U.S.S. MIDWAY DOCENT PAGE

"Large crowd assembled to learn how the Navy flings a
20 ton jet at 120 - 140 miles per hour over the bow of an
aircraft carrier in under 2 seconds"

# posted by diego : 13:34

"Despite the weather, these people want to know how
the Navy can land a jet travelling at 120 miles per hour
on a runway which is moving forward as well as up and down!"

# posted by diego : 09:06

You can see the silhouettes of the sailors on the flight deck as they get a last look at home port for a few months.(Click on photos to enlarge them)

# posted by diego : 13:13

Try to imagine yourself lining up to land on the ship's angle deck at 120 - 140 knots!

# posted by diego : 13:12

USS Ronald Reagan at left is moving past USS Nimitz at right. USS Midway, a decomissioned aircraft carrier which is now a museum, can only bear silent witness and "remember" her glory days of putting out to sea.

# posted by diego : 13:11

Moving past USS Nimitz, USS Reagan is about to make a slow turn to port to put her in the San Diego shipping channel.

# posted by diego : 13:11

How DOES a 330 metre long warship turn around in such a "small" space?

# posted by diego : 13:06

Midway shines for Christmas, 2005!

# posted by diego : 21:54

U.S.S. Peleliu comes into port, followed by Dawn Princess, and under the ever watchful eye of a chopper over head. (Stern of U.S.S. Nimitz is visible to the left)

# posted by diego : 19:11

# posted by diego : 19:09

Docents waiting to board ship

# posted by diego : 19:09

Is he STILL flying??

# posted by diego : 19:03

Jim was an aviator AND a surface Captain! (Note the Harrier's refueling probe)

# posted by diego : 19:03

Waiting for the word

# posted by diego : 19:01

Huge intakes on Harrier!

# posted by diego : 19:00

Sidewinders........waiting for a target

# posted by diego : 19:00

Navy security chases this little boat away from its apparent course which would have placed it between Peleliu and a passing Los Angeles class submarine

# posted by diego : 18:56

"All hands - attention on the port side!"

# posted by diego : 18:53

Los Angeles class sub enroute to Point Loma

# posted by diego : 18:53

"It's a working Navy, and these tools look well-used!"

# posted by diego : 18:51

"Skittles" walk the deck looking for FOD

# posted by diego : 18:50

Looks like he wants to land!

# posted by diego : 18:49

Big Chinook approaches the port side from aft

# posted by diego : 18:49

CH 46 beginning to sidle over to Peleliu - Note the crew member leaning out of the forward hatch....he'll stay there until it lands!

# posted by diego : 18:44

Whirling blades and a sparkling sea!

# posted by diego : 18:42

Almost down...........

# posted by diego : 18:41

Looking aft to the stern gate while Jim examines a weld?

# posted by diego : 18:41

Jim is on a mission of discovery down here in Peleliu's well deck!

# posted by diego : 18:35

LCAC 29 sitting on a deflated bag inside the well deck

# posted by diego : 18:34

Looks like a Docent went aft on the LCAC to inspect Peleliu's stern gate and the large fan nacelle

# posted by diego : 18:33

Note the protective grill around these big blades!

# posted by diego : 18:31

Harrier #1 takes off!

# posted by diego : 18:30

Harrier #1 still straight off the center line

# posted by diego : 18:30

Harrier #2 leaves the flight deck

# posted by diego : 18:28

Harrier #2 will soon be overtaken from the port side by Harrier #1

# posted by diego : 18:28

First look at LCAC "birth"

# posted by diego : 18:27

LCAC 29 backs out of the well deck

# posted by diego : 18:25

It must be pretty hard to hide one of these!

# posted by diego : 18:24

Ship to ship missile launcher in foreground to the left

# posted by diego : 18:22

Backing away from Peleliu's stern gate

# posted by diego : 18:21

It looks ANGRY!

# posted by diego : 18:20

Floating on a cloud of sea spray!

# posted by diego : 18:20

LCAC 29 still turning slightly to starboard

# posted by diego : 18:19

LCAC spray is all directed aft as it begins to speed away

# posted by diego : 18:18

Bomb disposal chute or a place for fish?

# posted by diego : 18:17

Docent looking aft as LCAC speeds off to Pendleton

# posted by diego : 18:16

Hard turn to port after deploying LCAC

# posted by diego : 18:15

Small arms deployed during ingress and egress

# posted by diego : 18:14

This looks good anywhere!

# posted by diego : 18:12

Hard turn to port to eyeball an encroaching civilian boat. Nice view of Point Loma in the background!

# posted by diego : 18:12

This large civilian powerboat being watched closely by our "guard dog" helo

# posted by diego : 18:10

Our helo watchdog!

# posted by diego : 18:08

Point Loma

# posted by diego : 18:07

You don't see this written on most sidewalks!

# posted by diego : 18:05

Peleliu makes a triumphant entry into harbor!

# posted by diego : 18:04

It always looks like the mast is going to hit the bridge

# posted by diego : 18:02

The graceful arch of the Coronado Bridge

# posted by diego : 18:01

Peleliu's being escorted by tugs fore and aft, a helicopter overhead, and a tugboat water show

# posted by diego : 17:58

Take one in case of need to abandon ship!

