Kitty Hawk (CVA 63) - Naval Cruise Book

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1 5 . .f Kitty Hawk enters her homeport of San Diego for the first time November 1, 1961. Pt. Loma and Ballast Point visible in background. month later Captain H. H. EPES jr. relieved Captain CURTIS as Commanding Ufficer. One of the highest points in Kitty Hawk's history came on june 6, 1963. For a twenty-four hour period Kitty Hawk served as a Floating White House. The late President john F. KENNEDY was aboard to view the at-sea phase of a First Fleet weapons demonstration. On October 17, 1963 Kitty Hawk left San Diego for her second Western Pacific Cruise and duty with the U.S. Seventh Fleet. Nine months later on july 20, 1964 she returned to her home port of San Diego after spending 186 days at sea and 91 in port. While deployed to the Western Pacific during 1963-64 the ship participated in two large scale amphibious exercises: OPERATION BIG DlPPER and BACK PACK wherein the embarked aircraft of Air Wing ELEVEN provided air support and reconnaissance for assault troops below. United States units combined with National Chinese forces during both exercises to demonstrate how American and Allied forces work together. ' A significant award came on April 3, 1964 when Kitty Hawk received notice that she had officially become Top Carrier in the Pacific Fleet. She also won the coveted Battle Efficiency Award in the 1962-64 competition cycle with her sister Attack Carriers in the Pacific. On April 20, 1964 Captain j.L. BUTTS jr. relieved Captain EPES to become the ship's fourth Commanding Officer. Kitty Hawk's crew had three weeks rest and recreation in San

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Sli.ikt-Jim n Crum- in tht- farrihht-an. Thi-n tht' ship pick:-d up yqumirmi- of :Xttack Carrivr :kir Wing l'il.l'iYlfN and dm-partvd on he-r ntanh-n cruiw arnunti South .-knit-rica. Un Ninvtttht-r I, Wtil, Kitty Hawk arriwd in San Divgo to tht' largi--t xirlvuim- 1-wr gin-n a nvw ship on tht- wvst coast. During In-r first is vi-ki-ml inun- than twvnty thnuaand pc-uplr visited hvr. In lh-ri-inht-r tht- San l raiu'in'u Naval Shipyard rvcvivrd Kitty Haw k fur post aliakt-down rruiw rc-pairs. This yard pe-rind lasts-d -ix iminthf. Un May 5. Iqhl Captain Ykaltvr l.. CURTIS Jr. ri-lim ml Captain BRI Nt I l.l'f an Cmninanding Uffici-r. Kitty Hawk ri-turmwl tu San Dia-gn two wi-ck: lata-r and ht-gan pn-paratinm fur he-r tint Wi-att-rn Pacific cruise-. During this tit-pluymi-nt tht- x bitt-tl tha- 'ISIPJIIIPN' ports of Sas:-hu. Bvppu. Kuhn and Yukmuka an wi-Il as tht- porn of Manila and Subic Bay in thi- Plnlippiin-s. Shi- alan ximitvd tht- Britiph Crown Colony of Hung Kung. .-Xt vach ,top he-r cn-wim-n provide-tl a helping hand as ,Mtiliaiwaitliirs uf linml Will. Hn .-Xpril 2, I'9h.i Kitty Hawk ri-turtwtl tn San Uivgn. Ont' 19 .xi is Xxx ' R ,4 if Xia,

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it 5. . f s would st-t foot on Coronado again. lla-r di-stination was Vit-tnam, and tht- dm-tm-rmincd faccs on tht- mt-n aboard sliowcd tliat tliis would bt- no ordinary cruisc, but Kitty llawk's first combat. lfnroutc- to Yictnainvst- watt-rs, Kitty Hawk bt-camc Flagship for Rcar :Xdmiral jaincs R. RlflfUY, Commandcr Attack Carricr Striking lforcvs. l'.S. Scvcntli I-'It-1-r. llc 1-mbarkc-d liis staff aboard on NUYl'I1llN'f 23, IWJS. Un Ut-cvinbt-r sixtli blazing fire- broke' out in Numbm-r 'lqlircc Hain Nlacliincry Room during air opt-rations. 'liwo sailors we-rv killvd and twt-nty-ninc otln-rs wt-rc injurt-d in tht- smokc-clogga-d fin- be-low dt-cks. Only tht- quick turning-to of tba- crvw at Ch-iivral Quart:-rs as wt-ll as tln- bran-ry of tht- Fin- Figliting 'lit-:uns saw-tl tht- sliip from mort- 1-xt:-risiw dainagv and gr:-atcr loss of lift-. lfliulit opt-rations we-rc not int:-rruptcd and damagc' was kvpt to a minimum. Kitty llawk's contribution to tht- l'.S. 1-ffort in Vit-tnam was iiiiprvssiw during lwr first combat cruisv, During latt- V265 and tlu- first fill- montlis of l'?fi6, Kitty llawk's 1-mbarkcd Air Wirig IiI,IiX'IiN pilots droppt-d .1 total of lfl,73l tons of ordnanct-