washington dc aircraft carrier tour

Your Guide To the 5 Aircraft Carrier Museums In The USA

There are five aircraft carrier museums in the USA on both the West and East coast, and all have seen combat.

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Will there ever be another us aircraft carrier museum, quick links, uss yorktown cv-10, the uss hornet cv-12, uss intrepid cv-11, uss lexington cv-16, uss midway cv-41.

The United States is home to an impressive five World War Two-era aircraft carrier museums. There are five US Aircraft Carrier Museums, and they date from the same period - from WW2. Back then the aircraft carriers were smaller and were commercially powered. After the war, American aircraft carriers remained conveniently powered but grew larger and became supercarriers.

Four of these aircraft carriers are Essex-class aircraft carriers (the United States built 24 of these carriers during the war). The fifth one is a Midway-class carrier built towards the end of the war. They are scattered across the nation in New York, South Carolina, Texas, and California (California has two). They are some of the most interesting American naval museums to visit .

UPDATE: 2023/04/30 15:32 EST BY AARON SPRAY

The United States has five aircraft carriers for people to visit and learn about the role of the Navy in protecting the United States. People can explore the largest warships of their era and learn how they helped win the Pacific War and the role they took in the years following. This article was updated and expanded with more information about the prospects of there ever being a sixth aircraft carrier museum.

The USS Yorktown is an Essex Class aircraft carrier built in World War Two. Named after the Battle of Yorktown in the American War of Independence and took the name in honor of the previous aircraft carrier USS Yorktown CV-5. USS Yorktown CV-5 had fought in the Battle of the Coral Sea and then the Battle of Midway, where she met her end.

• Commissioned: April 1943
• Campaigns: Pacific War, Korean War, Vietnam War
• Decommissioned: 1970
• Displacement: 27,000+ tons (1943) 30,000+ tons (1956)

She was decommissioned soon after the war but reactivated and served in the Korean War. Eventually, she became an anti-submarine carrier and served during the Vietnam War (and earned another five battle stars).

Towards the end of her career, she served as the recovery ship for Apollo 8 space mission and was started in the film Tora! Tora! Tora! and the film The Philadelphia Experiment .

In 1975 she became a museum ship in South Carolina and is a National Historic Landmark.

• Time for tour: People expect to spend 5 to 6 hours touring the USS Yorktown CV-10 at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in South Carolina. Some even spend a longer time to see the Vietnam War Experience and the submarine. The USS Yorktown alone has six guided tours at the museum.

The USS Hornet is also an Essex class aircraft carrier that was built for World War Two. She was completed in 1943 and assigned to the Fast Carrier Task Force. She saw action in 1944, attacking Japanese installations in New Guinea, Palau, and Truk, among others. Today one of the greatest attractions for divers today is seeing the sunk Japanese fleet at Truk (Chuuk) Lagoon.

Later she took part in the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign as well as the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot," which was the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

Like other ships, she took part in the Korean War (she had to be pulled out of reserve) and was modernized as an anti-submarine carrier. She played a minor role in the Vietnam War and also took part in the Apollo program.

• Commissioned: 1943
• Displacement: 27,000+ tons (1943)

Today it is a museum in Alameda in California (open since 1998) and is also a National Historic Landmark. Admission is $20.00 for adults.

• Opening times: The USS Hornet Museum opens its doors, from Friday to Monday, and offers many interesting tours, exhibits, community events, group and special tours, and more. It opens from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM with the last entry set at 4:00 PM.
• Price: While admission tickets are generally USD 20 per person, seniors, military, and students get the ticket for USD 15. Young people aged between 7 and 17 enter with a USD 10 ticket while children aged 6 and under can access the museum for free. The same applies to museum members.

Related: Japan's Truk Lagoon is Home To An Extraordinary Number Of Wartime Wrecks, Still Visible Today

She is another of the four Essex class aircraft carriers to survive today (unfortunately, the massively iconic USS Enterprise was scraped right after the war). She was also commissioned in August 1943 and participated in the Pacific War against Japan - notably the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Like many of the Essex class carriers (there were so many of them after the war that one could have tripped over one) she was decommissioned. But later she was modernized and reactivated and went on to participate in the Vietnam War and was also involved in the space program.

Her back luck earned her the nicknames "Decrepit" and "the Dry I" - she was high by four separate Japanese kamikaze aircraft.

• Campaigns: Pacific War, Vietnam War
• Decommissioned: 1974

The USS Intrepid is today part of the famous NYC USS Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

• Museum hours: The NYC USS Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum opens from Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM from June through September. From October through May, the museum opens its doors only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Things to do: The museum offers a handful of activities, including tours, simulators, education demonstrations, souvenir photos, space shuttle pavilion tour, and more.

The fourth surviving Essex class aircraft carrier, she also took part in the Pacific War. She was nicknamed "The Blue Ghost." She was named following the loss of the first American aircraft carrier - the USS Lexington CV-2, at the Battle of the Coral Sea. They are named in honor of the Battle of Lexington.

• Campaigns: Pacific War
• Decommissioned: 1991

Since 1992 she has been a museum and is docked in Corpus Christi in Texas.

• Opening times: The USS Lexington Museum opens its doors from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM from Labor Day to Memorial Day, and from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
• Price: Admission costs USD 18.95 for adults. Seniors aged 60 and over get a discounted ticket for USD 16.95. Military members benefit from a special price of USD 14.95. Parking fees amount to USD 5.
• Attractions: There are many attractions to enjoy at the USS Lexington Museum, including Escape Rooms, the Flight Deck, Joe Jessel 3D MEGA Theater, Pearl Harbor exhibit, Scale Models, flight simulator, and Virtual Battle Stations. People can enjoy either self-guided or guided tours of the museum.

Related: America's Most Interesting And Historic Naval Museum Ships, And How To Visit Them

The USS Midway is the only museum aircraft carrier that is not an Essex Class carrier. She was the lead ship of her class and was commissioned just eight days after the end of World War Two.

She remained the largest ship in the world for a decade until 1955. During her time, she saw action in Vietnam and took part in Operation Desert Storm in Iraq but was decommissioned right after it in 1992.

• Campaigns: Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm
• Decommissioned: 1992
• Displacement: 45,000+ tons (1945)

Today she is a museum ship in San Diego, California .

• Price: Ticket prices at the USS Midway Museum are USD 26 for adults and USD 18 for youth and veterans.
• Activities: There are many activities to enjoy at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, such as Hangar Deck exhibits, Flight Deck exhibits, Below Deck exhibits, TBD Devastator, Remembrance Wall, Midway stories, Midway Virtual Tour, and more.

Unfortunately, after the Navy's decision to scrap the USS Kitty Hawk and USS John F. Kennedy last year , there are not likely to be any new aircraft carrier museums for a very long time (they were also supercarriers and the last American conventionally powered aircraft carriers).

The Forrestal class was the first completed supercarriers, and they were followed by the Kitty Hawk class (an incremental improvement on the Forrestal class). These were also the last American carriers to be built conventionally powered (all subsequent carriers are nuclear powered).

All the Forrestal and Kitty Hawk aircraft carriers have been decommissioned. For a long time, a couple of carriers - including the USS John F. Kennedy and the USS Kitty Hawk were held in decommissioned mothball reserve. These were the last carriers that could feasibly be made into aircraft carrier museums.

The John F. Kennedy was held at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (a mothball fleet) and was available for donation as a museum. But eventually, in 2017 the navy revoked her donation hold status and the remaining Kitty Hawk carriers were sent for dismantling.

All other and future American carriers are nuclear-powered - that makes the effort and costs of converting them into museums much higher. It seems unlikely there will be another American aircraft carrier museum for a long time.

If visiting England, take the time to visit HMS Victory - Lord Nelson's flagship in the Battle of Trafalgar . Additionally, see the old museum ship (and still listed ship) of the United States - the iconic USS Constitution .

