USS Independence Aircraft Carrier Commissioning 1958/6/9

[DeftReaper]

Who was on the Indy when we were rescuing sailboaters making a race Trans Atlantic, StarBoard side Catamaran that was capsisized.

[m46nepa]

served on the indy from 74-77, 3 med cruises, oi division, ew gang.

[JonMichael001]

Served aboard Indy from 72-75 attached to AIMD Jet Shop. Made two cruises and lots of friends. Those were the days.

[DeftReaper]

I served on The Indy 79-81 , jet shop, on the fantail.

[38knots]

ET3 - Radar maintainance.---I was a passenger on a COD (mail plane), from Crete in Sept. of 79. Smooth landing.--- Lived on the INDY until Aug of 82.,when we were in Naples.--- And yes... the Indy could do 38+ knots.

[bagleboy73]

my grangfather bud donaldson was stationed on the ship in 1958 and 1959

[herbrampe]

I served on her from 63 to 67. Flight deck snipe-electricians mate E3 div-2Med cruises and a west-pac cruise. Sorry to see her retired

[mitch2656]

I was on the Indy from 92-96. V-3 Bay Two P.O,

[ThomasVeg]

I was on the Indy fm 8/78 to 3/82 in that time we lost twelve lives. "Blood makes the grass grow" and it also fuels war machines. When I was onboard we never ran into anything.

I was a watch section supervisor on the signal bridge, I didn't have to see the world through a port hole and there are only 7 or 8 of them and none in the lower decks. I think of all the washing and waxing and shining we did and I heard that they were going to tow it out to sea and use it for target practice.

[MichaelSBend]

I was on this ship from 1990 to 1992 as an OS. It was stationed in San Diego, CA then got re-home ported in Yokosuka, Japan to replace the Midway. We had a few people get killed on the ship. One guy was smoking in a non smoking area and ended up getting killed from an explosion. Another time they ordered to much Salmon. They had there calculations wrong so we ate salmon for breakfast, lunch and dinner for a while. I can't say I miss the ship but it was an experience.

[slinginguitarman]

@MichaelSBend i remember that fire,i still carry a scar on my forehead from fighting it to this day

[slinginguitarman]

@MichaelSBend i still carry a scar on my forehead from fighting that fire

[38knots]

ThomasVeg--- I served onboard 9/79---8/82.--- I probably passed you many times. I did many repairs on the spa-25 radar indicator/repeaters, throughout the ship.--- I remember a friday the 13th when we lost a shipmate to a jet intake. -sad day.--- But I did enjoy our visit to Perth. I even won some money at the Perth Harness racetrack.

[08A1A5KA]

My Dad was a cook aboard the USS Independence in the mid-1960s. He used to say "Join the Navy...see the world through a port hole!" LOL

[Reaganwannabe]

they're sending her for scrap now

[roaklin]

They can't scrap her its against US security and enviromental laws to move her out of US waters or scrap her in the US. Therefore she is being used for spare parts, like her anchors and chains went to the USS G. Ford aircraft carrier.

[Reaganwannabe]

sorry, i looked this up, she is to be "dismantled" mainly for the purposes you stated

[roaklin]

My Dad served on this ship in the 80s.I hear parts of this vessel 9anchors, chains etc) are being used by the USS G. Ford now.

[MG68]

I served on her from June of 1992 to june of 1994.... I miss her

[rickcee]

Hey...that was my 5" 54 gun mount (port side) in 1969. The carrier room was a great place to hide pot hahahahaha.

[rustyspartner]

94-96. Captain broke a few props (twice on the same object off the coast of Pattaya Beach, Thailand, XO backed her into the dock in Yokosuka, Yellow Shirt parked a plane in the catwalks, Captain almost ran over a couple of fishing vessels in the Mediterranean (and off the coast of Korea, then they decommissioned her (right after they spent millions dry docking her. Despite everyone trying to break her, she was a good ship.

[myskull]

The object that got run over was a blue whale carcass! I remember that very well due to being in the (DC) Chemical Warfare/repair locker shop when it happened. The only shop behind us was aft steering (and those guys felt it too.) (on another note I served on the Indy from 94'-97')

I still have dreams of waking up aboard and finding out all this time I have been out was just an extended leave...lol!

[MG68]

I've had that same sort of dream... I was on the Indy from '92 to '94.. still have dreams like I am only on leave and waiting to get back to the Indy!

[etxmibmc]

I remember when we hit the whale, I was an OS in CDC, we thought we had been hit. lol

[rbonz66]

I served on INDY. 85-88. 1 main machinery room. I miss her, sometimes.