Last views from the ship

Richard locks the hatch to preserve the much meeded air conditioning. Sailors must have sweated day and night in these quarters.



On the other side fo the gallery, a troop form Puerto Rica came and we heard Spanish voices. Andrew in getting ready to go to Mexico enjoyed listening in to try and understand parts.



Preston may be our first TOP GUN but first he'll need a new nickname.



Goodbye ship, we respect the job done for our freedom back in 1943. 

Views form the Harbor tour

The original bridge Richard drove over before is replaced with this beauty.



Fort Sumpter, and the start of the American Civil War, was all fort. We did not get to go on shore but talk about another trip in two years was heard.



A shrimp boat went by. I hear Forest Gump has a restaurant nearby.



Rounding almost under the USS Yorktown made me realize the height above sealevel I had while on the flight deck. 

Lessons learned while onboard.

Just how they got the planes in the air and recovered was interesting.



A real TOP GUN gave the aviation class, tour of the deck and later discussion.



Bagged lunch of a turkey sandwich, chops and apple was enjoyed on the poop deck.



Alex crashed and burned with the simulator even when we were all pulling for him. Only the Tiger cubs completed the mission. 

Inside the ship

I found a monkey fist knot on display.



The kitchen to feed 3,000 men was compact.



This is one receipe we wish mom would try.



Besides dental chairs, barber shop , and shoe repair, we saw the operating room for sailors and pilots during the war. 

From the Flight Deck

Joev and his pussycats admire a vintage helicopter. Chuck ran with his boys as did Richard with his boys.



We could tour a battleship and coast guard cutter while there.



The dry docked submarine was a tight squeeze.



Joe must have taken this photo of me and the cats behind one of the missles launched by the planes. 

Onboard Ship

Our quarters in Galley 3 Section 2, everyone had a rack. The top was best since you didn't wack your head when sitting up.



The USS Yorktown was there to collect the Friendship 7 and Apollo 8 NASA crafts.



Scouts imagine what it must have been like to be a jet pilot getting information for a mission in the Pacific during WWII. Top Guns we are not, at least just yet. 

Our trip to South Carolina

We stayed overnight in Wilmington, NC. A church allowed us to stay in their Family Life Center. They left us snacks and air conditioning.



Turner auto let us use the 15 passenger van for a fine ride.



My first view of the USS Yorktown. This is where we slept overnight and made our base of stay.