Editing USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67)

{{Short description|Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier (active 1968–2007)}}
{{Other ships|USS John F. Kennedy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin|infobox caption=yes}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=File:USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) departs Naval Station Mayport on 11 November 2003.jpg
|Ship caption=USS ''John F. Kennedy'' leaving [[Naval Station Mayport|NS Mayport, Florida]] in November 2003
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=''John F. Kennedy''-class
|Builders=[[Newport News Shipbuilding]]
|Operators={{navy|United States}}
|Class before={{sclass|Kitty Hawk|aircraft carrier|4}} and {{sclass|Enterprise|aircraft carrier|4}}
|Class after={{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|4}}
|Subclasses=
|Cost=
|Built range=
|In service range=
|In commission range=7 September 1968 – 1 August 2007
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|2007}}
|Ship name=''John F. Kennedy''
|Ship namesake= [[John F. Kennedy]]
|Ship awarded=30 April 1964<ref name="NVR">{{cite web |url= {{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=CV67}} |title=John F. Kennedy |publisher=Naval Vessel Register |access-date=9 December 2010}}</ref>
|Ship builder=[[Newport News Shipbuilding]]<ref name="NVR"/>
|Ship original cost=
|Ship laid down=22 October 1964<ref name="NVR"/>
|Ship launched=27 May 1967<ref name="NVR"/>
|Ship sponsor=[[Caroline Kennedy]]<ref name="DANFS">{{cite DANFS |title=John F. Kennedy I (CVA-67)|url= https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/j/john-f-kennedy-cva-67.html |access-date=15 September 2016}}</ref>
|Ship christened=27 May 1967
|Ship acquired= 31 August 1968
|Ship commissioned=7 September 1968<ref name="NVR"/>
|Ship decommissioned= 23 March 2007<ref name="NVR"/>
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship reclassified=CV-67, 1 December 1974
|Ship maiden voyage=
|Ship refit= 1984
|Ship struck=16 October 2009<ref name="NVR"/>
|Ship identification= 
*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: NJFK<ref name=navsrc139>{{cite web|url=http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/67.htm|title=USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67)|work=NavSource Online|publisher=NavSource Naval History|date=17 May 2011|access-date=31 May 2011}}</ref>
*{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Juliet}}{{ICS|Foxtrot}}{{ICS|Kilo}}
|Ship motto=*''Date Nolite Rogare''
*([[Latin]] for "Give, do not ask"; cf. [[Inauguration of John F. Kennedy#The inaugural address|"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country"]])
|Ship nickname="Big John" (unofficially: "Bldg 67", "Can Opener", "Jack the Tin Can Killer")<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/uss-belknap-collided-aircraft-carrier.html|title=When The Guided Missile Cruiser USS Belknap Collided with the Aircraft Carrier USS John F. Kennedy|first=Lincoln|last=Riddle|date=2 March 2017|website=warhistoryonline.com}}</ref>
|Ship honors=
|Ship status=
|Ship fate=Scrapped<ref name= fate/>
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge or crest=[[File:CV-67 Coat of Arms.jpg|120px]]
|Ship badge=[[File:USS John F. Kennedy CV-67 Crest.png|center|120px]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type=[[Aircraft carrier]]<ref name="donation">{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=49825|title=Navy Announces Availability of ex-John F. Kennedy for Donation|first=This story was written by Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Corporate|last=Communications|website=navy.mil|archive-date=2009-11-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128132505/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=49825}}</ref>
|Ship displacement=*60,728&nbsp;tons light
*82,655&nbsp;tons full load
*21,927&nbsp;tons deadweight
|Ship length={{convert|1052|ft|m|abbr=on}} overall, {{convert|990|ft|m|abbr=on}} waterline
|Ship beam={{convert|252|ft|m|abbr=on}} extreme, {{convert|130|ft|m|abbr=on}} waterline
|Ship height= {{convert|192|ft|m|abbr=on}} from top of the mast to the waterline
|Ship draft={{convert|36|ft|m|abbr=on}} maximum, {{convert|37|ft|m|abbr=on}} limit
|Ship decks=
|Ship deck clearance=
|Ship power=* 8 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 1,200 PSI
*{{convert|280000|shp|MW|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=* 4 × steam turbines
* 4 shafts
|Ship speed={{convert|34|kn}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2015/04/12/evolution-of-the-aircraft-carrier/|title=Evolution of the Aircraft Carrier|publisher=navylive.dodlive.mil|date=12 April 2015|access-date=29 August 2018}}</ref>
|Ship range=
|Ship endurance=
|Ship capacity=5,000+
|Ship complement=3,297 officers and men (without jet commands & crews)
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*2 × [[Guided Missile Launching System|GMLS]] Mk&nbsp;29 launchers for [[RIM-7 Sea Sparrow|Sea Sparrow]] missiles
*2 × [[Phalanx CIWS]]
*2 × [[RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile|RAM]] launchers
|Ship aircraft=80+
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''USS ''John F. Kennedy'' (CV-67)''' (formerly '''CVA-67'''), the only ship of her class, was an [[aircraft carrier]], formerly of the [[United States Navy]]. Considered a [[supercarrier]],<ref name="DANFS" /> she was a variant of the {{sclass|Kitty Hawk|aircraft carrier|4}}, and the last [[Marine propulsion|conventionally-powered]] carrier built for the Navy,<ref name="donation"/> as all carriers since have had [[Nuclear marine propulsion|nuclear propulsion]]. Commissioned in 1968, the ship was named after [[John F. Kennedy]], the 35th president of the United States. ''John F. Kennedy'' was originally [[Hull classification symbol#Aircraft carrier type|designated a CVA]], for [[fixed wing|fixed-wing]] attack carrier, however the designation was changed to CV, for [[Fleet aircraft carrier|fleet carrier]].

