USS John F Kennedy (CV-67) current state

JFK rotting away in the Philadelphia Navy Shipyard. I'm not the creator of this video. It was posted to the USS John F Kennedy facebook group a couple of years ago.

[@SADrossi]

Was onboard for her last two combat cruises, my favorite tour in the Navy. Miss the Big Pig. She was held together by paint and sheer will, but she got the job done. Started my career on CV-67 and hoped to end it on CVN-79, but that's not in the cards at this point. Thank you for this video.

[@pharma37]

I was on the final cruise.

[@john3pq]

@@legion1923 correct. CVN-80 is Enterprise, CVN-81 is Doris Miller. CVN-82+ have not yet been named.

[@mikehawk120]

She was also held together by sperm and used tampons as well.

[@donfinkey692]

I was on the USS Missisinewa AO 144 and we refueled her a few times in the Med in the early to mid 1970’s. I believe that at that time, she as the newest CV.

[@KutWrite]

@@legion1923 Yes.

[@bryansuver6873]

Big John was my home from 1990-1993. I was assigned to OC division (CATCC). My tour on the Kennedy was pivotal and by far the most positive for my career. I arrived as an E-5. Left an E-6 with a ton of qualifications and great evaluations. Made E-7 and E-8 because of my tour on the JFK. Will never forget my time aboard Big John.

[@w4gap]

Yeah brother, we had overlapping times aboard. I was onboard from '92 - '96. Saw and experienced so much more than some other friends that were aboard other ships during the same time.

[@pharma37]

@@w4gap The only good times I had in the navy were on that boat. I wouldn't do it again, but damn it was a good time for an 18-19 year old dodging jet blast.

[@wheels-n-tires1846]

Sailed alongside you for many Med UNREPS aboard Sylvania in those days...

[@williamcrane1762]

Was a member of the NTDS group and still remember the day that 9 atomic bombs were ready to go but was zapped at the very last-minute! Every bomb was returned to its home! Every one was sent to showers and then we were given great food and lots of the strong drinks by our CO and our Admiral !!!!

[@shawnirwin6633]

I was on this ship between 1978 and 1981, did two med cruises.

[@JGordonNo1Fan]

Did you ever see a portrait of JFK on the ship?

[@shawnirwin6633]

@@JGordonNo1Fan Not to my recollection.

[@robludwigsen7831]

It was beautiful during fleet week in nyc when I saw it

[@davidmullusky4303]

@@JGordonNo1Fan Its in the Capt Mess.

[@thunderstruck1392]

Hey Brother, I was on her about the same time, AIMD, did you serve through the overhaul in Portsmouth?

[@ricktoffer01]

The Big John was my home for four years from 1976 to 1980. I was in V-3 division for a few months as a blue shirt aircraft handler then I was transferred to V-1 Division in Crash and Salvage. as a red shirt firefighter aircraft rescue. Worked 16-hour days at sea when Big John was flying aircraft. My favorite planes were the F-8 Crusader and the C-1 Cod Got to visit Capri, Trieste, Roma, Pompeii, and Napoli Italy. Brest France, London, Scotland England, Dubrovnik Yugoslavia, Alexanderia, Cario Egypt, Barcelona, Madrid, Varsalona Spain, and I took leave to go to Frankfurt Germany, Sweden Alps, Athens Greece, and Tel Aviv Israel. The US Navy and Big John allowed this poor boy to experience the cultures and people of these places. So, made those 16-hour workdays more tolerable. I miss those days in Napoli sitting in an outdoor cafe with good shipmates and Italian friends. Eating real Italian cuisine and wine and watching the sun set and the stars rise. Seeing Big John rust like that reminds me how short life really is! ☢ENDS ☢

[@wythetrumpet6419]

Richard, thank you for your service for your country! Your sacrifice is greatly appreciated! God Bless You!

[@ricktoffer01]

@@wythetrumpet6419 You are welcome. I was proud to protect you and our country.

[@ramonsalomon3432]

Russell i dont if you remember me i was V3 at the same i think we served together the Russell i knew was a redskin fan from dc po3 class Salomon

[@nunyabusiness7602]

I spent many weeks at a time during carrier qualifications from 87 to 88 on Big John while serving in the USMC with VMA(AW)533. I remember how scared shitless I was the first time I walked around on the deck during flight ops. It soon became second nature however. "Keep your head on a swivel Marine!" What I remember most though was the excellent chow on ship. The navy had outstanding cooks on the Kennedy. I'll never forget my time on the USS Kennedy. What a beast! Watching those F14 TomCats take off with full after burners! Ooh-Rah!

[@thunderstruck1392]

You guys were looked down on as bad or worse than we were by the boats MC detachment, they would grumble about your fuel stained uniforms and nasty boots:-) especially because we would talk to you guys but never with the Brigg sentries;-) A couple buds, take care Brother...79ish to 82ish

[@nunyabusiness7602]

@@thunderstruck1392 Oh MarDet hated us and even though they were fellow Marines we avoided them. Beyond the dirty uniforms and boots I think what most annoyed them was our interactions with our officers. In the air-wing we worked around so many officers that the whole "snap and pop" attitude when an officer approached was looked on differently. Officers and enlisted in the air-wing were casual with each other (heck, even at Cherry Point saluting every officer you saw was not required while on the tarmac). The officers respected us for the work we did on their craft and we respected them for flying in those old A6 Intruders.

