America (CVA 66) - Naval Cruise Book

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PII AWN IU Reflections in the walfe of an aircrah' carrier are many. In the case ofthe United States Ship AAIERICA. she was commissioned in january 1965 and wa.s the hrst warship to bear the name. During a short but active history, a constanthi changing crew ofb, 000 and their 80. 000 ton home have successpilly cast reflections around the world AJIERICA made her maiden voyage in 1967 deploy- ing to the fllediterranean in the midst ofthe Arab - Israeli crisis. In April 19661 she departed her homcport of.lVor- hllq. Wiginia headed hr her hrs! tour in the Westein Pacfc offthe coast of Vietnam. Today, AJIERICA fs reputation is a proud one. Having twice won the Battle Efciency 'FU Award in competition with all of the Atlantic Fleet attach carriers. the ship re- turned hom the Pacipc in December 1968 and was award- ed the !Vavy Unit Commendation, the Admiral Flatley and the ,Naval Air Force, Atlantic Fleet Aviation Safety Awards. Shortly aher AIIIEHI CA fs globe - circling return trip home the carrier entered the fVoip1llf A'aval Shipyard hr her hrst major overhaul On the morning of April 10 1970 AJWERICA, with embarhed Carrier Air Iwng JVIJXT, was underway for a repeat peiyprmance of her 1968 aroiind-the-world cruise and eight month deployment with the US. Seventh Fleet. Once in the Caribbean, the crew completed a siiccesspil Operational Readiness Inspection and then resioned the journey to a destination ha0way around the world As the carrier slipped across the equator on Apri'l 24, more than 4. 000 omicer, civilian and enlisted Pollywogs fsftlltjlif who had never crossed the eqaatorj were sab- pcenaed to appear before the Royal Court UfA,lVL'fIlltHZt.5' Rex. The Pollywogs were initiated and gracioasl 1' received by the Royal Court and loyal Shellbachs fSailors who had previously crossed the eqnatoij, AAIERI CA made her first stop ofthe 1970 cruise on April 27 anchoring ofcaptivating, festive lfio de faneiro, Brazil Aher three days of rest and refueling, AIWERICA steamed across the South Atlantic Ocean, passed within view of the .southern tip of Africa, transited the Indian Ocean, sailed through the Strait of Sands between the Indonesian islands of java and Sumatra and then the South China Sea, hnalhi arriving at Subic Bay in Republic ofthe Philippines on May 21. Upon her arrival in the Philippines, became the flagship hr Commander Seventh Fleet Carrier Striking Eirce. As a unit of the Seventh Fleet AMERICA with II 'ing Afine conducted flight operations horn Y Station in the Cud of Tonhin of the coast of On tllay 2.2 combat missions commenced when the C version ofthe A6 Intruder attach aircrah was ed hom the carrier fs four and one haf acre flight Also making its combat debut was the hrst 'EU of the ,Nazgis newest attach aircrah, the A7 Corsair Daring operational periods in the combat zone, Using ,Nine crews flew over 10 600 combat and support sorties providing air support for American allied forces. While on Yankee Station, AJIERICA continued hinction as a city as well as a floating air base crew enjoyed numerous hicilities similar to those of Crew members were entertained as well as educated the JVaziys first seagoing color closed-circuit system. Between operational periods ofup to 30 dlgzs, the class warship converted temporarily to hrst class liner and headed for some ofthe most exotic ports Orient. While in port and at sea AMERICA and ambassador hir .several thousand American Foreign visitors. I Atlantic C ity came to the Cllbf- in August AIWERICA 1970 Pain Eldrech and the talented state pageant title holders hom fornia, Colorado, North Carolina, Oregon and T flew on board and displayed their talents in two on the carriers vast hangar deck. On !Vovember Z AMERICA departed concluding her operations with the Seventh a two-time veteran of the Vietnam conflict she IQ 000 mile voyage home, spotted by stops at Sydney, and again Rio.

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