A Look Inside the USS Midway | USS Midway Museum

Take a look inside the longest running aircraft carrier of the 20th century, the USS Midway CV-41.
This retired aircraft carrier is now a ship museum located in San Diego, CA.
Visit the top ship museum in the USA: www.midway.org/
Find out what’s happening onboard: bit.ly/ship2shore-fb
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[@jonhildahl9982]

My dad served aboard this amazing ship from 73-75. His favorite memory is the one & only time he took a 'cat shot' but I've had the pleasure of hearing some pretty cool & even funny stories. Love ya pops!

[@stevencolagiovanni8552]

The staff has done an outstanding job making many parts of the ship available on the self-guided tour. As a Midway sailor I am truly impressed. Visiting the Midway is a must when in San Diego.

[@ussmidwaymuseum41]

Thank you for your service and continued support, this means so much to us! Hope to welcome you back onboard soon!

[@meteorfive6]

Yes, Thank You for your service in the world's greatest Navy! My Dad was in WW2 on a destroyer escort, then served at a secret base in the Philippines!

[@steveyoung7669]

I was a crewman from 78' to 80'. GONZO Station for the Iranian Hostage Crisis. As Weapons Department G-3 Division DCPO, the forward Mess Deck (Fwd Bomb Assembly) was my maintenance responsibility. That space is now the training center for special events (not part of the tour), and I was a little saddened that I could not show it to my family. Most all of the 'back in the day' film in this presentation is from the U.S.S. Independence CV-62, and U.S.S. Enterprise CVN-65 from the Navy training film 'Ready on Arrival' (1966), available on KZbin. The museum is wonderfully done. Thank You for your work.

[@buzz5969]

We stopped doing Gonzo after the NK, China drama. Think the Kitty went over once during the Gulf War but that was it, 7thfleet ships stayed in AO.😊

[@richgosselin9533]

I enjoyed this video I served on her sister ship the USS CORAL SEA CVA 43 fron 1974-1975 Avation Ordinanceman 3rd class

[@Marine450x]

I did one Westpac 79-80 on our Coral Maru as a Marine in VMFA-531. I tried to reenlist if they would guarantee me a cruise on the Midway. Needless to say it didn't happen, but I did visit the Midway with my wife & youngest son in 2006. I dream often of returning with more of my family.

[@rickedwards4219]

I had the privilege to serve aboard her from December 1969 to August 1971. I have visited her four times and was pleased that the tour went through my berthing compartment. Well done to all of the volunteers!

[@whharmon6987]

I proudly served aboard this ship from 1990 to 1992.

[@ussmidwaymuseum41]

Thank you for your service!

[@marko111maga3]

mark sardone HT3 USS MIDWAY 1978 1980 Great ship

[@Fear_the_Doughnut]

@@marko111maga3 Morris HAll AMS3 USS Midway 1984 - 1988 I agree great ship.

[@Davidsavage8008]

V-4 1983- 1985 top deck all day all night

[@bobtransvaal144]

1965 WestPac

[@markjumper]

February 20, 2023 - Today my Dad, CDR Vern Jumper (USN Retired), celebrates his 91st birthday. He served aboard the USS Midway during 1963-65 and 1973-75 as a F-4 pilot, CAG LSO, and Air Boss. He is featured in this video and still proudly serves as a Docent at the USS Midway Museum.

[@wesleyswisher9624]

I have the 1965 Midway cruise book. Your dad's picture is shown with the other Officers and chiefs as part of the Carrier Air Wing Two staff. LCDR V L Jumper.

[@johngorman2916]

Young Man, you should be extremely proud. Your Dad and Admiral Chambers are an intrical part of Midways Magic and the success of Operation Frequent Wind. These are Memories that I Now Cherish. CPO USN RET 69-94

[@buzz5969]

No introduction needed as I Sailed with her, first carrier and my First BattleGroup, BG ALFA, Seventh fleet baby!!! Home ported outta Yoko Japan 1983. MIDWAY MAGIC is what she was called. Best times of my life. Retired 2008, consequently seen The Connie, the Kitty and then the first Nuke, GDub = George Washington home ported there.🇺🇸⚓️🍻✌🏻

[@bradADMaxe]

I served on her from 1990-1992. AIMD IM-4 Division Aviation Support Equipment Technician. Slimy WOG to Shellback on that final cruise. 😜😎

[@MacDaddyRico]

ICFN Gyroscope Technician 1978-1980..! Midway Magic...Gonzo Station...

