Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego...

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Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/23/2004 8:27:02 PM

Synjin

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Joined: 6/6/2003
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It was a very neat tour, and that ship is ooooooold. They had a few planes on board... an A-4 Skyhawk, f-14 Tomcat, A-6 Intruder, E-2c Hawkeye, Bell UH1 Huey gunship, and an old FNJ trainer which I mistakenly identified as an old Dauntless from the opposite end of the hangar bay.

Some highlights were the triple bunk living quarters for the enlisted personnel. Talk about cramped quarters. Anyone over 6 feet had to walk slumped over through almost the entire Galley... and there were sections when anyone over 5' had to bend. My girlfriend got REAL clausterphobic in the the halls and in the living quarters, and once she saw what a navy shower entailed, she promptly told me that there was no way she could ever serve in the navy. Though she loved the Flight deck control room with all the gameboard pieces and colored nuts and bolts to keep track of stuff... oh and the fact that the LSO platform had a padded net for them to dive into if a plane got to close. I'm suprised/disappointed they didn't have any WW2 era planes on board... no Hellcats, SBD's or Avengers to be seen. Also all weapons systems had been removed... gone from the fantail were the bofors and in their place is the Fantail Cafe complete with overpriced shrinkwrapped sandwiches and swanky chrome bar stools/tables.

Up on the flight deck we got a great view of the Nimitz and the newly commissioned Ronald Reagan. Would have been nice if they were open for tours too.

Anyways, it was a cool tour, though I did enjoy my behind the scenes tour of the JFK about 15 or so years ago... got to see the radar room, the bridge, the engine room, the cockpits of an f-14, an s-3 Viking and an f-18, and got to eat lunch at the galley with some of the crew. We were allowed to see lots of cool places on board that civvy tourists would never get to see normally. When your mother's best friend works in Naval Int at the Pentagon and is dating a Marine Colonel, you get the primo tour I guess

Was funny watching him grab some poor PO off the pier and ordering him to give us a top to bottom tour.

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/23/2004 8:38:43 PM

DrewMatrix

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I saw the Midway at the dock about 6 months ago but it wasn't open, yet.

So it is now open to the general public?

I will be sure to see it next trip to San Diego.

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/23/2004 8:50:09 PM

DrewMatrix

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BTW, if any of you are in, or visit, San Francisco the Hornet is here (on the other side of the bay in Alameda). It is open as a museum. It is even open to overnight stays for boy scout troops etc (you sleep in the enlisted bunks etc.)

http://www.uss-hornet.org/

< Message edited by Beezle -- 8/23/2004 6:50:26 PM >

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/23/2004 8:54:54 PM

UncleBuck

Posts: 633
Joined: 10/31/2003
From: San Diego, CA, USA
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I haven't made it to the Midway for a tour yet, but am plannign to do it soon. Have you been to the FLying Leathernecks Museum at Miramar yet Synjin? It is an outdoor flightline, with many WW2 and Korean war planes. It has an excellent static display of Marine flying gear and collectables from other pilots. If you ever want to go and check it out, let me know, Im out in El Cajon.

UB

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/23/2004 9:11:43 PM

Buck Beach

Posts: 1973
Joined: 6/25/2000
From: Upland,CA,USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: UncleBuck

I haven't made it to the Midway for a tour yet, but am plannign to do it soon. Have you been to the FLying Leathernecks Museum at Miramar yet Synjin? It is an outdoor flightline, with many WW2 and Korean war planes. It has an excellent static display of Marine flying gear and collectables from other pilots. If you ever want to go and check it out, let me know, Im out in El Cajon.

UB

For those near enough and those who may pass by there is a very complete selection of WWII aircraft at the Palm Springs Air Museum. It's separated into two sections Europe and Pacific but of course most of the aircraft served in both. I also think there is a group in Chino, Ca. that I haven't been to yet.

Aw, El Cajon I have nightmares about that city. That's where my ex-wife lived when I started dating her, while I was in the Navy. I actually grew up in La Mesa and Spring Valley. My mom still lives in La Mesa. I love the area but can't afford to live there anymore.

Buck

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/23/2004 9:47:43 PM

UncleBuck

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From: San Diego, CA, USA
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I can't afford to live here either, I am now just existing here. Working on trying to get out and to the United States.