Next: How To Get The Most Out Of A Historical Visit To The Pearl Harbor Museum & Memorial

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US Navy Museum Ships

• USS HORNET (CV 12)
• Description: Located at the former Naval Air Station Alameda, Calif., the USS HORNET is one of two aircraft carriers preserved as museum on the US west coast. Donated to the Aircraft Carrier HORNET Foundation on May 26, 1998, the ship was subsequently opened to the public. Unfortunately, Alameda is located a bit off the touristic areas and so the HORNET does not really get the attention she deserves. Many San Francisco tourists probably don't even know about the carrier. That's sad because the HORNET is well-preserved by her dedicated staff and definitely worth a visit. A lot of spaces are accessible and free guided tours are offered. The aircraft collection aboard is not very extensive but includes A-4, F-4, F-8, F-14, S-3, SH-2, SH-3 etc. Additionally, a number of theme exhibitions (e.g. Apollo 11) add to the interesting atmosphere aboard. Another must-see aboard is the ship's store which sometimes offers highlights like authentic aircraft tailhooks or USS HORNET planks. Free parking is available directly at the museum but the HORNET can also be reached from San Francisco with public transportation (BART and bus).
• Address: USS Hornet Museum, 707 W Hornet Ave, Alameda, Calif. 94501
• USS MIDWAY (CV 41)
• Description: Located directly in downtown San Diego, Calif., the USS MIDWAY is (at least in my opinion) the best aircraft carrier museum in the United States. The MIDWAY is among the most-visited museum ships in the USA and one can easily spend several hours on board. The museum has a large collection of nicely restored aircraft. Many spaces below deck are accessible and can be explored on guided and self-guided tours. Dummies are used to demonstrate how sailors worked and lived aboard the carrier. Docents explain procedures and operations throughout the MIDWAY and if you like to take a break you can visit the fantail cafe or take some rest on the flight deck enjoying the great view of the active carriers at Naval Air Station North Island. Additionally, all Navy ships departing or arriving at Naval Base San Diego are passing the MIDWAY which can be interesting as well. The San Diego harbor cruises are starting nearby and the San Diego Maritime Museum is also just a few minutes away.
• Address: USS Midway Museum, 910 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, Calif., 92101
• USS DOLPHIN (AGSS 555)
• Description: Donated in 2008, USS DOLPHIN is one of the newest ships in the collection of the San Diego Maritime Museum. The museum has a number of ships open to the public and DOLPHIN is one of two submarines. The other sub is a Russian submarine. DOLPHIN is clean and in pretty good condition and it's hard to imagine that this boat almost sunk in May 2002 after she had to be abandoned after a fire and flooding.
• Address: Maritime Museum of San Diego, 1492 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, Calif., 92101
• SS JEREMIAH O'BRIEN
• Description: SS JEREMIAH O'BRIEN is one of the many Liberty Ships built during World War II. After the war, she was mothballed in Suisun Bay, Calif., and remained there until 1979, when she headed to San Francisco (under her own power!) to be opened as a museum. Today, she is located at Pier 45 at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf where she is kept in a fully functional condition. Her volunteer crew regularly sails the JEREMIAH O'BRIEN in San Francisco Bay and off the US west coast. One of the highlights of the ship's museum career was in 1994, when the O'BRIEN set sail for Great Britain and France for the 50th D-Day anniversary, returning to the place where she saw action 50 years earlier. As mentioned, the ship is maintained in a good condition and a number of seats are available on the main deck to allow visitors to rest and enjoy the nice view of San Francisco Bay. Considering the relatively expensive admission of $10 I was a bit disappointed that the ship's store was not open during my visit.
• Address: SS Jeremiah O'Brien, Pier 45, Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, Calif., 94133
• SS LANE VICTORY
• Description: SS LANE VICTORY is one of the Liberty Ships built during World War II and served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The ship was laid up in Suisun Bay, Calif., for many years until she was donated as a museum. Today, the LANE VICTORY is maintained by volunteers of the US Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II and is kept in great condition. Her propulsion system is fully functional and the LANE VICTORY regularly conducts cruises off Los Angeles. There's a comprehensive exhibition about the US Merchant Marine on board.
• Address: SS Lane Victory, Berth 94, San Pedro, Calif., 90733-0629
• USS LCS(L) 102
• Description: LCS(L) 102 is preserved at the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, Calif. She is the last remaining vessel of 130 Landing Craft Support (Large) built during World War II. In 1949, all remaining ships of this type were redesignated Landing Ship Support Large (LSSL). Decommissioned after World War II, LCS(L) 102 was transferred to Japan in 1953. Returned in 1966, she was transferred to Thailand the same year and entered service as NAKHA (LSSL 751). In 2007, the decommissioned NAKHA was transported back to the United States and donated to the National Association of USS LCS(L) 1-130. Normally, the ship is only open to the public on weekends when volunteers are there to work aboard the ship. They gladly show you the ship and answer questions. LCS(L) 102 is a beautiful little ship and it's hard to imagine that during World War II more than 60 sailors lived and worked aboard her.
• Address: Waterfront Ave., Vallejo, Calif., 94592

Connecticut

• USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571)
• Description: The USS NAUTILUS Museum is maintained by the US Navy and is part of the Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Ct. On display are also a few midget submarines and the sail of USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (SSBN 598). Admission is free and the museum is a must-see for anyone interested in US submarine history. The NAUTILUS is located outside the museum building and a free audio tour is available for the visitors. Unfortunately, the aft half of the NAUTILUS (which includes the propulsion system) is not open to the public. According to museum personnel the reason is that this section is still classified.
• Address: Submarine Force Museum, 1 Crystal Lake Road, Groton, Conn. 06340

District of Columbia

• USS BARRY (DD 933) - closed
• Description: USS BARRY was preserved at the Washington Navy Yard and was maintained by the US Navy. She was in pretty good shape and admission was free. Sometimes, parts of the ship were closed to the public due to official events and ceremonies on board. For the ship itself it was good to be maintained by the Navy because that way she received the required funding to keep her in good condition. On the other side a disadvantage was that the personnel on board were US Navy sailors who might not have had the personal connection to the ship compared to all the volunteers aboard other museum ships who kind of love their ships. During my visit aboard the BARRY the mentioned sailors appeared to be quite bored and listless and the "Don't tread on me" flag on the bow was hoisted the wrong way up (which can be seen in the photo tour linked below). In October 2015, the construction for a new bridge designed to replace the existing Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge started. The old bridge - a swing bridge - allowed BARRY to be towed out while the new bridge - a fixed-span bridge - would trap the BARRY on the Anacostia River. This, as well as the fact that the BARRY was in need of $2,000,000 in repairs led the Navy to decide to remove the ship and sell it for scrapping. On May 7, 2016, the BARRY left Washington under tow for the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard where she is now waiting for her sale.
• Address: USS Barry, 707 Riverside Drive, S.E., Washington Navy Yard, DC. 20374-5038
• USS MISSOURI (BB 63)
• Description: USS MISSOURI is preserved at Naval Station Pearl Harbor. Tickets for the MISSOURI are available at the USS ARIZONA Memorial Visitor Center and from there, a shuttle bus takes you to the battleship. You can either tour the ship on your own or you participate in a guided tour which costs up to $25 extra which is probably one of the most expensive tours on any US Navy museum ship. Nevertheless, the MISSOURI is an interesting ship in great condition at a perfect location. From her decks you can watch the activities at the Naval Base and after your visit you can stop at the ship's store or the diner which are both located on the pier where the MISSOURI is sitting. The ship is definitely a must-see when you are on a multi-day stay on the island of Oahu, Hi.
• Address: USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center , 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI. 96818-3145

Massachusetts

• USS CONSTITUTION and USS CASSIN YOUNG (DD 793)
• Description: USS CONSTITUTION - the oldest commissioned warship afloat - is maintained by the US Navy and has an actual US Navy Crew on board that periodically sails the ship. Admission is free and visitors have a clear an airport-like security check before being able to go on board. USS CASSIN YOUNG is located directly next to the CONSTITUTION and is maintained by the National Park Service. When I was there, she was dry-docked and not open to the public so I'm not able to further comment on her.
• Address: USS Constitution, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown, Mass., 02129
• USS SALEM (CA 139)
• Description: The USS SALEM is located in Quincy, Mass. - the city where she was built. The SALEM is also the only preserved heavy cruiser in the United States. She spent many years laid up in the mothball fleet until she was donated as a museum in 1994. When visiting the SALEM you might easily think that she's still laid up in the reserve fleet. Her exterior condition is not the best but this is not necessarily a bad thing. She's a veteran ship and that's the way she looks. There's a lot of rust, old paint and damaged planking. But like many old ships, the SALEM is in much better shape when getting below decks. Many compartments have been renovated and are open to the public.
• Address: USS Salem, 739 Washington Street, Quincy, Mass. 02169
• USS MASSACHUSETTS (BB 59), USS JOSEPH P. KENNEDY, JR. (DD 850), USS LIONFISH (SS 298), and USNS Hiddensee
• Description: Battleship Cove is a great place to spend the day. Four museum ships, two PT boats and a part of the bow of USS FALL RIVER (CA 131) are on display. All ships can be toured and the MASSACHUSETTS has a diner offering a wide range of snacks and drinks. My favorit ship was the JOSEPH P. KENNEDY, JR., mainly because of a crew member who showed us around - also to places that are normally closed. He told us that most of the equipment on board is still functional starting with the radio equipment and ending with a diesel engine. If needed, the destroyer would be able to produce its own power. USS MASSACHUSETTS and the LIONFISH are also interesting and it's worth touring them. USNS HIDDENSEE is a Soviet-built TARANTUL I - class corvette originally used by the East German Navy. After Germany's reunification she briefly served in the German Navy before transferred to the US Navy for testing. The ship impressed the US Navy in many ways because initially, the Navy didn't believe that the Gatling guns on board the HIDDENSEE actually had a caliber of 30mm and that the ship was able to travel at speeds in excess of 50 knots (in perfect conditions). Since 1996, the HIDDENSEE is at Battleship Cove.
• Address: Battleship Cove, 5 Water Street, Fall River, Mass., 02721

