Big John, in another life known as USS John F Kennedy, is show below as it is towed out of Naval Station Mayport en route first to Norfolk Naval Station for a bit to await her permanent berth to the Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, PA.
We wrote about the Kennedy decommissioning here on Defense Tech as well as at the Instapinch.
She will slowly make her way up the east coast of the US, pulling into Norfolk for a bit, then will continue her last cruise of any significance farther up the coast, up the Delaware River to be tied to, for who knows how long, a pier just off Interstate 95 near downtown Philly. You used to be able to see the big "66" of the de-commed carrier America from the interstate a number of years ago, and you should be able to see the big "67" there in a few months as you drive by, just before you cross the Delaware Expressway/I-95 bridge over the Schuylkill River bridge.
I'll be in Norfolk for reserve duty in a few weeks. I'll see about getting some pics of her as she makes one last visit to the homeport where she spent most of her years of service.
MAYPORT, Fla. (July 26, 2007) - Decommissioned aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CV 67) departs Naval Station Mayport en route to Norfolk, Va. Homeported at Naval Station Mayport since 1995, the ship will be towed to Hampton Roads until the ship can be transferred to the Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tommy Gilligan (RELEASED)
--Pinch Paisley
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