[@steveyoung7669]

Was there with you Shipmate. Weapons Department G-3.

[@pat36a]

My father was a Plank Holder on the FDR CV-42 as a back seater on the SB2C Helldiver. He in the war film , Maiden Voyage of the FDR. He's in plane #7 that fly's off the deck into the Ocean. They were Ferrying planes to Guantanamo Cuba . Wish you talked more about her days as a Straight Deck.

[@meteorfive6]

My father was in WW2 on a destroyer escort, the in the Philippines on a dirt strip base that was supposed to be secret! He told me and my brother about it in the 1960's, when we asked him "so it is not a secret, anymore?" He just laughed at us...but tell your Dad we say thank you for your service!

[@Fear_the_Doughnut]

I so want to go back to the Midway, I served from 1984 to 1988 on midway in HS-12, I don't remember very many bad times on board. A lot of hard work, a lot of fun ports of call, and many, many friends. I love the Midway.

[@TPaine1776]

Same here. I was 1982-85 IM3 div and I still miss her.

[@jimc5096]

Do you know when HS-12 repalce HC-1 Det 2? I left the ship 8 years before you arrived.

[@TPaine1776]

@@jimc5096 Don't remember exactly, I believe late '83

[@oshtoolman]

As soon as I can get to San Diego, I will visit this living history center. I would love to walk around and touch the RA5C Vigilante, one more time. RVAH-14 on board USS Independence, 1973.

[@meteorfive6]

Thank you for your service in our Navy! The world's greatest! Go Navy!

[@John-zh9xs]

I was a BT on Midway 79 to 81. One baker BR..Lots of time out at sea 93 days in a row one time. John

[@SuperRonniex]

I served on the Midway from May 1964 to March 1966, hope visit her again in San Diego. I was a Bosin assigned to Side Keepers for most of my duty on the Midway.

[@rp1645]

Thank you for the History Lesson. This ship served proudly though mean tuff times. Hats off to all who sailed her.

[@marksauck8481]

I remember in very heavy seas that extreme angle deck would bang into ocean surface because the ships roll was extreme. As big as Midway was at it’s inception it looked small next to these behemoths, the super carriers. I noticed this difference when Midway was berthed on the opposite side of the pier from the USS Enterprise.

[@kristoffermangila]

I think the reason for the Midway's (and her siblings) behavior in very heavy seas is due to her hull design. Unlike the Essex-class carriers, she was built on the hull design of the Montana-class battleship, making her the contemporary of the Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano, which was built on the hull of the Yamato-class battleship.

[@AvengerII]

The Midway wasn't that much smaller than the Kitty Hawk and Forrestal class designs after she was refit in 1966-1970. There's a photo on the Wikipedia page for USS Midway that shows her in a 4-ship formation with USS Ranger, USS America, and Teddy Roosevelt. Ranger is directly below her in the photo and Midway hardly seems tiny by comparison with the Ranger. She's very close in length and acreage of flight deck to the Forrestal-class design. The Midway looks unique because she's the only carrier (re)built with her elevators outside the main perimeter and curves of the flight deck like that. The elevators are more integrated into the flight decks of the supercarriers. Midway is still an elegant-looking carrier but deeply flawed like the Forrestal-class was. The one thing Midway (and Coral Sea) did better than the Forrestal class was shifting their port side elevators to the rear and outside of the landing strip zone. I don't know WHY the US Navy built so many carriers (4 Forrestals plus ALL the angled deck refits of the Essex class!) with edge elevators interrupting the landing field. You would think SOMEONE would have figured out (beforehand) that an elevator at the tip of the landing field would almost NEVER be able to be used during flight operations!

[@marksauck8481]

As cramped as Midway’s dental unit was I remember how impressed I was with that dental officer who had to surgically remove my wisdom teeth. This was while we were at sea in the Gulf of Tonkin just off North Vietnam. We had everything on that ship including very modern dental spaces and great dentists. Somewhere on the bottom of that gulf are my teeth.

[@luacreskid]

I still get chills when I look at her. I superimpose a 2 over that 1 and shazam...FDR is back alive (in my mind)

[@jimc5096]

FDR was my second carrier with the Sundownders of VF-111 in 75-76

[@walterheinen5298]

Very Cool. Of all the times I’ve been there, I’ve never seen the carriers full of aircraft, much less two of them.

