Research Library, USS Midway Museum

05/29/2026

29 May 1951, 75 years ago today: The Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) joined Task Force 77 off Korea and launched her first air strikes two days later on the 31st.

U.S. Navy photo from Bon Homme Richard's 1951 recommissioning and Korea cruise book

05/27/2026

27 May 2006, 20 years ago today: The Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler USNS Yukon (T-AO-202) conducts a replenishment at sea (RAS) with the conventionally powered U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63). Underway in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) at the time, Kitty Hawk demonstrated power projection and sea control as the U.S. Navy's only permanently, forward-deployed aircraft carrier.

U.S. Navy photo # 060527-N-3136P-034 by Photographer's Mate Airman Jimmy C. Pan

05/26/2026

26 May 2006, 20 years ago today: Crew members, family, and guests aboard the conventionally-powered U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) attend a change of command ceremony whiole the ship was in Mayport, Florida. During the ceremony, CAPT Todd A. Zecchin relieved CAPT Dennis E. Fitzpatrick as commanding officer.

U.S. Navy photo # 060526-N-6645H-030 by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Adam Herrada

05/25/2026

25 May 2006, 20 years ago today: The conventionally powered U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) returns home to Yokosuka, Japan following a regularly scheduled underway period. Kitty Hawk demonstrated power projection and sea control as the U.S. Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier at the time.

U.S. Navy photo # 060525-N-5686B-002 by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Crystal Brooks

05/24/2026

24 May 2006, 20 years ago today: A Sailor assigned to the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force (NFAF)'s Kilauea-class ammunition ship USNS Flint (T-AE-32) clears the cargo area, as a Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Support Squadron Two Five (HCS-25) "Island Knights" departs the flight deck while conducting a vertical replenishment (VERTREP) with the conventionally powered U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) during Sea Trials in the western Pacific Ocean.

U.S. Navy photo # 060524-N-8591H-081 by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Jarod Hodge

05/22/2026

Correction to NNAM's caption:

An F3H-2 Demon assigned to the VF-64 Freelancers lands aboard USS Midway (CVA 41) in 1958.

An F3H-2 Demon assigned to the VF-64 Freelancers launches from USS Midway (CVA 41) in 1958.

05/22/2026

22 May 2006, 20 years ago today: The crash-and-salvage division aboard the conventionally-powered U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) practice pilot extraction procedures during a flight deck drill. The crash-and-salvage division serves as the ship's flight deck firefighting and rescue team. Kitty Hawk was conducting Sea Trials in the western Pacific Ocean operating out of Yokosuka, Japan where she was forward-deployed at the time.

U.S. Navy photo # 060522-N-6106R-045 by Photographer's Mate Airman Stephen W. Rowe

05/21/2026

21 May 1951, 75 years ago today: Ordnancemen load rockets beneath the port wing of a Fighter Squadron Six Four (VF-64) "Freelancers" Vought F4U-4B Corsair aboard the Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) during operations off the Korean coast. Note different types of rocket warheads, and details of carts used to transport the rockets.

U.S. Navy photo # 80-G-439903

05/20/2026

20 May 1956, 70 years ago today: This photograph was taken of the island of the Essex-class attack aircraft carrier (CVA-10) in Japan. Visible radars are TACAN, SPS-6, and SPS-8A. A North American AJ-2 Savage bomber (BuNo 134069) of composite squadron VC-6 Det. K (tailcode "NF") is visible to the left of the island. Three Douglas AD-5W Skyraider AEW-aircraft of VC-11 Det. K (tailcode "ND") are parked in front of the island. All aircraft were part of Air Task Group Four (ATG-4).

Public domain photo by 唐山健志郎

05/19/2026

19 May 1986, 40 years ago today: Carrier Air Wing Thirteen (CVW-13) under the command of CDR Byron L. Duff. ended the first of three Mediterranean deployments aboard the Midway-class aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CV-43) which began on 1 October of the previous year. It was during this cruise that CVW-13 participated in Operation Eldorado Canyon, striking a number of targets in Libya. This aerial photo from 1986 shows aircraft of CVW-13 on Coral Sea's flight deck (exact date unknown).

U.S. Navy photo # NH 97652-KN by PH2 Robert Chouinard, USN

05/18/2026

This was also the fourth and final Shuttle flight for the mission commander, former crew member Mark Kelly (VA-115 "Eagles").

"Liftoff for the final launch of Endeavour!"

15 years ago today, Endeavour launched into space for its 25th and final time. STS-134, the penultimate mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program, delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 and critical supplies to the International Space Station.