NOTE: Names in Blue and Underlined, Are email addresses.
Graphics Outlined In Blue and Blue Underlined Text, Are Links To Other Pages
* to access - Click With Mouse *


Indy 58-98  Ship's Company Pages - click here Indy Cruise Book Cover Pages - click here Indy 58-98  Ship's Company Pages - click here


Flag

POD
Plan Of The Day
Welcome Aboard - Click here
Welcome Aboard
The Declaration - Click here
The Declaration of the
INDEPENDENCE

Cruise Book Covers
Click here
Plank Owners Cruise Book
Plank Owners Cruise

Provided by Leigh D. Allvord
Indy Memories
Indy Memories

Cruise Book Covers
Click here
1998 Final Cruise
1998 Final Cruise

Provided by Jamie Windemiller
Click Here For Reunion Association Pages
Indy Reunion Association

Denis Bagley President
(click here for info)
Click Here For Ship's Store
Ship's Store

Indy Reunion Association
(click here)
Click Here for INDY CLUB
USS Independence
Club on Yahoo

Hosted by: Earl Langley



USS INDEPENDENCE
STATUS INFORMATION
Provided by
N * V * R
click here

STRICKEN
To be disposed of,
type of disposal
not known.
Status Date
08 March 2004



click here
Shipmate Links

Click Here
USS Independence

CVL-22 Reunion Group
Click Here
USS Independence

LCS-2
 Active, in commission

Homeport

SAN DIEGO, CA

 


CVS32 * CV32

click here
U.S.S. LEYTE


click here
Al Seguin

click here - for USN
click here - for USMC
click here - for navy news
Navy News

click here - Hull Number
Hull Number

SPECIAL THANKS !
For their help in developing
these Ship's Co. Pages

Leigh D. Allvord
M Div. * 1958-1960
Richard E. Binder
S3 Div. * 1974-1975
Michael Craven
A Div. 1962-1965
Dave Foley
"Sparrowhawk"
V0 Div. * 1980-1983
Earl D. Galloway
V1 Div. * 1960 - 1963
John L. Hedinger
RVAH-1 * 1964-1967
OZ Div. * 1970 - 1974
Harry B. Kidd
OP Div. 1969 - 1970
Pat Little
V2 Div. 1967 - 1971
OX Div. 1984 / 1985
Ron Phillips
CR Div. * 1977 - 1980
Stanley Richardson
RVAH-12 * 1971
Bill Sullens
V1 Div. * 1959 - 1963
Steve D. West
A Div. * 1976 - 1978


Cruise Books
These Cruise Books
have been donated to the
Independence Memorial Library
for use in developing this site


1959 Shake Down
Dave Foley
"Sparrow Hawk"
VO Division
1961 Med Cruise
Charles D. Arnold
OE Division
1965 WestPac Cruise
John L. Hedinger
RVAH-1
1966 / 1967 Med Cruise
John L. Hedinger
RVAH-1
1971 / 1972 Med Cruise
John Zieba
VAW-122
1974 / 1975 Med Cruise
Richard E. Binder
S-3 Division
1977 Med Cruise
Steve D. West
A Division



Please Note

Information Below

My Apologies
To those who have sent
their names and additional
information, if that information
has not yet added it is lost.

George Featherman passed
in the spring of 2010. God
rest his soul

I will as webmaster continue to
add information as I get it
as quickly as I can.

Thank You All
For Your Support
Walt Estes HM2
H Div. Medical then



df - click here
Dave Foley
SparrowHawk60@aol.com

Anyone out there with information
on any of my subject matter,
feel free to send me
additions and / or corrections.


To Contact Me
email gif
cva62@earthlink.net

If you've ever been stationed
aboard the "Indy"
Ships Company, Air Group or
Marine Detachment

Let me know when you were
aboard so I can add you to
"Ships Company / Air Group /
Marine Detachment Pages".


Indy 58-98  Ship's Company Pages - click here Indy Ribbons

Keel Laid - July 1955
Launched 06 June 1958 - New York Navy Yard , Brooklyn.
Christened by Mrs. Thomas S. Gates,
Wife of the Secretary of the Navy, acting as Sponsor.
The fifth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name INDEPENDENCE.


COMMISSIONED

USS Independence (CVA 62) - 10 Jan. 1959 - Brooklyn, NY.
Capt. R. Y. McElroy, commanding.
Admiral Arleigh Burke, USN,
Chief of Naval Operations, as the principal speaker.