[@samkersey5479]

Met a sailor while on Westpac in 1982 in yokuska Japan that was stationed on the Midway I had the privilege of taking a small tour one of the most exciting things in my Naval career

[@nathandodge665]

The Nimitz is now in it's 48th year of service.... A new record for carriers

[@richardlovejoy7875]

the hanger was not the busiest place on the ship, it would shut down, but engineering was, we always had a boiler and gen from each group (2-3) (1-4) going in port or dock side 90% of the time, unless we were at homeport , Was in M-Div-#1 engine group 71-74

[@ussmidwaymuseum41]

Thank you for your service and your comment!

[@brentcowell5776]

wish i couldve stayed aboard n ride her back to the states from japan! i was aboard 88-91 ships company weapon specialist!!! i hope n pray i get to visit her b4 my life ends

[@jamesburton5242]

Today I am 79. I to would like to tour the Midway before my life ends. I was on ship out of Pearl Harbor from 62-66. Made 3 trips to Vietnam and saw Midway at sea and saw her come through Pearl Harbor to and from missions. Amazing ship to have watched docking and leaving harbor.

[@jimc5096]

I was on her from February 74 thru April 1976 with HC-1 Det 2 (Helcopter Support Squadron 1 Detachment 2) fwhich flew the Sikorsky SH-3G and loved every minute of it including when we would move up to NAS Atsugi when in port. She was the first of 5 carriers I sailed on but I have to say that while sailing on more modern carriers had it's benifits, I liked the Midway more than the others. The most trying operation we went through was Operation Frequent Wind where our primary role was providing SAR operations and shuttling many of the evacuees to other ships.

[@AJdet-2]

Ahoy shipmate. VA-56 AMS-2 Flight Deck troubleshooter. I was able to go on several "plane guard" duties, having been invited on board by your only black aircrewman at that time. For the life of me I cannot remember his name, it's hard for me to remember much nowadays. I wonder if you could help me with his name. Thank you very much

[@user-py8fw8uz3r]

She was so big she could've dock in Yokuska when she got there the dock for her wasn't finished. She docked in a dry dock until her space was completed.

[@marcclement7396]

Great video. Very well done.

[@ruudvanmontfoort4485]

on invitation of two marines my friend and i visited the ship early 90-es during the gulf war, when the ship was in Thailand for R & R. very impressive

[@markbakovic4978]

Outstanding war ship thank you all that service on her God Bless AMERICA

[@brianpoisson9464]

I served on the Midway 1979 - 1981. I was a Quarter Master interesting time

[@bret9741]

I’m so old. I watched her for many years active duty and then I watched as her crew all marched off for the last time. A very sad day.

[@locoHAWAIIANkane]

@6:37 - My dad served aboard the Midway and if I’m not mistaken, that’s the area he worked in. God bless all who have served, are serving and will serve in our armed forces!

[@jingtamani8880]

Great history back in time

[@brooksvandenbrink4424]

My grandfather served on her from 1948-1952

[@bradlund3752]

Midway makes the intriped look like a small carrier today I’ve been on intriped and can’t wait to see the midway for my self Wednesday

[@johndearmin8687]

1976-1978,I was "ships crew." 3baker boiler room.

[@Firefox13A]

Awesome

[@JoeJohn777]

I missed the Carrier in 1989 but i will love to come back

[@ussmidwaymuseum41]

We'd love to have you onboard!

[@JoeJohn777]

@@ussmidwaymuseum41 Thank you !! Maybe next year !

[@jamesmcdonough3762]

been aboard 5 times since shes been a museum

[@gavinbangs9235]

Yo same

[@ussmidwaymuseum41]

Thank you for visiting us! Let's make it 6 times...

[@jhollie8196]

I did not see any mention of the Marine Detachment that was part of the permanent personnel assigned to the Weapons Department. They played a critical part of the ship’s security and deserve recognition. I speak from experience. I was part of the MarDet, USS Coral Sea CV-43, the sister ship of the Midway.

[@levantjbean2712]

Was there last month, it’s there. A mannequin, several signs explaining their role, etc. Maybe pay attention

[@gogogravity]

She was my home from 82-85. Best duty station ever.

[@gogogravity]

I got sick enough to have to stay in sick bay for a few days. I also worked in the post office for about 6 months. This is bringing back memories!

[@TPaine1776]

Same here.

[@darktoadone5068]

I was weapons department on her, had a blast. Sadly crossdecked to Indy later.

[@meteorfive6]

Thank you for your service in our Navy, the Greatest in the world!

