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Mark's USS Midway Tour, Feb 2014

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The USS Midway Museum... an aircraft carrier de-commissioned in 1981... in the San Diego harbor.
USS Midway... the Hangar Deck
The Fo'c'sle... variant of the British navy term "forecastle" ... commonly called the Anchor Room.
A WWII-era Douglas SBD Dauntless, a Dive Bomber. A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target simplifies the bomb's trajectory, which improves the accuracy of the drop. As the bomb's motion is primarily vertical, the complex parabolic trajectory becomes much straighter and easier to calculate - even by eye. The rapid vertical motion of the aircraft also aids in avoiding fire from anti-aircraft artillery, although diving too low altitude offsets this advantage as it brings the aircraft into range of smaller weapons.

The F4U Corsair. The Chance Vought F4U Corsair was an American fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War.
Grumman TBF Avenger, a Torpedo Bomber The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world.
Looking down four decks through a glass panel... this was the hole in the hangar deck where machinery, parts, and engines could be winched up and down between decks.
A 25-man (or woman) life raft

Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.
The A-3 Skywarrior. The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was designed as a strategic bomber for the United States Navy and was among the longest serving carrier-based aircraft in history. It entered service in the mid-1950s and was retired in 1991. Throughout its service, it was the heaviest operational aircraft to operate from aircraft carriers, earning its nickname, "The Whale". Its primary function for much of its later service life was as an electronic warfare platform, tactical air reconnaissance platform, and high capacity aerial refueling tanker.
Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.
The F-14 Tomcat. You saw these in "Top Gun." The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twinjet, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX) program following the collapse of the F-111B project. The F-14 was the first of the American teen-series fighters which were designed incorporating the experience of air combat against MiG fighters during the Vietnam War.

Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.
The F/A-18 Hornet. F = Fighter, A = Attack. Fighters fight against other planes, attack aircraft attack ground targets. The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole combat jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets (F/A designation for Fighter/Attack). Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other nations. The U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels has used the Hornet since 1986.
Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.
F-4 Phantom II. The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable, it was also adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force, and by the mid-1960s had become a major part of their respective air wings.

Had to pose with the F-4 because that was an Air Force jet too.
Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.
The C-1 Trader. Common Navy transporter that carried mail, supplies, rations, etc. The audio tour said it was always a welcomed sight because it carried letters from home.
The Flight Deck

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant on the Flight Deck
Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.
The S-3 Viking. The Lockheed S-3 Viking is a four-seat twin-engine jet aircraft that was used by the U.S. Navy to identify and track enemy submarines. In the late 1990s, the S-3B's mission focus shifted to surface warfare and aerial refueling. The Viking also provided electronic warfare and surface surveillance capabilities to the carrier battle group. A carrier-based, subsonic, all-weather, multi-mission aircraft with long range, it carried automated weapon systems, and was capable of extended missions with in-flight refueling. Because of the engines' low-pitched sound, it was nicknamed the "Hoover" after the vacuum cleaner brand.
Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.

The H-34 Seabat. With its distinctive hump, the Sikorsky H-34 is one of the most recognizable helicopters in history. Historically, it was a transition helicopter. The H-34 and the Piasecki H-21 were the last major piston-engine military helicopters before turbine engines dominated helicopter design. These two might have passed into history with little notice, but wars in Algeria and Southeast Asia brought them to prominence. Both pioneered troop assault, gunship roles, cargo hauling, and other operations that have defined the war roles of helicopters ever since.
Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.
CH-46 Sea Knight. The Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight is a medium-lift tandem rotor transport helicopter. It is used by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to provide all-weather, day-or-night assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment. Additional tasks include combat support, search and rescue (SAR), support for forward refueling and rearming points, CASEVAC and Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP). The Sea Knight was also the U.S. Navy's standard medium-lift utility helicopter until it was phased out in favor of the MH-60S Knighthawk in the early 2000s.

Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.
UH-1 Huey Gunship. The Bell UH-1 Iroquois (unofficially Huey) is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew on 20 October 1956. Ordered into production in March 1960, the UH-1 was the first turbine-powered helicopter to enter production for the United States military, and more than 16,000 have been produced worldwide.
Ordnance on the UH-1 Huey Gunship.
The Captain sits WAY up there!

Impressive, right? But he's only a cardboard cut out.
The radar station. Kids had fun playing on this.
Lots of long hallways and cramped quarters.
The radio room.

My my how communication technology has improved in just 30 years.
So many knobs...
Which knob did you want me turn?
The Admiral's Quarters... the only real comfortable-looking room on the ship. :)

The mess hall.