*** THE COMMISSIONING ***
You're Invited To The Commissioning
Of The United States Navy's
Newest And Largest Aircraft Carrier
U.S.S. INDEPENDENCE
CVA-62


HOME PORTS:
Norfolk, Va. 1959 * San Diego, Ca. 1988 * Yokosuka, Japan 1991
First Builders' Trials
2 February 1959 to 5 February 1959
Returned to Brooklyn to continue fitting out
and to make preparations for acceptance trials.
Shakedown Cuise * CVW-7
Guantanamo (Gitmo) Bay, Cuba.
Port of Call - Ciudad Trujillio 30-31 May
Departed 23 Apr 1959 - Returned Norfolk - 01 Jul 1959
Yard Period
New York Navy Yard , Brooklyn.
First Med Cruise * CVW-7
Departed 04 Aug 1960 - Returned 03 Mar 1961
Med Cruise * CVW-7
Departed 04 Aug 1961 - Returned 19 Dec 1961
Med Cruise / 6th Fleet Duty * CVW-7
Departed 19 Apr 1962 - Returned 27 Aug 1962
Cuban Missile Crisis * CVW-7
Departed 11 Oct 1962 - Returned 25 Nov 1962
Yard Period
Overhaul - Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Refresher Training Guantanamo (Gitmo) Bay, Cuba.
Med Cruise * CVW-7
Joint Exercise With United Kingdom & France
Departed 06 Aug 1963 - Returned 04 Mar 1964
NorLant / Med Cruise * CVW-7
(NATO Teamwork)
Departed 08 Sep 1964 - Returned 05 Nov 1964
Royal Order of the Bluenose
Crossed Artic Circle 22 Sep 1964
Yard Period
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
WestPac / Tonkin Gulf * CVW-7
Vietnam Operations South China Sea
Departed 10 May 1965 - Returned 13 Dec 1965
Polywog to Shellback
Crossed Equator 21 May 1965
100 days in the South China Sea off the coast of Vietnam.
Med European Operations 6th. Fleet: * CVW-7
Departed 13 Jun 1966 - Returned 01 Feb 1967
Med Cruise * CVW-7
Departed 30 Apr 1968 - Returned 27 Jan 1969
NorLant Cruise * CVW-7
(NATO Peace Keeper)
Departed 03 Sep 1969 - Returned 09 Oct 1969
Royal Order of the Bluenose
Med Cruise * CVW-7
Departed 23 Jun 1970 - Returned 31 Jan 1971
NorLant / Med Cruise * CVW-7
Departed 16 Sep 1971 - Returned 16 Mar 1972
Royal Order of the Bluenose
Crossed Artic Circle 28 Sep 1971
Overhaul
Portsmouth Yards
Last of the 5" Guns Removed

On 28 Febuary 1973
U.S.S. INDEPENDENCE CVA-62
was Re-designated
U.S.S. INDEPENDENCE CV-62


May 1973, President Richard M. Nixon delivered his annual
Armed Forces Day address from the decks of INDEPENDENCE.


Med Cruise * CVW-7
Departed 21 Jun 1973 - Returned 19 Jan 1974
Stationed off the coast of Israel, during the
October, Yom Kippur War
Med Cruise * CVW-7
Departed 19 Jul 1974 - Returned 21 Jan 1975
During The 1974 Med Cruise
The INDY helped in the recovery of bodies
from a TWA aiecraft that crashed in the Med.
(Information provided by Robert Stailey SK3)
NorLant / Med Cruise * CVW-7
Departed 15 Oct 1975 - Returned 05 May 1976
Royal Order of the Bluenose
Med Cruise * CVW-7
Departed 31 Mar 1977 - Returned 21 Oct 1977
Yard Period
Major Overhaul 1978
Med Cruise * Persian Gulf CVW-6
(Iranian Hostage Crisis)
Departed 28 Jun 1979 - Returned 14 Dec 1979
SoLant / Indian Ocean / Med Cruise * CVW-6
Departed 19 Nov 1980 - Returned 10 Jun 1981
Polywog to Shellback Crossed Equator 29 Nov 1980
Crossed Equator 14 Apr 1981
Med Cruise * CVW-6
Departed 07 Jun 1982 - Returned 22 Dec 1982
The INDEPENDENCE provided critical support to
the multinational peacekeeping force in Lebanon.
Caribbean / Med / NorLant Cruise * CVW-6
Royal Order of the Bluenose
Departed 18 Oct 1983 - Returned 11 Apr 1984
Air wing CVW-6 flew missions in support of
Operation Urgent Fury in, the action to
liberate the Caribbean nation of Grenada.
Returning to Lebanon that same year, CVW-6
conducted air strikes against Syrian positions.
Med Cruise / Indian Ocean * CVW-6
Departed 16 Oct 1984 - Returned 19 Feb 1985
Overhaul
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
Apr 1985 - 06 Jun 1988
S. L. E. P.
Navy Service Life Extension Program

It was fitting that the Indy should
be rejuvenated in Philadelphia, home
of the Revolutionary War's "Liberty Bell",
the symbol of liberty and freedom worldwide.


Bye Philly
AP Photo 06 Jun 1988
Refresher Training
Guantanamo (Gitmo) Bay, Cuba.
3 weeks Followed by crew changes in Norfork
before leaving for San Diego, California.

