USS Kitty Hawk CV 63

.....On 26 April, an F-4B Phantom was hit in the vicinity of the starboard engine by enemy ground fire while on a bombing mission...Both pilot and RIO ejected near Kitty Hawk and were recovered aboard in good condition by Kitty Hawk's helicopter.

.....On 27 April 1966, an A-6A Intruder, while on armed reconnaissance, received numerous small arms hits, one of which severely wounded the pilot...The pilot, with the NFO's assistance, flew his aircraft seaward where they both ejected and were recovered by helicopter...For this action, the NFO, Lt., j.g. B.E. Westin, USNR, received the Navy Cross...On 28 April, an F-4G Phantom was hit by enemy ground fire...Both pilot and RIO ejected at sea and were recovered safely.

.....During the period 12 through 28 April, Kitty Hawk aircraft participated in a series of strikes aimed at the North Vietnamese lines of communications (LOC)...Targets hit included railroads, bridges, highways, and waterborne logistic craft...During this period, over 200 enemy waterborne logistic craft were destroyed...The strikes conducted during this period severely hampered the movement of military supplies south...Operations during this period were distinguished of aggressiveness and reliability in the face of adversity...Aircraft and crew losses were a direct reflection of aggressiveness of CVW-11 pilots in face of increased capabilities of enemy defenses.

.....Kitty Hawk departed Yankee Station 29 April and arrived Subic Bay 30 April for upkeep...On 1 May 1966, Kitty Hawk, while in Subic Bay, Philippines, celebrated the fifth anniversary of her commissioning with an open house...Kitty Hawk was visited by numerous military personnel, DOD civilian personnel, and dependents from NAS Cubi Point and Subic Bay area...The Govenor of Bataan and several of his officials attended as did the Mayor of Olongapo.

.....Kitty Hawk departed Subic Bay en route Yankee Station 6 May, conducted a Surface-to-Air Missile Exercise on 6 May, and arrived in Yankee Station on 8 May...Air Wing aircraft averaged delivery of 110 tons of ordnance per day on enemy targets while conducting Rolling Thunder, Steel Tiger, and Blue Tree operations...On 15 May, an A6A Intruder from VA 85 was lost following fuel exhaustion due to inability to receive fuel from tanker aircraft...Both pilot and NFO ejected and were recovered safely...The pilot, Lt., Cmdr., John Ellison, was rescued by Kitty Hawk's embarked helicopter detachment, HC1 Detachment CHARLIE...This was the 14th rescue made by this detachment this deployment.

.....On 11 May, Kitty Hawk and USS Pyro (AE-24) set a new ordnance transfer rate record by averaging 237.66 standard tons per hour...On 18 May, an F4B while flying RESCAP for a downed aircraft was hit by small arms fire...The pilot and RIO ejected and were recovered uninjured by helicopter...On 19 May, an A1J suffered engine failure, suddenly and completely, following deck lift-off and crashed into the sea...The pilot was recovered uninjured by a Kitty Hawk helicopter.

.....On 23 May 1966, Kitty Hawk departed Yankee Station in the South China Sea and commenced the long voyage homeward after completing operations on her third WESTPAC deployment...From 27 November 1965 to 23 May 1966:..The ship had conducted 9,223 combat sorties and 1,485 support sorties.

.....After brief stops in Subic Bay on 24 and 25 May and Yokosuka, Japan, on 29 May through 3 June 1966, Kitty Hawk sailed for the United States and arrived in San Diego on 13 June 1966. ..At this time she entered a much needed Restricted availability (RAV) period for maintenance and repairs.

.....On 25 June 1966, Kitty Hawk's Hangar Bay One was turned into a gala 1,804 seat theater and the world premiere of Walt Disney's Lt., Robin Crusoe, U.S.N., portions of which were earlier filmed on board Kitty Hawk, was held before a host of celebrities...At the same time, in the South China Sea, off the coast of Vietnam, the picture was also premiered on board Kitty Hawk's sister ship, USS Constellation (CVA-64)...This was the first time in the history of motion pictures that a double premiere was held, one at sea and the other in port.

.....Kitty Hawk's post-deployment RAV ended 22 August 1966 and Kitty Hawk commenced local operations in the southern California operating in and out of San Diego...An INSERV inspection was conducted during the period 6 to 9 September 1966...Fleet Training Group, San Diego, conducted a Training Readiness Evaluation 12 and 13 September 1966 and the period of 14 to 23 September was spent conducting Fleet Training Group, San Diego, Underway Training Assistance...On 26 and 27 September, COMCARDIV THREE as Chief Inspector, conducted an Administrative Inspection...An overall ship's grade of 93.15 (Excellent) was assigned.

.....Kitty Hawk was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for exceptionally meritorious service from 26 November 1965 to 14 May 1966 while participating in combat operations against the insurgent Communist guerrilla forces in the Republic of Vietnam...The valiant men of her Carrier Air Wing 11 flew over 10,000 sorties and delivered over 10,700 tons of ordnance against enemy forces...The officers and men of Kitty Hawk displayed to maintain their ship as a fighting unit under the most ardent operating conditions to enable her pilots to destroy vital military targets in North Vietnam despite intense opposition and extremely adverse weather conditions.