[@BrianRhodes9763]

@@nunyabusiness7602 I remember VMA(AW)-533 when I was on the 86' cruise. I was with VF-32 (TAD) to ship's security.

[@savioryeo9492]

Was on there at the same time. Was LCPO of bomb assembly. Great times….

[@ricktoffer01]

The F-8 Crusader had the biggest bang when it kicked into ab (after burner). I don't think F-8s are still in US Navy service I it was 1987 retired from US Navy carrier service. I liked the F-8 Crusader better than the F-14 Tomcat. My favorite was the old slow prop C-1 COD. We had an A4 Skyhawk that would not stop by the command of the yellow shirt and an F4-Phantom landing just missed his nose by a foot. That A4 stopped then! That pilot was told to stop his engines Fly 2 chalked his plane and Two US Marines jerked him out of the cockpit and hauled him into the island. I was on the aft firefighting TAU as it happened as a Hot suit man. We had an ASROC hang fire one time and that was a trip. I was the turret man on the MC5 fire truck. I had to stay till they disassembled the missel. We had a plane captain from VF-32 get sucked up an intake. You had to learn to always see from your sides as well as the front on the flight deck.

[@kellymartin8090]

Great work with that drone! The simulated landing at the beginning was fabulous. I spent 2 years on a carrier and your video rekindled some memories. I spent many an evening sitting on the fan tail smoking cigarettes and contemplating home. Thanks!

[@w4gap]

I wish I could take credit for the footage but this was posted to the USS JFK FB group years ago. I wish I could find it again so I could credit the guy that did it as he did do an awesome job. :-)

[@kellymartin8090]

@@w4gap He did! I’ve downloaded to my computer. Saved for eternity. 👍😎

[@billbradley5665]

I was boiler tech on the Kennedy from 76 through 79. She just came out of the ship yard from her collision with the USS Bordelon. Went on a North Atlantic and two Med Cruises. Was also on the ship when she and the USS Belknap collided. She was nickname the can opener back then... Lots of memories....

[@w4gap]

Very cool, thanks for your service shipmate. :-)

[@thunderstruck1392]

AIMD, IM-3, WC-610, spent some time up top for being naughty, Air div, fly-2 blue shirt tying down planes;-)

[@RadagastDaltrey]

Boiler Tech, damn. I have met two former boiler techs, not many of you all still around in the navy.

[@billbradley5665]

@@RadagastDaltrey I read that the Navy pretty much dropped Boiler Techs and the duties went to Machinist Mates. Technology sure have change the way things were...When I was in, Boiler Repairman was being dropped because it was a dying trade...

[@RadagastDaltrey]

@@billbradley5665 yes, BT merged with MM, though one of the two I met (my recruiter, actually) converted to GSM.

[@wesbromberg6204]

I was a postal clerk78-79 and did a long med cruise. Beautiful ship. I will always remember her as 8 burning and 4 turning flying across the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. At least in my heart I’ll always say long may you run JFK cv67

[@KutWrite]

Wow! 8 boilers!

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

For a time, RI was attempting to acquire the Kennedy as a museum ship. I donated $5 towards it at the air show while that was going on. I wish we had been able to, since we lost the opportunity to preserve Forrestal and Saratoga.

[@w4gap]

Yeah, I was really sad to hear the deal fell thru...

[@steveholdren5835]

I served on the Kennedy from 1980 to 1983. Made half a Med cruise, a full med cruise and an Indian Ocean cruise. I was a OS worked in CIC.

[@sgmbusarmyret3248]

I see this giant everyday when I go to work at the Yard. Never seen it like this. Great drone work!!

[@joes6883]

I was on her from '75 & '76. We were in the Med when they were evacuating Saigon and called on us to help with the evac. We came past the Rock of Gibraltar and they stopped us and sent us back into the Med. They let the U.S.S. Enterprise take it. Had 2 Med cruises and 1 North Atlantic cruise. Went above the Artic Circle once so I became a member of the Order of the Blue Nose. I was a GMG-3. It was indeed an experience of a lifetime even though I was just on her 2 years. Yes, it's saddens me to see her like this.

[@oldfarmer4700]

I was on board from 74 to 77. We went to the med in June 75 to Jan 76. We didn’t go back to the med until Jan 77. During 75 thru 76 there was only one med cruise so how do you figure 2? And during the time Saigon fell we were almost off the coast of Lebanon. Dont recall leaving the med going to rota and then back in the med. During almost the whole cruise I worked for the supply commander and knew where the ship was located on a regular bases because he was in charge of coordination and delivery of all supplies.

[@joes6883]

@@oldfarmer4700 You are mistaken. The Cruise we took in '75 didn't last 7 months. There were TWO Med cruises and ONE North Atlantic which you failed to mention. At any rate OLDfarmer, it was a duty.