North Carolina

• USS NORTH CAROLINA (BB 55)
• Description: Opened to the public in 1962, the NORTH CAROLINA is one of the oldest US Navy museum ships in the United States. The ship is located in Wilmington, NC., and is in pretty good shape. You can explore almost the entire ship and informative texts and explanations can be found in all compartments. An extensive ship's store is part of the museum and free parking is available.
• Address: USS North Carolina, 1 Battleship Road, Wilmington, NC 28401

New Hampshire

• USS ALBACORE (AGSS 569)
• Description: Unlike most other museum ships in the United States, the ALBACORE is preserved on land which allows visitors to take a closer look at the experimental design of the submarine. The self-guided tour starts at the bow and ends at the stern and takes you through all the sub's compartments. The visitor center offers an additional submarine exhibition and a nice ship's store. Free parking is available directly at the museum.
• Address: Albacore Park, 600 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH. 03801
• USS NEW JERSEY (BB 62)
• Description: The USS NEW JERSEY is preserved on the Delaware River just opposite of Penn's Landing, Philadelphia. When visiting the ship by car you can park at a nearby parking garage. From there, it's a short walk to the museum. In spring and summer there's also a water shuttle from Penn's Landing. The museum offers guided and self-guided tours of the NEW JERSEY. When taking the self-guided tour you won't see all the places that are shown during one of the guided tours which might be seen as a negative aspect because not everybody wants to pay the extra dollars for the guided tour. When I visited the ship I took the so-called Fire Power Tour and it was worth the extra money. One of the highlights of the tour was the visit in the Combat Information Center with a simulated Tomahawk missile launch.
• Address: Battleship New Jersey, 100 Clinton Street, Camden, NJ. 08103
• USS INTREPID (CV 11) and USS GROWLER (SSG 577)
• Description: The USS INTREPID Sea, Air & Space Museum is advertised as being "the most inspiring adventure in America" but I think that's too exaggerated. Actually, I was disappointed after my visit and I think the museum takes much of its fame from it's prominent location in Manhattan and not from being an outstanding museum. Compared to other aircraft carrier museums less compartments of the INTREPID are open to the public. If you want to see more you need to take a guided tour and pay extra. The displayed aircraft are behind barriers which often prevents you from walking around them. The selection of the exhibited aircraft is also a bit debatable. It appears as if they just tried to get a lot of aircraft instead of looking for airplanes that actually have someting to do with aircraft carriers. Ok, it's called the "Sea, Air & Space Museum" and it's cool to have the Concord, an SR-71, an F-16 or some MiGs in the collection but I think these aircraft don't have a place in an aircraft carrier museum. Last but not least many areas of the ship have been reconstructed for the museum which resulted in the loss of a lot of charm of the original USS INTREPID. The hangar bay for example could also be a hall in any museum and in large areas does no longer feel like the hangar bay of an aircraft carrier. I can't comment on the USS CLAMAGORE because she was closed due to construction work during my visit.
• Address: USS Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86, W 46th St and 12th Ave., New York City, NY. 10036-4103

Pennsylvania

• USS OLYMPIA (C 6) and USS BECUNA (SS 319)
• Description: USS OLYMPIA and USS BECUNA are part of the Independence Seaport Museum. They are located at Penn's Landing on the Delaware River. While the BECUNA is a typical museum submarine with all areas of the boat accessible, the OLYMPIA is really special. She was the flagship of Commodore George Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War in 1898. The more than 115 years old cruiser is from a different era of shipbuilding which becomes evident when touring the ship. Unfortunately, the OLYMPIA is in very urgent need for repairs but the museum is unable to raise the funds. There's still the danger of the ship being scrapped to prevent her from sinking at the pier. However, the museum is trying to save the OLYMPIA by transferring her to another organization able to pay for the ship's overhaul. There are presently applications from the East Coast, Gulf Coast and the West Coast. Scrapping the OLYMPIA would definitely be a great loss and the worst possible solution.
• Address: Independence Seaport Museum, 211 South Columbus Blvd at Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Penn. 19106-3199

South Carolina

• USS YORKTOWN (CV 10), USS LAFFEY (DD 724), and USS CLAMAGORE (SS 343)
• Description: Patriots Point is an interesting place to visit. Among the three US Navy ships they also have a Coast Guard ship and a Vietnam Camp on display. Unfortunately, the museum is fighting against financial problems and the LAFFEY is in urgent need for repairs. When I visited the museum, LAFFEY was not open to the public because of the risk to sink at the pier. YORKTOWN and CLAMAGORE were fully open for tours. There's a comprehensive collection of US Navy aircraft and a snack bar on board the YORKTOWN.
• Address: Patriots Point, 40 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant, SC. 29464-4377
• USS LEXINGTON (CV 16)
• Description: I have not visited the LEXINGTON so far and so I'm not able to comment on the ship.
• Address: USS Lexington Museum on the Bay, 2914 N. Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi, TX. 78403
• USS WISCONSIN (BB 64)
• Description: USS WISCONSIN is preserved in downtown Norfolk, Va., and is part of the Nauticus Museum. When I visited the WISCONSIN she was still under Navy custody and therefore, only outside tours were possible. On December 14, 2009, the ship was finally donated as a museum and since October 2010, also inside tours of the WISCONSIN are possible.
• Address: Nauticus, 1 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA. 23510
• USS TURNER JOY (DD 951)
• Description: The USS TURNER JOY is preserved in downtown Bremerton, Wash., close to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The ship is in walking distance from the Seattle ferry landing which makes it easy for Seattle tourists to visit the TURNER JOY. The TURNER JOY is in pretty good shape and it's a pleasure to tour her. Most spaces are open to the public and informative explanations are added to most of the equipment on board. A gift store is located on the pier.
• Address: USS Turner Joy Museum Ship, 300 Washington Beach Ave., Bremerton, Wash. 98337

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Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

One can only imagine the exhilaration that Neil Armstrong felt as he took the very first steps on the moon in 1969 or the incredible thrill that the Wright brothers experienced as they took that first flight in 1903. At the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, you can get an idea of how they felt when you see first-hand the original Wright 1903 Flyer and the Apollo 11 Command Module which carried astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin on their mission to the moon. These historic air and spacecrafts are among a collection of more than 30,000 artifacts at the Air and Space Museum.

Ultimate Guide To The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Twenty-three different galleries feature amazing items related to the history of aviation and space flight throughout the world. ‘Milestones of Flight’, ‘Pioneers of Flight’, ‘Aviation in WWII’ and ‘Space Race’ are some of the exhibits that fascinate visitors to the museum. From planes and space modules to flight simulators, interactive exhibits, the Albert Einstein planetarium and an IMAX theater, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum educates and entertains guests of every age. Guided tours are also available as well as a three-level museum shop and food court.

The masterful drawings of Leonardo da Vinci and mythological stories like the cautionary tale of Icarus flying too close to the sun reveal humanity’s enduring fascination with flight and space travel. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum chronicles the efforts of famous engineers, scientists, aviators and astronauts. Learn how these pioneers pushed the limits and slipped the surly bonds of earth on their quests to venture where no one had gone before.

History of the Museum

The museum is situated on the former site of the District’s armory, which served as a hospital during the Civil War. Originally the National Air  Museum, the institution was established by an act of Congress in 1946. With the space race in the 1950s, the museum was renamed the National Air and Space Museum. A portion of the collection was initially displayed in a variety of locations, including the Art and Industries Building and a tent erected behind the Smithsonian Castle . The majority of the collection remained in storage until completion of the current pink Tennessee marble building in 1976.

The design features marble cubes connected by three spacious glass and steel glass atria. While the cubes accommodate smaller pieces and theatrical exhibits, the larger gallery space of the atria is used to display rockets, airplanes and spacecraft.

Must See Attractions

Some of the pieces in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum’s collection, like the Chinese Imperial kites, date from the 1876 Centennial Exposition held in Philadelphia. The Stringfellow steam engine, designed to power aircraft, was added 23 years later. There is also a genuine moon rock. The museum is organized into several galleries dedicated to major aspects of flight.

With the Kitty Hawk Flyer as its centerpiece, the Wright Brothers and the Invention of the Aerial Age Gallery tells the story of the first powered flight. It also relays how aviation had a monumental impact on the world in the following decades. The Pioneers of Flight Gallery pays tribute to other men and women who overcame physical, psychological and societal barriers at the birth of aviation. In addition to a plane flown by Amelia Earhart, there is an exhibit commemorating the legacy of African-Americans in aviation.

