operations, which otherwise continued until early in 1973. Ordered home, she reached Norfolk for stand-down and yard availability in March. On leaving the yard America's operations and exercises brought the 100,000th "trap" She deployed on her fourth Mediterranean cruise in January 1974, for eight months, returning to Norfolk and NATO exercises in the Atlantic before again entering the yard, this time for 10 months of overhaul and modernization during which America was fitted to handle ASW aircraft and missions. She returned to the Mediterranean in April 1976. This deployment was marked by far more intense confrontations with what had become the Soviet Mediterranean Fleet, and support for the evacuation of U.S. personnel from Lebanon. She returned to Norfolk by October, entering the yard for upkeep. Operating first in the Atlantic and Caribbean, she again deployed routinely to the Mediterranean from September 1977 to April 1978, and then again in March 1979.
The first "trap" for the Hornet F/A-18 and the landing of a COD aircraft piloted by ENS Brenda Robinson, who thus became first black female naval aviator to be carrier qualified, marked America's October 1979 sortie from Norfolk. In April 1981 she deployed to the Mediterranean, this time transiting the Suez Canal for the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea/Gonzo Station operations where she until October and a return transit of Suez. The period was marked by the assassination of Egypt's president Sadat. America returned to Norfolk by November. After four months in the yard America was back to the Mediterranean by way of NATO exercises, again returning to Norfolk in November 1982. After a quick turn-around America was back to the Mediterranean in December, relieving USS Nimitz off Lebanon in support of the UN's Multinational Peace Keeping Force, in January 1983. She next transited the Suez for the Red Sea, chopping to Seventh Fleet OPCON early in February, operating in the Indian Ocean and off Africa. By July she was back in the yard for upkeep and alterations, completed in October 1983. America's next Mediterranean tour commenced in May 1984. Once again America transited Suez, joining Seventh Fleet in the Red Sea in relief of USS Kitty Hawk, for three months, before returning to Fifth Fleet OPCON. The cycle of exercises, routine operations, upkeep, and Mediterranean/Red Sea/Indian Ocean deployments continued thereafter, broken in March 1986 with America's involvement in the Navy's confrontation with Libyan forces during FON (Freedom of Navigation) exercise operations in the Gulf of Sidra. Libyan response to Navy FON enforcement involved the bombing of a TWA flight and a Berlin nightspot, both of which killed and injured U.S. servicemen and civilians. Libya threatened further such action and also the taking of hostages to shield military installations. President Reagan directed execution of Operation Eldorado Canyon, targeted against sites in Libya indicated to support international terrorist activities. Aircraft from America and USS Coral Sea, provided ground attack, flak suppression and CAP, and Air Force F-111s delivered guided weapons, in a coordinated operation that included planes launched from the carriers and from bases 3,000 miles away. Relieved by USS Kennedy in August, America was in Norfolk Naval Shipyard where she would remain in major overhaul until February 1988.
In April 1988 a plane from VS-30 became the first S-3 to launch a Harpoon anti-ship missile, scoring a direct hit on a target. In May America sortied for her 16th major deployment. In August, USS Coral Sea and America were diverted to the eastern Mediterranean in a show of force in the wake of the murder of Marine Corps Lt. Col. William R. Higgins - a member of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Lebanon - by terrorists, and threats to other hostages. After operations in the Mediterranean, Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean, America returned home on 10 November 1989. America deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in December 1990, arriving on station in the Red Sea in January 1991. While deployed America/CVW-1 became the first carrier/air wing to fight in both the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. On 20 February, America's VS-32 became the first S-3 squadron to destroy a hostile vessel - an Iraqi gunboat - and on 23 February aircraft from America destroyed a Silkworm (anti-ship) missile battery after Iraq unsuccessfully fired a missile at USS Missouri (BB-63). America departed the Arabian Gulf on 4 March having launched over 3,000 combat sorties.
America left Norfolk in December for her 18th deployment, returning to the Arabian Gulf early in 1992 in support of UN sanctions against Iraq. By July she was back in Norfolk and in the yard for a six-month upkeep period. By August 1993 she was back at sea and ready for a different kind of deployment. In October America's battle group supported UN efforts in Bosnia, where CVW-1 aircraft flew 863 sorties. She was then ordered on short notice to relieve USS Abraham Lincoln on Ground Hog Station off Somalia, again supporting UN efforts ashore. Before returning again to the Mediterranean, CVW-1 aircraft flew missions into southern Iraq from the Red Sea in support of Operation Southern Watch. On 12 December 1993, America passed through the Suez Canal, again chopping to Sixth Fleet for exercises with allied forces before returning to Norfolk in February 1994, commencing a four-month availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in April.