[@oldfarmer4700]

@@joes6883 you can think what you want but I got the cruise book right here. June 75 to Jan 76. North Atlantic was September 76 to Nov 76. I also have the little cruise book for that. Besides there is a web site that lists every deployment, yard period, overall history the Kennedy had. Go check yourself.

[@allgood6760]

It should be a museum

[@Alejandra-cv7rj]

It should or at least be sold to a allied country I'm pretty sure it could be of use to any country after many years in that place they havent even finish taking it apart.

[@luciusvorenus9445]

Too bad it didn't become a museum moored by either the JFK Presidential Library in Boston or by the USS Massachusetts next to the Joseph P. Kennedy.

[@luciusvorenus9445]

@@Alejandra-cv7rj No way in hell the US Navy would sell a Super Carrier to a Foreign Government.

[@dracoblood3786]

@@Alejandra-cv7rj trump is gonna get elected for a second term before this ever happens

[@johnie14151]

I was on the JFK from April 1986 to April 1988. I did a med cruise and was on the ship when it went to Boston MA. This breaks my heart.

[@brettt777]

Was your med cruise the one in '86? I was on that cruise with VAQ-140.

[@johnie14151]

@@brettt777 yes. I was in the Deck Dept.

[@mattleblanc6066]

I toured the ship. Sat in the captins chair, wasn't supposed to be up on the bridge.. lol I thought it was in 1987 but it must of been in 88 like you say. I was about 15 at the time.

[@KutWrite]

Check out the new one with this name!

[@MlLKMAN]

I used to love to hang out on the fantail weather deck during the Med cruise in 97.

[@johnjones5354]

Sad to see a once great ship in this condition.

[@gregmoore8397]

I was on this ship in 1983 when we when to beirut. I was in awe I never seen anything that big on water. Its great to see her again. To all those who were on it in that time and to Lt lane who lost his life god bless

[@w4gap]

Yeah man, it was amazing seeing it in dry dock w/all of the water pumped out. Hard to imagine something of that size and mass floating at all.

[@greghowell6915]

I was on the Mississippi CGN 40 over there at the same time

[@KutWrite]

@@w4gap Thank Archimedes!

[@greghowell6915]

Can you imagine the JFK and the New Jersey sailing together in the Med? Talk about Naval Power!

[@bridamy]

It's weird seeing what looks like a Nimitz class carrier, but then you see the exhaust ports at the top of the island.

[@MrSheckstr]

The only non nuclear carrier that has a coke bottle profile

[@docbrown6550]

There is no way these ships should be destroyed.

[@w4gap]

Yeah, agreed. There was a significant effort to have her made into a museum ported in RI but those plans were scuttled for some reason.

[@allensee4175]

@@w4gap The Navy didn't want it to happen. I volunteered at the museum during the negotiations.

[@allensee4175]

I was stationed on her 1980-1983 4MMR

[@peoplehavetherights]

@@w4gap "$$$$."

[@sammyleedy1078]

I served on it with vf32 in 88 -89 med cruise and 90-91 Gulf War miss it every day it's docked if Philadelphia, I get to see from. The highway every now and then

[@tabithamartin4092]

I was on that med cruise. was the CMC's yeoman. I looked different, and had a different name back then. I loved this ship. cried the day I left her, and cried as I saw her from the interstate in philly as she lay there rusting, neglected, abandoned. So sad a fate for such a great ship. She was the best home I ever had.

[@peterblakeslee4040]

This ship would look great up at Battleship Cove.

[@loueckert4970]

I was on CV-67 in 1975/76. Worked in AIMD cal lab--electronic test and measurement. Went on to work for HP doing the same work. Great experience.

[@w4gap]

Hey shipmate, I had some good buds in AIMD. I was an ET2 working on Fleet Satcom, most of our gear was in the island and on the mast. :-)

[@mikegracie3212]

@@w4gap my division owned the mast for preservation when I was stationed on Carl Vinson from 84 to 88, I hated climbing it to check their work.

[@w4gap]

@@mikegracie3212 man, I spent a lot of time up on the JFK's mast. We had our OE-82 UHF Satcom antennas, Inmarsat & SHF dishes, etc. I loved being up there while out to sea.

[@mikegracie3212]

@@w4gap you're a better person than I am, I was scared of heights but when up because it was my job. There were a lot of things I liked about carrier life, but the mast was not one of them.

[@Maximum-zc9tc]

Poor ship just rusting away in her final spot 😢

[@w4gap]

Yeah sad to see this happening...

[@michaelsearle7364]

It should be a museum

[@LoFiMofo]

Spent many 12 hour days on that flight deck. Hard work as a plane captain but loved every minute of it.

[@WVsanta]

So sad to see her like this. Served on her from 1975 thru 79, got to see a lot of the world at a very young age and have a lot of great memories from my time on her. RIP Big Bad John

[@w4gap]

Yeah man, lots of incredible experiences during my time aboard her.

