CV-41 USS Midway Museum, San Diego Bay, California.

micahrogers

Moderator "Where am I, and how did I get here?"
Staff member
Moderator
Here she sits, decommissioned in 1992, CV-41 The USS Midway, first ship of her class, commissioned in late September 1945, just weeks after the surrender of the Japanese Empire. The first Aircraft Carrier made with armored decks. You park and walk up toward he starboard side of her.
20210326_103410.jpg
Looking toward the bow.
20210326_103416.jpg

20210326_103421.jpg
The banner above the entrance walkway.
20210326_103848.jpg
The ships bell, polished every day by volunteers.
20210326_104445.jpg
You enter the museum from the starboard side forward aircraft elevator, and are greeted by a SBD Dauntless, dive bomber, The hero of the battle of Midway, for which this ship was named.
20210326_104644.jpg

More pics to follow as I get them resized.
 

zathros

*****SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR*****
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
The British had Armmored decks on their aircraft carriers. That was one of the biggest mistakes the U.S did, and those sailors paid the ultimate price. Personally, I think these ships, as many as feasable should be made into museum ships. The U.S.S. North carolina, and the U.S.S. Massachusetts have machine shops on them that are massive and could actually be used for schools. Much of these ships could be made into educational hotels, and some are, but mostly for Boy Scout organizations. If they had a set up where families could spend 3 days aboard such a ship, I think that there would be much interest generated these ships. They are a heritage that our country should treasure. IMHO. ;)
 
Last edited:

ennder

Well-Known Member
Beautiful pictures, Micah.

I agree with Z, and I think that some of these ships could be used as Trade schools. there are machine shops, engine rooms to learn engine mechanics, Miles and miles of pipe to learn plumbing. Miles of wiring for electricians. I know there are lots of other trades that I have not touched on that could be taught aboard ship.
 

micahrogers

Moderator "Where am I, and how did I get here?"
Staff member
Moderator
More pics resized...
The SBD (Slow But Deadly) Dauntless from the front 3/4
20210326_105057.jpg
Early WWII USN Pilots suit.
20210326_105104.jpg
TBD Devastator Torpedo Bomber,
20210326_105115.jpg
This one is full size for a reason. Anything stick out as wrong here?





This is a FOAM replica TBD made for the 2019 movie, "Midway"

There are only six surviving TBD's above the waves. The producers of "Midway" asked the USS Midway museum if they wanted the full scale foam replica they made.
Of course the museum curator said yes.

The F4F-4 Wildcat.
20210326_105255.jpg
The F4U-4 Corsair.
20210326_105816.jpg
This one is a late war example in USN overall Dark Sea Blue...

And that massive, 13 foot diameter Hamilton Standard Air Screw propeller.
20210326_105832.jpg

The first and latest together...
The USS Langley, and the Gerald R Ford side by side...
A model built by volunteers for the USS Midway Museum.
20210326_111322.jpg
The box the 3.5" HVAR Rockets came in as loaded on USS Midway
20210326_115257.jpg
Tail section of the EA6B Prowler Electronic Warfare aircraft.
20210326_121221.jpg
And finally for tonight,
The PriFly and main Bridge as seen from the flight deck.
20210326_121330.jpg
Lots more to come as I get them moved and resized.
 

Rhaven Blaack

!!!THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
Those are AMAZING photos!!!
Thank you for sharing these and your experiences with all of us!!!
 

micahrogers

Moderator "Where am I, and how did I get here?"
Staff member
Moderator
Image heavy,
EA-6B Prowler from the front
20210326_121343.jpg and helos on the flight deck... 20210326_121434.jpg looking toward the bow. 20210326_121439.jpg And looking astern. 20210326_121449.jpg The Island as seen from the flight deck.20210326_121902.jpg the statue in the park across from Midway, modeled after the famous phot in the NYT on VJ Day.
20210326_121947.jpg
an E-2C Hawkeye. 20210326_122518.jpg The nose. 20210326_122629.jpg An A6 Intruder sits ready on the portside forward cat. 20210326_124302.jpg Just a sample of the load out of 30 750 lb Retarded freefall bombs.20210326_124321.jpg
DDG-53, USS John Paul Jones. 20210326_124647.jpg and the long shot, you can see Abraham Lincoln, and Carl Vinson on the opposit side of the bay, JPJ is a small boat in this shot. 20210326_124703_03.jpg and another shot of the JPJ.20210326_124941.jpg An F-4 Phantom 20210326_125744.jpg
An A-1D Skyraider, with the full loadout of 500 lb bombs. 20210326_130044.jpg20210326_130126.jpg
An A-4 Skyhawk humpback, same type as was flown by Sen Jon McCain. 20210326_130151.jpg20210326_130209.jpg An F9F Panther. 20210326_134213.jpg
And an F3J Fury, looks familiar huh? Naval version of the F-86 Saber Jet. 20210326_134253.jpg

Just a few pics and some movies left...
 
Last edited:

micahrogers

Moderator "Where am I, and how did I get here?"
Staff member
Moderator
I've always wondered..... 500 lb bomb. is that what they weigh or is that the explosive force it produces.
As Cybergrinder already stated, the number refers to the loaded weight of the bomb, a 500 lb bomb weighs 500 lbs ready to be loaded on the aircraft. but a 500 lb retarded bomb actually weighs 575 lbs because of the added retarder unit. so it does get a little wonky.
 

micahrogers

Moderator "Where am I, and how did I get here?"
Staff member
Moderator
So many planes, what a gift that they are preserved!! Excellent pics!! :)
I forgot to get a pic of the TBM Avenger they have, Painted in GHW Bush's WWII colors and numbers. A nice tribute to our last WWII veteran President.
 
Top