CVA-63 was named for a small village in North Carolina and for Kill Devil Hill, the site approximately four miles south of the village, where Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first successful sustained powered flights in a heavier-than-air machine on 17 December 1903.

U.S. warships that had previously borne the name:

1. An aviation transport, 1941–46.

(Map NS0263ck courtesy of Google Maps.)

Photo NS0263cka: First successful flight of the Wright Flyer, by the Wright brothers, 17 December 1903, at Kill Devil Hills, about four miles south of Kitty Hawk, NC. This is described as "the first sustained and controlled heavier-than-air, powered flight" by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.

Keel laying, Thursday, 27 December 1956.

Under construction, Wednesday, 15 May 1957.

Under construction, Saturday, 27 July 1957.

Under construction, Wednesday, 20 November 1957.

Under construction, Wednesday, 16 July 1958.

Under construction, Friday, 21 November 1958.

Under construction, March 1959.

Under construction, Wednesday, 18 March 1959.

Under construction, Friday, 15 May 1959.

Under construction. Turbines go in.

Under construction, Monday, 21 September 1959.

Under construction, Friday, 16 October 1959.

Under construction, Monday, 14 December 1959.

Bow view from drydock, December 1959 (Photo # 7634-157.)

Under construction, Tuesday, 15 March 1960.

"The photos show the initial installation of one of the rudders on Kitty Hawk as she lay on the ways at NYSB Corp., Camden, New Jersey. The installation appears to have been accomplished in warm weather, and so the photos may date to either the middle of 1959, or early spring 1960, soon before her May 21st launch of that year."

"The man in the white hard hat is [Scott's] grandfather, John Davies. He was a foreman in the rigging department at NYSB Corp."

Armed Forces Day Parade, Westmont, NJ, before Christening Ceremony. Color Guard from NAVSURFWARFARE Center and crew of Kitty Hawk.

Christening Ceremony.

Audience at launching (Photo # 7634-506.)

Port side view at launching. Note Goodyear blimp over the crane (Photo # 7634-507.)

Official party (l to r): Mrs. Harry W. Pierce, wife of President of NYSB; Mrs. Camilla F. McElroy, ship's sponsor, wife of former Secretary of Defense Neil H. McElroy; Mr. Neil H. McElroy, sixth Secretary of Defense (October 9, 1957 – December 1, 1959; Mr. Harry W. Pierce, Pres., NYSB (Photo # 7634-508.)

RADM Ralph K. James, USN BUSHIPS (Photo # 7634-509.)

Mr. William B. Franke, Secretary of the Navy (Photo # 7634-510.)

Mrs. Camilla F. McElroy christens Kitty Hawk (Photo # 1967.310.)

"Christening of the USS Kitty Hawk, May 21, 1960, New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey, a subsidiary of Merritt-Chapman & Scott Corporation"

First float and shift to an outfitting pier. It was a rainy and miserable Sunday morning [22 May 1960]. The Reedy Point was the first tug to enter the dock and put lines up to her stern. Also on the job were the tugs Justine, Brant, H.C. Jefferson, Quaker, J.H. Deinlein, U.S. Goheen, Venus, Trojan and B.M. Thomas. The shift from the graving dock to Pier 6 in Newton Creek started at 1100 and was completed at 1400. Of the ten tugs there that day, only the B.M. Thomas remains on the River (as of May 2010). These are two views of the shift and the well-worn B.M. Thomas, lying neglected at Pier 84 South.

Catapult testing, New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey.

Catapult testing trials on the soon to be commissioned PCU Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), 13 March 1961. A "duck" is shown being catapulted off the ship moored at New York Shipbuilding Corporation at Camden, New Jersey.

Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Collection, Photo No. P560055B.

Builders trials, 21–24 February 1961. Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) heads out to sea for trials (NS0263bg), at sea on trials (NS0263bga), and returning from sea trials (NS0263bgb).

Kitty Hawk shifting from New York SB to Philadelphia Naval Shipyard prior to her commissioning in April 1961.

NS0263bja: Under the Walt Whitman Bridge, Delaware River.

NS0263bj: About to enter Horse Shoe Bend with the Justine, B.M. Thomas and H.C. Jefferson on her port side.

View of crowd in the hangar deck. ADM Arleigh A. Burke, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), delivered the principal address and hailed Kitty Hawk as the "forerunner of a new and greatly improved line of carriers."

"Meet Navy's Missile Carrier," All Hands magazine, June 1961 issue.