UB

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/23/2004 9:53:52 PM

rroberson

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From: Arizona
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Synjin

Some highlights were the triple bunk living quarters for the enlisted personnel. Talk about cramped quarters. Anyone over 6 feet had to walk slumped over through almost the entire Galley... and there were sections when anyone over 5' had to bend. My girlfriend got REAL clausterphobic in the the halls and in the living quarters,

She should of tried actually living in one. I reached the point of clausterphobia that I put a hammock in my office space and lived there for 2 years I was aboard my carrier.

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/23/2004 10:16:42 PM

geozero

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From: Southern California, U.S.A.
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Been to the Miday in San Diego. One thing to remember, while it carries a great name, it was commissioned AFTER World War 2. It was our first large cold war era carrier. It still is a beauty though.

Next time I'm in S.F. I'll check out Hornet. Don't forget there's a WW2 sub in S.F. also.

And in Long Beach we have a Soviet boomer class sub, next to the Queen Mary.

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/24/2004 1:50:32 AM

whos_opie

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Considering the keel for the midway was laid in 1943, I dont know if I would call it a cold war era carrier. However, I guess it could be argued that way considering the massive amount of refits it has been through.

You know, as far as Naval History, I love living in the SD area. Between the 1-2 active carriers in port at a time along with the midway and the naval airstation and not to mention all the devil dogs in camp pendalton (LCAC's rock) theres alot to look at.

I live in Oceanside and I work in orange county, so my commute takes me north and south on the 5. During the week, you can often see cobra's and lcac's and other aircraft flying around doing training...makes for a interesting drive.

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/24/2004 2:18:49 AM

Titanwarrior89

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I have not been aboard the Midway, but Ive been too Midway Island once. Years ago.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Beezle

I saw the Midway at the dock about 6 months ago but it wasn't open, yet.

So it is now open to the general public?

I will be sure to see it next trip to San Diego.

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/24/2004 2:49:30 AM

Buck Beach

Posts: 1973
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From: Upland,CA,USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: rroberson

quote:

ORIGINAL: Synjin

Some highlights were the triple bunk living quarters for the enlisted personnel. Talk about cramped quarters. Anyone over 6 feet had to walk slumped over through almost the entire Galley... and there were sections when anyone over 5' had to bend. My girlfriend got REAL clausterphobic in the the halls and in the living quarters,

She should of tried actually living in one. I reached the point of clausterphobia that I put a hammock in my office space and lived there for 2 years I was aboard my carrier.

In 1963 I served on the USS Cimarron (AO-22). It shows up in WITP around April 1942 and had a rich history during the war for an AO. At the time I was on it it was the longest continiously active ship in the navy. You talk about cramped quarters, my rack was in a compartment that was less than a 12 X 12 room. In it was 3 rows of racks 4 racks high (for 12 saliors) that were able to be folded up for compartment cleaning. Then there were the lockers for each man. It was adjoined next to a small head that had one john and one shower. On the other side of head was a similiar to the one I shared that also used the head (it may have only had 2 banks of racks). Ah yes memories.

Thinking back the bunks may have only been 3 high but I almost swear it was 4. No matter it was very cramped.

< Message edited by Buck Beach -- 8/24/2004 4:52:16 AM >

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/24/2004 2:57:50 AM

joey

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From: Johnstown, PA
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I have read all the entries on living spaces in the thread. From my perspective they are spacious compared to submarines. Our "living space/bunk" was about 6 feet long and 18 inches high. You placed all you clothing underneith you in an area under you mattress that was only 4 inches deep. You had no compartment. Just the above described bunk to call your own. Lower ranking sailors had to "hot bunk" which ment they shared their bunk with at least one other individual. While one was one watch; the other would be in the rack. So the way I see it, carrier folks had it great!!!

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/24/2004 3:09:01 AM

Buck Beach

Posts: 1973
Joined: 6/25/2000
From: Upland,CA,USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: joey

I have read all the entries on living spaces in the thread. From my perspective they are spacious compared to submarines. Our "living space/bunk" was about 6 feet long and 18 inches high. You placed all you clothing underneith you in an area under you mattress that was only 4 inches deep. You had no compartment. Just the above described bunk to call your own. Lower ranking sailors had to "hot bunk" which ment they shared their bunk with at least one other individual. While one was one watch; the other would be in the rack. So the way I see it, carrier folks had it great!!!

