Under Construction,
The future USS Constellation (CVA-64) in the early stages of
her construction.
Tom Armstrong,USS Constellation 1968&69
Constellation (CVA-64) under construction at the New York Naval
Shipyard, Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1960.
The original print bears the rubber-stamped date 4 October 1960.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 98608).
Constellation (CVA-64) was christened on Saturday,
8 October 1960, by Mrs. Christian A. Herter, wife of the Secretary of State.
S. Dale Hargrave
Tom Armstrong,USS Constellation 1968&69
Tragedy struck the ship in the last stages of her building.
On Monday, 19 December 1960, a catastrophic fire caused the loss of 50 workers, plus $75 million in
damages and a seven-month delay in her construction.
Tommy Trampp
"(NY33) NEW YORK, Dec. 19 [, 1960]&REMOVE INJURED WORKMAN&Policemen&one
holding mask over the injured man's face&prepare to remove workman from the scene of fire today
aboard carrier Constellation in Brooklyn Navy Yard.
At right is body of a victim of
the blaze that swept the unfinished carrier.
(AP Wirephoto)"
Ron Reeves
"(NY26) NEW YORK, Dec. 21 [, 1960]&GUTTED INTERIOR OF CARRIER&This
is general view of hangar deck of fire-ravaged aircraft carrier Constellation in Brooklyn
Navy Yard, New York, today&two days after fire swept the unfinished super carrier and caused
an estimated $75 million damage.
Men are at work on the deck inspecting and cleaning up the gutted
The fire started when volatile fuel leaked from tank located in vicinity of the cluster
of lights, at center.
Part of insulation hangs from ceiling and in front of wooden scaffolding that
stretches above deck from right to left.
(AP Wirephoto)"
Ron Reeves
Newspaper clippings related to
and , and a better copy of one of the photos.
Tom Armstrong, USS&Constellation,1968&69
Ron Reeves
More newspaper clippings related to .
Tom Armstrong, USS&Constellation,1968&69
Fire aboard Constellation (CVA-64), 19 December 1960.
Tom Armstrong, USS&Constellation,1968&69
Damage, 22 December 1960.
Ron Reeves
A plaque in the hangar bay remembered the names of the 50 workers who lost
their lives on 19 December 1960.
(Photo by Tom Armstrong, 1998.)
Tom Armstrong, USS&Constellation,1968&69
Small overhead image.
Early 1960s, location unknown.
Paul McCusker comments: "During 1962 at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, live missiles were launched at remote
control drones.
This may be one of the pictures.
I was a yellow shirt on the flight deck and remember seeing
these launches."
Josh Smith
USS Constellation (CVA-64) about to pass under the Brooklyn
Bridge, 12 July 1962, as she leaves Brooklyn, New York, bound for her new homeport, San Diego, California.
Note Connie's tilted mast, and the city of New York in the background.
Tom Armstrong, USS&Constellation,1968&69
Head on view of USS Constellation (CVA-64) underway, with Carrier
Air Group (CVG) 14, dated 15 August 1963.
Official U.S. Navy photo # 1094887 by D.P. Perret, PHC.
From the collection of CDR&Thomas&B.&Ray (USS ), via Chris Stanley
"Underway view of USS Constellation (CVA-64)."
From the NAVSEA
Saturday, 19 September 1964.
"ON SPECIAL ALERT IN VIET NAM AREA&Units
of the U.S. Seventh Fleet were placed on special alert today after reports of a new incident in the
Gulf of Tonkin off North Viet Nam.
The U.S. aircraft carrier Constellation, part of
the Seventh Fleet, is shown last Sunday, her flight deck jammed with atack bombers, as she stood by
off Saigon during the unsuccessful coup d'etat against regime of Premier Nguyen Khanh.
(AP Wirephoto)(tdi171030fls)"
Tommy Trampp
(AO-58) and USS
(DLG-9) alongside
USS Constellation (CVA-64) during Typhoon Dot, October 1964.
Digitized from an 8-mm
Several Carrier Air Wing 14 (CVW-14) aircraft, particularly Fighting Squadron 143 (VF-143) "Pukin
Dogs" F-4B Phantom IIs, can be seen on Connie's flight deck.
