history

INDEPENDENCE, CVA 62, January 10, 1959, Commissioned at Brooklyn After a main address by Chief of Naval Operations ADM Arleigh A. Burke 'Indy' was placed in commission at the Brooklyn, NY Naval Shipyard. CAPT Rhodam Y. McElroy was placed in command. She was finished at a cost of .3 million. Her first homeport was Mayport, FL. INDEPENDENCE continued the name last given to INDEPENDENCE, CVL 22 of WW2. The first Independence was a Revolutionary War sloop. INDEPENDENCE, CV 62 Apr 22 59 "Indy" began her shakedown cruise from Norfolk to the Caribbean this date. CVG-7 air group was embarked. A call was made to Port au Prince, Haiti. She returned home Jun 30 59. CAPT Rhodam Y. McElroy was the ship's commanding officer for her shakedown. November 17, 1960 INTREPID, CVA 11, SARATOGA, CVA 60, INDEPENDENCE, CVA 62 Record Three Carrier Spellout Wow, a three-carrier spellout! NAVAL AVIATION 1911-1961 A Navy photo of this date shows these 3 carriers steaming parallel to each other with a unique three-carrier spellout as noted above in order: INTREPID, SARATOGA, and INDEPENDENCE. ACSG files show no record of any other three-carrier spellouts. This occurred in the Med off the coast of Sicily. History: On March 4, 1911 the first funds were appropriated, ,000, for "experimental work in the development of aviation for naval purposesOn Oct. 10, 1962 INDEPENDENCE sortied from Norfolk to a station off Cuba as the Cuban missile crisis heightened and threatened WW3. The Soviet Union solved the crisis by turning back the missile bearing ships and promised to remove offensive nuclear missiles from Cuba. 'Indy' left this operation this date. Her air wing and ship's crew received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal. Previously, INDEPENDENCE earned the Navy Expeditionary Medal for support in the Jun. 13-18, 1961 of Cuban harassment of American personnel at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba INDEPENDENCE, CVA 62, November 26, 1962 - Cuban Crisis Duty EndsINDEPENDENCE, CVA 62, August 6, 1963, Begins Her 4th Med Cruise 'Indy' this date deployed on her 4th Mediterranean Sea cruise from Norfolk OB. Carrier Air Group Seven, tail code AG, was her embarked fist. Operation Riptide IV was held in the Bay of Biscay with British and French naval forces in mid August. Some port calls were Beirut, Lebanon for 8 days and Golfo di Palma, Sardinia, Livorno, Italy; Cyprus on Oct. 7 when President Makarios was welcomed aboard. At Golfo di Palma, Sardinia a memorial service was held for the fallen President John F. Kennedy on November 23rd. INDEPENDENCE returned home on Mar. 4, 1964. INDEPENDENCE, CVA 62, September 8, 1964, NATO Ops and 5th Med Cruise On this date INDEPENDENCE sailed from her NS Mayport home for NATO Operation Teamwork in the Norwegian Sea, off France, and near Gibraltar. Embarked was Carrier Air Wing Seven, tail code AG. Capt. Robert W. "Duke" Windsor whose office was located on 03 deck commanded 'Indy'. On entering the Mediterranean she relieved FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, CVA 42. This cruise ended Nov. 5, 1964. Her next deployment would be to Vietnam for combat. INDEPENDENCE, CVA 62, July 15, 1968 INDEPENDENCE was at Istanbul, Turkey for a 7-port call during a Med cruise. Unfortunately, she became the focal point of anti-American riots in this city. This deployment began Apr 30 68 and ended Jan 27 69. A 2-carrier spellout was held with SHANGRI-LA, CVA 38. 'SEA POWER' & '1948-1968' several days prior. INDEPENDENCE, CVA 62, June 23, 1970, Sails into East Med Crisis 'Indy' sailed this date on her 8th Med cruise with Carrier Air Wing Seven, tail code AG, embarked. This cruise had a change of command with Capt. Gerald G. O'Rourke, USNA Class of 1945 taking the head post on Aug. 19th. In September INDEPENDENCE was rushed to the Eastern Med coast to counter a Soviet naval buildup and a political crisis in Jordan. For services during this cruise the Navy Expeditionary Service Medal and the Meritorious Unit Commendation were awarded. Plans were developed to forward base INDEPENDENCE at Piraeus, Greece. This was squelched due to political problems arising in Greece. INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, June 21, 1973 INDEPENDENCE today began her 10 Mediterranean Sea deployment this date from Norfolk OB. The Carrier Air Wing 7, tail code AG, was embarked for this cruise. The defining time on this cruise was the Arab-Israeli War that commenced. INDY was alerted and sent to the eastern Med to stand by for contingencies. INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, June 22, 1990 "Big I" or "Indy" began this date her 2nd WestPac deployment from NAS North Island. What might have been a routine deployment to the Indian Ocean became exceptional. CVW-14, tail code NK, with CAPT Jay B. Yakeley commanding was aboard. With the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in early Aug 90, INDEPENDENCE was rushed into the Persian Gulf on Aug 08. This was our first carrier presence there since 1974. She