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U.S.S. MIDWAY
(CV-41)TIP OF THE SWORD
Click to view crew list
USS Midway, built in Newport News, Virginia, was commissioned in September 1945. She served in the Atlantic Fleet for her first eight years of service. The ship was used in a couple of important naval experiments. In 1946, she was sent to the Arctic to test cold water operations. In 1947, she was the launch pad for a V-2 ballistic missile. Later that same year, the carrier began its first deployment to the Mediterranean. For the next few years she worked in both the Mediterranean and in the North Atlantic.
In October 1952, her hull number was changed from CVB-41 to CVA-41. This was due to her reclassification to an attack aircraft carrier. In 1954, she joined the Seventh Fleet for a year. Late in 1955, she underwent her first modernization. This expanded her flight deck and updated her equipment to handle the latest aircraft.
After her return two years later, Midway went back to the Seventh Fleet. She saw active combat operations in 1965 with the Vietnam conflict. In 1966, she began her second modernization. This involved expanding her deck once again. After returning to service in 1970, she returned to the Seventh Fleet supporting combat operations. In 1975, she was renumbered CV-41.
In 1986, she underwent her third modernization. In the early 1990’s, she participated in the first Iraq conflict. Afterwards she returned to the Seventh Fleet. In April 1992, she was decommissioned. At this time, she has been converted to a museum located in San Diego.
CV-41 Deployments - Major Events
Add a CV-41 Shellback Initiation | Add a CV-41 Deployment - Major Event | ||||
Month | Year | to | Month | Year | Deployment / Event |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
OCT | 1943 | - | Keel Date: 27 OCT 1943 at Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. Newport News VA | ||
MAR | 1945 | - | AUG | 1945 | Caribbean |
MAR | 1945 | - | Launch Date: 20 MAR 1945 | ||
SEP | 1945 | - | Commissioned: 10 SEP 1945 | ||
JAN | 1952 | - | MAY | 1952 | Mediterranean |
JUN | 1953 | - | JUN | 1953 | Sea Trials |
JAN | 1954 | - | AUG | 1954 | Mediterranean |
DEC | 1954 | - | JUL | 1955 | World Cruise |
JAN | 1955 | - | Shellback Initiation - 6 JAN 1955 - Atlantic Ocean | ||
JUL | 1956 | - | Shellback Initiation - 7 JUL 1956 - Atlantic Ocean | ||
SEP | 1957 | - | APR | 1958 | Recommisioning |
OCT | 1957 | - | MAR | 1958 | West Pac |
APR | 1958 | - | Shellback Initiation - 4 APR 1958 - Pacific Ocean | ||
OCT | 1958 | - | NOV | 1959 | West Pac |
NOV | 1958 | - | MAR | 1959 | West Pac |
NOV | 1959 | - | MAR | 1960 | West Pac |
JAN | 1961 | - | JUN | 1962 | West Pac |
FEB | 1961 | - | SEP | 1961 | West Pac |
MAR | 1961 | - | MAY | 1961 | LAOTIAN CRISIS (AFEM) |
MAR | 1961 | - | NOV | 1962 | West Pac |
MAY | 1962 | - | NOV | 1962 | West Pac |
MAY | 1962 | - | NOV | 1962 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
MAY | 1962 | - | NOV | 1962 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
NOV | 1963 | - | JUL | 1964 | West Pac |
FEB | 1965 | - | NOV | 1965 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
MAR | 1965 | - | NOV | 1965 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
OCT | 1965 | - | OCT | 1965 | VA-25 Dropped Toiler BOMB on North Vietnam - 6-Million Lbs. |
OCT | 1965 | - | OCT | 1965 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
APR | 1966 | - | MAY | 1970 | Decommisioning |
JAN | 1970 | - | DEC | 1970 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
JAN | 1970 | - | FEB | 1971 | Recommisioning |
JAN | 1970 | - | DEC | 1970 | West Pac |
MAR | 1970 | - | AUG | 1972 | Mediterranean |
DEC | 1970 | - | NOV | 1971 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
JAN | 1971 | - | JUL | 1972 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
