Aircraft Carrier Memorial

06/06/2026

Amazing stories from a WWII Veteran. Thank you for your service sir! 🇺🇸

06/06/2026

June 1944: TBM-1C Avenger from Torpedo Squadron 2 (VT-2) suffers a crash landing aboard USS Hornet (CV-12). 🇺🇸

06/06/2026

June 1944: TBM-1C Avenger from Torpedo Squadron 2 (VT-2) suffers a crash landing aboard USS Hornet (CV-12). 🇺🇸

06/06/2026

USS Yorktown (CV-10) Museum Archives : A solemn tribute to the courage and unity of the Allied forces on D‑Day, honoring the preparation, bravery, and sacrifice that helped secure freedom and shaped the course of World War II for generations to come. 🇺🇸

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched one of the most significant military operations in history — the invasion of Normandy, known as D-Day. Today, we pause to honor the courage, sacrifice, and determination of the service members who helped turn the tide of World War II in the fight for freedom.

This image from the Patriots Point collection shows Lt. Harrie W. James, USNR, briefing officers and men who participated in landing operations during the invasion of Southern France on the day before D-Day, June 5, 1944. Moments like these serve as powerful reminders of the bravery, preparation, and unity displayed by those who answered the call to serve.

As we remember D-Day, we honor all who fought, sacrificed, and gave their lives in defense of liberty. Their legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.

06/06/2026

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) returns from 9 month deployment with the 2025 aircraft carrier Battle Effectiveness award. 🇺🇸

The aircraft carrier returned to port in August 2025 after a nine-month deployment covering over 275,000 nautical miles.

06/06/2026

A profound testament to courage and sacrifice, honoring two USS Hornet aviators whose 23‑day fight for survival, and the ultimate loss of Walter Max John Richter, embodies the resilience, duty, and human cost woven into the legacy of The Pacific War in the 20th century. 🇺🇸

On May 21, 1942, Ensign Louis John Muery Jr. and his radioman-gunner, ARM3c Walter Max John Richter of Bombing Squadron Eight (VB-8), launched from USS Hornet (CV-8) on a scouting mission in their SBD Dauntless.

When engine trouble forced them to ditch in the Pacific, the two men climbed into a rubber raft with only limited food, water, and survival gear. For 23 days they paddled, sailed, and drifted across the open ocean, surviving on carefully rationed supplies and rainwater collected in a cloth sling from their first aid kit.

As they struggled to stay alive, history was unfolding around them. Unaware of the fate of their shipmates, Muery and Richter drifted at sea while the Battle of Midway raged hundreds of miles away. During those critical days in June 1942, USS Hornet and VB-8 helped achieve one of the most decisive victories of the Pacific War, while two of their own remained missing and alone in the vast ocean.

As they neared a small Pacific island, rescue finally seemed within reach. But fate had one final test. Their raft overturned in the violent surf surrounding a coral reef. Muery survived the ordeal, but Richter drowned just yards from shore.

Alone on the beach, Muery buried his shipmate with a paddle from their raft. When the tide later washed the body ashore, he buried him again. Islanders who had been watching from a distance eventually came to his aid, caring for the exhausted aviator and later honoring Richter by burying him among the most respected members of their community. Before Muery departed, they showed him a headstone they were carving for his fallen friend.

While Louis Muery returned home, Walter Max John Richter never did. Their story remains one of the most remarkable survival tales connected to USS Hornet and a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served in The Pacific War.

05/24/2026

Memorial Day Honors: Dedicated on February 17, 1993, the Aircraft Carrier Memorial Plaza honors every U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, its names and hull numbers engraved from the smallest to the largest, each “flattop” recognized with equal distinction, and pays tribute to the 600,000 sailors, Marines and aviators who manned, fought, and in many cases gave their lives aboard these ships. The central pillar bears Rear Admiral William A. Moffett’s 1922 declaration that “the air fleet of an enemy will never get within striking distance of our coast as long as our aircraft carriers are able to carry the preponderance of air power to sea,” affirming the enduring legacy and unmatched significance of American naval aviation. > https://bit.ly/Honorthefallen2026

05/24/2026

Nice! 😀😎

05/23/2026

USS Nimitz embodies unmatched endurance and operational relevance, becoming the longest‑serving aircraft carrier in U.S. Navy history while continuing to show strength across the globe. 🇺🇸

The 51-year-old USS Nimitz was commissioned on May 3, 1975.