participated in Operation Desert Shield. After relief she returned to her homeport on Dec 20 90. Erratum: Oops! Indy is CV 62, not CV 60 as noted in No. 39. INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, August 8, 1990 While in the Indian Ocean, vicinity of Diego Garcia, INDEPENDENCE was rushed to the North Arabian Sea. She is the first carrier to arrive in the Gulf of Oman, just six days after the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. On Oct 02 she entered the Persian Gulf being the first carrier in these restricted waters for operations since 1974 when the CONSTELLATION, CVA 64, was there INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, December 13, 1994, Oldest Ship Gets VIP Visit Former Vice President Walter F. Mondale and current American ambassador to Japan were hosted aboard the INDEPENDENCE this date at Yokosuka homeport. On Aug. 20, 1994 'Indy' became the oldest ship in active service in the Navy. This entitled her to fly the "Don't Tread on Me" ensign.INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, June 30, 1995, Became Oldest Ship in Navy This date Mauna Kea, AE 22, was decommissioned. The event made INDEPENDENCE the oldest ship in the Navy. She would be authorized to fly the "Don't Tread On Me" ensign. On July 1, 1995 at Yokosuka she had a spellout with this motif on the flight deck. INDEPENDENCE, CV 62 Apr 17 96 Pres. William J. Clinton was the distinguished visitor this date aboard "Indy." This carrier was docked in Yokosuka, Japan being the forward deployed carrier at the time. INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, July 6, 1998 Her final sailing began this date. "Indy" left her Yokosuka, Japan homeport for Pearl Harbor and then, San Diego. She was flying the "Don't Tread On Me ensign. This signified that she was the oldest Navy ship in commission. On Jul 18th she turned over her embarked air wing, CVW-5, to her replacement, KITTY HAWK, CV 63, at Pearl Harbor. Upon reaching San Diego Indy started her decommissioning processes. She arrived Aug 6th at Puget Sound. Decommissioning was held here on Sep 30 98.INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, December 21, 1999, 'Indy' Mothballing Completed The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard announced this date that the mothballing work on INDEPENDENCE has been completed. This process insures that she will be ready to be reactivated. She was moved from the working area to the shipyard's storage area.


	This is my history page learn a little about where she has been and what she has done in her tour of duty. home page INDEPENDENCE, CVA 62, January 10, 1959, Commissioned at Brooklyn After a main address by Chief of Naval Operations ADM Arleigh A. Burke 'Indy' was placed in commission at the Brooklyn, NY Naval Shipyard. CAPT Rhodam Y. McElroy was placed in command. She was finished at a cost of .3 million. Her first homeport was Mayport, FL. INDEPENDENCE continued the name last given to INDEPENDENCE, CVL 22 of WW2. The first Independence was a Revolutionary War sloop. INDEPENDENCE, CV 62 Apr 22 59 "Indy" began her shakedown cruise from Norfolk to the Caribbean this date. CVG-7 air group was embarked. A call was made to Port au Prince, Haiti. She returned home Jun 30 59. CAPT Rhodam Y. McElroy was the ship's commanding officer for her shakedown. November 17, 1960 INTREPID, CVA 11, SARATOGA, CVA 60, INDEPENDENCE, CVA 62 Record Three Carrier Spellout Wow, a three-carrier spellout! NAVAL AVIATION 1911-1961 A Navy photo of this date shows these 3 carriers steaming parallel to each other with a unique three-carrier spellout as noted above in order: INTREPID, SARATOGA, and INDEPENDENCE. ACSG files show no record of any other three-carrier spellouts. This occurred in the Med off the coast of Sicily. History: On March 4, 1911 the first funds were appropriated, ,000, for "experimental work in the development of aviation for naval purposesOn Oct. 10, 1962 INDEPENDENCE sortied from Norfolk to a station off Cuba as the Cuban missile crisis heightened and threatened WW3. The Soviet Union solved the crisis by turning back the missile bearing ships and promised to remove offensive nuclear missiles from Cuba. 'Indy' left this operation this date. Her air wing and ship's crew received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal. Previously, INDEPENDENCE earned the Navy Expeditionary Medal for support in the Jun. 13-18, 1961 of Cuban harassment of American personnel at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba INDEPENDENCE, CVA 62, November 26, 1962 - Cuban Crisis Duty EndsINDEPENDENCE, CVA 62, August 6, 1963, Begins Her 4th Med Cruise 'Indy' this date deployed on her 4th Mediterranean Sea cruise from Norfolk OB. Carrier Air Group Seven, tail code AG, was her embarked fist. Operation Riptide IV was held in the Bay of Biscay with British and French naval forces in mid August. Some port calls were Beirut, Lebanon for 8 days and Golfo di Palma, Sardinia, Livorno, Italy; Cyprus on Oct. 7 when President Makarios was