[@darktoadone5068]

@@JB-sl8zw What division were you?

[@darktoadone5068]

@@JB-sl8zw AO2 Boivin?

[@garrycoston491]

Sorry, but Midway's Sister, the FDR CV-42, was the first Aircraft Carrier to carry and deploy Nuclear weapons, not "Midway Magic CV-41."

[@jimc5096]

Having been on both I noticed a few minor misteps in the script but blew it off knowing that landlubbers can't get it all right.

[@AvengerII]

@@jimc5096 Midway was also NOT the world's largest ship until the mid-1950s. There were several ocean liners -- Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, the Normandie -- commissioned prior to World War II that were bigger ships in gross tonnage (80,000+ tons not matched until the Kitty Hawk was commissioned in the early 1960s) and length. The Queen Elizabeth was the largest ocean liner pre-WW2 at 83,000+ tons and 1031 ft length. From what I've read, the cutting edge ocean liners have always outpaced the size and tonnage of warships. The closest warships in size are the supercarriers of the Enterprise, Nimitz, and Ford classes but even those are relatively smaller than today's cruise ships and super oil tankers. To say that Midway also had the greatest tonnage post-war (WW2) would be stretching, too. I believe the Iowa-class battleships had greater tonnage, 57k, close to 60k later after refits. The Midway class grossed 45k standard around 52k tons max in original configuration. The original length of the Midway was 968ft extended to 1001ft after her last refit. I've read gross tonnages of 64k, 67k, and even as high as 72k tons for Midway after the 1966-1970 refit. Anyway, she was overstressed for a ship originally built to a 45k ton standard!

[@danielcostello4041]

Home Jan 79 to Jan 81. Literally 11 days short of 2 full years.

[@billhuber2964]

This is way cool. I was a gator freighter sailor .

[@AvengerII]

hmmm... Tough decision -- is my next carrier ball cap going to be USS Midway, USS Coral Sea, or the USS Ranger? I'm gradually building a collection. My goal is to get a cap for each preserved carrier museum as well as a few historic carriers that didn't quite make the museum ship cut. I have USS Intrepid and USS Kitty Hawk already as well as one fictional Enterprise (NCC-1701). I'm buying embroidered caps with silhouettes of the hull shapes.

[@johnmarlin4661]

The only EA1F shotdown over vietnam was launched from the "Midway" in 1965 . Why no memorial ?

[@wesleyswisher9624]

I was on that cruise with VAH-8 flying A-3's. I have the cruise book and VA-25 was the only Spad squadron but they had no EA1's. I don't recall seeing one on that cruise.

[@brooksvandenbrink4424]

I have a book on cv 41 i found the picture of my grandpa gun division 2

[@johnrindy]

i serve on this dec 13,1977 dec 15 1979

[@markcox7136]

77-79 USS Midway

[@whitenagger2989]

Me 2, S-3 divison. I washed your clothes lol

[@MacDaddyRico]

ICFN Gyroscope Technician 1978-1980..! Midway Magic...Gonzo Station...

[@ussmidwaymuseum41]

Thank you for your service!

[@marko111maga3]

@@MacDaddyRico mark sardone same time r Div

[@marko111maga3]

@@MacDaddyRico mark sardone R div 1978-1980

[@liamharris1423]

What lucky jammy jogos

[@danieleborsari6394]

N ho potuto che vivere.....

[@nickpark4561]

The very last of the A3's were based at Van Nuys Airport for Raytheon research & Development. When the contract with Raytheon and the Navy expired, all but 3 A3's were chopped up on the ramp. It was a sad day to see the equipment destroy each plane one by one. If you want see one of the 3 last remaining A3's there's one in Hawaii. I think one is in San Diego and the 3rd one is in Ohio. The very last flight occurred I think was 2012 or 2013. I remember the Raytheon guys telling me to go out on the ramp take one last look while the plane was being prepped, I remember those turbo jet engines being extremely loud.

[@thehillbillygamer2183]

The Midway was lucky the biggie wasn't so lucky sold for $1 in scrap two of the first nuclear carrier she should have had a museum to or been a museum

[@nathandodge665]

It's fascinating to look at, but Carrier duty friggin sucks

[@wesleyswisher9624]

It could be inconvenient at times but try a destroyer in some heavy weather.

[@lindaroughgarden2409]

.

[@danieleborsari6394]

Finchè avevo missili....scusami...

[@orcashamudeluxeu567]

first comment :)