CVW-14 planes had
taken part in Operation Pierce Arrow, August 5, 1964 the retaliatory strikes on North Vietnamese
PT boat bases following attacks on USN destroyers
(DD-731) and
Typhoon Dot, 36th storm of the 1964 Pacific typhoon season, hit northern Luzon, Philippines on October
9 as an 80 mph (129 km/h) storm.
It continued northwestward, and reached a peak of 100 mph (161 km/h)
before hitting near Hong Kong on October 13.
(Typhoon track image courtesy of ).
Format: Windows Media (silent)&&Duration: 3' 49"&&Size: 320 x 240
& Cliff Coffey
A North American RA-5C Vigilante of Reconnaissance Attack Squadron
(RVAH) 12 "Speartips" beginning its reconnaissance flight off North Vietnam in 1967.
RVAH-12 was assigned
to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CVA-64) for
a deployment to Vietnam, 29 April&4 December 1967.
U.S. Navy photo from the USS Constellation
1967 cruise book.
Robert Hurst
Various U.S. Navy aircraft of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 on the flight deck
of the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CVA-64) during a deployment to Vietnam from
29 April to 4 December 1967.
In the foreground are: a North American RA-5C Vigilante (BuNo
149300) from Reconnaissance Attack Squadron (RVAH) 12 "Speartips"; a Douglas A-4C Skyhawk (BuNo
149579, "City of Selma") from Attack Squadron (VA) 146 "Blue Diamonds"; a black-painted Douglas RA-3B
Skywarrior (BuNo 144847) from Heavy Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (VAP) 61 "World Recorders";
an A-4C (BuNo 149508) from VA-55 "Warhorses"; and a Grumman A-6A Intruder (BuNo 152637) from
VA-196 "Main Battery."
USN Photo.
Robert Hurst
"CAPT J[ohn] M[ax] Thomas, CO of the USS Constellation, and
CAPT C[harlie] N[eal] Conatser, Chief of Staff of CTF-77/ComCarDiv 5, stand on the flight deck of the
USS Constallation (CVA-64)."
Photo # CVA-64-, by PH2 R.J. Lincoln, 31 October 1967.
Tommy Trampp
USS Constellation (CVA-64) entering San Diego on
Sunday, 18 February 1968, as seen from Point Loma.
Photos by Walter F. Loetell, Jr., ETR2,
(LST&1148),
A 17-picture set of an UNREP conducted during WestPac '68, 29
May 1968&31 January 1969.
Fleet oiler USS
(AO-145) refuels USS Constellation (CVA-64) and guided-missile frigate (later destroyer)
(DLG-9), as seen from
destroyer USS
Judging from the ships' operational chronologies, the most likely date is mid-December 1968 or early
January 1969.
The Air Wing for this cruise was Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14, tail code "NK," made up of the following
squadrons:
VAH-10 "Vikings," Det. 64, with KA-3B Skywarriors.
VAW-13 "Zappers," Det. 64, with EKA-3B Skywarriors.
RVAH-5 "Savage Sons," with RA-5C Vigilantes.
VF-142 "Ghosriders," with F-4B Phantom IIs.
VF-143 "Pukin Dogs," with F-4B Phantom IIs.
VA-196 "Main Battery," with A-6A & B Intruders.
VA-97 "Warhawks," with A-7A Corsair IIs.
VA-27 "Royal Maces," with A-7A Corsair IIs.
VAW-113 "Black Eagles," with E-2A Hawkeyes.
HC-1 "Pacific Fleet Angels," Det. 64, with UH-2C Sea Sprites.
Stan Underhill, SMSN
Stan Underhill, SMSN
WestPac, circa 1969.
& David Guerra
Sunset, off Vietnam, Oct. 1969.
& David Guerra
Dave Guerra in a rather austere, temporary work space, 1969.
& David Guerra
USS Constellation (CVA-64) as seen from USS
(DLG-9), July 1969.
"Naval Aviation News," November 1969 issue, photograph.
EMC(SW) Brian Kroenung
Large image. Arriving in Sasebo one AM during the 1969-70
time period.&
& William P. Jones, M.D.Medical Officer AFS-3
Three photos taken during an underway replenishment from USS
(AFS-3) at Yankee
Station, 1970.
