Our Day on the USS Midway...

Our younger son, his wife, and their two kiddos are here for the week. There was a list of things to do, mainly spending time with Great Grandma Betty. On other days, there were outings. Today's was pretty exceptional... a day on the USS Midway.

The USS Midway was the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the 20th century (47 years of service). Named after the climactic Battle of Midway of June 1942, the Midway was built in only 17 months, but missed World War II by one week when commissioned on September 10, 1945. Midway was the first in a three-ship class of large carriers that featured an armored flight deck and a powerful air group of 120 planes. Its history is an incredible one and can be read here.
Berthed at the Navy Pier in downtown San Diego, the aircraft carrier would serve her country through war and peace and during other historic and humanitarian events. The ship was renowned for her ability to stay on station when other ships broke down and returned to port for repairs. She served as the launchpad for a captured German V2 rocket and in a humanitarian relief role after the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines (her last tour of duty was an 18-year stint stationed in Yokosuka, Japan).
As a museum ship, the Midway provides an exciting opportunity for visitors to explore life aboard an aircraft carrier. One can tour this legendary vessel from her boilers to her bridge. With 60 separate exhibits and more than 29 restored aircraft covering nearly 10 acres, there was no way our crew was going to see it all but oh boy did we try (we walked almost 3 miles, over several decks, with a 2 and 4 year old being super troopers).


I loved the 'Famous Aviators' showcased throughout. The TBM Avenger was the best carrier torpedo bomber in World War II and was first used at the Battle of Midway. In addition to a torpedo, the Avenger could carry bombs, rockets, and depth charges to fly a variety of missions. In 1945, Ensign George H. W. Bush, the 41st U. S. President, flew a TBM in combat against Japanese island bases.
Bush, Sr. joined the Navy on his 18th birthday just one week after the Battle of Midway, a year later he became the youngest naval aviator in World War II. Bush named all his TBMS "Barbara," for his fiancée and future First Lady.


"Walk up and touch the fighters, bombers, and helicopters that took naval aviation into the jet age. Find out firsthand what it takes to take off and land on the world’s most compact airport."





I'm always a bit nostalgic when I see the Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye, an American all-weather, carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. This was the plane my big brother, Chuck, flew when he was in the Navy. So dang cool to see one in person.
We hung out a bit in the E-2 Ready Room, a compartment on an aircraft carrier where aircrew conduct much of their pre-flight and post-flight briefs. Most include armchair seats with fold-up table tops for the air crews. The commanding officer (CO) and executive officer (XO) sit in the front row on either side of the aisle, with the CO on the left, reflecting a pilot's seat in a cockpit, and with the XO on the right, reflecting a co-pilot's seat in a cockpit. There is always a coffee urn and sometimes a popcorn machine for those nights when a movie is shown.
When I told Chuck we were on the Midway, he said that his name was on the Greenie Board in the E-2 ready room. Wow. What is a Greenie Board? Every landing is graded and the grade is put up on the very public board. Every squadron has one and it displays each pilot's grade for a specific landing. Every pilot can see who has the highest landing GPA, and who has the lowest. Nothing like peer pressure.
What I need to find out is WHY is his name on this particular Greenie Board. Hmmm.
On the public restroom stall doors are posted Midway Facts. I found this one interesting, "On the Midway the coffee urn was considered the most important piece of equipment on the ship. Crewmen consumed over 10,000 cups of coffee each day."
"Descend into the immersive world of a sea-roving community of thousands.  Climb into the narrow bunks young sailors called their own, see what it takes to prepare more than 14,000 meals a day, visit a floating hospital ward, and descend below the waterline into a massive engine room and the facilities that kept it running."
We were able to envision what all aspects of life on this "floating city" was like.








I was intrigued by the Geedunk, a Chinese word for place of idleness. It is a Navy and Marine Corps slang for candy or snacks, and by extension, the shipboard shop that sells such items. It first appeared in the Leatherneck magazine in 1931 and it stuck. There were four of these small stores located on the ship, in addition to the main ship's store.

My favorite stop was at the Post Office.


Oh man, this would give you time to think! One possible punishment aboard ship was bread and water (all you could eat and drink) for two days then regular food on the third day then repeat. Prisoners often were taken out of the Brig on work parties to help maintain the ship. I wonder what the crime was.




After almost five hours, we left with much more to explore on another visit here. We also left with an even greater appreciation of those who sacrifice so much to serve. The USS Midway is a lasting reminder of our country's strength and its heroes.

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