[@swathdiver489]

I spent the 4th of July aboard this carrier in 1986 and got to see President Reagan that night land aboard. She was also the first Supercarrier to enter Port Everglades in '85 and I had the honor of being aboard one of the tugs that brought her in. Lots of memories.

[@jonw3738]

Awesome video! I was a tin can sailor, so I was never on a carrier. We escorted the America and Iowa, but I never saw the Kennedy. I heard she was going to be a museum at one point. There were also rumors of her being put back on active duty. Wow. That would be a huge renovation job.

[@norms3913]

The Kennedy service life of 50 years is up there was no way to put that carrier back on active duty when she was in the shipyard for a overhaul job

[@kennycerny7967]

I was on it 1980 and 81 with VS 32 anti sub squadron. I was 19 years old now 62. Hated it when I was there but after I grew up to me now it was awesome. Sad to see it looking like crap.

[@ftgrat1]

Hi shipmate, i was on JFK May 1980 to jan.82, i was ships company GSE.. . Went to see her in 2012 at philly yard and it was looking rough at that time. I understand that inside the ships compartments its still 4 "oh" as far as cleanliness. Look for her to head to Brownsville Texas scrapper sometime in next 2 months

[@charletonzimmerman4205]

Hey shipmate, on Feb. 80'-Jan. 81' Engineering- EM2.

[@markroberts7370]

Hi, Shipmate, I was in squadron VAW-126 from 1978-1981, although I was supposed to go on the 1980 Med Cruise, I had torn my right knee cartilage playing football for the Vaw-126 football team, and had to go to Portsmouth for surgery, so I missed the cruise with surgery and recovery. I did make the workups and then made workups and REFTRA for the 82 cruise, I got out 28 DEC 81. Like you I hated it as a 20-21 year old, but look back fondly, and proudly. My wife and I were in the Phila area a couple of years ago and went to see Big John, it was rewarding, but awfully sad to see her rusting away. Many fond memories. Best of luck to you all, and thank you to all of you veterans for your service.

[@leihtory7423]

This is the type of carrier, the Chinese are now just trying to build. China for now only has managed to fit 2 elevators and 3 catapults. while this decommission USA non-nuclear carrier has 4 elevators and 4 catapults. Impressive even for now.

[@davephipps1719]

My last floating mobile home. Did 3 cruises onboard, one with VA-34 and 2 with VA-75. Last one ended in 1989. I retired shortly after that.

[@jackwood7972]

I was actually stationed on the USS America CVA 66 in 1970 and would visit my best friend from high school who was stationed on the USS Kennedy then . I was a lithographer and he was an electrician. Great memories.

[@tomsimurdak3657]

I was on USS Waccamaw AO 109, the first oiler to pass fuel to her. Sure doesn't seem that long ago.

[@Broney-tw3vy]

From an Army Grunt's perspective, I thoroughly enjoy reading the comments from the sailors who served on Kennedy. I look forward to visiting certain places Iraq, one day.

[@w4gap]

Thanks for your comment. Yeah, living on her for 4yrs was definitely one of the most memorable phases of my life.

[@michaelb.8953]

Should turn her into a museum ship and collect donations and museum fees to get her closer to ready reserve status so that if she's ever ready to fight again she's at least closer to being recommissioned instead of rusting away. Don't know how the DOD would feel about turning a museum ship back to active duty, but it's better than trying to do that to a mothballed ship at a greater cost to the taxpayer.

[@curtekstrom9531]

Do you know how many Organizations tried to Acquire the CV-67 as a Museum and failed so far. How would it be funded. You can't make Every Decommissioned Ship a Museum.

[@danjoy7385]

Great video, nice close ups.

[@MLHunt]

Nice footage. I used to work in the Navy Yard and have seen it from the bow end many times. It's nice to see it from all angles.

[@stevecole3192]

Well done video. At least she's still around...for now. I spent 3 year aboard Forrestal CV59 which is gone. Sad. Many memories just gone.

[@marieblackburn7161]

Husband was on it from 89 to 91 and for our first anniversary he gave me 2 mig kills big John rest in peace

[@robertbrown3624]

My dad was station on this ship and I did a tiger curse on it in the last 80's. This ship has always held a special place in my heart. Wish I could buy her and make it my house....

[@w4gap]

That's awesome. I was on there from 92 to 96.

[@pharma37]

You could have bought it, it was literally sold for 1 cent to a ship yard.

[@robertbrown3624]

@@pharma37 no I couldn't, you have to be on a list to get into those sales. Plus you have to show proof you have the money to move it and up keep it. The government had to take back a ship they sold as a museum and it went belly up once. I found all this out a few weeks ago.

[@pharma37]

@@robertbrown3624All you would need is adequate docking space, and pay a company to get it there. From there, you could have made much more money selling to the private sector scrappers. There's $millions in steel on that thing. The navy is publically funded, so they don't have an incentive to sell for value... they just needed it gone. It was already stripped down to basically the shell. If you offered, they might have given it to you. They were done with it. If you don't have the space for it, or the ability to tow it.... then they wouldn't bother. It's not a small car. You can buy $10 Million old yachts right now for $1.⁰⁰ just because yards need to make more space, and nobody's bought it in 15 years. Sometimes the money doesn't matter Sometimes... it's just about who has the ability to get rid of their problem.