& William P. Jones, M.D.Medical Officer AFS-3
USS Constellation (CVA-64) underway with Carrier Air Wing Nine
(CVW-9), .
(DVIC id: DFST8302598).
A McDonnell F-4J Phantom II (BuNo 155799, modex NG200) of Fighter
Squadron (VF) 92 "Silver Kings," and a North American RA-5C Vigilante (BuNo 156614, NG604) of
Reconnaissance Attack Squadron (RVAH) 11 "Red Checkertails," part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 deployed
aboard USS Constellation (CVA-64), flying over Hawaii, circa 1971&72.
Robert Hurst
USS Constellation (CVA-64) executing a turn whilst on station
in the South China Sea, circa 1974.
Robert Hurst
A Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior (BuNo 146452) from Fleet Air Reconnaissance
Squadron (VQ) 1 Det.64 "World Watchers" in flight over the South China Sea.
VQ-1 Det.64 was assigned
to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 aboard the aircraft carrrier USS Constellation (CVA-64) for
a deployment to the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean from 21 June to 22 December 1974.
USN photo.
U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 1.
Robert Hurst
Undated, good overhead showing good flight deck detail.
Compare this photo to
Good undated image of Constellation leaving port, the air
wing will fly out and meet the ship underway later.
William F. Yannayon Sr.
"USS Constellation (CVA-64) sitting snugly in the drydock at
Puget Sound Naval S note that her huge flight deck neatly overhangs the 180-foot-wide dock
on both sides.
CVA-64 will remain in drydock for nearly six months of her year-long overhaul."
the NAVSEA Journal.
During this overhaul (February 1975-April 1976) Connie was modified to perform the
Navy's new role for carriers: air, surface and antisubmarine warfare — she was redesignated CV-64
on June 30, 1975.
After the overhaul Constellation could operate both the F-14A Tomcat
and the then new S-3A Viking.
Undated (circa 1977&79?) overhead view of E-2C Hawkeye BuNo
159501, of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126, of Carrier AEW Wing 12, based at Norfolk,
At sea the squadron was attached to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, and was embarked aboard the aircraft
carrier USS Constellation (CV-64).
US Navy photo.
Robert Hurst
San Diego, 1977.
Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
USS Constellation (CV-64), Yokosuka, Japan, 11
November 1977.
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9.
Seen from USS
Carl T. Orbann
USS Constellation (CV-64) pier side at NAS North
Island, San Diego, July&August 1978.
Richard Stiles
USS Constellation (CV-64) deploying to WestPac
with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, 26 September 1978.
Richard Stiles
Official photo purchased aboard USS Constellation (CV-64) in
Judging from Air Wing composition, it must have been taken in .
Paul Jarvis
Aerial view of USS Constellation (CV-64), possibly taken around
Photo from the Charleston Naval Shipyard photo lab, now in the collection of Mr. Palmer Olliff.
Palmer Olliff, via Robert Hall
USS Constellation (CV-64) underway with Carrier Air Wing Nine
(CVW-9) aboard, possibly in May 1979, nearing the end of "Connie"'s 11th deployment to
This deployment was scheduled to end in March, but was extended in reaction to a political
crisis in Yemen.
CVW-9 included F-14A Tomcats, A-7E Corsair IIs, A-6E and KA-6D Intruders,
S-3A Vikings, E-2C Hawkeyes, EA-6B Prowlers, RF-8G Crusaders and SH-3H
Sea Kings.
Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
Oblique port bow view of (front to back) the aircraft carrier USS Constellation
(CV-64), a Mars-class
and the guided missile cruiser USS
(CG-16) underway, December 1979.
US Navy photo (DVIC id: DNST8511030).
The combat stores ship USS
(AFS-3), alongside the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) and the
guided missile cruiser USS
(CG-16), underway in the South China Sea whilst part of Carrier Task Force 77.7.
(This picture seems
to have been taken at the same time as photo , above).
Robert Hurst
Bow view of USS Constellation (CV-64) underway, December 1979.
US Navy photo (DVIC id: DNST8511032).
USS Constellation (CV-64) with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, circa
Robert Hurst
An aerial starboard side view of the stern section of USS Constellation
(CV-64), as an A-7E Corsair II aircraft approaches for a landing on the flight deck, July 1980.