Several exhibits at the National Air and Space Museum are dedicated to military aircraft, aerial combat and unmanned aerial vehicles. Other exhibits teach visitors about jet aircraft, air travel and the golden age of general aviation. Children will enjoy the hands-on How Things Fly Gallery that features interactive exhibits explaining the principles of flight and space travel.

In addition to a gallery dedicated to the use of aircraft and space observations to better understand our home planet, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum also houses exhibits chronicling the history and achievements in space exploration. A gallery features various spacecraft used in the initial exploration of the moon. Featuring a replica of the Voyager, the Exploring the Planets exhibit takes you through the universe to visit other planets. Learn how astronomical tools have advanced and revolutionized our understanding of the universe. The Apollo to the Moon Gallery chronicles the events that led to Neil Armstrong’s historic giant leap for mankind.

The National Air and Space Museum also houses a planetarium and IMAX theater. The Einstein Planetarium offers a number of complimentary star shows, including the night sky and trips through the universe. Purchase tickets to view movies in the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater that show the earth in 3D, a journey through the history of flight and how engineers transform the world.

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located at Dulles International Airport. It houses a variety of aircraft including the B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, an SR-71 Blackbird and the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Know Before You Go

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is open free of charge from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. every day except Christmas. There are extended hours on select days during spring and summer. Visit the National Air and Space Museum website for more details. The lines to enter the museum are the longest on weekends and holidays as well as the peak season from March to August . Dress comfortably and carry a limited number of bags. All visitors are required to pass through a metal detector. You are free to take pictures and connect to the museum’s complimentary Wi-Fi system. While only bottled water is permitted in the galleries, the museum has a food court offering a variety of fast food, snacks and beverages.

Nearby Attractions

If time permits, visit one of these other popular attractions within walking distance of the National Air and Space Museum.

The third-most visited museum in the world, the National Museum of Natural History is a multi-story structure housing a more than 124 million piece collection. In addition to the Hope Diamond, items on display include fossils and human cultural artifacts that chronicle the natural history of the planet.

The faux Norman-style Smithsonian Castle was built in 1849 to initially house the institution’s ever-growing collection of artifacts. The distinctive red Seneca sandstone edifice houses the crypt of benefactor James Smithson as well as galleries featuring a sampling of artifacts displayed by the Smithsonian’s numerous individual museums.

Getting There

The District is renowned for its congested traffic and minimal parking near many of its popular attractions. There is no need to worry about driving or trying to find a parking spot when you ride the Old Town Trolley. Set your worries aside, sit back and relax as your knowledgable conductor transports you to the National Air and Space Museum. You will be regaled along the way with an educational and entertaining narration about the nation’s capital. Step off the trolley when you want to explore points of interest at your own pace. Hop aboard the next trolley and continue the popular sightseeing tour right where you left off. There is a stop in front of the National Air and Space Museum.

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Hornet Distance Learning

Field trips.

• The Richey Collection
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• Apollo Splashdown
• Venue Rental

Community Outreach

Historical reenactment league, pts resource center, overnight reservations are now being accepted for 2024-2025.  new safety modifications will be in place during the program and will be observed., set calendar dates for 2024-2025 are available for registration. to request a weekday or a date not already set please use the separate registration link to the right, upon booking a non refundable $100 deposit will be required to secure your date, stay the night aboard uss hornet .

Questions? Email [email protected] .

We Kindly Request that Youth Groups Register Under 1 Group Leader and Not Individually

Overnight Program Description

Program cost, overnight program faqs, night ops: live-aboard overnight adventure, *set calendar dates for 2023-2024 are available for registration. to request a weekday or a date not already set please use the separate link below.

Ever wonder how an aircraft carrier works? Come aboard and spend the night living with history on the ultimate overnight adventure and find out how USS Hornet’s sailors lived and worked on this city at sea! Designed for ages 7 and up, this is a perfect group activity for scouts, youth groups, schools, friends, and families!

During the Night Ops Overnight you will tour key areas of the ship to see various spaces and systems and discuss the history, science, and engineering behind them. As you move around the ship, you can participate in several hands-on science stations and demonstrations interspersed with seeing sailors’ living spaces! The experience includes:

• Sleeping in restored, original sailor sleeping compartments
• Enjoying Dinner and Breakfast in the original Enlisted Crew’s Mess
• Learning about this famous aircraft carrier’s daring exploits
• Touring key areas of the ship and the historic naval aircraft on display
• Learning about NASA’s Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 missions that put the first men on the moon
• Earning an overnight crew Patch & Certificate
• Ample Free Parking

All Overnight Guests must be at least 7 years old.

STEM Station Options May Include

Boiler and engine room.

• Powering the ship
• Thermodynamics, energy transfer/conversion, turbines, power

Catapult Room

• Machinery for launching planes
• Kinetic/potential energy, hydraulics/pneumatics, mechanical advantage

Flight Deck

• On-deck catapult, launching/recovering planes
• Kinetic /potential energy, forces, optics (Fresnel lens system)
• Navigation systems, radar, sonar, sound-powered phones
• Waves, communications
• Hydraulics/Pneumatic
• Electromagnetism
• Magnets, field paper, motor, generator, induction tubes, ring throw

NEW PROGRAM!

Night wings: an aviation themed overnight.

Now is your chance to earn your wings while spending the night onboard a historic aircraft carrier. During our highly focused aviation themed new overnight  you will get a chance to meet naval aviators and learn the science behind the principles of flight. Your evening includes tours of the ship, The 4 Forces of Flight STEM activity, meet and greet with a Navy pilot, and the opportunity to sit in a cockpit.  Come aboard and spend the night living with history on the ultimate overnight adventure and find out how USS  Hornet’s  aviators lived and worked on this city at sea! Designed for ages 7 and up, this is a perfect group activity for scouts, youth groups, schools, friends, and families!

*Night Wings is offered quarterly on our registration page

The experience includes:

• Enjoying Dinner and Breakfast in the original Enlisted Crew’s Mess
• Learning about this famous aircraft carrier’s daring exploits
• Access to special aviation themed spaces
• Learn the Four Forces of Flight from a naval aviator
• Sit in a jet cockpit
• Learning about NASA’s Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 missions that put the first men on the moon
• Earning an overnight crew Patch & Certificate and Wings

REGISTER for April 6th, 2024

More Dates for 2024 will be added shortly

Special Anniversary Splashdown 55 Apollo Themed Overnight

Saturday, july 20 th , 2024.

Join us for a special Live Aboard where admission to the anniversary of the Apollo 11 recovery celebration will be free for registered overnight guests during the day, followed by a science themed overnight adventure. Tour the ship and participate in various STEM labs while learning about Hornet’s Apollo legacy.  Day participation is optional.

All prices include Dinner and Breakfast in the original Crew’s Mess, tours throughout the ship, General Admission to the Museum the following day, a frame worthy Certificate, and a commemorative Patch for all youth attending the program. Our pricing tiers are determined by your group type:

FAMILY/SMALL GROUP

$100 per person for museum members /$120 per person for non-members..

For family and friend groups not affiliated with an established youth organization or company/corporation.

Choose from any ‘Family/Small Groups’ Date on our Reservation Form

YOUTH GROUPS & SCOUTING

Weekday rate (monday-thursday):.

$85 per person

Weekday events are only for organized school or scout groups.  Individuals must register for Weekend events.

Weekend rate (Friday-Saturday):

Individuals and groups less than 10: $120/person

Groups 10 or more: $100/person

Museum Members: $100/person

Choose from any Date on our Reservation Form

PROGRAM FAQs

Program availability & restrictions.

To check on scheduled overnight programs, please visit our Museum Calendar or click on our Overnight Reservation Application, which has an embedded calendar featuring program dates.

Our overnight programming is available to any organized group (scouts, schools, churches, etc.) and to smaller groups on specific “Small Group Overnight” dates. There is a 30-person minimum, or equivalent cost, if you book on a custom date that does not yet have a scheduled program. All participants must be at least 7 years of age.

All organized groups (ie: Boy Scouts, Boys and Girl Club, public and private schools) must provide a tour permit or proof of insurance that names the Aircraft Carrier Hornet Foundation as an additional insured. Siblings, friends, or other guest are welcome provided they are also covered by the group’s insurance. This does not apply to individual families or friend groups.

We offer a tiered rate for organized youth groups based on the day they attend. This price includes dinner and breakfast in the original crew’s mess hall, tours, a ride in the flight simulator, a commemorative patch and certificate, and coupon for a future visit! A deposit is required to secure a date for all groups and will be applied toward the total cost.

Adult:Youth Ratio

A minimum of one adult is required for every 6 youth guests (groups with children age 9 or younger must be accompanied by an adult at a 1:1 ratio). Children must be supervised at all times. Be prepared to organize into parent/youth teams for crew assignments.