[@GORT70]

Should turn it into a museum/veterans housing (it would give them some sense of structure) and a community college (trade school). It has all the facilities to accomplish all of it and them some.

[@johhnysorrow]

I served 96-99. If my memory servers be correctly. at the 2:23 mark or somewhere near there there is a sponson that has a WTD. Going through that door there was an office to the Right as you headed back in. straight ahead was the WTD to Hanger Bay 2 and then there was a down ladder that took you to the second deck. When you go down, there is a pumping station which was for JP5 I think. But at the foot of the ladder well and straight in front of you was a head that my division was responsible for. Going through the WTD on the right at the foot of the bed put you on the starboard side and there was a hatch that went down to I think a Chief's berthing. a WTD heading aft that put you into other berthing compartments that comprised AIMD and Supply. If you look forward there was a door to another berthing that was my divisions. I racked in #35. This is also the start of the aft Chow line with the trays being picked up towards the front. If you went through the berthing door on the second deck, on the opposite side was another door that lead you to the port side start of the chow line. and right across from that was the bake shop. There was a hatch that went down right behind the bake shop that I think lead to a chiefs berthing. The Chapel was in the next compartment forward and through the hatch down. The last time I was on her was Augest 25th 1999, don't ask me how I remember any of this....

[@larryoneill7432]

I was in AIMD cal lab between Dec 89 thru Desert Shield and the start of Desert Storm

[@richardinman4091]

I was on the '82 Tiger cruise when I was 10.

[@brettt777]

I made a med cruise on the big John in '86. At that time, she was considered to be the most powerful warship in the world. This was because even the she is considered to be a Kitty Hawk class, she was originally going to be built as a nuke. But because of budget cuts or whatever, that idea was scrapped and she stayed conventional. This is why her smoke stack is angled off to the side instead of going straight up. This also meant that because they didn't install the nuclear reactors and all that stuff, they had more room for fuel and ammunition storage, making her the most powerful warship in the world... on paper anyway. Very sad to see her waiting away like this. I've never understood why we call our great ships "her" and "she", but then give them male names.

[@BrianRhodes9763]

I was also on the 86' Med Cruise. I was with VF-32 (TAD) to ship security. We also didn't have to go on water hours because of her 8 boilers originally intended for the nuke.

[@rogervonschleusingen4603]

YOUR DRONE IS PRETTY COOL , MATE !!

[@karenflanagan1961]

That's just sad to 👀 a great ship named after a great president Mr. Kennedy is dishonor to him . It should be preserved.

[@jayne.on.a.journey]

I remember seeing the carrier of the coast Florida near Jacksonville in the early 2000s.

[@ET2carbon]

And we saw you

[@pharma37]

Mayport. Loved that boat.

[@oceanmariner]

I was on board when she was brand new visiting a friend. She even smelled new. I served on destroyers and patrol boats so I probably looked like a hillbilly visiting NYC.

[@canthony1518]

I was on JFK from the shakedown cruise to the first mediterranean cruise in 69 met a Lotta good people lotta good pilots and personnel with VF-14 the oldest fighter squadron on the newest carrier CVA-67 had a lot of fun it saddens me to see her this way. 😫

[@w4gap]

Yeah shipmate, she deserves better than this...

[@jamespuckett7465]

Quartermaster 89-93, my first ship. Will always remember Big John.

[@w4gap]

I was aboard from 92 - 96

[@ChIGuY-town22_]

92' Med cruise, went around the horn of Africa. The murals from world war II down in the boiler room are amazing...sad to see her like this.

[@wheels-n-tires1846]

Sad to see her like this, and know her imminent fate. Did many an UNREP in the Med with her aboard the Sylvania in the early 90s...

[@garyrodriguez6520]

Served aboard for 6 months in 1981 prior to heading off to Nuke school in Orlando. I will never forget my short time on this majestic ship!! Saddens me to see her in this condition. Wish they would have turned her into a museum.

[@w4gap]

I was in ET A school in Orlando and then Great Lakes and then NOB Norfolk for NAVMACS C school on the way to getting stationed aboard the JFK. There was originally a big push to have her towed up to RI to become a museum but that plan fell thru.

[@AlphaWolf789]

they definitely should

[@curtekstrom9531]

And How as a Museum will it be funded?

[@JJ-rf7dg]

She's returning bigger, badder and powerful than ever. The new CVN 79

[@johnie14151]

I know. The new carrier. It’s not the same.

[@JJ-rf7dg]

I work at the Philadelphia Navy shipyard so I have the privilege of touring her.

[@ET2carbon]

@@JJ-rf7dg is it open to plankowners?

[@JJ-rf7dg]

Its not open to the public or plank owners. CV- 67 was sold to a scrap yard and suppose to leave this spring. From my recent experience, it contains lead, asbestos, mold, rust and dirty. I don't think anyone want to tour her.

