USS Constellation CV 64

.....On 19 January 2003, Constellation added another accomplishment to the list by recording its 390,000th trap. Lt., Frank Wittwer, flying Falcon 407, an F/A-18C Hornet from Strike/Fighter Squadron (VFA) 137, caught the number two wire, at 8:53p.m., marking the milestone trap for the ship. On 5 March, crew members joined thousands of Americans across the United States in the simultaneous playing of the National Anthem. The Star Spangled Banner echoed throughout Constellation, approximately 1,060 feet from bow to stern, at precisely 7 p.m. local time. Additionally, several sailors participated in interviews with hometown media. Minutes before the National Anthem was played, Commanding Officer Capt., John Miller provided comments to Constellation's crew about the meaning and significance of the project. "The National Anthem project is a wonderful example of the support we are receiving from the folks back home. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in this landmark demonstration of pride and patriotism", he remarked.

.....Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein, began on 20 March 2003 with the firing of Tomahawk missiles from U.S. ships in the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea. On 25 March, aircraft from two squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 2 aboard Constellation successfully destroyed three significant Iraqi naval targets. The aircraft involved received short-order tasking for a time-sensitive strike to engage several naval targets in the vicinity of Basra.

.....Two F/A-18C Hornets from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, "The Vigilantes", one of three F/A-18 squadrons aboard, participated in the strikes with one aircraft from Sea Control Squadron (VS) 38, "The Red Griffins", the S-3B Viking squadron, aboard Constellation. One Hornet independently identified and destroyed two naval targets. The S-3B, working in conjunction with the second F/A-18C, as the laser designator, destroyed its target by firing a laser guided missile, the AGM-65E Maverick. The F/A-18 provides laser illumination throughout target engagements. This event was the first time the Navy's S-3 has received tasking for overland strikes in its 30 year history. In addition, it is also the first time the S-3 has fired a laser-guided missile in combat.

.....On 1 April, an S-3B Viking from Sea Control Squadron 38 of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 aboard Constellation veered off the flight deck after making an arrested landing at approximately 5:10 a.m., local time. Shortly after touching down on deck, the S-3B malfunctioned while taxing on the carrier's flight deck and slid to the port side of the deck. The plane went over the side and hit flight deck safety netting, with the two pilot aboard ejecting into the water. The plane then followed into the water.

.....A helicopter from Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 2 was performing search-and-rescue (SAR) operations for the flight cycle and arrived on scene immediately. Both pilots were recovered by a SAR swimmer and transported to Constellation, where they were evaluated for minor injuries. After completing SAR operations and recovering the pilots, scheduled flight operations aboard Constellation continued.

.....Constellation departed the Arabian Gulf on 16 April 2003 and began her journey back to her home port of San Diego. While transiting home on her final deployment in the Arabian Gulf , Constellation received a distress call from an Indonesian inter-island ferry boat carrying civilian passengers in the Banda Sea. USS Milius (DDG 65), also transiting home with the Constellation Strike Group, was in a position to assist, and was tasked by Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, embarked on Constellation, to investigate and render assistance to the vessel.

.....Milius responded immediately and quickly launched a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) into the water to asses the situation. The ferry, which had 27 civilians aboard, including children, suffered an electrical generator and diesel propulsion engine failure, which had been inoperable for three days. The vessel had attempted to hail several passing ships for two days before Milius responded. Once on the scene, several crew members from Milius embarked the ferry to make repairs. They were able to restore electrical power but found the diesel engine was not repairable. Adding further complications to the initial situation was the fact that no one on the vessel spoke English. Constellation, however, had two linguists aboard and was able to dispatch a helicopter carrying Crypto logic Technician Interpretive 3rd Class Russell Crandall, an Indonesian interpreter, to assist the Milius crew in communicating with crew of the ferry.

.....After a full assessment of the situation and discussion with the vessel's captain, it was determined that the best option for ensuring the vessel's safety would be to tow it to the nearby Indonesian Island of Pulau-Sanana, the closest island to the vessel. As Milius began slowly towing the disabled vessel towards the port of Sanaa, the civilians aboard the vessel showed their gratitude to the Milius crew by chanting, " USA, USA" .

.....Following a port visit in Pearl Harbor on 22 May 2003, Constellation and other ships in its strike group got underway for San Diego on 27 May. Aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 2 Flew from Constellation on 31 May and June 1. Constellation arrived at Naval Air Station North Island, California 2 June 2003.

.....During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Constellation Carrier Strike Group flew more than 1,500 sorties (missions) and expended more than 1 million pounds of ordnance, including 408 Tomahawk cruise missiles. USS Bunker Hill was one of the first warships to conduct Tomahawk strikes against leadership targets in Iraq. It's embarked LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System) helicopter detachment, Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light 45 "the Wolf pack", supported the rescue of United Nations workers being forcibly removed from oil platforms in the Northern Arabian Gulf and provided medical evacuations from Umm Qasr.

.....On 13 July Constellation held an "Alumni Day" event, inviting shipbuilders, Sailors, and Marines who served aboard the ship during its history to self-guided tours through some of the ship's spaces. After 41 years of commissioned service, and completing 21 deployments, Constellation was decommissioned in San Diego at the Naval Air Station North Island on 7 August 2003.

.....The decommissioned carrier was towed, beginning 12 September 2003 from the Naval Air Station North Island to the Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility at Bremerton, Washington by a contracted ocean-going tug operated by Foss Maritime of Seattle, Washington.

Effective date: 15 September 2003