"Giant carrier Kitty Hawk gets steam up in preparation for sea trials to check out San Francisco Naval Shipyard's work as her post-shakedown overhaul nears its end." San Francisco Naval Shipyard Drydocker, 30 March 1962 (vol. 19, no. 11).

"Three big carriers tied up at [Hunters Point] Shipyard's waterfront make an impressive sight. They are from left: USS Ranger (CVA-61), Berths 6 & 7; USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31), Berths 8 & 9, and USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), Berths 10 & 11." April 1962.

USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) refueling USS McKean (DDR-784), at right, and USS Harry E. Hubbard (DD-748) on 18 September 1962. Note that the carrier has ten A-3 Skywarrior heavy attack aircraft parked on her flight deck, amidships and aft. Planes parked forward include A-1, A-4, F-4 and F-8 types.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# KN-4113).

USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) refueling USS Wedderburn (DD-684) near Subic Bay, late December 1962 or early January 1963. From the collection of R.L. "Bob" Clawson.

A Soviet Tupolev Tu-16 (Badger) as it overflies USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) in the North Pacific in January 1963. The Tu-16 is being "escorted" by F-4B Phantom IIs (USN photo).

Photo and text from "Aircraft Carriers," by Norman Polmar.

USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) and USS Cimarron (AO-22), near Japan in the spring of 1963, as seen from USS Wedderburn (DD-684). From the collection of R.L. "Bob" Clawson.

Aerial view of USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) underway, circa 1963–1964. Official U.S. Navy photo.

A page from USS Uhlmann's (DD-687) 1963–1964 Cruise Book. An UNREP with USS Hassayampa (AO-145) and USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), in the Western Pacific. This was Kitty Hawk's second WestPac deployment, 17 October 1963–20 July 1964.

USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), and USS Turner Joy (DD-951) refueling from USS Kawishiwi (AO-146), 23 April 1964. Note the large "E" in a shield spelled out by crewmen on the carrier's flight deck. Photographed by PHCS Brown, USN.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# USN 1097351).

USS Aludra (AF-55) resupplies USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) and USS Coontz (DLG-9) during a WestPac deployment, 1964.

USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) Ship's Command History, 31 March–30 September 1964.

USS Firedrake (AE-14) during an underway replenishment with USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) off the coast of Vietnam circa 1965.

From the Firedrake Cruise Book, 1965–1966.

USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) was Our Navy's Ship of the Month for July 1965.

An AP story on the Kitty Hawk fire in 1965, published in the Ogden Standard Examiner.

Ed recalls:

"I was a machinist mate in the 'steam heat' shop maintenance of HVAC, aux steam, and catapults."

"Throw back Thursday, 6 Dec 1965. We were in the Tonkin Gulf on the Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), aircraft carrier, conducting airstrikes. A supply ship was alongside pumping JP5 (jet fuel) into our tanks when the pipe spit open in the Main Machinery Room 3, behind one of the boilers. The fuel was ignited and general quarters sounded. When I arrived at my fire station the chief put a OBA (oxygen breathing device) on me and four others and sent us into the MMR. We went in with two hoses, I was on the first hose to fight the fire and the hose behind was a fog nozzle to keep us wet and cool. Even with the hose on us we could not stay wet it was so hot in there, and dense smoke. We sent out one guy we found unconcious, later found he had died, as did one other sailor in the MMR when the fire started. After 25 mins or so we were relieved as our OBA was running low on oxygen. After some water and a canister change on the OBA we relived another hose team in an munitions stores room keeping a steel bulkhead cool as unarmed bombs were evacuated. Once the fire was out we continued air oprerations and then were ordered to Yokouska for repairs to the #3 MMR."

DANFS account:

"6 Dec 1965: During the morning a flash fire erupted in No. 3 Main Machinery Room, during air operations on Yankee Station. Two Sailors, FA William D. 'Billy' Heeper and FN Charles A. Philhewer, died, and 29 suffered injuries, with two men, FA Henry H. Powell and Grumman Aircraft Co. representative Edward B. Scherer, being injured seriously in the 'smoke-clogged fire below decks.' The crew regained control of the space, however, and flight operations continued without interruption."

An aviator's view of the flight deck, circa 1965–66.

Briefing room.

Hangar deck. Left to right: A-4C Skyhawk, two A-6A Intruders, F-4G (?) Phantom II.

A-6A Intruder, VA-85 "Black Falcons," launching.