Meal Options & Allergies

Standard Dinner Menu:

*Please note due to Covid meals for 2021-2022 season will be prepared boxed meals

• Spaghetti with Marinara (red) Sauce
• Meatballs on the side
• Green Salad with options of Italian or Ranch Dressing
• Sliced Garlic Bread
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Bottled Water

Standard Breakfast Menu:

• Hash Browns
• Scrambled Eggs
• Juice (Grape, Orange, or Cranberry)
• Coffee for guests 18 and over

Important Information:

• We can only accommodate vegetarians
• If you are a vegan, gluten free, have a serious food allergy, etc. you will need to bring your own meal options. We have a fridge and microwave for your convenience.
• While the eating area (Mess Deck) is a nut free area and our food is prepared by a nut free caterer; there are vending machines onboard which serve items that contain nuts that is available to fellow participants.

Sleeping Areas and other Facilities

Our overnight guests get the unique opportunity to sleep in our ship’s original enlisted sleeping compartments! This does mean that it will be very much like group camping in one large room and individual family groups will share a single compartment, though there will be room to spread out.

Each organized group or youth group will likely receive their own ship’s berthing compartment . You may have to share the compartment with another group. Female guests may choose to sleep in a separate compartment.

Please be aware that you may experience normal ship noises such as creaks and groans during the night.

Equipment to Bring

The berthing compartments are equipped with canvas covered “racks” with foam mattresses. Each person should bring a pillow, sheet, sleeping bag, and extra blanket in cold weather, toiletries, hand towel, flashlight, a jacket, and a warm hat in cold weather. Scouts are encouraged to wear their uniforms.

Please Do Not Bring

Please do not bring any electronic devices including hairdryers; laser pointers; knives; open flame devices including lighters and matches; or food or drink items (with an exception of meals for those with food allergies).

A limited number of lockers are available to share in the berthing compartments. Each group can bring several locks to secure their valuables and personal belongings. The Museum is NOT responsible for loss of personal items.

Arrival Time

Please make arrangements for your group to meet on the pier at the same time. The group leader must arrive on time to receive program instructions. The check-in briefing and safety drill are an important part of your overnight experience. Special arrangements can be made for late arrivals by contacting [email protected] .

Weekend (Saturdays) Schedule – Plan to organize on the pier by 4 :30pm to begin your evening program with boarding at 5 :00pm .

Weeknight (Wed – Fri) Schedule – Plan to organize on the pier by 5:30pm to begin your evening program with boarding at 6:00pm .

Driving directions are available online .

Overnight gear is not allowed on the ship before 5 PM on Saturdays/6 PM on weekdays and private vehicles are not allowed on the pier. Parking is available across the street and participants are expected to carry sleeping bags and other gear on board at the appointed time. Our overnight programs are conducted in a fun-spirited, organized manner; falling in, stowing your gear, and following orders are all part of this unique and memorable experience.

Wristbands will be issued upon arrival and must be worn at all times while aboard USS Hornet . The wristband gives you in-out privileges during museum hours on the second day.

Safety Drill

All participants must participate in an emergency evacuation drill. (MANDATORY).

Handicap Access

Due to the historical nature of the ship, handicap access is extremely limited. For more information, please see our Accessibility page.

Emergencies

Museum staff will be onsite and available in case of emergency. After-hour or emergency contact can be made by calling the Security Desk at (510) 521-8448 x 226.

Coinciding Events

Many events take place aboard USS Hornet and it is possible that a banquet, dance, cocktail reception, or other function may be scheduled during your visit. On such occasions, your group activities will remain separated from the event area.

Headcount Changes, Late Payments, & Cancellations

What is your cancellation policy? 

Your $100 deposit is non-refundable, but I can change it to a different date.  You can change your headcount at any time.

• Changes made 15+ days before your event: no penalty.
• Changes made 8-14 days before your event: full credit.
• Changes made 2-7 days before your event: half credit.
• Changes made the same day (including no shows): no credit.

If you have any questions, please email us:  [email protected] 

© Copyright USS Hornet 2024. All Rights Reserved.

Our hours are subject to change on a daily basis based on special events and exhibition closures. Please check our Visitor Information page .  Last entry is one hour prior to closing.

Mon-Fri: 10:00am-5:00pm  

Sat, Sun, and Holidays: 10:00am-6:00pm  

The Space Shuttle Pavilion will be closed due to exhibition planning from  Monday, September 2 - Friday, September 27.  

Space Shuttle Pavilion

Our Space Shuttle Pavilion is home to Enterprise , NASA’s prototype orbiter that paved the way for the space shuttle program, with 17 dynamic exhibit zones featuring original artifacts, photographs, audio and films that immerse visitors in this historic era.

Check out our most spacious exhibition yet, Apollo: When We Went to the Moon through September 2.   The Space Shuttle Pavilion will be closed Monday, September 2 – Friday, September 27.

Walk directly underneath the orbiter or visit an elevated platform for a dramatic view. Then, see a space-flown Soyuz TMA-6 space capsule up close and explore the contrast between the two incredible spacecraft.

Enter the Pavilion through a soundscape featuring actual conversations between mission control and Enterprise pilots during flight tests. Then, explore immersive displays of Enterprise ’s design and the talented team behind the shuttle program. 

The successful transport of Enterprise started with a flight from Washington, DC to JFK Airport before a multi-day trip from JFK to New Jersey, and finally, up the Hudson River to the Intrepid Museum, where it opened to the public on July 19, 2012.

Mike Massimino, a former NASA astronaut, is now the Senior Adviser for space programs for the Intrepid Museum and a professor at Columbia University. Mike is a veteran of two space flights, the fourth and fifth Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions in 2002 and 2009.

Fun fact: Mike is the first astronaut to tweet from space!

Follow along with the space shuttle Enterprise as it makes its way on its final journey to the Intrepid Museum’s Flight Deck!

Browse records from all four categories of our collections: objects, media, archives and oral histories. Explore thematic and item-specific groupings or uncover personal artifacts like uniforms, souvenirs and images.

We offer a number of compelling programs and events that celebrate history, science, technology and engineering in exciting ways.

Get up close and personal with early spaceflight pioneers and see how small steps became giant leaps into the future of Mars exploration.

Go behind the scenes with astronaut and Museum Senior Space Adviser Mike Massimino, and explore the thrilling history and design of the space shuttle, Enterprise .

Astro Live is a fun-filled and educational experience for the whole family that explores space, astronomy and more. Listen in on talks from leading scientists, and take part in activities and demos by Museum educators.

Take a virtual Google Arts & Culture Tour to discover the fascinating collections and artifacts on display at the Museum from wherever you are.

Explore an array of unforgettable experiences.  

Enjoy exclusive benefits, including free admission. Learn more and join today.

A century ago, the U.S. Navy commissioned the USS Langley —an ungainly new ship that would forever change military aviation.  

They’ve been called “Cities at Sea.” Crewed by as many as 5,000 sailors and measuring more than 1,000 feet long, an aircraft carrier is a floating air base able to project power almost anywhere in the world, carrying as many as 90 aircraft. This year, the carrier celebrates its 100th birthday, born in the form of the USS Langley , a plodding little flattop commissioned in 1922. The Langley was an experiment to see if aircraft could operate effectively off ships. Langley showed it could be done, and then trained the U.S. Navy’s first generation of carrier aviators.

The First World War was a proving ground for naval aviation, when both British and American shore-based seaplane units were tasked with flying anti-submarine patrols. The Royal Navy also experimented with launching wheeled aircraft off wood platforms grafted onto warships. Upon completion of a mission, pilots would either land ashore or—if unable—ditch alongside to hopefully be fished out of the water.

“The British were reluctantly forced to take airplanes to sea to fight Zeppelins,” says USS Midway Museum historian Karl Zingheim. “Germany’s Zeppelin fleet was causing all kinds of problems for the British in the North Sea as long-range eyes in the sky tracking their fleet movements.”

In July 1918, seven Sopwith Camels from HMS Furious launched on a daring early morning raid from the North Sea, destroying two Zeppelins at the Tondern airship base, from which Germany had also been conducting night bombing raids over Britain. The ship-borne air attack was a complete surprise to the Germans, who had previously thought the base beyond reach of British aircraft.

This successful effort did not go unnoticed by certain American and Japanese naval observers who began to visualize experimenting with specialized “airplane carrier” ships that could both launch and then recover aircraft. “In America’s case, that became the Langley ,” says Zingheim. While the war had convinced Navy brass that airplanes were indeed essential, many senior naval officers believed aviation had little value to the fleet beyond scouting and observing the fall of shot for battleships.

Whiting spearheaded the effort to transform the vessel into America’s first aircraft carrier, the USS Langley.

