USS America (CV-66)
History of the USS America Aircraft Carrier
The USS America (CVA-66, CV-66) was ordered for the U.S. Navy on Nov. 25, 1960. Her keel was laid down at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Virginia on Jan. 9, 1961. She was launched on Feb. 1, 1964 and commissioned on Jan. 23, 1965 under the command of Capt. Lawrence Heyworth, Jr.
The USS America aircraft carrier’s first deployment was to the Mediterranean Sea in 1965. She sailed to Livorno, Cannes, Genoa, Toulon, Athens, Istanbul, Beirut, Valletta, Taranto, Palma and Pollensa Bay and participated in the international exercise Fairgame IV, which simulated warfare against a country who invaded a NATO ally. Upon return to the United States she proceeded to Guantanamo Bay for training where she helped in base recovery after Hurricane Inez.
The USS America aircraft carrier was deployed again on Jan. 10, 1967, when she relieved the USS Independence at Pollensa Bay. She also participated in several more international naval exercises.
In April, civil war was looming in Greece. The USS America aircraft carrier stood by as the flagship of Real Adm. Dick H. Guinn. When the conflict resolved without the need to evacuate Americans caught in the war, the carrier sailed off to Italy.
By May, tensions in the Middle East were building, and USS America joined the carrier USS Saratoga and TG 60.2 in the Sea of Crete. She conducted training operations and hosted journalists from around the world who covered the conflict in the Middle East. Early in June, the Task Group was harassed by a Soviet Destroyer armed with surface-to-air missiles, and Vice Adm. William I. Martin sent the ship a warning.
On June 8, Israeli torpedo boats and jet fighters attacked the technical research ship USS Liberty. It was unclear initially who had attacked the ship, but Israeli forces admitted responsibility for the attack—which had been made in error. The USS Liberty lost 34 men and had 75 others injured. USS America sent one of her medical officers and two corpsmen to aid the ship, and she took 50 wounded and nine dead aboard. For the next week, the USS America aircraft carrier’s crew cared for the injured and stood ready in case intervention was needed in the Arab-Israeli conflict. But the Six-Day War ended without a plane leaving the carrier’s deck.
After the cease-fire, the USS America took part in training exercises and visited various ports along the Mediterranean. She returned to Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia on Oct. 6, 1967 before participating in more training, drills, exercises and inspections, including Exercise “Rugby Match.”
The USS America aircraft carrier sailed for Vietnam in the spring of 1968, spending 112 days on the line at Yankee Station. The ship’s first MiG kill in the Vietnam War took place on July 10, 1968. When the Yankee Station mission came to a close for her in January 1969, she sailed back to Jacksonville, Fla., before heading up to Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a nine-month overhaul. She participated in a number of training operations before returning to Vietnam in the spring of 1970.
The USS America aircraft carrier spent another 100 days on Yankee Station. While not on the line, she engaged in a number of training and defense exercises. On Aug. 20, 1970, the carrier received Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife at Manila. After her fifth and final line period, USS America boasted not a single combat loss and only one major landing accident. There were no fatalities.
On her way home, the USS America greeted the U.S. ambassador to Australia and celebrated two Thanksgivings as she crossed the International Date Line. After a brief stay at Norfolk, the carrier again participated in a number of naval exercises, including National Week X, National Week XI and Exotic Dancer V.
The USS America headed back to Vietnam in June 1972. A fire broke out in the No. 2 catapult spaces on Nov. 19, 1972. The damage was quickly brought under control, and the carrier remained on the line. She headed back home on Feb. 17, 1973, having earned five battle stars for her service in the Vietnam War.
The carrier once again resumed training operations and exercises around the world until 1976 when hostilities broke out in Lebanon. USS America stood by to support the evacuation of American citizens after the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon was assassinated on June 13, 1976. She then returned to her usual training exercises and carrier qualifications.
USS America passed through the Suez Canal on Oct. 21, 1981 following the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. The Egyptian government provided security for the carrier, and the passage was made without incident.
In January 1983, the USS America relieved the USS Nimitz in support of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force off the coast of Lebanon. After her time there, she again sailed the world carrying out training operations and exercises until she was ordered to Libya in early 1986. She remained there to join in Operation El Dorado Canyon on April 14, 1986. After leaving the area for training exercises and overhaul, USS America returned to evacuate the American Embassy in Lebanon in 1989.
USS America would also serve in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, peacekeeping efforts over Bosnia, Operation Southern Watch and several more training exercises before she was decommissioned on Aug. 9, 1996. She was initially going to be sold for scrap, but was instead chosen to serve as a target for firing exercises. The USS America was sunk on May 14, 2005 off the coast of North Carolina.
During the early 20th century, the use of asbestos was common in shipbuilding components because of its strong resistance to heat, fire, water and corrosion. However, its use has exposed many veterans who are at risk for developing asbestos cancers like mesothelioma.
Sources include:
John Hedley-Whyte and Debra R Milamed, “Asbestos and Ship-Building: Fatal Consequences,” Ulster Med. J. 77(3):191-200 (Sep 2008) Naval Historical Center, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships—USS America III
U.S. Navy, A Brief History of Aircraft Carriers – USS America