E-2A Hawkeye, VAW-11 "Early Eleven" Det. C, launching. Other aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 parked on deck.

USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) pierside, with aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 on deck.

A Douglas A-4C Skyhawk (BuNo 149495) of attack squadron VA-113 "Stingers" landing on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) in March 1966. VA-113 was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) and deployed to Vietnam aboard Kitty Hawk, 19 October 1965–13 June 1966. U.S. Navy photo.

A Kaman UH-2A Seasprite plane guard helicopter (BuNo 149742) of helicopter combat support squadron HC-1 Det. C "Pacific Fleet Angels" hovering over the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) during a deployment to Vietnam in March 1966. U.S. Navy photo.

A Douglas A-1H Skyraider (BuNo 135263) of attack squadron VA-115 "Arabs," Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11), on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA‑63) in 1966. The plane is armed with six Mk-117 750-lb bombs for a mission over Vietnam. (BuNo 135263 was transferred to USAF as 52-135263. It was shot down by AAA over southern Laos on 28 July 1970, while assigned to the 1st Special Operations Squadron (SOS), 56th Special Operations Wing (SOW). Its pilot, Maj. P.B. Lee bailed out and was rescued.)

In the background are two McDonnell F-4G Phantom IIs (BuNos 150481 and 150487) of fighter squadron VF-213 "Black Lions." These Phantoms are two of the short-lived USN F-4G's: 12 were converted from F-4B's with AN/ASW-12 two-way datalink communication system and approach power compensator which, coupled with the shipboard AN/SPN-10 radar and AN/USC-1 datalink, allowed hands-off carrier landings. All were later rebuilt as F-4B's. BuNo 140481 was retired as an F-4N on 11 December 1981, BuNo 150487 had been lost at sea due to an inflight fire on 18 September 1972.

U.S. Navy Photo.

USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), during her 19 October 1965–13 June 1966 Vietnam cruise. Two F-4B Phantom IIs, BuNos 149467 (NH114) and 152270 (NH405), VF‑114 "Aardvarks," CVW-11.

Flying with VMFA-314, BuNo 149467 crashed into the South China Sea, off South Vietnam, 8 February 1970, due to battle damage. Both Maj. J.B. Leonard and 1st Lt. J.C. Coon ejected and were rescued by helicopter.

BuNo 152270 was later upgraded to F-4N standard and is now preserved at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, in VMFA-251 markings.

A-1H Skyraiders (BuNos 137546 and 135263), VA-115 "Arabs;" and A-4C Skyhawks, VA-113 "Stingers."

BuNo 137546 was transferred to USAF as 52-137546 and was lost on 18 December 1968. Maj. Gregory Inman Barras was KIA.

See NS0263ao for details about BuNo 135263.

Left to right: RA-5C Vigilante, BuNo 151632, modex NH603, RVAH-13 "Bats;" F-4B Phantom II, BuNo 152233 (NH408), VF-114 "Aardvarks;" F-4G Phantom II, BuNo 150642 (NH109), VF-213 "Black Lions."

BuNo 151632 was shot down on 22 December 1965 (by an SA-2 SAM according to some sources, but there is no direct evidence of this). Pilot, LCDR Max D. Lukenbach, was KIA; NFO, LT(JG) Glenn H. Daigle, became a POW and was released in 1973.

BuNo 152233 had to ditch into the Gulf of Tonkin, 31 January 1966, due to battle damage. LT W. Fritz Klumpp and LT(JG) J.N. Stineman were promptly rescued by the plane guard helicopter, from HC-1 Det. C.

BuNo 150642 had been converted to F-4G standard (see NS0263ao) in 1964 but reverted to F-4B in 1966. Later upgraded to F-4N (1973) it was retired in 1984.

RA-5C Vigilante, BuNo 151624, modex NH604, RVAH-13 "Bats." Three A-4C Skyhawks from VA-113 "Stingers" are in the left background.

Flint River 604 was lost on 20 December 1965, while on a photographic reconnaissance mission over Uong Bi Thermal Power Plant (the first North Vietnamese industrial target authorized to be struck by naval aircraft), 15 miles northeast of Haiphong, North Vietnam, 20°51'N, 107°4'E. LCDR Guy D. Johnson and LT(JG) Lee E. Nordahl were KIA.

Left to right: Three E-2A Hawkeyes (modex RR706, RR704 and RR707), VAW-11 "Early Eleven" Det. C; COD aircraft, C-1A Trader (24); two RA-5C Vigilantes (NH605 and NH602), RVAH-13 "Bats;" and an F-4B Phantom II (NH411), VF-114 "Aardvarks."