Naval Aviator Number 16

But there were also forward-thinking naval officers who believed that ship-based aircraft would one day prove useful beyond their scouting roles. One was Commander Kenneth Whiting, a quiet, well-respected naval aviator who had commanded the Navy’s first aeronautic detachment when it deployed to France during World War I. Earlier in his career, as a young submarine skipper stationed in the Philippines, Whiting had made a name for himself by demonstrating that submarine crews could save themselves by exiting a submerged sub through a torpedo tube. Climbing aboard his submarine after it had surfaced, he simply remarked, “It’s easy.”

Seeking new challenges, Whiting was one of the first to join the nascent aviation branch and had the distinction of being the last naval aviator trained by Orville Wright. He was designated Naval Aviator No.16 in September 1914.

Three years later, his aviation unit was transported to France aboard a Navy collier, the USS Jupiter. Normally, the Jupiter was in the unglamorous business of refueling other ships with coal, but it assumed other duties during the war, carrying both cargo and personnel. Whiting, clearly thinking ahead, took note of the ship’s large cargo holds, one of the few Navy ships with space roomy enough to accommodate aircraft.

 On March 8, 1919, during a Navy general board meeting to discuss the Navy’s 1920 budget appropriations, Whiting advocated converting a ship for the sole purpose of operating aircraft, telling the board, “We would also like to have right now, some sort of ship to take planes around with the fleet.” The sort of ship Whiting had in mind was one like the Jupiter.

Despite resistance within the Navy hierarchy to retain the six-year-old vessel as a fleet collier, Whiting and other like-minded naval officers ultimately won that bureaucratic battle and, in July 1919, the U.S. Congress authorized funds for conversion of the Jupiter into America’s first aircraft carrier.

Naval aviator Kenneth Whiting.

On-The-Spot Adaptation

The Jupiter entered the Norfolk Navy Yard for conversion in March 1920. Initially, shipyard personnel weren’t quite sure what the aviators wanted, beyond a long open deck for airplanes to operate from. And as Rear Admiral Jack Tate, then a young pilot assigned to the ship, noted in a Naval Aviation News article published in December 1970, “A great deal of the design was an on-the-spot adaption [sic].”

The Jupiter’s tall derricks, along with other coal-handling equipment, were removed. Then, latticelike girders were erected over the ship’s main deck and bridge to support a wood flight deck about 534 feet long and 64 feet wide. “She was just a floating flight deck,” explains Zingheim, “what went below was an afterthought.”

The flight deck, looming some 30 feet above the open main deck, or “hangar” deck, allowed for a traveling crane to lift aircraft out of holds and shuttle them along the hangar deck for service or to an elevator used for raising aircraft to the flight deck above. Two large cranes for hoisting seaplanes aboard were also fitted on either side of the hangar deck, and a compressed-air catapult for launching seaplanes was installed on the bow.

Whiting, while aboard the USS Jupiter during World War I, took note of the ship’s large cargo holds.

So as not to interfere with flight ops, smokestacks that could be pivoted to a horizontal position were installed toward the stern, along with retractable flag masts. And then there was the large carrier-pigeon house located on the ship’s fantail.

With the new configuration came a new name, and the once work-a-day collier was recommissioned as the USS Langley (CV-1) on March 20, 1922. The Navy’s first carrier was named in honor of Samuel Pierpont Langley, a celebrated astronomer and early aviation pioneer. (In 1887, Langley became the third secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.)

With the carrier’s commissioning, Commander Whiting, now the ship’s executive officer, was determined to prove the ship’s value to the fleet. The Langley became a technology demonstrator, a floating testbed developing new techniques to launch and recover aircraft.

Using existing aircraft modified for carrier duty—by strengthening their landing gear and adding hooks for arrested landings—the initial cadre of 15 aviators practiced spot landings ashore. One of the first challenges was determining the best way to stop an aircraft once it touched down on deck. Different ideas were tried out on a wood platform erected onshore by Lieutenant Alfred “Mel” Pride, who was assigned the task of coming up with a workable system.

“Nobody knew much about arresting gear,” recalled Pride in a U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings article. “I have no idea why Lieutenant Commander Godfrey ‘Chevvy’ Chevalier picked me, one of his pilots, to design the arresting gear for the USS Langley. He walked up to me one day in the summer of 1921 and told me to stay ashore at Norfolk and begin work. I said ‘Aye, aye, sir,’ and that was that.”

What was decided upon was five rows of cross-deck wires strung across the aft part of the flight deck to engage an airplane’s trailing hook. Any of the wires, once hooked, provided a retarding force by lifting attached weights through a block-and-tackle mechanism.

When the Langley first set sail in September 1922, it was to test gear and begin figuring out how to work the flight deck.

Lieutenant Commander Virgil “Squash” Griffin made the first takeoff from the flight deck on October 17, 1922, in a Vought biplane. Nine days later, Chevalier made the first landing aboard the Langley while it was underway—but not without nosing over and damaging the wood propeller of his Aeromarine 39 trainer in the process. Still, even this awkward arrival was cause for celebration, which the aviators did once ashore. Sadly, Chevalier was killed a short time later in a crash while flying a Vought from Naval Air Station Norfolk to Yorktown, Virginia.

While the Langley was undergoing conversion, naval aviation had gotten a big boost on September 1, 1921, when the Bureau of Aeronautics was established to manage all aviation activities within the Navy Department. Headed by Rear Admiral William Moffett, naval aviation now had a dynamic leader who could promote its development within the Navy and before Congress.

The support of Congress and the general public was crucial because of controversy surrounding U.S. Army Air Service General William “Billy” Mitchell’s use of bombers to sink surplus warships the previous July. Following these trials, Mitchell argued that America could be better served, and more cheaply defended, by squadrons of Army bombers rather than fleets of expensive warships. For its part, the Navy wanted funding for bigger carriers that would be fast enough to keep pace with and support the battle fleet. “It should be emphasized,” says Zingheim, “that the Langley was just a proof-of-concept test vehicle, something to work out the kinks while the planners were figuring out how to make a full-fledged warship out of an aircraft carrier.”

Moffett’s efforts were successful, and in July 1922, Congress authorized the completion of two battle cruisers already under construction as aircraft carriers: the USS Lexington (CV-2) and the USS Saratoga (CV-3). Both of these ships, commissioned in 1927, proved crucial a generation later during the early days of World War II. The tactical doctrine, equipment, and flight procedures that made them so effective would be pioneered on the Langley.

An aircraft, possibly a Vought VE-7, is loaded on an elevator aboard the Langley ’s flight deck in 1923.

Covered Wagon Tours

With open sides and a wood flight deck held high overhead like a canopy, the Langley was an ugly duckling of a ship known to its crew as the “Covered Wagon,” with one officer going so far as to describe the warship as “this poor comic ship.”

The Langley shook off such dismissals and, after officially joining the fleet in 1923, the ship would spend time touring the East Coast, ranging as far north as Bar Harbor, Maine.

Moffett, a savvy political player in a time of budget austerity, had sensed wavering official support for the conversion of the battle cruisers into the bigger, more capable aircraft carriers the Navy needed. In June 1923, he summoned the Langley to Washington to sway minds—and that it did. The Langley ’s airplanes were a sensation and good PR for naval aviation, with many citizens and politicians turning out just for the novelty of seeing airplanes land and take off from a ship.

Still, naval aviation remained a work in progress. By trial and error, Whiting and other early naval aviators learned how to fly from a carrier. Initially, various types of landing approaches were flown by different pilots. But as Lieutenant Pride was able to make the best, most consistent deck landings by flying a slow, nose high, power-on turning approach, his technique was adopted as standard.

During the Langley ’s first six months of operation, amid the roar of aircraft engines, there rang out a new set of commands first heard on its decks and passed along to those who followed: “Rig the deck,” “Pilots, man your aircraft,” and “Stand by to start engines,” being among them.

Another Langley innovation was that of the landing signal officer, created when Whiting, positioned on the Langley ’s stern, anxiously watched his fellow pilots during their landing approaches. Seeing an approach that wasn’t quite right, he would unconsciously make hand signals indicating the needed corrections. He was surprised to learn that pilots were observing his body language. Fellow aviators decided that having an experienced man guiding incoming airplanes was a good idea. Recalled Tate: “Thus, the idea for a landing signalman was born.”

Crewmen inspect damage to a Vought O2U Corsair amphibian aircraft that was partially burned in a crash. Accidents were common as first-generation carrier pilots and deck crew faced a steep learning curve.

At first, the Langley had no assigned squadrons: It was used strictly as an experimental platform for the testing of arresting gear, catapults, and aircraft. But most importantly, the ship was tasked with training the Navy’s first-generation carrier pilots and deck crew. The learning curve, as related in Our Flying Navy , published in 1944, was steep:

“ ‘Instrument face’ was the distinguishing mark of the Langley ’s pilots, who loosened teeth and flattened noses against their instrument panels while negotiating the hazards of landing on the Langley ’s small flight deck and crude arresting gear. Planes went overboard, piled up in the crash barrier, stood on their noses, and came apart. But the science of carrier operations was developed as a monument to these pilots’ perseverance.”