# posted by diego : 17:52

This little tug just ended the water show

# posted by diego : 17:50

Looking aft on Peleliu's flight deck as we return to port

# posted by diego : 17:48

Looks too pretty to be a thermonuclear event!

# posted by diego : 17:48

Final look at the sun from Peleliu's flight deck

# posted by diego : 09:38

Tom Wrightson was the first to correctly identify the rotor blade of the CH-46 helicopter as the subject in the April Mystery Photo Contest. Tom wins the $35.00 gift certificate to the Fish Market restaurant on the Embarcadero next to Midway!!

Congratulations!!!!

Watch for a new Mystery Photo soon!

# posted by diego : 21:32

"I'm gonna shoot your sorry self out of my sky next!" (Actually John was pointing in the direction of his A-7)

# posted by diego : 21:31

"As soon as your wheels hit the deck, you shove the throttle forward!"

# posted by diego : 21:30

He just told them that Nimitz was preparing to ram us!! The guest in the red hat is preparing to execute an emergency porch evacuation drill as the others look for the ramming approach of Nimitz!

# posted by diego : 21:28

John just called the old gray lady (Midway) a "boat" instead of a ship, invoking the aviator's privilege of being airworthy rather than seaworthy.

# posted by diego : 21:26

David working on the flight deck

# posted by diego : 21:24

"K" is ALWAYS in Engine Room #3 - I'd think that he must need a head break in a week or so!

# posted by diego : 21:23

A happy Midway guest poses for a picture next to the forward F4. The flags (skivvies) read: "Honor the Legend"

# posted by diego : 21:22

Bob explaining catapult launch operations

# posted by diego : 21:20

CW and Reid - When two pirates are lurking in the same harbor, trouble is bound to break out!

# posted by diego : 21:19

Teak deck and brass windlass cap on Star of India

# posted by diego : 21:17

Sheets and rigging aboard Star of India

# posted by diego : 21:16

Soviet era "Foxtrot" submarine moored in San Diego harbor, near the Midway, HMS Surprise, and the Star of India.

# posted by diego : 21:15

On the gun deck of HMS Surprise. This weapon is aimed at USS Midway!

# posted by diego : 21:13

# posted by diego : 11:47

The flags from the top - Sierra, Delta, Alpha, Charlie, Mike = SDACM

# posted by diego : 12:35

John's answering questions from the next group to go up to PriFly

# posted by diego : 12:31

A group of visitors being assembled aft of the island..........

# posted by diego : 12:29

A tour of Engine Room #3 is being assembled on the hangar deck.

# posted by diego : 12:26

"This wide stairway you came down to get to Engine Room #3 used to be a narrow, steep ladder with no head clearance and only chains to hold onto........"

# posted by diego : 12:14

K likes it down here because he tells the visitors that he
was known to all sailors as "The Pride of The Pacific"

# posted by diego : 12:12

Steam valve status indicator

# posted by diego : 12:08

Note the 3 brass steam valve wheels - The best question in this tour was "Why do 3 people steer the ship from way down here?"

# posted by diego : 12:07

K explains the mechanics of propulsion in Engine Room #3.

# posted by diego : 12:03

The first MIDWAY mystery photo contest has begun!

To be eligible, you must be a current volunteer serving aboard MIDWAY.

Others are encouraged to submit their guesses but the prize will only be awarded to active MIDWAY volunteers.

Please use the email link on this page....NOT the comments section, unless you want everyone to see your answer.

The winner will be announced on 17 May, 2005.

The prize is a $35.00 gift certificate from THE FISH MARKET - our "next door neighbor on the waterfront". The certificate expires on 30 June, 2005.

I have always recommended their Manhattan clam chowder to our guests who ask me for the name of the best nearby family restaurant that's not too expensive. It's also a wonderful place for them to see MIDWAY from a unique perspective!

Enjoy the contest.........enjoy THE FISH MARKET........and GOOD LUCK!

# posted by diego : 22:10

"What is it?"

What part of the standard Naval inventory is this, and where is it?

# posted by diego : 09:58

To enlarge a photo, click on it! With some browsers, you can enlarge the picture even more if you click on it again!

# posted by diego : 12:45

Safety examines all containers and bags coming aboard.

# posted by diego : 11:59

A group of local students begins their Midway adventure!

# posted by diego : 11:58

These guests get good advice to visit the island first before the lines get too long!

# posted by diego : 11:56

Docent explains Vulture's Row and briefs this group on what to expect when they enter the bridge.

# posted by diego : 11:38

Tom explains his career as a Naval Aviator to guests who enjoyed Midway so much that they had come aboard for the second day!

# posted by diego : 11:36

When these two are together, some new mischief is never far away!!

# posted by diego : 09:52

Tom points aft. The 3 triangles on the deck below his hand are all that remains of a 50 caliber machine gun mount. Two Holland America cruise ships in port that day!!

# posted by diego : 09:49