Left to right: RA-5C Vigilante (BuNo 151627?, modex NH602), RVAH-13 "Bats;" and E-2A Hawkeye (RR704), VAW-11 "Early Eleven" Det. C.

ADJ3 David Elfver (right), plane captain, with a friend and an F-4B Phantom II, VF-213 "Black Lions."

Launching aircraft.

An F-4B Phantom II, BuNo 152270 (modex NH405), VF-114 "Aardvarks," launches from one of the waist cats. Also visible are the dishes of two E-2A Hawkeyes from VAW-11 "Early Eleven" Det. C, an F-4B (BuNo 152255, NH102) and an F-4G Phantom IIs (NH410) from VF-213 "Black Lions," two A-4C Skyhawks (BuNo 147836, NH302; BuNo 147727) from VA-113 "Stingers," and two A-1 Skyraiders (BuNo 137546, NH512; NH502) from VA-115 "Arabs."

Two RA-5C Vigilantes, BuNo 151624 (NH604), left, and BuNo 151627 (NH602), right; RVAH-13 "Bats." Also visible are a UH-2A Seasprite (BuNo 149036, UP18), HC-1 "Pacific Fleet Angels" Det. C; and an F-4B Phantom II, VF-114 "Aardvardks." Two more Phantoms are in the background, beyond NH602.

Two F-4B Phantom IIs of VF-114 "Aardvarks" enroute to targets in North Vietnam. Photo is dated 16 April 1967.

F-4B Phantom II, BuNo 153008, modex NH207, assigned to Fighter Squadron (VF) 114 "Aardvarks," deployed to WestPac and Vietnam, 5 November 1966–20 June 1967, aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63). (BuNo 153008 was later converted to F-4N.)

Photo is dated 28 April 1967.

A-6A Intruder, assigned to Attack Squadron (VA) 85 "Black Falcons," launches from USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), for an air-attack strike on North Vietnam. U.S. Navy photo # 1122595, by photographer J.W. Bakker, dated 14 May 1967.

"South China Sea—Three A-6A Intruder aircraft of [Attack] Squadron 85[, 'Black Falcons,'] are returning from a bombing mission over North Vietnam. The aircraft are home based aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63)."

U.S. Navy photo # 1122702, taken in May 1967 by Reconnaissance Attack Squadron (RVAH) 13 "Bats."

Overhead look at Aircraft Carriers and Amphibious Assault Ships (Helicopter) at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, July 1967. Left to right: USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), USS Bennington (CVS-20), USS Kearsarge (CVS-33), USS Princeton (LPH-5), USS Valley Forge (LPH-8), USS Yorktown (CVS-10, top right corner).

EA-1F Skyraider BuNo 132555 (built as an AD-5N/A-1G night-attack variant), modex VR012, VAW-13 "Zappers," Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, deployed with USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) for a Vietnam cruise, 18 November 1967–28 June 1968. Delivered in October 1954, this aircraft was retired in July 1968.

USS Kitty Hawk underway circa 1968, location unknown. USN photo.

An aircraft carrier, most likely USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), in the Gulf of Tonkin, 1969, as seen from USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25).

USS Kitty Hawk underway in the Pacific in the 1970s, with four E-2 Hawkeyes and an A-7 Corsair II on the flight deck.

This photo is believed to have been taken on 6 November 1970, as USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 embarked, departed North Island, San Diego, California, on her 5th Vietnam War Cruise (6 November 1970–17 July 1971). USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14) is astern of Kitty Hawk.

USS Beacon (PG-99) alongside Kitty Hawk (CVA-63). US Navy photo from the December 1970 edition of "All Hands" Magazine.

A Douglas EKA-3B Skywarrior (BuNo 147660) of Electronic Countermeasures Squadron (VAQ) 133 "Golden Zappers." VAQ-133 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) for a deployment to Vietnam, 6 November 1970–17 July 1971. Photo from the Kitty Hawk 1970–71 Cruise Book.

"A zinc chromate primer RA-5C Vigilante of RVAH-7 ["Peacemakers of the Fleet"], aboard USS Kitty Hawk, 1972. LCDR Art Skelly, CO of RVAH-7, seeing large portions of the aircraft painted with this primer told maintenance crew to paint the entire aircraft yellow. He wanted to fly it over North Vietnam but the schedule did not allow it!"

