USS JFK: Last ever Port of Call

[handicap18]

US Navy aircraft carrier the USS John F. Kennedy visted Boston over the weekend as a last port of call before the ship is decommissioned later this month.

It came in last Thursday. Was scheduled to leave Monday, but needed extra fuel. Yesturday the winds were to strong for it to leave. Winds were steady at about 30-35MPH with gusts up to 50. Went to see her leave and 20 minutes after getting there (it was also a high temp of 14*F,, brrrrrrr) they called it off and rescheduled for today. Much better weather today with temps in the mid 20's and winds were normal.

Last Thurs I took a commuter boat ride and got some shots from the harbor. Light was awful as the sun was starting its decent and was behind the ship. Plus the glare off the water made for getting real good photos, but I did manage a few:

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get on board for a tour. Saturday they closed it down at 12:30pm because the lines were so long and Sunday I wasn't able to get away. Over the 2 days more than 51,000 got on board for the 1 hour tour of the ship. Maybe one day they'll make it a Naval maratime floating museum and have it a permant resident of Boston. Only time will tell what the navy will do. It is a pretty impressive ship at 1,050 feet long. As it left it was pretty close to where I was and when it was directly in front of me my 18mm lens (27mm crop factor film equilivent) wasn't wide enough to get a full shot. It moved pretty quick as it went by too. Here are some of the better shots from today, again not the best light as it was 1pm, but the sun was behind me:

If you want to see a few more check them out at my photobucket site here:

 

[handicap18]

As I was on the commuter boat I was also able to get a few pics of Boston from the harbor:

This one was a little tough, I though about staightening it out in photo shop, but haven't as of yet. Tough when the wind is blow hard and your going 35knots on the water:

 

[Dismom+two]

Great pictures!!! Although living in NH now...I was born and raised in Ma about 45 minutes north of Boston and I forget just how beautiful Boston is. You have shown that in your pictures!! Very nice job!!

Thanks so much for sharing!!

 

[photo_chick]

Growing up a Navy brat I have actually been onboard the Kennedy. (a few other ships too!) It really is as neat on the inside as it is impressive from the outside. All the ships are so self contained. Little floating cities and towns. I have never had a "proper" tour though as my Dad was always the one leading us around on things.

Those are great shots! I hope you do get the chance to go on a carrier. They are really neat and, at least to me, quite fascinating. It really makes me sad that so many of our great ships are being decommissioned.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Once again, great minds think alike. We actually got on the ship on Sunday (after standing in line for 3 hrs in the freezing cold) and saw her leave today too. I have some of the same pictues as you, so I'll see if I can dredge up a few from onboard that you don't have. I also got a nice video clip of the ship going by if I can figure out how to post it.

Getting onboard. Note soldiers with M16s.

Inside where planes are stored.

An F18 onboard (they'd removed most planes to lighten the load). Onboard gym up and to the right.

Elevator that takes planes to top deck.

First view of the top deck.

Viking plane, used to drop sonar buoys to track submarines according to pilot onboard "Speedy" Gonzalez.

Another elevator, going up.

Different view of above.

Onboard tribute to the namesake of the ship.

Looking out at Logan Airport from top deck.

 

[donaldduck1967]

Nice pics all. Not to get too side tracked but every now and then the History Channel runs a special on JFK and his time in the Navy. It's a good show if you can catch it.

 

[Virgo10]

Wonderful Photos!!!

As someone who lived just south of Boston my whole life (until I moved to Florida, that is) OP, your pictures made me homesick.


What a magnificent ship. I think I may have seen her back in the 1970's. Would that have been possible?

 

[donaldduck1967]

Wonderful Photos!!!

As someone who lived just south of Boston my whole life (until I moved to Florida, that is) OP, your pictures made me homesick.


What a magnificent ship. I think I may have seen her back in the 1970's. Would that have been possible?

Yes it is possible

http://navysite.de/cvn/cv67.htm

 

[YEKCIM]

Nice shots, Kyle and Pea. Thanks for sharing them.

~YEKCIM

 

[ktulu]

Beautiful ship! Thanks for sharing!

 

[handicap18]

Pea-n-Me, nice photos. I wish I could have taken the tour. I missed it in 2000 and in '05. My grandfather was stationed aboard the USS Hancock aircraft carrier in WWII so I've always been fascinated with them and have always wanted to get onboard one. I'll have to get down to NYC to get on board the USS Intrepid which is a floating museum down there.