America departed Norfolk on 28 August 1995 for her 20th and last Mediterranean deployment. America and her battle group operated in the Adriatic Sea in support of the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina under Operation Joint Endeavor. Decommissioned on August 9, 1996, USS America spent the next nine years at the Naval Inactive Ships Facility in Philadelphia. Though there was an effort to make her a museum ship, in April 2005, she left Philadelphia under tow to a position between the Outer Banks and Bermuda, where she was sunk in 2,810 fathoms after three weeks of controlled exercises to study the strengths and weaknesses of carriers hull design.
USS America CVA-66
Attack Squadron Sixty-Four (VA-64) A-4C Skyhawks fly over the USS America (CVA-66) in formation.
USS America (CVA-66) was laid down at Newport News Shipbuilding Co in January 1961. She was launched in February 1964 and commissioned in January 1965. America is nominally the third Kitty Hawk-class carrier, and the third ship in the Navy to bear her name. In fact, she had sufficient differences from the Kitty Hawk ships as to warrant additional class designation: Kitty Hawk/America. After shakedown, trials and training, off the east coast and in the Caribbean, she made the first of her many deployments to the Mediterranean in December 1965. That cruise lasted seven months and included Fleet, bi-lateral, and NATO exercises. She returned to Norfolk in July. With the notable exception of three Vietnam tours, between 1968 and 1972, America's further 19 deployments to the Mediterranean, and later to the Indian Ocean and Mid-east waters - interspersed with training and exercise operations in the Atlantic and Caribbean-became the standard for her throughout her 30 year career. Though not undergoing SLEP (Service Life Extension Program) America was afforded frequent periods of yard availability lasting from a few months to as long as 15 months, during which she was updated and refitted to handle ASW aircraft and missions, and evolving aircraft and weapons systems. In addition to combat operations in Vietnam, the Middle East, North Africa and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and contingency operations in Somalia, America saw some highlights of naval aviation and participation in international events of historic proportion.
In 1966 America initiated carrier service for the A-7A Corsair II and took part in feasibility trials for no-hands landings by an F-4 Phantom and an F-8 Crusader. America's second Mediterranean deployment commenced in January 1967, with routine exercises/visits until April, when political unrest in Greece had America and her battle group positioning for possible evacuation duty. While that need did not materialize, in May increasing tensions between Israel and surrounding Arab states saw the arrival on board of a large number of newsmen and deployment to the mid-Mediterranean, off Crete. The period was also marked by significant harassment of battle group elements by Soviet ships, and then war broke out between Israel and the Arab states. On 8 June 1967 USS Liberty (AGTR-5) was attacked by Israeli torpedo boats and jet fighters, in international waters approximately 15 miles north of El Arish. America's aircraft commenced a response but were recalled. Ships from America's battle group were detached to render aid, putting medical personnel on board Liberty. America also rendezvoused with Liberty, transferring casualties.
In January 1968 America entered a period of training, inspections, and exercises preparatory to Far East deployment. She sailed from Norfolk in April, calling at Subic Bay, en route to Yankee Station. On 31 May she launched aircraft for combat for the first time. She continued combat operations until 29 October, broken with port visits. America returned to Norfolk in December. The following year brought exercises, a nine-month overhaul and trials, and test of the feasibility of operating the U-2R reconnaissance plane from a carrier. America returned to Vietnam in 1970 for five periods on Yankee Station and successful introduction of the A-7E to combat. That Vietnam tour ended on November.
Following exercises in the Atlantic and Caribbean, some yard availability, and a Mediterranean cruise America was once again ordered to the Gulf of Tonkin, recommencing combat operations on 12 July 1971. That was the Linebacker/peace talks period. A machinery casualty, a fire that shut down one catapult, and needed repair visits to Subic Bay imposed breaks in combat operations, which otherwise continued until early in 1973. Ordered home, she reached Norfolk for stand-down and yard availability in March. On leaving the yard America's operations and exercises brought the 100,000th "trap" She deployed on her fourth Mediterranean cruise in January 1974, for eight months, returning to Norfolk and NATO exercises in the Atlantic before again entering the yard, this time for 10 months of overhaul and modernization during which America was fitted to handle ASW aircraft and missions. She returned to the Mediterranean in April 1976. This deployment was marked by far more intense confrontations with what had become the Soviet Mediterranean Fleet, and support for the evacuation of U.S. personnel from Lebanon. She returned to Norfolk by October, entering the yard for upkeep. Operating first in the Atlantic and Caribbean, she again deployed routinely to the Mediterranean from September 1977 to April 1978, and then again in March 1979.