Official US Navy photograph of USS Kitty Hawk underway with Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11) circa 1975, location unknown.

A Grumman A-6E Intruder at the moment of touchdown on board the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), having engaged the third wire to score an "OK, Three" in the LSO's log. The lowered leading-edge slats and wing-tip air-brakes help reduce landing speed. Photo US DoD.

Photo and text from Carriers: The Men and The Machines, by David Miller and Lindsay Peacock.

"Attack Aircraft Carrier Kitty Hawk." (From a Russian publication).

This drawing shows Kitty Hawk in the late 1970s, with SPS-43A and SPS-48C radars and two 8-cell BPDMS launchers.

An elevated starboard quarter view of USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) underway, July 1977. US Navy photo by PH1 A. Legare (DVIC id: DN-SC-86-00162).

Kitty Hawk departed San Diego on March 8, 1976 and four days later entered drydock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA, to commence a 100-million dollar complex overhaul scheduled to last 12.5 months. This overhaul configured Hawk to operate with the F-14 Tomcat and S-3A Viking aircraft in a total CV sea control mode. This included adding spaces for storage, ordnance handling and maintenance facilities for the two aircraft. Also included in the work package were more efficient work areas for air frames and a repair facility for ground support equipment and the addition of avionics support capability for the S-3. The ship also replaced the Terrier Surface-to-Air missile system with the NATO Sea Sparrow system, and added elevators and modified weapons magazines to provide an increased capability for handling and stowing the newer, larger air launched weapons. The carrier completed the overhaul in March 1977 and departed the shipyard April 1 of that year to return to San Diego.

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) underway with Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11), circa 1977–1978, location unknown.

USS Sacramento (AOE-1) simultaneously replenishes USS Sample (FF-1048) and USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), while underway in the Pacific Ocean, 16 March 1978. USS Goldsborough (DDG-20) and USS Bainbridge (CGN-25) are steaming astern.

National Naval Aviation Museum photo, # 1996.488.104.052.

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) island structure at dusk, circa early 1979, at NAS North Island.

Two crewmen move Mk-82 500-pound bombs past two parked A-6 Intruder attack aircraft during flight deck operations aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), 1979. US Navy photo by ENS A. Legare (DVIC id: DN-SN-85-11093).

Crewmen inside the flight deck control center aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) use a table to simulate the arrangement of aircraft on the carrier's flight deck, December 15, 1979. US Navy photo by PHC Ken George (DVIC id: DN-SN-85-06358).

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) underway in the late 1970s–early 1980s.

Stern view of USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) at NAS North Island, San Diego, Calif., mid-1980.

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) underway, circa 1981. An excellent, direct overhead shot from about 1500ft.

A Grumman A-6E Intruder (BuNo 155670) from Attack Squadron (VA) 52 "Knightriders," part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 15, in 1981.

Official U.S. Navy photo, available from DefenseImagery.mil (# DN-SC-84-05437). Although dated 15 January 1984, this cannot be correct. BuNo 155670 wore modex NL503 for just one deployment to WestPac with USS Kitty Hawk, 1 April–23 November 1981. In 1984 VA-52 and CVW-15 were teamed with USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), and 155670 was no longer attached to the "Knightriders." BuNo 155670 was manufactured as an A-6A, later upgraded to the A-6E standard, and was sunk as an artificial reef after its retirement.

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 15, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 18 November 1981.

Note USS Wabash (AOR-5) in the background, across the pier.

An aerial port bow view of USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) passing the USS Arizona (BB-39) Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Although the photo is dated 14 July 1987, general ship configuration and Air Wing show it was actually taken circa 1981.

Official US Navy photograph, available from Defense Imagery Management Operations Center (DIMOC), VIRIN DN-ST-87-09079.

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), left, and USS Constellation (CV-64). NAS North Island, San Diego, Calif., circa 1984.

A barricade restrains an F-14A Tomcat (BuNo 161296, modex NE107) from VF-1 "Wolfpack" during an emergency landing aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), 30 June 1984. The Tomcat had to make a barricade arrestment due to a sheared starboard strut. The recovery was successful; no injuries were sustained.

U.S. Navy photo by PH3 Hall, available from DefenseImagery.mil (# DN-ST-87-11416).

Crew members use an NP-50 crane to remove a damaged F-14A Tomcat from the flight deck after an emergency barricade landing aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), 30 June 1984. (See above.)

U.S. Navy photo by PH3 Hall, available from DefenseImagery.mil (# DN-ST-87-11420).