The USS Constellation Takes a Final Historic Voyage
July 29, 2014
On August 8, 2014 the USS Constellation aircraft carrier will begin her historic final voyage. The Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier will be towed by the ocean tug Corbin Foss. She will leave from Bremerton Naval Shipyard on the 16,000 mile journey to Brownsville, Texas where she will be retired and scraped. The USS Constellation is too large to travel through the Panama Canal, which is the traditional route to the Gulf Coast. Instead the Corbin Foss will guide her along Mexico and Central and South America and pass through the Straits of Magellan, with initial fuel stops at Long Beach California and then Balboa, Panama.
The USS Constellation was constructed at the New York Navy Yard beginning in 1957. She launched three years later and entered service in 1961 with Captain T.J. Walker in command. In her many years since, the USS Constellation –nicknamed “Connie” by her crew – has been involved in numerous deployments and exercises; housed hundreds of crewmembers; and was proclaimed “America’s Flagship” by then-president Ronald Reagan.
After 41 years of commissioned service the USS Constellation was decommissioned in San Diego on August 7, 2003. Now, 11 years later nearly to the day she will begin her last voyage.
This blog will track her progress and be updated with latitude, longitude, weather and other information.
The USS Constellation has a long and rich history and we invite people who have worked on or with the USS Constellation to share your comments, stories and memories. We will share some of them on this blog. We will also post photos here as the journey is underway and invite readers to share any pictures that they have as well.
Foss Maritime and their crews take great pride in being part of this historic voyage, and recognize the importance of this vessel to many of our Navy men and women who served on her during her many operations.
I boarded the USS Constellation CV 64 in Vancouver, BC harbour and rode her to Race Rocks where I and a BC Coast Pilot were airlifted off the deck on a Labrador helicopter and flown back to Vancouver, BC. I was there taking photographs and have some very nice shots from that ride. I spent my time on the bridge.
Thank you for commenting! We would love to see your photos if you care to share them. You can email them to us, and if we post them on the blog we will make sure that you are credited for the photos. Thanks again!
Boarded her in 1976 as a 17 year old and left her a man, at 21. 3 WestPacs. Returned later for the 2001 tiger cruise, and was aboard and at sea on 9/11. Will monitor this final voyage. So long Connie. Thx.
Spent 9 years on that girl from 94 to 03. The sooner we could get an ETA in Brownsville the better. My kids never got a chance to see her so we’re going to see her when you guys bring her in. Thanks and safe travels.
Thank you for your post. We will keep an updated ETA for each port of call as the voyage proceeds.
Will you be taking pictures of the Connie tow?
Yes, we will be taking pictures as she departs from Bremerton and will post them as soon as we can.
I became a Boiler Technician Top Watch (BTOW) #2MMR. I served on her for 3.5 years from 2/1979 – 7/1982. Wished I could tour a Main Space 1 more time & take home a piece of her.
A great ship taking the eternal cruise. She will never be forgotten as long as a Connie Sailor lives….. I served on board 1972-1976 Asst. DCA, Repair Division Officer and Sfoms Officer. Three of the best men I served with Capt. Ward (CO), Captian Nigel Parkhurst and HTCM Robert “Smokey” Briggs.
I was on. the Connie from 1973 to 1976. I worked in the Personnel and ESO office Annex’s. I was also a DJ on the ships radio station during the 74 cruise with my brother Fred (S-5 Div). My GQ station was as a phone talker by 4MM
John and I worked together. Memorable times!
How would we go about posting any old picture of the Connie from the ’70s?
Hello John,
You can email us any photos that you might have and we will review to put on the blog and in our photo album. Thanks in advance!
Thank you my brothers and sisters for serving on her, and also thank you, Foss and all the reps, for creating this page and allowing us to check her status as she travels. This means a lot to us.
!992-1998, RADAR Repair Division
My first and only ship. Made HM3 while aboard. Would never have picked up that crow on shore duty.
Served on board from 1984 till 1990. Was on board for Main Space fire I’m 1 Main machinary room. I will be making plans to see her pull into Brownsville.
Served aboard ’87-’90 in the ASMOD, Ops. Earned my Enlisted Surface Warfare crossed sabers and Aviation Warfare wings. I experienced the joy of liberty and the sorrow of lost comrades. I felt the fear of fire fighting and the thrill of ‘contact’ in the Gulf of Alaska. I served with many, yet only knew a few. Fair winds and following seas to our Connie and all who served aboard.
I hope the tow crew has a successful trip and a group of us will be in Brownsville waiting for her arrival! Tom Armstrong has the best Navy collection I have ever seen! I was aboard the Connie 1964 to 1968-BM2, great ship to serve on! the ONLY one!
Boarded the Connie in Dec 1985 as a Marine Guard assigned to the MarDet. Left the Connie Dec 1987 having participated in Operation Earnest Will during the 1987 WestPac. She taught me a lot about the world like never take for granted what you have.
If someone finds a good Vessel Tracking website please Post it here on the BLOG.
I am assuming the Corbin Foss Tug will be proceeding with their AIS system active throughout this Historic Journey.
Thanks
Please check the blog for voyage information daily.
I am in the final touches of putting together a video for us sailors who served on board the Connie. I served from 87-91, Weapons Department. I’m sad to see her be scrapped, but i hope my video, will bring you all back to the sights, sounds and honor it was having served aboard CV-64. I’ll be posting it on my youtube channel: odaysailor27… My salute to all my shipmates
Just saw her being towed from Taboga, Panama…sad she will be destroyed….
I was aboard from December 1967 to March 1971.
Was MM-3 A-Division Catapult Steam Maintenance Shop.
Was a great ship to have been aboard.
Its a sad ending for such a great navel ship…..
“Aye, tear her tattered ensign down”.
Seeing the five carriers docked at Bremerton a few years ago was a thrill, but almost got me tagged by the shore patrol.
Not to take anything away from Foss, but it would be interesting to see the Navy’s cost calculations on bringing Connie around S. America to be scrapped, rather than on the West Coast, and how much they expect to realize from her & Saratoga. Better than to Korea or Japan or India, however.
I was on the Connie in72-73 westpac. Can us shipmates go aboard on her when she gets to Brownsville.
“As the Connie has not been maintained for a very long time and she is no longer suitable to be boarded. Only authorized professionals are allowed to board and only as the need arises. She will be viewable from the water and possibly from land. As we get closer to the arrival and know the exact details we will post that information on the blog.”
Went aboard 30 June 70 in dry dock Bremerton
Cross decked to Ranger Sept 71
Back aboard Connie for 74 Westpac
Discharged 30 June 75 in dry dock Bremerton
Great ship – visited for the 40th.
Attended her decommissioning