welcomed aboard. At Golfo di Palma, Sardinia a memorial service was held for the fallen President John F. Kennedy on November 23rd. INDEPENDENCE returned home on Mar. 4, 1964. INDEPENDENCE, CVA 62, September 8, 1964, NATO Ops and 5th Med Cruise On this date INDEPENDENCE sailed from her NS Mayport home for NATO Operation Teamwork in the Norwegian Sea, off France, and near Gibraltar. Embarked was Carrier Air Wing Seven, tail code AG. Capt. Robert W. "Duke" Windsor whose office was located on 03 deck commanded 'Indy'. On entering the Mediterranean she relieved FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT, CVA 42. This cruise ended Nov. 5, 1964. Her next deployment would be to Vietnam for combat. INDEPENDENCE, CVA 62, July 15, 1968 INDEPENDENCE was at Istanbul, Turkey for a 7-port call during a Med cruise. Unfortunately, she became the focal point of anti-American riots in this city. This deployment began Apr 30 68 and ended Jan 27 69. A 2-carrier spellout was held with SHANGRI-LA, CVA 38. 'SEA POWER' & '1948-1968' several days prior. INDEPENDENCE, CVA 62, June 23, 1970, Sails into East Med Crisis 'Indy' sailed this date on her 8th Med cruise with Carrier Air Wing Seven, tail code AG, embarked. This cruise had a change of command with Capt. Gerald G. O'Rourke, USNA Class of 1945 taking the head post on Aug. 19th. In September INDEPENDENCE was rushed to the Eastern Med coast to counter a Soviet naval buildup and a political crisis in Jordan. For services during this cruise the Navy Expeditionary Service Medal and the Meritorious Unit Commendation were awarded. Plans were developed to forward base INDEPENDENCE at Piraeus, Greece. This was squelched due to political problems arising in Greece. INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, June 21, 1973 INDEPENDENCE today began her 10 Mediterranean Sea deployment this date from Norfolk OB. The Carrier Air Wing 7, tail code AG, was embarked for this cruise. The defining time on this cruise was the Arab-Israeli War that commenced. INDY was alerted and sent to the eastern Med to stand by for contingencies. INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, June 22, 1990 "Big I" or "Indy" began this date her 2nd WestPac deployment from NAS North Island. What might have been a routine deployment to the Indian Ocean became exceptional. CVW-14, tail code NK, with CAPT Jay B. Yakeley commanding was aboard. With the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in early Aug 90, INDEPENDENCE was rushed into the Persian Gulf on Aug 08. This was our first carrier presence there since 1974. She participated in Operation Desert Shield. After relief she returned to her homeport on Dec 20 90. Erratum: Oops! Indy is CV 62, not CV 60 as noted in No. 39. INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, August 8, 1990 While in the Indian Ocean, vicinity of Diego Garcia, INDEPENDENCE was rushed to the North Arabian Sea. She is the first carrier to arrive in the Gulf of Oman, just six days after the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. On Oct 02 she entered the Persian Gulf being the first carrier in these restricted waters for operations since 1974 when the CONSTELLATION, CVA 64, was there INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, December 13, 1994, Oldest Ship Gets VIP Visit Former Vice President Walter F. Mondale and current American ambassador to Japan were hosted aboard the INDEPENDENCE this date at Yokosuka homeport. On Aug. 20, 1994 'Indy' became the oldest ship in active service in the Navy. This entitled her to fly the "Don't Tread on Me" ensign.INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, June 30, 1995, Became Oldest Ship in Navy This date Mauna Kea, AE 22, was decommissioned. The event made INDEPENDENCE the oldest ship in the Navy. She would be authorized to fly the "Don't Tread On Me" ensign. On July 1, 1995 at Yokosuka she had a spellout with this motif on the flight deck. INDEPENDENCE, CV 62 Apr 17 96 Pres. William J. Clinton was the distinguished visitor this date aboard "Indy." This carrier was docked in Yokosuka, Japan being the forward deployed carrier at the time. INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, July 6, 1998 Her final sailing began this date. "Indy" left her Yokosuka, Japan homeport for Pearl Harbor and then, San Diego. She was flying the "Don't Tread On Me ensign. This signified that she was the oldest Navy ship in commission. On Jul 18th she turned over her embarked air wing, CVW-5, to her replacement, KITTY HAWK, CV 63, at Pearl Harbor. Upon reaching San Diego Indy started her decommissioning processes. She arrived Aug 6th at Puget Sound. Decommissioning was held here on Sep 30 98.INDEPENDENCE, CV 62, December 21, 1999, 'Indy' Mothballing Completed The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard announced this date that the mothballing work on INDEPENDENCE has been completed. This process insures that she will be ready to be reactivated. She was moved from the working area to the shipyard's storage area.