Left for new Home Port - San Diego, Ca. 1988
Transit Via Cape Horn * CVW-17
Polywog to Shellback * Crossed Equator 28 Aug 1988


WestPac / Indian Ocean / North Arabian Sea / Persian Gulf
(Operation Desert Shield) * CVW-14
Departed 23 Jun 1990 - Returned - 20 Dec 1990
She was the first carrier to enter the Arabian Gulf since 1974.
The INDEPENDENCE remained on station for more than
90 days and permanently reestablished a U.S. Naval presence
and provided ready response capabilities in the region.
Moved Home Port
Yokosuka, Japan 11 September 1991. Embarking CVW-5
and becoming the Navy's forward deployed aircraft carrier
and Flagship For Commander, Carrier Air Wing Five.
WestPac / Indian Ocean / Persian Gulf
(Operation Southern Watch) * CVW-5
Departed 15 Apr 1992 - Returned - 13 Oct 1992
Polywog to Shellback * Crossed Equator 25 Apr 1992
Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. A multinational
mission to monitor Iraqi compliance with the U.N.
Established "no-fly zone" below the 32nd parallel.
Off The Coast Of Korea * CVW-5
(Exercise Team Spirit)
Departed 15 Feb 1993 - Returned - 25 Mar 1993
WestPac * CVW-5
Departed 11 May 1993 - Returned - 01 Jul 1993
WestPac / Arabian Gulf / Somalia
(Operation Southern Watch) * CVW-5
Departed 17 Nov 1993 - Returned - 17 Mar 1994
WestPac * CVW-5
(Korean Crisis)
Departed 19 Jul 1994 - Returned - 29 Aug 1994

On 30 June 1995, the 36-year-old INDEPENDENCE became the
oldest ship in the Navy's active fleet. With that distinction, Indy, the
first aircraft carrier to hold the honor, became entitled to fly the
Revolution-era "First Navy Jack", commonly called the
"Don't Tread On Me", flag from her bow.


WestPac / Indian Ocean / Persian Gulf
(Operation Southern Watch) * CVW-5
Departed 19 Aug 1995 - Returned - 18 Nov 1995
WestPac * CVW-5
(Taiwan / China Tensions)
Departed 09 Feb 1996 - Returned - 27 Mar 1996
In March 1996, routine training was extended and
Indy moved to the South China Sea to monitor
Chinese missile exercises off the coast of Taiwan.
On 18 April 1996, President Clinton paid a visit to
INDEPENDENCE as part of an official state visit
to Japan. In June, INDEPENDENCE sailed to
Hawaii to participate in the Rim of the Pacific
(RIMPAC) '96 multinational exercise

In November 1996, INDY returned to Japan after
participating in the "ANNUALEX" exercise with
our host-nation allies, the Japanese.


Indian Ocean * CVW-5
(Exercise Cobra Gold)
Departed 15 Feb 1997 - Returned - 10 jun 1997
This four month "SOUTHERN SWING" deployment,
covering several major exercises and seven ports of
call. Included in these ports of call were two historic
port visits. The first was on 28 February to the island
territory of Guam. Indy was the first aircraft carrier to
pull into Guam in 36 years. The second, two months
later, was Port Klang, Malaysia. Indy became the first
aircraft carrier in the world to make a port visit to Malaysia.

Before sailing back to her home, INDEPENDENCE
made her last port call of the deployment in May to
Hong Kong. Indy's port visit was the last U.S.
Naval port visit to the territory before its
revision to China 1 July 1997.


Arabian Gulf * CVW-5
(Operation Southern Watch)
Polywog to Shellback
Departed 23 Jan 1998 - Returned - 05 Jun 1998
On 21 January 1998, the Secretary of Defense,
William Cohen spoke to the crew of the Independence
aboard her flight deck officially announcing the Independence's
deployment to the Arabian Gulf. Cohen said Independence
would relieve the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) to keep the presence
of America in the Gulf as a reminder to Saddam Hussein that
he needs to comply with the United Nations resolutions.


DECOMMISSIONED
USS Independence (CV 62) - 30 Sep. 1998 - Bremerton, Wa.
Capt. Mark R. Milliken, commanding

*** THE DECOMMISSIONING ***
You're Invited To The Decommissioning
Of The United States Navy's
Oldest Active Aircraft Carrier
U.S.S. INDEPENDENCE
CV-62


Photo Collections  - click 
here


Click Here

U.S.S. Independence CV-62
27 May 2002 Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Photo by Rob Lee RM2
CR Division * USS Hancock CVA-19

Rob wrote: Looks like they may be doing
some sort of work aboard. Lots of tarps
to keep out the weather and some sort of
structure on the flight deck covered
with the same material.

If you've ever been stationed aboard the "Indy" Ships Company, Air Group or
Marine Detachment
Name

Rate / Rank

Division / Squadron / Marine Detachment

When On Board

Your email address

If you received any ribbons while in the Navy or Marines please list them in the comment section.
Comments:



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For anyone looking for information about Indy Cruise Books,
Please contact our
"USS Independence Cruise Book Historian"
Dave Foley * SparrowHawk60@aol.com


Nam


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Last updated 12/16/2010  wme