USS Kitty Hawk CV 63

Fact Sheet Page 2

.....On 9 July 1965, she hosted 50 women flyers, all contestants in the cross country "Powder Puff Derby" flight...That same day, some 300 members of the La Jolla, Calif., Regional Horseless Carriage Club of America came aboard to visit, having parked their old-time cars along the quay wall for the crew to inspect and admire...The flow of visitors continued unabated throughout the summer and fall.

.....From May until September, Kitty Hawk Spent many long weeks at sea conducting exercises and carrier qualifications, including more than 7,000 aircraft launches and landings...On 7 and 8 August 1965, she was in San Francisco which afforded her crew an opportunity to sight-see in that interesting city...On 8 August, she hosted over 5,000 members of the Alameda Naval Air Reserve and their families...For one period of two weeks, she acted as a testing facility for the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Md...During this time, a number of successful computer-controlled "no hands" landings were conducted - a "first" for the ship.

.....On 20 August 1965, nearly 2,500 members of Kitty Hawk families went to sea for the day...Many displays were set up, and the families watched an underway replenishment from an oiler, USS Chemung (AO-30), as well as an exiting air show from the flight deck of the ship...A month later, on 20 September, Kitty Hawk served as host for the Change of Command ceremony for the Commander Carrier Division One in San Diego...Rear Adm., Maurice F. Weisner relieved Rear Adm., Edward C. Outlaw.

.....On 19 October 1965, Kitty Hawk departed San Diego, California, for it's third western Pacific cruise...On board were 14 guests of the Secretary of the Navy...These guests, representatives of various press media throughout California and Utah, remained on board for six days until our arrival in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

.....On 26 October, Kitty Hawk began its Operational Readiness Inspection under the control of fleet Training Group and Commander Fleet Air Hawaii. ..Results of the week of drills and tests proved Kitty Hawk the "tops"... Kitty Hawk attained the highest score of any Pacific Fleet Attack Carrier undergoing this rigorous inspection during the previous two years.

.....In the early morning hours of 8 November, after four days of rest and relaxation in Hawaii, Kitty Hawk departed for Subic Bay in the Philippines to join the U.S. SEVENTH Fleet...Kitty Hawk's stay in Subic Bay was very short and the time was utilized in replenishing for her upcoming job on Dixie Station, taking part in the battle against Viet Cong insurgents into South Vietnam.

.....November 26th will always be a day in the history books for Kitty Hawk...It was the first time her aircraft lifted off the Flight Deck for combat operations...On that day, Kitty Hawk aircraft flew 90 attack sorties against the VC, unleashing more than 140 tons of ordnance.

.....While at Yankee Station on 6 December 1965, a fire swept one of the large main engine room spaces...Despite the seriousness of the fire, Kitty Hawk was able to continue full air operations on schedule.

.....Kitty Hawk departed Yokosuka to Yankee Station on 9 January 1966 conducting refresher flight operations and nuclear weapons loading exercises en route...On 11 January, CVW-11 aircraft, under control of CTG 70.4, conducted attacks on a USS Hornet (CVS-12) towed sled in close proximity to a USSR Task Unit near Bashi Channel...RA5C aircraft from RVAH 13 obtained photo coverage on all surface units.

.....Kitty Hawk aircraft commenced Tiger Hound, Steel Tiger, Blue Tree, and in country operations on 14 January...The Tet (Vietnamese Lunar Holiday) stand down resulted in increased sortie requirements for CVW-11 on 21 and 23 January but provided a break in routine on 22 January...Concentration of all flight activity in the Steel Tiger/Tiger Hound areas 20-23 January produced high density air coverage with resultant disappearance of targets...Intense interdiction apparently highly effective...Post-Tet in-country operations were handicapped by frequent periods of low ceiling in the I Corp., area and by non-availability of Forward Air Controllers...Heavy sortie rates in the Steel Tiger/Tiger Hound areas apparently resulted in reduced vehicular activity as evidenced by the paucity of live targets in Laos...Planning for possible resumption of Rolling Thunder operations was accelerated.

.....The pace of operations increased sharply with the resumption of Rolling Thunder operations on 31 January 1966...The weather in North Vietnam was uniformly bad until 3 February when Rolling Thunder Package III opened for a few hours...Kitty Hawk responded with a 170-sortie day, including 49 attack sorties in NVN.

.....On 31 January, an F-4 Phantom from VF 114 crashed near Kitty Hawk after complete hydraulic failure due combat damage...On 1 February, an A1 from VA-115 was shot down in the Steel Tiger area...Crewmembers, both aircraft, recovered uninjured...On 3 February, an RA-5C Vigilante from RVAH 13 was downed by enemy fire off the NVN coast just south of Cape Bouton. ..A major SAR effort, including excellent shore bombardment by USS Waddell (DDF-24) and the USS Brinkley Bass (DD-887) failed to recover the crew.

.....Kitty Hawk departed Subic Bay on 10 February 1966 en route Hong Kong, conducted a Surface-to-Air Missile Exercise on 10 February and to Air-to-Air Missile Exercise on 11 February...On 11 February, Rear Adm., J.F. Reedy, CTF 77, presented 61 Air Medals to pilots and crew members of Attack Carrier Air Wing Eleven, Kitty Hawk's embarked Air Wing.

.....Kitty Hawk arrived Hong Kong 12 February and departed en route Yankee Station, on 15 February...The exemplary conduct of Kitty Hawk crew members resulted in the following from SOPA (ADMIN) Hong Kong, "During your brief Hong Kong visit from 12 to 15 February, it was most evident to all concerned that Kitty Hawk personnel are a diplomatic force promoting an atmosphere of friendship, mutual respect, and understanding. Well Done."