The first "trap" for the Hornet F/A-18 and the landing of a COD aircraft piloted by ENS Brenda Robinson, who thus became first black female naval aviator to be carrier qualified, marked America's October 1979 sortie from Norfolk. In April 1981 she deployed to the Mediterranean, this time transiting the Suez Canal for the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea/Gonzo Station operations where she until October and a return transit of Suez. The period was marked by the assassination of Egypt's president Sadat. America returned to Norfolk by November. After four months in the yard America was back to the Mediterranean by way of NATO exercises, again returning to Norfolk in November 1982. After a quick turn-around America was back to the Mediterranean in December, relieving USS Nimitz off Lebanon in support of the UN's Multinational Peace Keeping Force, in January 1983. She next transited the Suez for the Red Sea, chopping to Seventh Fleet OPCON early in February, operating in the Indian Ocean and off Africa. By July she was back in the yard for upkeep and alterations, completed in October 1983. America's next Mediterranean tour commenced in May 1984. Once again America transited Suez, joining Seventh Fleet in the Red Sea in relief of USS Kitty Hawk, for three months, before returning to Fifth Fleet OPCON. The cycle of exercises, routine operations, upkeep, and Mediterranean/Red Sea/Indian Ocean deployments continued thereafter, broken in March 1986 with America's involvement in the Navy's confrontation with Libyan forces during FON (Freedom of Navigation) exercise operations in the Gulf of Sidra. Libyan response to Navy FON enforcement involved the bombing of a TWA flight and a Berlin nightspot, both of which killed and injured U.S. servicemen and civilians. Libya threatened further such action and also the taking of hostages to shield military installations. President Reagan directed execution of Operation Eldorado Canyon, targeted against sites in Libya indicated to support international terrorist activities. Aircraft from America and USS Coral Sea, provided ground attack, flak suppression and CAP, and Air Force F-111s delivered guided weapons, in a coordinated operation that included planes launched from the carriers and from bases 3,000 miles away. Relieved by USS Kennedy in August, America was in Norfolk Naval Shipyard where she would remain in major overhaul until February 1988.
In April 1988 a plane from VS-30 became the first S-3 to launch a Harpoon anti-ship missile, scoring a direct hit on a target. In May America sortied for her 16th major deployment. In August, USS Coral Sea and America were diverted to the eastern Mediterranean in a show of force in the wake of the murder of Marine Corps Lt. Col. William R. Higgins - a member of the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Lebanon - by terrorists, and threats to other hostages. After operations in the Mediterranean, Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean, America returned home on 10 November 1989. America deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in December 1990, arriving on station in the Red Sea in January 1991. While deployed America/CVW-1 became the first carrier/air wing to fight in both the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. On 20 February, America's VS-32 became the first S-3 squadron to destroy a hostile vessel - an Iraqi gunboat - and on 23 February aircraft from America destroyed a Silkworm (anti-ship) missile battery after Iraq unsuccessfully fired a missile at USS Missouri (BB-63). America departed the Arabian Gulf on 4 March having launched over 3,000 combat sorties.
America left Norfolk in December for her 18th deployment, returning to the Arabian Gulf early in 1992 in support of UN sanctions against Iraq. By July she was back in Norfolk and in the yard for a six-month upkeep period. By August 1993 she was back at sea and ready for a different kind of deployment. In October America's battle group supported UN efforts in Bosnia, where CVW-1 aircraft flew 863 sorties. She was then ordered on short notice to relieve USS Abraham Lincoln on Ground Hog Station off Somalia, again supporting UN efforts ashore. Before returning again to the Mediterranean, CVW-1 aircraft flew missions into southern Iraq from the Red Sea in support of Operation Southern Watch. On 12 December 1993, America passed through the Suez Canal, again chopping to Sixth Fleet for exercises with allied forces before returning to Norfolk in February 1994, commencing a four-month availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in April.
America departed Norfolk on 28 August 1995 for her 20th and last Mediterranean deployment. America and her battle group operated in the Adriatic Sea in support of the NATO Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina under Operation Joint Endeavor. Decommissioned on August 9, 1996, USS America spent the next nine years at the Naval Inactive Ships Facility in Philadelphia. Though there was an effort to make her a museum ship, in April 2005, she left Philadelphia under tow to a position between the Outer Banks and Bermuda, where she was sunk in 2,810 fathoms after three weeks of controlled exercises to study the strengths and weaknesses of carriers hull design.