RWA in San Diego - Aircraft Carriers Pull into Port

RWA's annual conference is less than a month away in San Diego!  Continuing our virtual tour of Navy Base Coronado at link, link, and link, a new ship arrives in San Diego. From Navy history (link),

In the early 1920s Naval Aviation took an important leap with the construction of the USS Langley, the Navy’s first aircraft carrier. In 1924, Langley was homeported at NAS San Diego, which began a continuous use of North Island as the home port for Pacific Fleet carriers, and North Island took on the duties of providing service and training to the personnel of these new components to the Fleet.

By 1935, North Island was home to all four of the Navy's carriers: the USS Langley (CV1), USS Lexington (CV2), USS Saratoga (CV 3) and USS Ranger (CV 4).

USS Langley (CV 1)
Public Domain (link)

During the war, North Island was a major continental U.S. base supporting the operating forces in the Pacific. Those forces included over a dozen aircraft carriers, the Coast Guard, Army, Marines and Seabees. The City of Coronado became home to most of the aircraft factory workers and dependents of the mammoth base, which was operating around the clock.

Today, 10 aircraft carriers (of the 77 built since the USS Langley) are listed as active service in the US Navy. These carriers are classified as CVN for their nuclear propulsion. Two carriers are berthed at Navy Base Coronado - the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). I've toured the USS Carl Vinson at this link.

Tourists to San Diego can visit the "retired" aircraft carrier USS Midway at this link.

Next week:  Special Warfare storms the beach.

USS Carl Vinson
Public Domain (link)

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway, 

1. Leave a comment about what you would name a ship - Civil Servant? Decorated military hero? Historic battle? 

2. Comments are open through Saturday, June 25, 10 pm in Baltimore. 

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 26.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

USS Theodore Roosevelt

Public Domain (link)