Under the leadership of Joseph Reeves, the number of embarked aircraft increased from eight to 42.

On November 29, 1924, the Langley joined the Pacific Battle Fleet in San Diego, and soon thereafter, Fighting Squadron VF-2 came aboard, becoming the first fighter squadron (flying nine Vought VE-7SF biplanes) assigned to a Navy carrier.

The Langley took part in its first battle fleet exercise in March 1925, with its airplanes flying scouting missions ahead of the fleet. “Very quickly they figured out during exercises that the Langley was really useful,” says Zingheim. “The admirals were soon pounding tables saying, ‘we need to get Lexington and Saratoga in the fleet now!’ ” The Navy’s top admiral not only recommended the accelerated completion of both ships, but the development of new purpose-built carrier airplanes as well.

The Force Multiplier

Possibly the biggest innovator in carrier tactical doctrine was Captain Joseph Reeves. Known as “Bull” since his U.S. Naval Academy football days, Reeves, while head of the tactics department at the Naval War College in the 1920s, envisioned aircraft as offensive weapons, not just scouts. In October 1925, this shrewd and forceful officer was designated Commander Aircraft Squadrons, Battle Fleet, and tasked with formulating effective carrier tactics. After quietly observing operations aboard the Langley for a month, he set about introducing changes.

Reasoning that a carrier would have more offensive punch with more airplanes, Reeves pushed to increase the number aboard. “Initially, his officers felt the Langley could only safely carry eight aircraft,” says Rob Doane, curator of the Naval War College Museum. Reeves would have none of that and pushed through changes, eventually increasing the number of embarked aircraft to 42, while dramatically increasing the efficiency of flight operations through continuous drilling of the flight deck’s crew.

Under Reeves’ leadership, officers introduced specialized jobs within the flight deck crew, who wore different colored jerseys that identified them with a specific task during flight operations: yellow shirts were airplane directors, purple shirts dealt with fueling aircraft, and blue-shirted personnel muscled airplanes about the flight deck. Standardized hand signals were also developed for quickly communicating above the din of turning aircraft engines.

Prior to Reeves’ arrival, procedure was for an aircraft to land and then be lowered to the hangar deck on the ship’s sole elevator before the next airplane landed. Tate observed that this process could take up to 12 minutes. That was far too time consuming if the Langley was to become an effective fighting ship.

“Reeves realized early on that the procedures they had really weren’t going to work,” says Doane. “One of his key innovations was speeding up the landing-and-takeoff cycle.”

Reeves did it by pressing deck crew to synchronize their movements on the flight deck. Once an airplane landed, it was disengaged from the arresting gear and quickly moved to the bow to clear the landing area for the next arrival. A collapsible net crash barrier was set up to protect airplanes parked forward from landing aircraft that didn’t catch a wire. “Once all the aircraft were back aboard,” notes Doane, “they were pushed aft to be rearmed and refueled. Recovery time was cut in half, and the Langley began generating more sorties than previously thought possible.”

By realizing that a carrier’s combat potential was directly related to its sortie rate, Reeves’ innovations had effectively become a force multiplier. Under his command, the Langley ceased to be an experiment. She had become a warship.During a fleet exercise off Hawaii in spring 1928, the Langley launched 35 aircraft in seven minutes, an outstanding achievement for the time. The carrier’s airplanes also mounted a simulated dawn attack on Oahu’s Army defenders, taking them by complete surprise. The Langley ’s newly developed Boeing F2B-1 fighters—purpose built for carrier duty—easily held their own against Army fighters.                     

During a fleet exercise off Hawaii in 1928, the Langley launched 35 aircraft in seven minutes.

Loss of a Lady

After serving five years as the nation’s only aircraft carrier, the Langley was joined by the much faster, more capable Lexington and Saratoga in 1927. Although the Langley greatly influenced the design of these two new carriers and trained the corps of aviators and personnel that crewed them, technology had left the ship behind and the Langley ’s days as a carrier were numbered. In 1936, the Navy started the process of converting the Langley into a seaplane tender by removing the forward portion of the flight deck.

Soldiering on in the Pacific, the Langley was operating off the Philippines when war broke out in December 1941. Initially dodging the Japanese onslaught, she reached Darwin, Australia on January 1, 1942, where she supported anti-submarine patrols being flown out of Darwin. One month later, the Langley was tasked to deliver desperately needed U.S. Army fighters to the port of Tjilatjap in the Dutch East Indies. Parked wingtip to wingtip, the 32 Army P-40 Warhawk fighters perched on her flight deck were destined for Allied forces attempting to hold back a Japanese invasion of Java.

Modest beginnings: A Douglas DT-2 takes off from the Langley ’s flight deck in 1925.

The Langley never made it. Set upon by a force of Japanese bombers and fighters, the Langley ’s skipper skillfully dodged the first salvos of bombs that rained down from the sky. But on the third pass, the ship took direct hits, setting the decks ablaze. Despite the fires and damage, the skipper made a gallant attempt to reach port in Java. But once the ship’s engine room flooded and propulsion was lost, he gave the order to abandon ship. The Langley ’s escorting destroyers scuttled her with gunfire and torpedoes.     

The pioneering “First Lady” of naval aviation, where the call of “Pilots, man your planes” first boomed across her decks nearly a century ago, rests today beneath the Java Sea. But the Langley ’s legacy endures aboard the massive nuclear-powered carriers that now sail with America’s fleet. 

Robert Bernier got his carrier qual trapping aboard the USS Lexington in a mighty T-28C Trojan during the fall of 1972.

The Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center has a Grumman F-14 Tomcat,  an aircraft type forever immortalized by films like Top Gun and The Final Countdown .

Phantoms and Tomcats

Air & Space Quarterly spoke with Michael Hankins, the Museum’s curator for U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps Post-World War II Aviation, about Navy aircraft and how they are different than their land-based counterparts.

What distinguishes Navy aircraft from those used by the Air Force?

When aircraft land on a carrier, they use a tailhook, a literal hook on the back of the airplane that grabs one of several cables laid out across the flight deck and rapidly decelerates and stops an aircraft before it runs off the end of the flight deck. When airplanes take off, they use a catapult system—the landing gear of the airplane is attached to a giant steam-powered catapult that can accelerate the airplane to takeoff speed extremely fast. The F-14 Tomcat, when making a catapult launch, goes from 0 to 160 miles per hour in just two seconds.

The operational demands of the carrier environment put extreme stress on the airplane, especially on the landing gear, so Navy aircraft tend to be a lot more rugged and have much more durable landing-gear systems than their land-based counterparts. The Navy also needs to accommodate a large number of airplanes on the ship. For example, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, usually carries about 90 aircraft. To save space, Navy aircraft tend to have foldable wings. This is one of the most visually striking aspects of the Navy aircraft on display at the Museum—that they have folding wings.

Do you have a personal favorite among these aircraft?

I will probably take some heat for this—because I think I’m in the minority—but my favorite Navy airplane by far is the F-4 Phantom II. Some people really dislike that airplane: It has nicknames like “Double Ugly,” and during its development, people said it would fly just as well going backward as forward.

But I think the Phantom is a beautiful airplane. The tall, curved intakes on the sides, the way the wingtips bend up and the horizontal stabilizers bend down—there’s something about the look of that airplane that I find inherently exciting and just plain cool. But beyond that, it’s a very successful airplane that proved capable and versatile in the Vietnam War—both in ground-attack roles and in iconic air-to-air combat with Soviet-designed MiG fighters.

That said, I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about my love of the F-14 Tomcat. It’s got an incredibly cool look, with wings that can sweep backward and forward, and the way the wings connect to the fuselage with a bird-like quality. I always find myself staring at the Tomcat when I walk through the Museum. The F-14 was also very successful. Although not as combat-tested as the Vietnam-era Phantom, the Tomcat played an important role during Operation Desert Storm, and was the frontline fighter for the Navy for the last part of the Cold War. The Museum’s Tomcat shot down a MiG-23 in 1989.

Any intriguing facts about these aircraft you’d like to share?

The F/A-18 Hornet can trace its origin to an Air Force project. In the early 1970s, the Air Force asked for two prototypes of a “lightweight fighter,” a fighter that was smaller and less expensive than the others in development at the time— like the F-14 and F-15.

The winning prototype went on to be the F-16 Fighting Falcon, but the other prototype was the Northrop YF-17 Cobra. Initially, the Navy evaluated the F-16 to see if a Navy version of that aircraft would be possible, but they decided against it. Instead, they took the YF-17 as a starting point, using it as the basis for the airplane that became the F-18.

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USS George Washington aircraft carrier leaves Norfolk to begin new chapter in Japan

Friends and family of sailors onboard the USS George Washington watch as it departs from Naval Station Norfolk, Va., on April 25, 2024. (Billy Schuerman, The Virginian-Pilot/TNS)

(Tribune News Service) — The USS George Washington aircraft carrier departed Thursday from Naval Station Norfolk, Va., embarking on a months-long journey to its new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, where it will begin a new chapter.