You win. Now I really know what they mean by ship mates (not to be confused with bad joke definition). Our racks were about the same deminsions but we did have lockers and didn't share the bunks. I forgot to mention that the old AO-22 was originall comissioned around 1937 and was transferred to the Pacific from service in the Atlantic prior to 1942.

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/24/2004 3:10:18 AM

Herrbear

Posts: 883
Joined: 7/26/2004
From: Glendora, CA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Buck Beach

quote:

ORIGINAL: UncleBuck

I haven't made it to the Midway for a tour yet, but am plannign to do it soon. Have you been to the FLying Leathernecks Museum at Miramar yet Synjin? It is an outdoor flightline, with many WW2 and Korean war planes. It has an excellent static display of Marine flying gear and collectables from other pilots. If you ever want to go and check it out, let me know, Im out in El Cajon.

UB

For those near enough and those who may pass by there is a very complete selection of WWII aircraft at the Palm Springs Air Museum. It's separated into two sections Europe and Pacific but of course most of the aircraft served in both. I also think there is a group in Chino, Ca. that I haven't been to yet.

Aw, El Cajon I have nightmares about that city. That's where my ex-wife lived when I started dating her, while I was in the Navy. I actually grew up in La Mesa and Spring Valley. My mom still lives in La Mesa. I love the area but can't afford to live there anymore.

Buck

Chino Planes of Fame. Below is the link.

http://www.planesoffame.org/

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/24/2004 3:24:21 AM

Synjin

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Yep, it's open to the general public from 9am to 4pm everyday now (I think). Adults are $13 each. The line looked a bit imposing when we showed up, but it actually moves at a good clip. When you enter the hangar bay you are given a headset and a little digital handset that you punch in the Audio station number (e.g. the Ordnance room was audio station 7, so you just hit 7 on the handset and then play) and you get to listen to a tour guide, along with some anecdotes and explanations from people who actually served on the ship.

Uncle Buck: I've hit the Miramar air show several times in the past and seen a lot of those planes on the tarmac, but haven't been inside the actual museum. I might hit it sometime.

Geozero: I believe the Midway was commissioned on October 10, 1945... so it just missed being commissioned during WWII.

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/24/2004 3:29:41 AM

Synjin

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I liked it back when it was NAS Miramar and the Top Gun school was still there. You could drive through it on the 15 and see dog fights, formation maneuvering, and touch and goes all day long... f-14s, f-5 aggressors, f-18s, even the occasional e2c hawkeye or some such bird. Now that it's MCAS Miramar, you just see a lot of touch and goes and the occasional formation of f-18s. And ya, watching the Cobras and LCACs training around Pendleton makes the drive to/from Orange/SD county pretty cool.

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/24/2004 7:04:58 AM

Reluctant Kamikazi

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From: Memphis, TN
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quote:

Up on the flight deck we got a great view of the Nimitz and the newly commissioned Ronald Reagan. Would have been nice if they were open for tours too.

I was on the Nimitz for four years, and would gladly exchange that experience with you.

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RE: Just toured the CV-41 Midway in San Diego... - 8/24/2004 4:02:34 PM

Pier5

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My father was stationed on the Midway in the early fifties, before it had the canted flight deck. The main advantage (other than size) of the Midway class was the armored flight deck in reaction to the Kamikaze attacks. He was aboard when the first jets came on board. One of the first ones broke in half when captured by the arrester gear! She did a six month Med cruise, another six week cruise somewhere and then a four week "midshipmen" cruise in the summer each year.

Of interest, when the ship was transferred to the West Coast (maybe '52, not sure), the Navy organized a dedicated train to transfer the crew's dependents to California in one massive movement, people, furniture, everything! Seems unbelievable by today's standards. I didn't make the trip, as my father rangled a transfer to the Iowa, but it had to have been either a real adventure or an absolute fiasco.

By contemporary standards, the crews accomodations were down right plush, much nicer than the Essex class, nicer than U.S.S. Pittsburg, but not quite up to the standards of the Iowa. They ain't cruise ships!

Pier5

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