APR | 1971 | - | NOV | 1971 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
APR | 1971 | - | NOV | 1971 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
NOV | 1971 | - | Shellback Initiation - 11 NOV 1971 - Atlantic Ocean | ||
JAN | 1972 | - | JAN | 1973 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
FEB | 1972 | - | MAR | 1973 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
FEB | 1972 | - | NOV | 1974 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
APR | 1972 | - | FEB | 1973 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
APR | 1972 | - | FEB | 1973 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
APR | 1972 | - | MAR | 1974 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
DEC | 1972 | - | Shellback Initiation - 13 DEC 1972 - Pacific Ocean | ||
DEC | 1972 | - | Shellback Initiation - 13 DEC 1972 - Pacific Ocean | ||
SEP | 1973 | - | Shellback Initiation - 20 SEP 1973 - Pacific Ocean | ||
OCT | 1973 | - | Changed homeport to Yokosuka Japan | ||
APR | 1975 | - | APR | 1975 | OPERATION FREQUENT WIND |
APR | 1975 | - | MAY | 1975 | Operation Frequent Wind (Evacuation of Saigon) |
NOV | 1975 | - | Shellback Initiation - 1 NOV 1975 - Indian Ocean | ||
NOV | 1975 | - | Shellback Initiation - 1 NOV 1975 - Indian Ocean | ||
NOV | 1975 | - | Shellback Initiation - 1 NOV 1975 - Indian Ocean | ||
JAN | 1977 | - | NOV | 1979 | West Pac |
MAR | 1977 | - | APR | 1977 | West Pac-Viet Nam |
AUG | 1977 | - | NOV | 1977 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
OCT | 1977 | - | Shellback Initiation - 10 OCT 1977 - Indian Ocean | ||
OCT | 1977 | - | Shellback Initiation - 11 OCT 1977 - Indian Ocean | ||
OCT | 1977 | - | Shellback Initiation - 11 OCT 1977 - Indian Ocean | ||
JAN | 1978 | - | OCT | 1980 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
JAN | 1979 | - | AUG | 1981 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
APR | 1979 | - | Shellback Initiation - 18 APR 1979 - Indian Ocean | ||
APR | 1979 | - | Shellback Initiation - 18 APR 1979 - Indian Ocean | ||
MAY | 1979 | - | MAY | 1979 | West Pac-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf |
SEP | 1979 | - | MAR | 1980 | West Pac-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf |
OCT | 1979 | - | NOV | 1979 | West Pac |
OCT | 1979 | - | FEB | 1980 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
APR | 1980 | - | Shellback Initiation - 19 APR 1980 - Indian Ocean | ||
JUL | 1980 | - | AUG | 1980 | Collision with SS Cactus/Drydock in Olongapo PI |
JUL | 1980 | - | Shellback Initiation - 15 JUL 1980 - Indian Ocean | ||
AUG | 1980 | - | Shellback Initiation - 22 AUG 1980 - Indian Ocean | ||
AUG | 1980 | - | Shellback Initiation - 27 AUG 1980 - Indian Ocean | ||
AUG | 1980 | - | NOV | 1980 | West Pac-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf |
NOV | 1980 | - | JAN | 1981 | Dry Dock |
APR | 1981 | - | Shellback Initiation - 24 APR 1981 - Indian Ocean | ||
APR | 1981 | - | Shellback Initiation - 4 APR 1981 - Indian Ocean | ||
JUL | 1982 | - | NOV | 1982 | West Pac |
OCT | 1982 | - | Shellback Initiation - 10 OCT 1982 - Indian Ocean | ||
OCT | 1982 | - | Shellback Initiation - 27 OCT 1982 - Indian Ocean | ||
APR | 1984 | - | Shellback Initiation - 19 APR 1984 - Indian Ocean | ||
JUN | 1984 | - | NOV | 1984 | USS THORN DD-988 |
JAN | 1985 | - | JUN | 1987 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
JUN | 1985 | - | SEP | 1985 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
AUG | 1985 | - | Shellback Initiation - 27 AUG 1985 - Indian Ocean | ||
JAN | 1986 | - | JAN | 1988 | Panama Canal |
JUL | 1986 | - | JAN | 1988 | Mediterranean-Indian Ocean-Persian Gulf |
MAY | 1987 | - | Shellback Initiation - 22 MAY 1987 - Indian Ocean | ||
MAY | 1987 | - | Shellback Initiation - 22 MAY 1987 - Pacific Ocean | ||
MAY | 1987 | - | Shellback Initiation - 25 MAY 1987 - Pacific Ocean | ||
NOV | 1987 | - | APR | 1988 | Escorting Reflagged Oil Tankers Through the Persian Gulf |
