Known to us former crewmembers as the "Hawk" - "Chicken Hawk" - "Shitty Kitty" or any of the many names we called her. But always with affection, as we knew she was our home and she took care of us. We all have many memories both good and bad of the ship, our former crew mates and things that happened. This is the reason I have started this site as a place where we can all share our stories, photos and a place to find former shipmates. All Snipes, Airdales, Deckapes, Grunts, Brownshoes, Blackshoes, Officers and Enlisted men are welcome to this site. Be proud you served on the finest ship in the fleet.

One word of caution to all of you former crew members, the KITTY HAWK now flies the "Don't Tread On Me" flag signifying that she is the oldest ship in the fleet - which when you translate that to us former Hawk crewmembers - we are, like her getting old!!

Below are a few pictures of our beloved "Hawk"

Commissioning Day at the U. S. Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA, 29 April 1961 at 1430 hours.

Photo & text submitted by William White

Sea trials before Commissioning. There were some Tug Boats with us but are not in the picture. We have just passed under the Walt Whitman Bridge on the Delaware River heading for open sea. A few items you might want to notice are; one, the main mast is at a 45 degree angle. #1 and #2 Elevator Doors are closed. Starboard side aft you can see the missile launch system, and last the hull number on the Island is over the ventilation louvers, which at a later date was moved forward to where it is today.

Photo & text submitted by William White

This picture is taking on fuel from USS WACCAMAW (AO-109). Check out the Hanger Bay at #1 Elevator you can see the front of a car. Before we left the East coast and went to GITMO everyone had their cars brought onboard. The forward part of the Hanger Bay was the parking area for cars, motor cycles, etc., for the trip around the Horn to our new home port in California.

Photo & text submitted by William White

First Carrier Landing Aboard Kitty Hawk; made by XO CDR. John M. Thomas (right) and Assistant Air Operations Officer LCDR P. A. Peck. As KITTY HAWK herself is a "first," the world's first guided missile carrier, all of her first events were of primary importance to the crew. During her first at-sea period, on Monday, July 17, Captain Bringle remarked, "Finally, we are really an aircraft carrier," as the ship's TF, piloted by CDR Thomas and LCDR Peck roared down the flight deck and into the morning sun -- KITTY HAWK had launched her first aircraft, the first of many firsts during this initial operational period. As the first launch symbolized the meaning of the ship's existence translated into action, so did each new event in the record book bring to reality the plans and designs which had created the ship. This information was taken from the 1961 Cruise Book. Note: If my memory serves me right the XO and CDR Peck were on a mail run for the crew, it had been sometime since the last mail call. A letter from home is better than money in the bank, at least, to a sailor.

Photo & text submitted by William White

Well, I do not look like a happy puppy - that is me on the right wearing my sound powered phones as the First Lieutenant's Yeoman. Looks like we are just getting ready to sail. That is LCDR Frank Sullivan on the Left on the Walkie-talkie - a great man and a great boss. Michael Donegan

Standing on the lowered Elevator #2 as we take on fuel and the AOE next to us is highlining bombs for our birds. Again that is LCDR Sullivan on the left. I have the clipboard to count each pallet as it came aboard. Michael Donegan

All photos and pictures on this web site are copyright of NAVYDAZE and Michael Donegan. No photos may be reproduced without permission. Please contact Michael Donegan with for the specific purpose and usage of same.