Flight deck loaded with cars, returning to San Diego from a 13-month Complex Overhaul in Bremerton, Wash. 1984.

An aerial starboard bow view of the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) underway in the Pacific Ocean, 15 February 1984. Note the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft on the bow. US Navy photo (DVIC id: DNST8507323).

An F-14A Tomcat aircraft takes off from the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) during Fleet Exercise 85, Pacific Ocean, 29 October 1984. An F/A-18A Hornet is on a catapult in front of a Mark-7 jet blast deflector. Behind the deflector is an S-3A Viking aircraft with wings folded. Among the aircraft parked on the flight deck are S-3A's, F/A-18A Hornets and A-6E Intruders. US Navy photo by JO2 Millie Tamberg (DVIC id: DNSN8602055).

An elevated port bow view of the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) underway in the Pacific Ocean, 29 October 1984, during Fleet Exercise 85. Various aircraft of Carrier Air Wing 14 are parked on the flight deck. US Navy photo by JO2 Millie Tamberg (DVIC id: DNST8602018).

Slide Show of USS Camden (AOE-2) WESTPAC '85 deployment, with several views of USS Constellation.

Passing under the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Fleet Week 1987.

The commercial harbor tugs Mister Randy and Mister Don maneuver the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) as the ship departs from port during PACEX '89. The aircraft carrier USS Independence (CV-62) is moored in the background. San Diego, California, September 18, 1989.

Defense Visual Information Center photo # DN-ST-90-08758.

At the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1992, undergoing a 3-year Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).

USS Constellation (CV-64) underway in the mid-1990s.

USS Constellation (CV-64) Carrier Battle Group in the mid-1990s. In fact, the Group appears to be that of Connie's 1994–1995 WestPac cruise: an attack submarine, USS Topeka (SSN-754); a destroyer, USS Kinkaid (DD-965); two guided missile cruisers, USS Chosin (CG-65) and USS Lake Erie (CG-70); an ammunition ship, USS Kiska (AE-35); and a replenishment oiler, USS Cimarron (AO-177).

USS Constellation (CV-64) underway in the mid-1990s.

San Diego, California (April 1, 1997) — USS Constellation (CV-64) departs her home port of San Diego, California, to begin a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment. The carrier and her Battle Group would head to the Persian Gulf to enforce no-fly zones over Iraq and monitor shipping to and from the region. U.S. Navy photograph by Photographer's Mate Airman Neil H. F. Sheinbaum (# 970401-N-0789S-001).

Pacific Ocean (April 14, 1997) — USS Constellation (CV-64) enroute to the Persian Gulf to enforce no-fly zones and monitor shipping to and from Iraq. Official U.S. Navy photograph (970414-N-0789S-003) by Airman Photographer's Mate Neil H. F. Sheinbaum.

Compare this photo to 026403 and 026436.

San Diego, Calif., Sept. 30, 2002 — An aerial view of San Diego Harbor with four of the Navy's aircraft carriers moored at the Naval Air Station, North Island. The carriers are (from left) USS Constellation (CV-64), USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). It is rare to have this many carriers in port at any one time. U.S. Navy photo (# 020930-N-7265L-001) by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Inez Lawson.

San Diego, Calif., Nov. 2, 2002 — After pulling away from the carrier pier at Naval Air Station North Island, USS Constellation (CV-64), heads down San Diego bay at the start of a regularly scheduled six-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Photo provided courtesy Retired Navy Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Chuck Cavanaugh (#021102-O-1144C-008).

San Diego, Calif., Nov. 2, 2002 — USS Constellation (CV-64) departs Naval Air Station North Island at the start of a regularly scheduled six-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She carried aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2). U.S. Navy photo (021102-N-8796S-032) by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Tim Smith.

F/A-18C Hornet being recovered during Operation Iraqi Freedom, April 2003.

April 2003, during a recovery cycle in the Persian Gulf (Operation Iraqi Freedom).

Shot while "Connie" was on her transit home in the Indian Ocean.

A shot of the wardroom, May 2003.

Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, June 2, 2003 — USS Constellation (CV-64) returns to her homeport in San Diego following a successful seven month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Andrew J. Betting (# 030602-N-8590B-001).

Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, Aug. 7, 2003 — Sailors aboard USS Constellation (CV-64) lower the colors for the last time during the ship's decommissioning ceremony, which marked the end of the ship's nearly 42 years of service to the nation. During Constellation’s commissioned service, she completed 21 deployments and most recently completed combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom: the Constellation Carrier Strike Group flew more than 1,500 sorties and expended more than a million pounds of ordnance. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Charles E. Alvarado (# 030807-N-1356A-002).

Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, Aug. 7, 2003 — A three-plane formation of F/A-18 Hornets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron Three Two Three (VMFA-323) conducts a flyover of USS Constellation (CV-64) during the ship's decommissioning ceremony. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Prince A. Hughes III (# 030807-N-1397H-001).

Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, Aug. 7, 2003 — Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham addresses the guests and crew of USS Constellation (CV-64) during the ship’s decommissioning ceremony. Congressman Cunningham served aboard Constellation as a pilot with the “Fighting Falcons” of Fighter Squadron Nine Six (VF-96), where he became the only Navy "Ace" of the Vietnam conflict. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Prince A. Hughes III (# 030807-N-1397H-006).

"An Oath Sworn, An Oath Kept."

Sailors walk down the brow for the last time.

San Diego, Calif., Sep. 12, 2003 — The decommissioned aircraft carrier Constellation (CV-64) begins her transit from Naval Air Station North Island to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The 41-year old ship was towed by a contracted ocean-going tug operated by Foss Maritime of Seattle, Wash. The transit was expected to take two weeks. Constellation had been homeported in San Diego since 1962. U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Brandon A. Teeples (# 030912-N-9288T-002).