US Navy photo by PH1 Dave Maclean (DVIC id: DNSN8402115).
An aerial starboard view of the amidships section of USS Constellation
(CV-64), as an A-7E Corsair II aircraft comes to a halt during an arrested landing on the flight
deck, July 1980.
US Navy photo by PH1 Dave Maclean (DVIC id: DNSN8402117).
An aerial starboard view of the forward section of USS Constellation
(CV-64), as an A-6E Intruder aircraft begins to bank to the left after a catapult assisted takeoff
from the flight deck, July 1980.
US Navy photo by PH1 Dave Maclean (DVIC id: DNSN8402121).
A port bow view of USS Constellation (CV-64) and the destroyer
(DD-991) underway off the
coast of California, August 1981.
On August 20, during this workup cycle, President Ronald Reagan
visited "Connie" and proclaimed the carrier "America's Flagship" while presenting the crew
a presidential flag.
US Navy photo (DVIC id: DNSC8201441).
"President Ronald Reagan, in his role of 'Commander-in-Chief'
of the Armed Forces, made his first visit to an aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Constellation,
55 miles off the California coast.
Addressing the 5,000 officers and crew, Reagan reaffirmed his pledge
of 'a 600 ship Navy ... a Navy large enough to deter any aggressions.'
After viewing air and sea operations,
the elated President was heard to enthusiastically declare the entire visit, 'a Yankee Doodle Day.'
August 20, 1981"
Postcard published by Coral-Lee, Rancho Cordova, CA.
Tommy Trampp
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN
U.S.S. CONSTELLATION (CV-64)
August 20, 1981
Captain Dennis Brooks, United States Navy
Commanding
Tom Armstrong,USS Constellation 1968&69
An EA-6B Prowler in the hangar deck, early 1980s.
Photo by James C. "Jim" Comfort, EMFN at the time
Shipboard duty, early 1980s.
Photo by James C. "Jim" Comfort, EMFN at the time
UNREP at sunrise, early 1980s.
Photo by James C. "Jim" Comfort, EMFN at the time
Twilight on the island, circa 1982.
Greg Brown
An air-to-air right side view of a Soviet Tupolev Tu-95 (NATO designation is
Bear) aircraft and a U.S. Navy F-14A Tomcat fighter, top.
The F-14A is from Fighter
Squadron 211 (VF-211), "Fighting Checkmates," embarked aboard USS Constellation (CV-64).
Western Pacific Ocean, early 1982.
US Navy photo (DVIC id: DF-SN-82-03604).
An F-14A Tomcat from Fighter Squadron 211 (VF-211), "Fighting Checkmates,"
lands aboard USS Constellation (CV-64) during flight demonstrations for Secretary of
Defense Caspar Weinberger.
Indian Ocean, February 10, 1982.
US Navy photo (DVIC id: DN-ST-82-04892).
A Grumman KA-6D Intruder (BuNo 152921) from Attack Squadron (VA) 165
"Boomers" refueling a Grumman EA-6B Prowler (BuNo 161119) from Tactical Electonic Warfare Squadron
(VAQ) 134 "Garudas" on 10 February 1982.
Both squadrons were assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9
aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) for a deploymant to the Western
Pacific and the Indian Ocean from 20 October 1981 to 23 May 1982.
US Navy photo (DVIC id.: DN-ST-82-04891).
Robert Hurst
USS Constellation, CV-64, .
Joe Radigan
USS Constellation, CV-64, .
Tommy Trampp
USS Constellation, CVA-64, Centurion.
A "Centurion" is an aviator who has made 100 landings on one carrier.
Typically a "Centurion" patch
is issued and proudly worn on the flight jacket.
Tommy Trampp
"INDIAN OCEAN YACHT CLUB & FIRST STARTED DURING WESTPAC '78&79
& "CONNIE" CV-64."
Tommy Trampp
Indian Ocean-WestPac '87, April 11&October 13, 1987.
Robert M. Cieri
Connie's Escort Service [Operation Earnest Will, the escorting
of reflagged Kuwaiti tankers in the Persian Gulf as a result of Iranian attacks against international
shipping] & 24 hours & Indian Ocean & 1987.
