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USS KITTY HAWK, leadship of the Kitty Hawk class of multi-role aircraft carriers, was laid down inDecember 1956 and con structed by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation at Camden NewJersey. Launched on May 21st 1960 and commission ed at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on April 29th 1961, KITTY HAWK was originallydesignated CVA-63 (Aircraft Carrier, Attack, #63), re-designated CV-63 (non -nuclear)in May 1975. KITTY HAWK sawaction in campaigns ranging from Vietnam to the Gulf Wars. The super-carrierprovided a base for air strikes against Iraqi targets in 1992/93, enfor cement ofIraqi no-fly zon es in 1999, and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Refits were carried out at Bremerton in 1977, 1982 and 1998, and from 1987 to 1991 KITTY HAWK was overhauled under the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) at Philadelphia. During its longservice life KITTY HAWKs aircraft arm has included A-1 Skyraider, A-4 Skyhawk,A-6 Intruder, A-7 Corsair, EA-6B Prowler, E-2 Hawkeye, F-4 Phantom, F-14Tomcat, F/A-18 Hornet, S-3B Viking, UH-2, SH-60/HH-60 Seahawk helicopters, and C-2Greyhound. KITTY HAWK was the US Navys last convention al ly powered super carrier and a decommission ingceremon y took place at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington on May 12th 2009. The ship is currently inactive.
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