NOV | 1987 | - | APR | 1988 | West Pac-Indian Ocean |
JAN | 1988 | - | Shellback Initiation - 7 JAN 1988 - Indian Ocean | ||
OCT | 1989 | - | OCT | 1989 | Midway Pilot dropped a 500lb bomb on the USS Reeves. |
OCT | 1989 | - | Shellback Initiation - 16 OCT 1989 - Indian Ocean | ||
OCT | 1989 | - | Shellback Initiation - 16 OCT 1989 - Indian Ocean | ||
OCT | 1990 | - | APR | 1991 | Desert Shield |
OCT | 1990 | - | APR | 1991 | Desert Storm |
OCT | 1990 | - | APR | 1991 | OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/IMMINENT THUNDER/DESERT STORM |
MAR | 1991 | - | Shellback Initiation - 21 MAR 1991 - Indian Ocean | ||
JUN | 1991 | - | JUN | 1991 | Operation Fiery Vigil |
APR | 1992 | - | Decommissioned: 11 APR 1992 |
CV-41 General Specifications
Class: Midway-class aircraft carrier
Named for: Battle of Midway
Complement: 4104 Officers and Enlisted
Displacement: 45000 tons
Length: 972 feet
Beam: 113 feet
Flank Speed: 33 knots
Final Disposition: Museum ship
USS MIDWAY (CV-41)
The third Midway (CVB-41) was laid down 27 October 1943 by Newport News Shipbuilding Co. Newport News Va.; launched 20 March 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Bradford William Ripley Jr.; and commissioned 10 September 1945 Capt. Joseph F. Bolger in command.
After shakedown in the Caribbean MIDWAY joined in the Atlantic Fleet training schedule with Norfolk her homeport. From 20 February 1946 she was flagship for CarDiv 1. In March she tested equipment and techniques for cold weather operations in the No rth Atlantic. East coast and Caribbean training was highlighted by operation "Sandy " in which in September 1947 she test fired a captured German V-2 rocket from her flight deck first such launching from a moving platform.
On 29 October 1947 Midway sailed for the first of her annual deployments with the 6th Fleet mighty peacekeeping force in the Mediterranean. A powerful extension of sea/air power Midway trained between deployments and received alteration s necessary to accommodate heavier aircraft as they were developed. In 1952 she participated in North Sea maneuvers with NATO forces and on 1 October was redesignated CVA-41.
Midway cleared Norfolk 27 December 1954 for a world cruise sailing via the Cape of Good Hope for Taiwan where she joined the 7th Fleet for operations in the Western Pacific until 28 June 1955 when she sailed for overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Ship yard. Here she was out of commission until 30 September 1957 while she was modernized and such new innovations as an enclosed bow and an angled flight deck were installed.
Homeported at Alameda
Midway began annual deployments with the 7th Fleet in 1958
and was on such duty in the South China Sea during the Laotian crisis of spring l961. During her 1962 deployment
her aircraft tested the air defense systems of Ja
pan
Korea
Okinawa
the Philippines
and Taiwan. When she again sailed for the Far East 6 March 1965
her aircraft were prepared for combat operations
and from mid-April flew strikes against military and logistics installations in North and South Vietn
am. Illustrative of the major contribution the carrier made to the campaign of the free forces to repel Communist aggression was a notable "first" for aviators of her Attack Carrier Wing 2
who in June
downed the first three MIGs credited to U.S. Forces
in Southeast Asia. Returning to Alameda 23 November
she entered San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyard 11 February 1966 for extensive modernization
for which she was placed in Reserve
in commission special
15 February 1966. She is scheduled for recommiss
ion in January 1970.
[Note: The above USS MIDWAY (CV-41) history may or may not contain text provided by crew members of the USS MIDWAY (CV-41) or by other non-crew members and text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]