USS Midway (CV-41) Aircraft Carrier | Grand Trip Out West

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The afternoon of the morning we went to Point Loma, we had the best. time. ever. exploring the USS Midway (CV-41) aircraft carrier!! One of the reasons it was so special was that my dad served on the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), and Sarah and I had never been able to go on a carrier before. So we finally got to see one, and it was like we had our own personal tour guide with us!

The Midway was commissioned in 1945 and was in active service until 1997, where it was sent up to "Mothballs" - Bremerton, Washington. It stayed there until early 2004, when the process of restoration was begun so it could become a floating museum. It was brought down to San Diego, and in 6 months it opened to the public. Ever since then, volunteers have dedicated countless hours to restoring more parts of it. The docents on board are some of the nicest guys - so eager to tell people all about this great ship!

An added blessing was that, long story short, we met a guy the day before who works on the Midway- and he gave us free passes!!

So welcome aboard the USS Midway!














Meet Larry, who takes great pride in shining this beautiful ship's bell!


Sniffing the air in the hangar deck was wonderful. I know I'm crazy, but it's because it smelled like the National Aviation Museum in Pensacola, a place that has always been special to us. Don't mind us, we're all aviation nuts in my family. :)








My dad operated a machine like this!

Daddy tapped out Sarah's name in Morse code. :)





In Daddy's cruise book (kinda like a high school yearbook) from the Roosevelt, there's a picture of Lee Greenwood and a lady in the seats up in the tower. You can't see them in this picture, but there are covers on the backs of the seats that say "AIR BOSS" and "MINI BOSS". So Sarah and I had to get a picture like they did. :)


That's the same sailboat we saw when we were at Point Loma earlier that morning!

(The tables and chairs were set up for a huge corporate dinner on board later that evening.)


Looking at the catapults from the bridge





"The Ball" - a system of lights that directs the pilots down on to the deck when they're landing.


Landing gear and arresting wire


This dove made a nest in one of the helicopters on deck!

















One of the catapults


Below decks, in the pilots' Ready Rooms. I wanted so bad to duck under those chains and go exploring in the rest of the ship. ;)











The enlisted guys slept in these bunks!








The chapel. While we were sitting there, we suddenly heard music that just about brought tears to my eyes, it was so beautiful...a recording of the Naval Academy Glee Club singing the Navy Hymn, Eternal Father, Strong to Save. (Click here to hear it!)


My dad lived in a stateroom like this one!











(Is it just me, or does he look like Desi Arnaz?)








That big white "E" is for the Battle E...an award that's a big deal in the carrier world. :)

For the love of travel, and Naval Aviation,

Rebekah