[@ET2carbon]

@@JJ-rf7dg ahhhh just like I left her hahaha. Smells like freedom

[@lawrencerotruck9443]

Was with RVAH-14 when left for 2 week carquals in Sep 1970. After a few days we were a day away from liberty in San Juan when we got a "flash" message to head to the Med (the Jordanian crisis). Our Med cruise was supposed to start in Dec. After a month or so they decided to keep us in Med. Since most of us squadron personnel did not bring full seabags, the Wing staff back at NAS Albany had to break into our lockers in the barracks, box up our stuff and ship it to us. We received our stuff in November while in Naples. We returned to Norfolk on March 1. Went to sea for 2 weeks, rdturned in 5 1/2 months!!

[@3BricksHigher]

I was stationed on her 91 through 93. V2 Maintenance Control. She deserves better than being scrapped.

[@w4gap]

Amen to that brother, I agree 100%

[@pharma37]

I was V2 Maintenance, then Waist on JFK. Long days and good times.

[@wheels-n-tires1846]

We crossed paths a few times- did many a Med UNREP with her aboard Sylvania 91-93. Sad to see her like this, and knowing her sad fate is coming... I feel the pain- Sylvania was scrapped a while ago...😞

[@moonmullins8227]

ASW module 79-82 Did a long Med and a regular IO Cruise. Spain, France, Italy, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Kenya and Australia.

[@donf3877]

Thank you for NOT putting some lame ass music into this video. She, the USS John F Kennedy, should be revered in silence. Sadly, her job is now done. Maybe some of her steel will find its way onto the next carrier..................................................................................................................

[@wythetrumpet6419]

I remember seeing her new in Norfolk as a kid in 1968. Hum it seems I am going the way of this once mighty ship. 😔

[@ricktoffer01]

We all are. Time just keeps going by just faster as we get older.

[@SK-gt1jk]

Kind of sad to see her like this!

[@callenfamily05]

I was onboard the the USS Dale CG-19 doing plane guarding duty when the Kennedy (CV-67) ran overtop of the USS Belknap (CG-26) in the fall of 1975 a tragic event. Then several years later I took a COG flight of her deck to go home on emergency leave. She was a truly awesome ship. "Go Navy"

[@w4gap]

Yeah man, I know well the tale of the Belknap pole. I spent more than a few hours mounting UHF Satcomm antennas on that. ;--)

[@KutWrite]

I would love to go aboard and tour this ship!

[@stolnpckup]

My brother was on this ship during the gulf war.

[@w4gap]

When did he leave and what was his name/rate? I was on there from '92 - '96 ET2 Phillips. :-)

[@stolnpckup]

@@w4gap I don't know. I sent him a text to ask him.

[@stolnpckup]

@@w4gap we, December 1990

[@Zyworski]

That actually looks good compared to the USS Oriskany it was allowed to rust out completely.

[@robertotamesis1783]

With todays technology (SMR) 4th generation nuclear reactors you could cut down cost of by building from the ground up by as much as 80% . The USS Gerald Ford cost about 13.5 billions $

[@sayhey7482]

i remem watching her air group flying over head so close we could see thier pilots as we watched the distant smoke {40 miles} of WTC 9/11/01 dispite the reality ,feeling so PROUD and SAFE ! like her namesake she will never be forgotten !!

[@alottocash6875]

I know how you feel I was a crew member of CVA 66 the USS America it broke my heart when they used our ship to test weapons on to see the damage that the weapons would cost and how long the aircraft carrier could stay up before it sinks they use my ship as a weapons test platform I know how you feel but it did its job very well and now the rest of the newer carriers are safer because of it and they rebuilt another America number 6 just as good as the origial sometimes we have to let go so we can update and keep ahead of the competition on your ship CBA 66 it took approximately 5,000 man to operate it if it was steam powered as the America was the empire are cool was about 5,000 but now the largest ship ever built picture of Ford it can be manned with only about 3,000 men so you see automation has replaced a lot of soldier salad but it's for the best so now we got 2,000 extra men we can put on other ships well thanks for the video I enjoy it

[@envitech02]

I visited in Dec 2013 when it was tied up in San Diego. Although I bought the tickets, I never actually boarded as I was fearful of missing my flight. At the time the flight deck was full of aircraft on display.

[@jayss10]

That wasn't the JFK. That's the USS Midway.

[@envitech02]

@@jayss10 Arrrggh! Yes! You're right. A bit confused I am. It's the Midway.

[@ET2carbon]

Not a pac ship

[@thunderstruck1392]

Cpl. Johnson USMC from Parma, JFK 80ish, you made my vacation bellow decks much less difficult. After my incident with LCpl. Jensen at the bus-stop in Mayport, and/or my exchange with a table of your people at the Tradewins E-club in Norfolk. Maybe you were there that night? I dreaded the retaliation when skipper brought the hammer down, If by chance you ever come across this please reply, if this rings a bell you know who I am. Would love to buy you drinks before I die;-) Be well Brother!

