FlagshipAZ From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 3419 posts, RR: 15 Reply 2, posted (12 years 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 25760 times:
My choice is Yorktown's sister. The Enterprise...CVA-6.
The most decorated US warship of WWII. Regards.
"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." --Ben Franklin
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 19 Reply 3, posted (12 years 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 25749 times:
The USS Forrestal, CVA-59. Simply because it was the world's first modern aircraft carrier designed to accomadate jet aircraft with its angled main deck. Also this was the ship where a C-130 Hercules was test flown from.
Lumberton From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 4708 posts, RR: 21 Reply 9, posted (6 years 12 months 13 hours ago) and read 25644 times:
Quoting FlagshipAZ (Reply 2): My choice is Yorktown's sister. The Enterprise...CVA-6.
At one time the only operational U.S. carrier in the Pacific theater of operations during WWII. Dive bombers from the ENTERPRISE figured prominently during the Battle of Midway, which is probably the most decisive east-west confrontation at sea since the Battle of Lepanto. She has my vote!
"When all is said and done, more will be said than done".
Jetjack74 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 7335 posts, RR: 52 Reply 10, posted (6 years 12 months 10 hours ago) and read 25605 times:
Quoting Braniff747 (Thread starter): Ok, this may be crossing the line into maritime -- but it's still aviation related: What is the best aircraft carrier ever?
USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) Had more golden anchors than any other command in the surface fleet. Golden Anchors= Retention
Quoting FlagshipAZ (Reply 2): My choice is Yorktown's sister. The Enterprise...CVA-6.
The most decorated US warship of WWII. Regards.
Quoting Lumberton (Reply 9): At one time the only operational U.S. carrier in the Pacific theater of operations during WWII. Dive bombers from the ENTERPRISE figured prominently during the Battle of Midway, which is probably the most decisive east-west confrontation at sea since the Battle of Lepanto. She has my vote!
I have to go with this also. She wasn't called the Lucky "E" for nothing.
My boat, though, will always be the "Indy" CV-62 considering I did 3 1/2 years on her out of Yokosuka, Japan.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11705 posts, RR: 52 Reply 13, posted (6 years 11 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 25498 times:
My vote would be the USS Saratoga, CV-3
But, any one of the USN WWII CVs are a good choice (before the Essex class):
Lexington
Sartoga
Enterprize
Hornet
Ranger
Yorktown
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12701 posts, RR: 80 Reply 14, posted (6 years 11 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 25467 times:
The first 'proper' flat-top, though a conversion-HMS Argus.
First totally dedicated carrier, not a conversion of another warship, HMS Ark Royal (the third one, launched in 1937. With an impressive WW2 combat record. Vital in the Mediterrean in 1940/1, detatched to join the chase for the Bismark, her Swordfish sealing the Battleship's fate by a torpedo hit on her rudder, rendering the ship unable to steer-the end of the Battleship era writ large. Finally sunk by a U-Boat after a long period of almost non stop combat).
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11705 posts, RR: 52 Reply 15, posted (6 years 11 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 25464 times:
Quoting GDB (Reply 14): First totally dedicated carrier, not a conversion of another warship, HMS Ark Royal
Zkpilot From New Zealand, joined Mar 2006, 4739 posts, RR: 10 Reply 16, posted (6 years 11 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 25371 times:
Big E
Aircraft Carrier names are getting a bit rediculous and PC these days... G. Bush?? are you friggin kidding me??! only coz his son is the current president!
Ronald Regan yes.... he had the biggest US military buildup for a good purpose of bringing the downfall of the USSR.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11705 posts, RR: 52 Reply 17, posted (6 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 25323 times:
Quoting Zkpilot (Reply 16): Aircraft Carrier names are getting a bit rediculous and PC these days... G. Bush?? are you friggin kidding me??! only coz his son is the current president!
The George H.W. Bush was named during the Clinton Administration. It was President Clinton's Sec. of the Navy who picked the name. President George H.W. Bush (AKA Bush 41) was a USN Devistator Pilot during WWII, and was shot down over the Island of Chi Chi Jima, while on a bombing mission. IIRC, he flew from the USS Lexington, CV-16 (the second CV named Lexington), sometimes referred to, by the IJN as the "Blue Ghost".
Visakow From United States of America, joined May 2006, 85 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 25286 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 17): President George H.W. Bush (AKA Bush 41) was a USN Devistator Pilot during WWII, and was shot down over the Island of Chi Chi Jima, while on a bombing mission. IIRC, he flew from the USS Lexington, CV-16 (the second CV named Lexington), sometimes referred to, by the IJN as the "Blue Ghost".
