Forrestal (CVA 59) - Naval Cruise Book

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Histor Of ss FQRRESTAL qcv-595 3'f'1' , ,. Ns,-'. I . i i ls, 'fi as Ag.,-U

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AIMD ............ Air Department .... Communications . . . Deck ............ Dental .............. Engineering ............. Executive Department .... Maintenance .......... Marine Detachment .... Medical ............... Navigation ............... Operations Department .... Safety .................. Supply Department ............ Training .................... Religious Ministries Department Weapons .................... Carrier Air Wing SIX ......... VQ-2 ................. VA-37 ..... VA-IOS ..... VA-l76 ....... VAW-I22 ..... VF-II ...... VF-SI ...... HS-I5 ........ VAQ-I32 ..... VS-28 ........ Credits ......... In Memoriam ....

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i ln July l95l, the Navy announced plans to build a 60,000 ton, I,039 foot carrier designated CVB-59. The keel was laid in July, l952. Less than 30 months later USS FGRRESTAL, the first super carrier was launched. Mrs. James V. Forrestal, widow of the first Secretary of Defense, christened her. FORRESTAL was commissioned on l October l955 at the Nor- folk Naval Shipyard. CDR. Ralph L. Werner, Commander of the Air Group. made the first arrested landing on 3 January l956. FORRESTAL represented more than one step in the evolution- ary chain. Besides her sheer size and weight, she was the first built with an angled flight deck, which allows simultaneous .take-offs and landings. She also featured four catapults in- Yfstead of the usual two, and four deck edge elevators to move from the hangar bays to the flight deck. if if 4