[@BrianRhodes9763]

I was on the Kennedy for the 86' Med cruise with VF-32 (TAD) to ship security. a lot of memories. It's sad to she her in this condition, but I think there is an organization trying to make her a museum. If that happens my old squadron will have a reunion wherever she's docked.

[@w4gap]

There was a huge effort to have her shipped to RI to be a museum years ago however, for whatever reason that fell thru.

[@BrianRhodes9763]

@@w4gap So sad, thanks for the update

[@tabithamartin4092]

Dec88-aug90, one of the only places in my life that felt like home...

[@DG52343]

Served on this Great ship from 89-92. Great experience indeed.

[@cdrocrossdiscovery]

Well, considering she hasn't seen service in quite a while, JFK looks pretty good.

[@w4gap]

Nah, she looks like hell from her past...

[@George-bv3dx]

I came aboard after Coral Sea was decommissioned for my last year of my enlistment. Very sad to see it in this shape. Wondering if you can go see it in the yard.

[@w4gap]

Yes, there are no restrictions that I know of as I've seen multiple pics of folks have recently posted on the USS JFK FaceBook page.

[@thefederalist6786]

She is in Brownville, Texas

[@Maximilian7992]

It’s a shame she was never saved. Would’ve cool to have super carrier (especially the last conventionally powered one) to be a museum

[@w4gap]

That was the original plan but sadly it fell thru.

[@nathandodge665]

I was stationed on the ship 72 to 75 carrier Duty freaking sucks just like boot camp all the way through

[@w4gap]

Yeah man, I was aboard for a long 49 months. ;-)

[@nathandodge665]

@@w4gap holy crap

[@Chris_at_Home]

I have a picture of the JFK I took during those same years. I think it was spring of 73 when I flew over it in a P3 while deployed to Sigonella. We probably went to the club and had a cold beer after the flight. .

[@wrecker8236]

There are navies in the world that would kill for a ship of this size and class. The US has so many, we can just let them sit out and rust.

[@Masterchief68]

Made Chief on that ship!

[@kempmt1]

I assumed that these retired carriers were either museums or scrapped

[@BigAntTVMedia]

See her sitting there in Philly makes me sad

[@TheBigExclusive]

This thing is MASSIVE. Its twice the size of an Iowa class Battleship. It's such a shame that it was sold for scrap. But I fully understand why no organization could afford to keep this Super Carrier as a museum. It's t JUST. SO. HUGE. Most museums can just *barely afford* to maintain the Iowa class battle ships as museums. An even then the Iowa battleship museums struggle sometimes to raise money. A super carrier that is twice the size of an Iowa class battleship is probably beyond the budget of all museums. They simply don't have the money to maintain such a beast.

[@lonnyyoung4285]

You are correct. The USS New Jersey channel did a video on Kitty Hawk getting sold for scrap. The curator (who is in almost every video) was unhappy that Kitty Hawk was getting scrapped, but he also stated that no group could raise the funds to turn her into a museum, let alone properly maintain her. They estimate that it will take $20 million to dry dock New Jersey. Dry docking a super carrier would probably be at least $50 million, if not more. I think only a government or one of the ultra-wealthy could afford the upkeep on a super carrier, and even then, it might be a struggle.

[@TheBigExclusive]

@@lonnyyoung4285 - Yep. That's far too much money for a public museum to raise. Even thr USS New Jersey museum struggles to raise money sometimes. And the USS Texas Battleship is even worse. Both museums have to put off expensive maintenance for as long as possible. It costs millions every year just to keep the ships from sinking. I really wish the USS KittyHawk or JFK was saved. But it was so expensive to do so. Maybe if it was partnership between public museum and an ultra wealthy person where they share the cost. But I don't think Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos are interested in preserving military history.

[@426superbee4]

They better do some thing with it, B4 its a rust bucket. I would like to see a double hull carrier made from them a like. Wider to hold more things

[@Robhill072770]

I had lunch with the Captain in 94 I think while she was stationed at Mayport with Chamber. They were fixing at lot of problems from being one of the last ship at the Philly Navel yard before it was shut done.

[@w4gap]

Yes, to my knowledge, we were the last ship to leave Philly in '95.

[@Robhill072770]

@@w4gap They screwed up lots of plumbing and got knows what as retaliation for closing ship yard Captain said.

[@sesapup]

1999-2000. CS5 division. Held quarters in front of the Belknap pole (known as the Kennedy Post on all other carriers due to the Belknap incident). Those 10 months were...not my favorite time in the Navy.

[@w4gap]

I remember the Belknap pole well. During our '92 - '93 Med Cruise we had SEAL Team 8 and a CIA Op guy with us. We had to set the CIA guy up w/a secure UHF Satcom radio in a space forward on the 03 level so we had to run cable from UHF-1 on the 07 level down to that space and then mount a UHF "doughboy" UHF Satcom antenna at the top of the Belknap for that dedicated use. It was a crazy windy day that me and CTM2 James Davis climbed up the pole to mount that antenna. Will never forget that ;-) This is a pic that the agent took for us of that endeavor.(facebook.com/photo/?fbid=117770648290311&set=a.117065828360793)

[@johntheclyde2816]

Big John. Did some unreps with her in the Med back in the late ‘70’s. Big beautiful ship back in the day.