Chances of another aircraft carrier coming into Boston are very slim. I think the nuclear powered ones draw too much water to enter Boston's inner harbor.


Virgo, the JFK was launched in 1968 so it is possible you could have see it in the 70's.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Chances of another aircraft carrier coming into Boston are very slim. I think the nuclear powered ones draw too much water to enter Boston's inner harbor.

That's what I thought, too. I felt a bit taking the kids out of school to watch her leave, but I figured it was a once in a lifetime thing to see.

We toured the Intrepid a few years ago. I actually liked it better in some ways because more areas were open to view, some small stairways to walk in, but best they had lots of planes and helicopters out to view. Right now, Intrepid is in dry dock in NJ or somewhere. There was a big story several months ago about how long it took them to get the ship out of it's location in the East River. You can probably google it and read the story. But I believe it's coming back in a year or so and it will be in good shape.

 

[Golf4food]

Thanks for the photos. Since the JFK was stationed here in Mayport (just east of Jacksonville, FL at the mouth of the St. Johns River) I've seen the JFK a few times. Never was on her, but did get to visit the Saratoga back when I was young - my parents knew an offier on board and he invited us to a captain's dinner one evening. I was just an awestruck 10 year old (or somewhere around that age) and Top Gun the movie wasn't too far in the past, so it was quite an experience. We had a 7 course meal, a full tour of the ship, and I even got to sit in the captain chair for a couple of seconds. People that have never been in an aircraft carrier can't fully appreciate how unbelievable they truly are. A modern miracle.

 

[Virgo10]

Thanks for the info about the JFK being here in the 70's. After some looking online, I found it was here several times. I'm certain that is the ship I saw from a boat we had. I tried to find the dates it was here but couldn't. However I do remember we saw it during either the late Spring or in the summertime as it was quite warm.

It's too bad they don't make it part of the Kennedy library.

 

[photo_chick]

Thanks for the photos. Since the JFK was stationed here in Mayport (just east of Jacksonville, FL at the mouth of the St. Johns River) I've seen the JFK a few times. Never was on her, but did get to visit the Saratoga back when I was young - my parents knew an offier on board and he invited us to a captain's dinner one evening. I was just an awestruck 10 year old (or somewhere around that age) and Top Gun the movie wasn't too far in the past, so it was quite an experience. We had a 7 course meal, a full tour of the ship, and I even got to sit in the captain chair for a couple of seconds. People that have never been in an aircraft carrier can't fully appreciate how unbelievable they truly are. A modern miracle.

A little off topic, but you brought back memories for me.....
You were probably on the Saratoga right after my friend's dad left! He was captain of the Saratoga right before they moved to Norfolk, where I met her. (was around 86). I think we have 6 degrees here! Funny you mention Top Gun also, I saw that with her.

Funny coincidence! Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

And I agree, carriers are cool. Battleships are pretty neat too. But my favorite that I have been on are the LHA's. They are for amphibious assaults and also land helicopters and harriers. They flood the back of the ship to let the boats out. To an 8 year old this is tremendously cool!

I am veering OT again.

 

[handicap18]

Staying Off Topic a bit. I picked up the commuter boat in Quincy, just south of Boston. Quincy at one time was a HUGE ship building city. Many Naval ships and others were built in the Quicy shipyards.

As part of a museum they brought back the USS Salem back in the 80's I think it was. Built near the end of WWII it is a cruiser. About the same length as a battleship, but not as wide so it can go faster. Here are a few pics.

Also in Massachusetts is the USS Massachusetts. Now a floating museum in Battleship Cove in Fall River, Ma. We visited there when I was a kid and I've driven past it many times in my visits to Providence. Thats a pretty cool ship (there is also a submarine, destroyer and a PT boat).

There is talk of making the USS JFK a museum. I know both Massachusetts Senators (Kennedy and Kerry) are in favor of it as are many of the current and former crew members of the JFK. It would be a proper home for it, but it does take a lot of money and even then it would take a few years. It is decommissioned on March 23, but doesn't come completely out of service till September I believe. I guess even then it still takes quite a long time for the navy to decide what they want to do with it. I would love to see it as a perminant resident of Boston Harbor. Would make a nice compliment to the 200+ year old USS Constitution which currently lives in the Charlestown Navy Yard at the other end of Boston Harbor.