Robert M. Cieri
Why Steam? & Flanchorops DGAR [Diego Garcia] 87.
Robert M. Cieri
"South American Vacation '90."
"With CVW-9 embarked, Connie departed San Diego on 12 February 1990 for the East Coast.
Following exercises with the air forces of several South American countries while en route and preparations
at Norfolk, Va., Constellation entered Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pa., in July to begin
a $800-million, three-year Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) [completed in March 1993]."
Quoted from
"America's Flagship: A History of USS Constellation (CVA/CV&64)," by Mike Weeks (Naval Aviation
News, March&April 2004, page 17).
Robert M. Cieri
"Round the Horn 1990."
Robert M. Cieri
WestPac, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf Cruise, 10 November 1994&10
USS Constellation (CV-64) with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2.
Robert M. Cieri
WestPac, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf Cruise, 10 November 1994&10
USS Constellation (CV-64) with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2.
Tommy Trampp
Operation Southern Watch, Groundhog Station, January&March 1995.
USS Constellation (CV-64) with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2,
Cruise (see
Robert M. Cieri
WestPac '99.
USS Constellation (CV-64) with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, 18 June&17 December 1999.
Robert M. Cieri
Operation Iraqi Freedom, "Shock-N-Awe!", 2003.
USS Constellation (CV-64) with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, 2 November 2002&2 June
Tommy Trampp
Operation Southern Watch, WestPac 02&03.
USS Constellation (CV-64) with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, 2 November 2002&2 June
Tommy Trampp
Bullets' Last Tomcat Cruise, Bounty Hunters, Fighting Two, .
USS Constellation (CV-64) Final WestPac.
Tommy Trampp
"Welcome Aboard", Cruise Books, and other Memorabilia
Christening of Constellation (CVA-64), October 8, 1960, New
York Naval Shipyard, Brooklyn, New York.
Ron Reeves
NS-cv64-cb6869-co
Cover of Cruise Book,
(29 May 1968&31 January 1969).
Tom Armstrong, USS&Constellation,1968&69
Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
Welcome Aboard booklet, circa 1965.
Tom Armstrong, USS Constellation, 1968&69
Welcome Aboard booklet, .
Tom Armstrong, USS Constellation, 1968&69
Welcome Aboard booklet, .
Tom Armstrong, USS Constellation, 1968&69
Complete, 16-page VIPs Welcome Aboard booklet.
Circa 1990&93.
Tom Armstrong, USS Constellation, 1968&69
Different cover for the .
Tom Armstrong, USS Constellation, 1968&69
Welcome Aboard booklet, .
Tom Armstrong, USS Constellation, 1968&69
NS026496da
Another Welcome Aboard booklet from the same vintage, .
Complete, 16-page Welcome Aboard booklet, 1996.
Tom Armstrong, USS Constellation, 1968&69
Complete, 16-page Welcome Aboard booklet, 23 April 1998.
Tom Armstrong, USS Constellation, 1968&69
NS-cv64-sp
Suicide prevention.
Tom Armstrong, USS Constellation, 1968&69
NS-cv64-po
Post Office.
Tom Armstrong, USS Constellation, 1968&69
NS-cv64-tb
Telephonebook (cover).
Tom Armstrong, USS Constellation, 1968&69
NS-cv64-rp
Repair Party Training Book (cover).
Repair Parties: At Sea Fire Party, Duty Inport Emergency Teams, Fire Fighting, Damage Control.
Tom Armstrong, USS Constellation, 1968&69
Decommissioning of / United States Ship Constellation (CV-64)
/ "America's Flagship" / Naval Air Station North Island / San Diego, California / at 10:00 / Thursday,
August 7, 2003.
Tom Armstrong, USS Constellation, 1968&69
Model of USS Constellation (CVA / CV-64), with
a brass plate.
Courtesy of
For more information about this ship, see:
USS Constellation (CV-64):
USS Constellation (CV-64) at
of USS Constellation (CVA-64, CV-64)
USS CONSTELLATION CVA-64 History
View This Vessels Entry
(Located On The Naval Historical Center Website.)
Related Links
By Andrew Toppan.
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Last update: 25 August 2014
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