BACK

The USS Midway Museum... an aircraft carrier de-commissioned in 1981... in the San Diego harbor.	USS Midway... the Hangar Deck	The Fo'c'sle... variant of the British navy term "forecastle" ... commonly called the Anchor Room.	A WWII-era Douglas SBD Dauntless, a Dive Bomber. A dive bomber is a bomber aircraft that dives directly at its targets in order to provide greater accuracy for the bomb it drops. Diving towards the target simplifies the bomb's trajectory, which improves the accuracy of the drop. As the bomb's motion is primarily vertical, the complex parabolic trajectory becomes much straighter and easier to calculate - even by eye. The rapid vertical motion of the aircraft also aids in avoiding fire from anti-aircraft artillery, although diving too low altitude offsets this advantage as it brings the aircraft into range of smaller weapons.
The F4U Corsair. The Chance Vought F4U Corsair was an American fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War.	Grumman TBF Avenger, a Torpedo Bomber The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world.	Looking down four decks through a glass panel... this was the hole in the hangar deck where machinery, parts, and engines could be winched up and down between decks.	A 25-man (or woman) life raft
Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.	The A-3 Skywarrior. The Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was designed as a strategic bomber for the United States Navy and was among the longest serving carrier-based aircraft in history. It entered service in the mid-1950s and was retired in 1991. Throughout its service, it was the heaviest operational aircraft to operate from aircraft carriers, earning its nickname, "The Whale". Its primary function for much of its later service life was as an electronic warfare platform, tactical air reconnaissance platform, and high capacity aerial refueling tanker.	Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.	The F-14 Tomcat. You saw these in "Top Gun." The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twinjet, two-seat, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft. The Tomcat was developed for the United States Navy's Naval Fighter Experimental (VFX) program following the collapse of the F-111B project. The F-14 was the first of the American teen-series fighters which were designed incorporating the experience of air combat against MiG fighters during the Vietnam War.
Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.	The F/A-18 Hornet. F = Fighter, A = Attack. Fighters fight against other planes, attack aircraft attack ground targets. The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole combat jet, designed to dogfight and attack ground targets (F/A designation for Fighter/Attack). Designed by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop, the F/A-18 was derived from the latter's YF-17 in the 1970s for use by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Hornet is also used by the air forces of several other nations. The U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels has used the Hornet since 1986.	Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.	F-4 Phantom II. The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable, it was also adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force, and by the mid-1960s had become a major part of their respective air wings.
Had to pose with the F-4 because that was an Air Force jet too.	Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.	The C-1 Trader. Common Navy transporter that carried mail, supplies, rations, etc. The audio tour said it was always a welcomed sight because it carried letters from home.	The Flight Deck
A retired Air Force Master Sergeant on the Flight Deck	Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.	The S-3 Viking. The Lockheed S-3 Viking is a four-seat twin-engine jet aircraft that was used by the U.S. Navy to identify and track enemy submarines. In the late 1990s, the S-3B's mission focus shifted to surface warfare and aerial refueling. The Viking also provided electronic warfare and surface surveillance capabilities to the carrier battle group. A carrier-based, subsonic, all-weather, multi-mission aircraft with long range, it carried automated weapon systems, and was capable of extended missions with in-flight refueling. Because of the engines' low-pitched sound, it was nicknamed the "Hoover" after the vacuum cleaner brand.	Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.
The H-34 Seabat. With its distinctive hump, the Sikorsky H-34 is one of the most recognizable helicopters in history. Historically, it was a transition helicopter. The H-34 and the Piasecki H-21 were the last major piston-engine military helicopters before turbine engines dominated helicopter design. These two might have passed into history with little notice, but wars in Algeria and Southeast Asia brought them to prominence. Both pioneered troop assault, gunship roles, cargo hauling, and other operations that have defined the war roles of helicopters ever since.	Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.	CH-46 Sea Knight. The Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight is a medium-lift tandem rotor transport helicopter. It is used by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to provide all-weather, day-or-night assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment. Additional tasks include combat support, search and rescue (SAR), support for forward refueling and rearming points, CASEVAC and Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel (TRAP). The Sea Knight was also the U.S. Navy's standard medium-lift utility helicopter until it was phased out in favor of the MH-60S Knighthawk in the early 2000s.
Click the photo to read a description of the aircraft. The aircraft described is in the next photo.	UH-1 Huey Gunship. The Bell UH-1 Iroquois (unofficially Huey) is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew on 20 October 1956. Ordered into production in March 1960, the UH-1 was the first turbine-powered helicopter to enter production for the United States military, and more than 16,000 have been produced worldwide.	Ordnance on the UH-1 Huey Gunship.	The Captain sits WAY up there!
Impressive, right? But he's only a cardboard cut out.	The radar station. Kids had fun playing on this.	Lots of long hallways and cramped quarters.	The radio room.
My my how communication technology has improved in just 30 years.	So many knobs...	Which knob did you want me turn?	The Admiral's Quarters... the only real comfortable-looking room on the ship. :)
The mess hall.