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11705 posts, RR: 52 Reply 19, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 25279 times:
Quoting Visakow (Reply 18): I thought he flew the TBD/M Avenger?
Now that you mention it, it could very well have been an Avenger.
LMP737 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 20, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 25272 times:
Quoting Visakow (Reply 18): I thought he flew the TBD/M Avenger?
Yes it was an Avenger. The Devastator was removed from frontline service in 1943. A foot note, the Devestator was the aircraft flown by Lt. George Gay sole surviovor of VT-8 in the Battle of Midway.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29349 posts, RR: 62 Reply 21, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 25250 times:
Quoting Zkpilot (Reply 16): G. Bush?? are you friggin kidding me??! only coz his son is the current president!
Quoting Visakow (Reply 18): I thought he flew the TBD/M Avenger?
Correct.
Quoting LMP737 (Reply 20): The Devastator was removed from frontline service in 1943.
That was because they all got shot down at Midway....that was when the US Navy finally figured out that the airplane sucked.
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 17): and was shot down over the Island of Chi Chi Jima,
I highly recommend the book "Flyboys" which tells the story of the various US crews that where shot down over the island and how the commander of the japanese garrison there exectured several crews and then practiced cannabalism on them.
He ended up being executed for war crimes after the war.
Quoting Zkpilot (Reply 16): Aircraft Carrier names are getting a bit rediculous and PC these days... G. Bush?? are you friggin kidding me??! only coz his son is the current president!
Ronald Regan yes.... he had the biggest US military buildup for a good purpose of bringing the downfall of the USSR.
Well in addition to the US George H Bush being a carrier for a WWII carrier pilot, I would also point out that the USS Jimmy Carter is a nuclear submarine. Mr Peanut was an XO on the USS Seawolf the second US Nuclear Sub in the 50's.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
Garnetpalmetto From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 5244 posts, RR: 55 Reply 22, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 25247 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 17): The George H.W. Bush was named during the Clinton Administration. It was President Clinton's Sec. of the Navy who picked the name.
Not so. She was ordered under Clinton, but wasn't named until December '02. Nonetheless, IMO it's a fitting name given Bush's past career as a naval aviator who won the DFC.
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 17): IIRC, he flew from the USS Lexington, CV-16 (the second CV named Lexington), sometimes referred to, by the IJN as the "Blue Ghost".
Also not so - Bush was part of VT-51 aboard the USS San Jacinto (CVL-30).
South Carolina - too small to be its own country, too big to be a mental asylum.
Visakow From United States of America, joined May 2006, 85 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 25163 times:
I guess I got the letters right? I know GM produced one model and Grumman produced the other? Could look it up but my bandwith sucks. Thanks "Y" Comm.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12701 posts, RR: 80 Reply 24, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 25007 times:
Honorable mention to the WW2 HMS Illustrious, like Ark Royal, it had almost non stop action in the Mediterrean, mostly on convoy escort sustaining the vital base at Malta-from there air power would seriously affect Rommel's Afrika Korps supply chain.
Badly damaged, it had a repair/turnaround like the USN Carrier at Midway-USS Yorktown?
It was from Illustrious that Swordfish made a daring night attack on the Italian fleet at port in Taranto, effectively taking the core of the Italian Navy's capital ships out of the fight.
This attack, in November 1940, was seen by a Japanese Naval Attache in Taranto itself, you can work out what influence it would have on them.
Italy, regarded Taranto as protected from enemy aircraft using torpedos.
The last RN survivor of the Taranto attack, has recently passed away.
He was an informative contributer to a documentry about the RN in WW2, in 2003.
25 DeltaDC9: To add to what the others said about Bush Sr, he was shot down, parachuted into enemy waters, and was rescued by a submarine before he became shark f
26 MrChips: Greatest aircraft carrier of all time...hmmm... HMCS Bonaventure, of course!
29 Ghostbase: Interesting that no-one has mentioned the smaller but absolutely vital Escort, or 'Jeep', carriers of WW2. These were the Long Island, Bogue/Prince Wi
30 GDB: Ghostbase, fascinating you getting on the Victorious. What a huge refit that was, made longer, wider, capable of taking aircraft like the Buccaneer, S
31 Britmex: ¿How about Latin American carriers? My favourite is the Brazilian Sao Paulo (former French Navy Foch) from which modenized A-4`s fly along with Sea K
32 L-188: I wouldn't say that. The carrier isn't the weapons system the planes are. And the A-4 can still hold it's own quite effectively. I would say that com
33 Britmex: I know both Brazilian and Argentinian A-4`s were brought up to modern standards. My only concern may be that the airframes could be tired. Anyway, I c
34 Thumper: Have to go with the USS Bennington CVA-20 as I served on her!
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