The Washington and about 3,200 sailors on board crossed the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel around 11 a.m. ET before cruising out of the Chesapeake Bay. It marked the end of the Washington’s time in Hampton Roads for the foreseeable future, but it is a journey the crew is ready to begin, leaders said.

“We are excited to do what we signed up to do — to be part of something bigger than ourselves, be a part of a winning team and travel and see the world,” said Randy Swanson, command master chief of the Washington.

The Washington came to Naval Station Norfolk in December 2015 from Japan, but the bulk of the carrier’s time in the region was spent inoperable at Newport News Shipbuilding, where it was a fixture for more than six years. During that time, there were nine suicides among the Washington crew, including three in one week in April 2022.

Now, the ship is headed to South America to train with foreign forces as it circumnavigates the continent over the next two to three months en route to Japan, said Cmdr. Dawn Stankus, spokesperson for Naval Air Force Atlantic.

The carrier will stop this summer in San Diego, where a portion of the crews of the Washington and the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier will swap ships. This means Reagan sailors will take over the Washington for their assignments in Japan, and Washington sailors will take over the Reagan for its next phase. Meanwhile, others will be reassigned to new units and dispersed across the country.

The transition will affect roughly 6,000 sailors across both ships, Stankus said. Of the current crew assigned to the Washington, only a few hundred will follow the ship to Japan. She said exactly how many was unknown Thursday.

The Washington is scheduled to arrive in Japan by this fall, officials said.

Michelle Nation is one of four volunteer ombudsmen who acts as a liaison between families and the ship’s leadership. Two ombudsmen have moved to Japan to help the families who will be following sailors overseas.

The ombudsmen help families navigate the move, including scheduling movers and travel. Families moving to Japan, Nation said, often live in the local community and have to overcome language barriers, cultural differences and challenges that come with getting children established in a new school or finding employment.

However, not every sailor’s family will relocate. Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Sanders, 32, said his wife and three children, ages 13, 9 and 7, will stay in Hampton Roads for the three years he is stationed in Japan. The decision was difficult, Sanders said, but he wanted to see it through with the Washington.

“I am excited to see us out there performing and earning the trust of the American people,” Sanders said.

Sanders, an aviation boatswain’s mate, has been with the Washington since it entered Newport News Shipbuilding.

“To see it transform — from shipyard workers working alongside us with hoses and pipes running through the ship — to see what we have become now is amazing,” Sanders said.

From San Diego, the Reagan will head to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state for maintenance. The ship will make the journey to Newport News Shipbuilding in the coming years for its midlife refueling and maintenance overhaul.

For now, Naval Station Norfolk is home to four carriers, down from five. The Hampton Roads installation serves as the hub for all East Coast-based aircraft carriers. Until Thursday, that included the Washington, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS Harry S. Truman, USS George H.W. Bush and the USS Gerald R. Ford.

But the Eisenhower is deployed to the Middle East, the Bush is undergoing maintenance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth and the Truman is in and out of port as it prepares for deployment later this year. That leaves the Ford alone at the piers and the naval station’s Carrier Row along the Elizabeth River looking sparse.

As the Washington prepared to leave Thursday, Capt. Brent Gaut released the last rope securing the warship to the pier. He served as commanding officer of the Washington from June 2021 to February 2024. Gaut, who is retiring after a 31-year career, said he wanted to see the ship off to close a personal chapter as well as to see the start of the ship’s new chapter.

“The journey to get here was very challenging,” Gaut said. “But to be here today gives me hope and gives sailors hope that you can believe in something, have that faith and keep working to achieve your goals. And today is a celebration of all the people who have been involved in this tremendous project.”

©2024 The Virginian-Pilot

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC

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• Japanese sailors celebrate ‘9 years of memories’ with USS Ronald Reagan in Yokosuka

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News | USS George Washington aircraft carrier leaves Norfolk to begin a new chapter in Japan

The Washington and about 3,200 sailors on board crossed the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel about 11 a.m. before cruising out of the Chesapeake Bay. It marked the end of the Washington’s time in Hampton Roads for the foreseeable future — but it is a journey the crew is ready to begin, leaders said.

“We are excited to do what we signed up to do — to be part of something bigger than ourselves, be a part of a winning team and travel and see the world,” said Randy Swanson, command master chief of the Washington.

The Washington arrived at Naval Station Norfolk in December 2015 from Japan, but the bulk of the carrier’s time in the region was spent inoperable at Newport News Shipbuilding, where it was a fixture for more than six years. During that time, there were nine suicides among the Washington crew, including three in one week in April 2022.

Now, the ship is headed to South America to train with foreign forces as it circumnavigates the continent over the next two to three months en route to Japan, said Cmdr. Dawn Stankus, spokesperson for Naval Air Force Atlantic.

The carrier will stop this summer in San Diego, where a portion of the crews of the Washington and the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier will swap ships. This means Reagan sailors will take over the Washington for their assignments in Japan, and Washington sailors will take over the Reagan for its next phase. Meanwhile, others will be reassigned to new units and dispersed across the country.

The transition will affect roughly 6,000 sailors across both ships, Stankus said. Of the current crew assigned to the Washington, only a few hundred will follow the ship to Japan. She said exactly how many was unknown.

The Washington is scheduled to arrive in Japan by fall, officials said.

Michelle Nation is one of four volunteer ombudsmen who acts as a liaison between families and the ship’s leadership. Two ombudsmen have moved to Japan to help the families who will be following sailors overseas.

The ombudsmen help families navigate the move, including scheduling movers and travel. Families moving to Japan, Nation said, often live in the local community and have to overcome language barriers, cultural differences and challenges that come with getting children established in a new school or finding employment.

However, not every sailor’s family will relocate. Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Sanders, 32, said his wife and three children, ages 13, 9 and 7, will stay in Hampton Roads for the three years he is stationed in Japan. The decision was difficult, Sanders said, but he wanted to see it through with the Washington.

“I am excited to see us out there performing and earning the trust of the American people,” Sanders said.

Friends and family of sailors onboard the USS George Washington (CVN-73) watch as it embarks on a southern seas deployment around South America from Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on April 25, 2024. The ship will eventually move on to its new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)

Sailors onboard the USS George Washington (CVN-73) take a selfie with retired Capt. Brent “Hollywood” Gaut, a former CO of the Washington, before it embarks on a southern seas deployment around South America from Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on April 25, 2024. The ship will eventually move on to its new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)

The USS George Washington (CVN-73) embarks on a southern seas deployment around South America from Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on April 25, 2024. The ship will eventually move on to its new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate first class Daniel Sanders meets with media before the USS George Washington (CVN-73) embarks on a southern seas deployment around South America from Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on April 25, 2024. Sanders will remain attached to the ship when it moves homeport to Japan in the fall after six years with the ship. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)

Sailors man the rails as the USS George Washington (CVN-73) embarks on a southern seas deployment around South America from Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on April 25, 2024. The ship will eventually move on to its new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)

Raquel Ramos takes a video recording of the USS George Washington (CVN-73) as it embarks on a southern seas deployment around South America from Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on April 25, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)

The USS George Washington (CVN-73) is pushed out to sea by tugboats as it embarks on a southern seas deployment around South America from Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on April 25, 2024. The ship will eventually move on to its new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)

Sanders, an aviation boatswain’s mate, has been with the Washington since it entered Newport News Shipbuilding.

“To see it transform — from shipyard workers working alongside us with hoses and pipes running through the ship — to see what we have become now is amazing,” Sanders said.

From San Diego, the Reagan will head to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state for maintenance. The ship will make the journey to Newport News Shipbuilding in the coming years for its mid-life refueling and maintenance overhaul.

For now, Naval Station Norfolk is home to four carriers, down from five. The Hampton Roads installation serves as the hub for all East Coast-based aircraft carriers. Until Thursday, that included the Washington, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS Harry S. Truman, USS George H.W. Bush and the USS Gerald R. Ford.

But the Eisenhower is deployed to the Middle East, the Bush is undergoing maintenance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth and the Truman is in and out of port as it prepares for deployment this year. That leaves the Ford alone at the piers and the naval station’s Carrier Row along the Elizabeth River looking sparse.

As the Washington prepared to leave Thursday, Capt. Brent Gaut released the last rope securing the warship to the pier. He served as commanding officer of the Washington from June 2021 to February 2024. Gaut, who is retiring after a 31-year career, said he wanted to see the ship off to close a personal chapter as well as to see the start of the ship’s new chapter.

“The journey to get here was very challenging,” Gaut said. “But to be here today gives me hope and gives sailors hope that you can believe in something, have that faith and keep working to achieve your goals. And today is a celebration of all the people who have been involved in this tremendous project.”

Caitlyn Burchett, [email protected]

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