.....On 4 November 1966 Kitty Hawk again deployed to serve the cause of freedom and national security in waters of Southeast Asia...Kitty Hawk arrived at Yokosuka, Japan, 19 November to relieve Constellation as flagship for Rear Adm., David C. Richardson, Commander Task Force 77...On 26 November, Kitty Hawk departed Yokosuka for Yankee Station via Subic Bay, and on 5 December, aircraft from Kitty Hawk - already accustomed to celebrities as guests - entertained a number of extremely prominent visitors: William Randolph Hearst, Jr.; Bob Considine; Dr., Billy Graham; and John Steinbeck, among others.

.....Seventh Fleet carrier aircraft launched their first strikes on 24 April 1967 on MiG bases in North Vietnam with an attack on Kep Airfield, 37 miles northeast of Hanoi...The attack was delivered by A-6 Intruders and A-4 Skyhawks from Kitty Hawk and was followed-up by another A-6 attack the same night...While providing cover for the bombers during the first attack...Lt., Cmdr., Charles E. Southwick and Lt., Hugh Wisely, flying F-4B Phantom IIs of VF-114, each were credited with a probable MiG-17 kill in aerial combat.

.....She remained in the Far East supporting the fight for freedom in Southeast Asia until departing Subic Bay 28 May 1967...Steaming via Japan, the carrier reached San Diego 19 June and a week later entered the naval shipyard at Long Beach for maintenance...Kitty Hawk returned to San Diego 25 August 1967.

..... Kitty Hawk again deployed from San Diego for a western Pacific (WESTPAC) and Vietnam cruise on 18 November 1967, returning home on 28 June 1968. ..Subsequent deployments were from 30 December 1968 to 4 September 1969 and 6 November 1970 to 17 June 1971.

.....On this latter WESTPAC deployment, by 31 January 1971, Kitty Hawk, USS Hancock (CVA 19), and USS Ranger (CVA 61), alternating on Yankee Station, flew a total of 3,214 sorties during the month, of which 3,128 were in Laos...A-6 and A-7 aircraft were particularly effective in attacking truck traffic, the enemy having put seasonally high number of trucks on the road, averaging close to 1,000 per day.

.....On Yankee Station on 10 March 1971, Kitty Hawk and Ranger set a record of 233 strike sorties for one day and went on during the ensuing six-day period to mark up a strike effectiveness record that exceeded record performances by TF-77 during the previous three-period...The carrier returned home 17 June 1971.

.....Again, on 17 February 1972, Kitty Hawk deployed to the waters off Southeast Asia...By 30 March, Naval Air attack sorties in South Vietnam had dropped from 733 in February to 113 during March...On 23 March 1972, the U.S. canceled further peace negotiations in Paris, France, because of a lack of progress in the progress in the talks...This was followed by the North Vietnamese invasion of South Vietnam...This "Easter" or "Spring Offensive" was the result of the long buildup and infiltration of North Vietnamese forces during previous months and presaged some of the most intense fighting of the entire war...The North Vietnamese invasion prompted increased air operations by the carriers in support of South Vietnamese and U.S. forces...The carriers on Yankee Station when North Vietnam invaded on 30 March were Hancock and USS Coral Sea (CVA 73)...During the month four carriers had rotated on Yankee Station: they were Kitty Hawk, USS Constellation, Coral Sea and Hancock.

.....Aircraft from Kitty Hawk as well as Hancock, Coral Sea, and Constellation, were involved in Operation Freedom Train beginning 5 April 1972...Navy tactical air from these carriers flew sorties against military and logistic targets in the southern part of North Vietnam that were involved in the invasion of South Vietnam...The operating area in North Vietnam was limited initially to between 17 and 19 degrees North...However, special strikes were authorized against targets above the 19th parallel on various occasions...The magnitude of the North Vietnamese offensive indicated that an extended logistics network and increased resupply routes would be required to sustain ground operations by North Vietnam in their invasion of South Vietnam...Most targets and geographical restrictions that were placed in effect since October 1968 concerning the bombing in North Vietnam were lifted gradually and the list of authorized targets expanded...Strikes in North Vietnam were against vehicles, lines of communication (roads, waterways, bridges, railroad bridges and railroad tracks), supply targets, air defense targets and industrial/power targets...By the end of April, operations were permitted in North Vietnam throughout the region below 20 degrees 25' N and many special strikes above the 20th parallel had also been authorized.

.....On 14 April, the Navy averaged 191 sorties per day in South Vietnam, a 97 percent increase over the previous week...Sorties concentrated west and north of Quangtri City with interdiction and direct air support flown in the area...Carriers on Yankee Station were Kitty Hawk, Constellation, Hancock, and Coral Sea.

.....Two days later, on 16 April, aircraft from Kitty Hawk , Coral Sea, and Constellation flew 57 sorties in the Haiphong area in support of U.S. Air Force B-52 strikes on the Haiphong petroleum products storage area...This operation was known as Freedom Porch.

.....Operation Linebacker I began 10 May 1972 and consisted of heavy strikes of targets in most of North Vietnam, which evolved and lasted until restrictions on operations above 20 degrees N were imposed 22 October...The operation was an outgrowth of 'Freedom Train' and President Richard M. Nixon's mining declaration which also stated that the U.S. would make a maximum effort to interdict the flow of supplies in North Vietnam...On this first day of Linebacker I, the Navy shifted it's attacks from targets in the southern part of North Vietnam, to the coastal region embracing Haiphong north to the Chinese border...In all, 173 attack sorties were flown in this region this day, although another 62 were directed into South Vietnam in continuing support of allied forces there.