.....Kitty Hawk arrived in Yankee Station 17 February 1966, operating there through 20 February then moved south to Dixie Station from in-country operations from 22 February to 5 March...Extremely low ceilings and visibility throughout the area seriously limited air operations...The majority of Rolling Thunder missions after 17 February was completed by A6A Intruder aircraft from VA 85 using radar system deliveries through the overcast...On 18 February, an Intruder was lost when it failed to complete pullout from a glide bombing attack...There were no survivors...During the period 22 February to 5 March, Kitty Hawk aircraft averaged 100 direct air support sorties per day in support of friendly forces in South Vietnam.

.....Kitty Hawk returned to Yankee Station 6 March 1966, conducting air operations while en route...On 5 March, and F4B Phantom from VF 114 was lost after being hit by enemy ground fire during in-country operations...The crew ejected due to loss of hydraulic pressure and control effectiveness...Both pilot and RIO were recovered safely by SAR helicopter...All-weather A6A Intruder aircraft maintained steady pressure on North Vietnamese targets despite overcast skies and en clement weather, both day and night...Kitty Hawk aircraft provided close air support missions in defense of the beleaguered As Hau Special Forces Camp on 10 March...On 11 March, an A1H of VA-115 was lost shortly after catapult launch...The pilot was recovered on board with only minor injuries...On 14 March, Kitty Hawk aircraft and SAR helicopter participated in the daring rescue of two USAF air crewmen after their aircraft had been shot down...Both Crewmen were rescued within range of NVN shore batteries, returned to Kitty Hawk, and treated.

.....Kitty Hawk departed Yankee Station 16 March 1966 and arrived in Subic Bay 17 March for an upkeep period...Kitty Hawk departed 29 March and arrived in Dixie Station on 31 March...On 31 March, Rear Adm., J.F. Reedy, Commander Task Force 77, presented two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 238 Air Medals, and 7 Navy Commendation Medals to pilots and crew members of Attack Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN...Aircraft from CVW-11 provided in-country and Operation Jackstay support and averaged 100 sorties per day on enemy targets.

.....During the period 1 April 1966 and 23 May 1966, Kitty Hawk, with Commander Attack Carrier Striking Force, SEVENTH Fleet (CTF 77)...Commander Carrier Division FIVE and Attack Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN embarked, continued to support U.S. policy in Southeast Asia with direct combat action against insurgent Communist forces in Vietnam.

.....On 3 April 1966, Lt., Felix Templeton of VF-114, flying an F4B Phantom, became Kitty Hawk's first triple Centurion by making his 300th arrested landing aboard ship, and on 9 April, Lt., j.g. A.E. Johnson of VA-113, flying an A4C Skyhawk, made the 10,000th landing on Kitty Hawk since commencement of the WESTPAC deployment on 19 October 1965.

.....Kitty Hawk departed Dixie Station on 11 April 1966 and arrived at Yankee Station on 12 April...Air Wing ELEVEN aircraft delivered an average of 100 tons of ordnance per day on enemy targets while conducting Rolling Thunder, Blue Tree, and Steel Tiger operations...On 12 April, a KA-3B Sky warrior (a tanker) with four crew members aboard, en route Kitty Hawk from NAS Cubi Point, was overdue and missing...Crew member status was undetermined...On 15 April, a UH2 helicopter from HC 1 Detachment CHARLIE was lost over the side after experiencing control difficulties soon after lift-off...One crew member was killed and one man killed and four injured on the Kitty Hawk flight deck by flying shrapnel from the Helicopter's rotor blades...Also on 15 April, Kitty Hawk aircraft responding to a SAR effort launched for a downed USAF F4C, and silenced one 57mm and two 37mm AAA sites in the vicinity of the downed aircraft.

.....On 17 April 1966, an A-4C Skyhawk from VA-113 crashed into the sea immediately following launch...The pilot ejected and was recovered safely aboard with no injuries...Also on 17 April, and A-6A Intruder from VA-85 experienced hydraulic failure in flight and crashed at sea...Both the pilot and NFO ejected and were rescued at sea in good condition...An A1H aircraft from VA 115 was also downed on 17 April...Extensive SAR efforts were negative.

.....Also on 17 April, an attack was carried out against a primary target in North Vietnam, the Hai Doung Railroad and Highway Bridge, located approximately 20 miles east of Hanoi, and resulted in the dropping of the center span and heavy cratering of the eastern bridge abutment and approaches...On 18 April, a flight of two A6As executed a surprise midnight attack on the Uong Bi Thermal Power Plant located approximately 12 miles northeast of the seaport of Haiphong...Making radar system deliveries, the Intruder aircraft placed 26,000 pounds of ordnance on target...On 19 April, Kitty Hawk aircraft struck the Cam Pha Port facility...The destruction to port facilities caused by this strike was a significant economic blow to North Vietnam.

.....On 20 April, an A4C Skyhawk from VA 113, while orbiting a downed pilot, was also hit by ground fire...The pilot retired seaward, ejected two miles from Kitty Hawk, and was recovered safely on board after spending approximately one minute in the water...On 21 April, an A-6A intruder from VA 85 disappeared from radar scopes at weapons release point...His wing man observed a large flash at this time, which could have been weapons detonation...Both crew members were missing...On 22 April, an A6A Intruder was observed to crash in the water while retiring from the target...There were no survivors.

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