CV-67 is named after John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1963), 35th President of the United States of America (1961-1963).

(Read about LT John F. Kennedy, USNR, WW2 service at the Naval Historical Center website.)

For many observers, Kennedy's presidency represented the ascendance of youthful idealism in the aftermath of World War II. JFK was the youngest person elected US President, and the youngest to die in office.

Ship's sponsor, 9-year old Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, daughter of the late President, and ship's namesake, John F. Kennedy. Saturday, May 27, 1967.

NS026778a: Photo taken on the christening platform. Caroline prepares to christen the ship.

NS026778b: Photo taken on the christening platform. Caroline strikes the ship with the champagne bottle.

(See also NS026781.)

John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) was launched on May 27, 1967.

John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) shortly after launching, May 27, 1967.

Photo taken at the Commissioning Ceremony for the USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67), September 7, 1968, at Newport News Shipbuilding Company. (From United Press International (UPI), #NN-090708, from their New York Bureau.)

The picture shows the Commanding Officer, CAPT Earl Yates, USN saluting smartly, while members of the Kennedy family look on. From left to right: John, Jr.; Jacqueline; and Caroline.

(See also NS026779.)

Here is a picture of the first landing of any kind of aircraft on the JFK. It was taken just prior to her shakedown cruise.

This very same helicopter, a Kaman UH-2A Seasprite of Squadron HC-2, BuNo 149015, performed the carrier's second and third rescues, on February 20 and June 14, 1969. Aviation Electrician's Mate 1st Class (AE1) Donald L. Lewis was part of the rescue crew in both cases. (AE1 Lewis was also involved in the first rescue operation, on February 19, 1969 aboard UH-2A Seasprite BuNo 149748.)

USS John F. Kennedy being pushed into position by the large harbor tugs (foreground to background) Wapakoneta (YTB-766), Marinette (YTB-791) and Dahlonega (YTB-770). This photo was taken at Newport News, VA (note coal piers in the background), possibly in December 1968, when JFK returned to her builder's yards for post-shakedown availability.

Gulf of Naples, June 1969.

Pawcatuck (AO-108) refueling John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) and Dewey (DLG-14), 13 July 1969, Mediterranean Sea. This was Big John's maiden deployment. US Navy photo (CVA 67-2124-7-69 13 July 1969) by PH2 Weaver.

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Aerial overhead view of USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67), almost certainly taken in 1969. The crew on the flight deck is spelling out: "1949 NATO 1969". April 1969 marked NATO's 20th anniversary, and JFK made her maiden deployment to the Mediterranean, April 5 – December 21, 1969.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) underway in the 1970s.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) underway with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1), 1970–1971. Official US Navy photograph.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1), 1970–1971. Official US Navy photograph.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1), 1970–1971. Official US Navy photograph.

Aerial view, circa 1970-1973.

USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) underway, circa 1970-1973. From the NAVSEA Journal.

Official US Navy Photograph #CVA-67-A5305-11-72 of USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67,) underway with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1.) Photographed by the CVA-67 Photo Lab. Photo is dated November 1972 — that month, the ship conducted a fast cruise, then shifted to Portsmouth to begin eight weeks of restricted availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

Gulf of Naples, mid-1970s, with CVW-1 aboard.

Aerial view of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) as she prepares to launch two F-14A Tomcats during operations in the Ionian Sea, October 22, 1975.

A view of damage sustained by the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) when she collided with the guided missile cruiser USS Belknap (CG-26) during night operations on Nov. 22, 1975. US Navy photo, author unknown, taken on 23 November in the Ionian Sea.

USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) moored to pier 12, Naval Station Norfolk, VA, on a very quiet Sunday in April, 1978.

Bow view of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) underway with Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1), sometime in 1976–1979.

An aerial port beam view of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), foreground, and the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) at anchor in the Mediterranean. US Navy photo by PH1 Cline, dated January 24, 1982 (DVIC id: DN-SC-87-05102).

A view of the air launch missile room aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67). Indian Ocean, April 1, 1982. US Navy photo by PH2 Kent S. Egenberger (DVIC id: DN-ST-82-05410).

Stern view of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) underway in the Mediterranean Sea, 27 June 1982. US Navy photo by Stukenberg (DVIC id: DNST8208866).

Rio do Janeiro, Brazil, October 1983.

Underway in the mid-1980s, location unknown.

Underwater shock tests off the east coast of Florida, August 1984.

The first picture shows the carrier dead in the water, in preparation for the tests. The booms in the left of the photo belong to USS Charleston (LKA-113), the main support ship for the operation.

Photos NS026767a–NS026767d show the actual under water explosion of the shock test. The object in the left side of pictures NS026767a & NS026767b is the jackstaff of Charleston.

A bow view of aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67), guided missile destroyer USS Richard E. Byrd (DDG-23) and frigate USS W. S. Sims (FF-1059) operating with Carrier Battle Group Eight off the coast of Lebanon. Although this picture is dated February 5, 1979 other photos in the same batch show Captain John Moriarty and Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) — therefore, correct date is probably February 5, 1987.

US Navy photo by PH2 Day (DVIC id: DNST8704586).