[@w4gap]

Yeah man, that's an awesome evolution to behold. We had numerous ones in the Med and Atlantic.

[@johnchristian664]

If the whole ship can't be a museum, why can't they at least make the island portion a museum?

[@w4gap]

Yeah, I don't know, anything would be nice.

[@phiksit]

It would really hard if not impossible to transport the island in one piece. But yeah, you could lay down some asphalt and paint it to simulate the size and look of the flight deck and have some aircraft on the display. It would probably be easier and cheaper to just build something like that from scratch, on site... somewhere. But then we already have the Midway, although the upper decks of the island are usually closed off to visitors I believe ☹

[@charletonzimmerman4205]

HER COLLISONS, REALLY HURT HER, spent most of my time 'REPAIRING" her was EM-3 E-4 @ her 12th year left E-5, she was tired like I was, left her in the Med. flew home.

[@LeonardGallagher-xr6qq]

Great video, BUT, not sure if it is legal to fly a drone within 5 miles of an airport. The Philadelphia Navy Yard is 2 miles from the airport or at least from where the JFK is. I walk around the Navy Yard often and always stop and look at the JFK in her current stage and the commerical planes landing at the Philadelphia International Airport are flying very low as they pass over the JFK to land 2 miles away... I also think that is illegal to fly a drone at Philadelphia Navy Yard. Just saying be carefull..

[@civmike]

Great shots

[@TAllyn-qr3io]

Very cool drone footage…now go try that over an active carrier 😛🤘🤘🤘

[@jpdunamislodge]

Ships Company V4 Division. 12/1981 - 06/1985. I can almost paint the Mona Lisa with a 4” brush.

[@jayvee1947]

In the Med escorting JFK in 1969 and 1972 aboard DDGs. Spent a few days at sea on JFK via helo.

[@0k3ma]

I was on this when it visited Dun Laoighre, Ireland in 1996. Amazing so it was.

[@w4gap]

I got out in March of '96 and missed out on that.

[@frankallen6518]

I was there for the Ireland visit. I went to the Eagles concert in Dublin.

[@markwoods4574]

Instead of scraping these magnificent aircraft carriers with outstanding history the US should refit them and sell them to friendly allied countries who are after Aircraft Carriers for there Naval Fleet.

[@w4gap]

Yeah man, I'm surprised that's not done.

[@MargaretLeber]

Sometime between now and last September she disappeared from that mooring on Google Maps. One ex-crewman swears she's still there and offer a photo taken 2/2 as alleged proof. The photo shows her at night in fog sharing the pier with a sharp-bowed small man-o-war of some kind. I can't validate the photo. Has she been towed to Brownsville? Anybody know when? A recent "It's History" vid harps on NISMF Phily as containing "abandoned battleships and aircraft carriers" but of course it does not; the ships there are not abandoned, this is not "the mothball fleet" which used to be in the Hudson River but has been dispersed, the New Jersey is up the delaware and the JFK was sold for a penny to the shipbreakers and is apparently now gone.

[@w4gap]

That's interesting I hadn't heard that they've already removed her but maybe so... I think their referring them to being "abandoned" is reflecting that in a sense they are as there is no assigned crew, they have been cannibalized wrt most C4I technology and ability to be gotten underway under their own power and they are literally just rusting away. When we were their for our yard period ('93 - '95) I and a few other ETs got permission to go aboard the Forrestal to see if there was anything related to the "Red phones" and associated amplifiers or "Nixie" that we could use for spares as those were all old tech and mostly left aboard. It was obvious that noone had walked those p-ways in a LONG time. Eerily quiet and dark as night below decks. Definitely would've been a great set for a haunted ship movie... ;-)

[@ftgrat1]

She is still in Philly at this time, Kitty Hawk on its way to scrapper in Brownsville as we speak, should get there sometime in April. Then "Big John" will leave Philly once Kitty hawk is moored in Brownsville. Hate to see her go. Going to do everything in my power to get to Philly to see her off for last voyage! Ships company 1980-82 Ground support equipment. The time of my life and made me what I am today!

[@gotshpilkes]

The last time I saw the her, the JFK was docked next to the brand new Nimitz which was still taking on crew. The Kennedy has aged about as well as I have.

[@JamieSteam]

Recently sold for one cent, to a Texas scrapping company. Sad ending.

[@charletonzimmerman4205]

Was on 80, Med Cruise, Engineering, Navy this "Fiscal Year, scrapping alot"

[@gtc1961]

That's really sad....

[@sabrinahutton1193]

I was on the 2002 deployment. Fun times

[@w4gap]

Very cool, I was aboard from '92 - '96. Nothing I've experienced can compare to life at sea on a carrier.

[@Joe-ij6of]

yeah, it needs a good wax job and some detailing, but other than that seems like it's good to go