BLACKFIVE: The Last Voyage

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The Last Voyage

Posted By Blackfive

The last voyage has been completed. The USS Kitty Hawk returns from it's last mission after 48 years of service (launched May 21, 1960). The 80,000 ton air craft carrier is the last conventional carrier in the fleet and will return to San Diego to be decommissioned.

The aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk enters Truman Bay, May 12, after completing her last deployment before being replaced this summer by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington. Kitty Hawk is the last conventional-powered aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy. Date Taken: May 12th, 2008. Location: YOKOSUKA, JP. Photographer: Seaman Kyle Gahlau, Navy Visual News Service.

An aircraft director signals a Strike Fighter Squadron 195 F/A-18C Hornet to taxi to launching position on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk. Aircraft directors are responsible for safely moving aircraft on the flight deck. Kitty Hawk is on its spring deployment its last before it is relieved by the USS George Washington this summer. Kitty Hawk operates from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. Carrier Air Wing 5 operates from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. Photographer: Seaman Kyle Gahlau, Navy Visual News Service.

More awesome Kitty Hawk photos by Kyle Gahlau after the Jump.

An F/A-18C Hornet Strike Fighter assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 195 launches from the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk.

From left, Lt. Andrew Leatherwood, Lt. Matthew Beaghley, and Lt. Marc Foreman do pre-flight checks on the early warning radars aboard an E-2C Hawkeye from Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 115. VAW-115 provides radar early warning for aircraft and surface ships attached to Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Francis Falguera practices knee-kicking techniques on a target shield held by master-at-arms 2nd Class Charles Gibbs aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). Twelve Kitty Hawk Sailors are undergoing a three-week training course to become members of the ship's force protection team.

Sailors assigned to weapons department aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), prepare to attach excess cables used to transport ammunition and supplies to an HH-60H Seahawk on the carrier's flight deck. The ship is replenishing its supply of ammunition with ammunition from the Military Sealift Command ammunition ship USNS Shasta (T-AE 33). Kitty Hawk operates from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan.