My (new) husband served aboard the Kitty Hawk in the Vietnam era (1967-71?) I was just thinking..for his birthday..I'd love to surprise him somehow with not only a photoalbum of his ole ship, but perhaps a visit. ?? But can't figure out, despite the googling I've been doing: is it still in Washington? Has it moved to Wilmington, NC? I realize we probably can't do a 'tour', but I know it would be a big (and emotional) thing for him to be able to see the ship once more after all these years. Can someone help me with exactly where it is..and if it's even possible to get close enough to see it somehow?? I can't find anything else online. Or who would I call? National Defense Reserve Fleet? US Navy??!
Dee, the ship is still in Bremerton, Wash. If you are close enough and familiar with the area, there is a road that passes by the shipyard and you can see it from there. The Wilmington deal fell through, they would rather have a baseball team. The new location that is interested is Pensacola, Fl.
I didn't check but if he is not a member why not get him a membership to the association. My daughter got me one years ago and I've had a great time.
Oh, I'm definitely doing the membership! How close can you get to the ship..I mean, will we be a block away or close enough to see it well, as in the road runs in front of it? Anyone know?!
As I recall from when we were at the decommissioning, we were on a bus and there was a fence right by the road and at the time there was 4 of them next to each other. Since then I believe the Ranger and Constellation were towed away to Texas for scrap. I could be wrong but I don't believe they were more than 500' from the fence. You could definately see them from the road. It sounds like you live out west, just to let you know, we are having our reunion in Las Vegas in Oct.
Dee, if you click on photos on the home page, then click on Decommissioning and reunion Bremerton. The 11,12, 13 pictures were taken from a vehicle on the road I was talking about. As you went around the curve and got closer to the ships you got a better view. Hope that helps.
This is the last time I'll bother you. I found the best picture. Third row from the bottom middle of the row. You can see it was taken from the front of a bus. The closer you got the better the view. That's all I got.
Thanks so much! Was hoping we could get closer to the docks, but that's ok. He'll be emotionally surprised! I did get in touch wth someone at Kitsap POA. Rep says a parking lot is about 200 yards away. It'll be alright. Thanks for all your help.
I'm a plankowner I was there at the commissioning. I also noticed you wanted to make a photo album. If you go to navsource.org they have pages of pictures of the ship.
I was there a few weeks ago and we talked to the guards at parking lot F entrance and they escorted us to the edge of the pier for a few pictures. If you go after that gate is closed you can see her from parking lot f but the Independence blocks most of the view.