After nearly 40 years of service, ''John F. Kennedy'' was [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] on 1 August 2007. She was berthed at the [[Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility|NAVSEA Inactive Ships On-site Maintenance facility]] in [[Philadelphia]], formerly the [[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]], and, until late 2017, was available for donation as a [[museum ship|museum]] and memorial to a qualified organization.<ref name="NVR"/><ref>[http://www.navsea.navy.mil/teamships/Inactiveships/Donation/ships_onhold.aspx SEA 21 Navy Inactive Ships Program Feb. 3, 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305190046/http://www.navsea.navy.mil/teamships/Inactiveships/Donation/ships_onhold.aspx |date=5 March 2012 }}</ref> In late 2017, the Navy revoked her "donation hold" status and designated her for dismantling.<ref name= fate/>

On 16 January 2025, ''John F. Kennedy'' left the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and started the voyage to Brownsville, Texas where she will be scrapped.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/uss-john-f-kennedy-leaving-philadelphia-dismantled-in-texas/ USS John F. Kennedy leaving Philadelphia's Navy Yard to be dismantled in Texas]</ref> She arrived in Brownsville, TX on 2 February 2025 for her final arrival.<ref>{{cite news |last=Tanguma |first=Janelle |date=2 February 2025 |title=USS John F. Kennedy completes final voyage to Port of Brownsville |url=https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/uss-john-f-kennedy-completes-final-voyage-to-port-of-brownsville/|work=Valley Central |location= |publisher= |access-date=8 April 2025}}</ref>

She has been succeeded by the {{sclass|Gerald R. Ford|aircraft carrier|2}} [[Pre-Commissioning Unit]]&nbsp;{{USS|John F. Kennedy|CVN-79|3}}, laid down in July 2015, launched in October 2019, and scheduled to enter service in 2025.

== Ship history ==

=== Design and early years ===
Designed under [[Ship Characteristics Board]] project SCB-127C,<ref name=friedman>{{cite book |last=Friedman|first= Norman |year=1983 |title=U.S. Aircraft Carriers: An Illustrated Design History |page=387 |publisher=[[Naval Institute Press]] |isbn= 0-87021-739-9 |access-date=18 December 2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-UT7MDTeKj8C&q=%22Weteye%22+date:0-1990&pg=PA387 }}</ref> the ship's [[keel]] was laid on inclined Shipway 8 by [[Newport News Shipbuilding]] on 22 October 1964. By 1965, the larger semi-submerged Shipway 11 became available, where final construction was completed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nnapprentice.com/alumni/letter/Apprentice_Trivia_021706.pdf |title= Sliding to the Sea A collection of stories, with a dash of the romance of shipbuilding added to some decidedly abnormal launching events at Newport News Shipbuilding …along with an occasional, unique Sponsor's anecdote|access-date=25 January 2019 |archive-date=15 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515192138/http://nnapprentice.com/alumni/letter/Apprentice_Trivia_021706.pdf}}</ref> The ship was [[Ship naming and launching|christened]] 27 May 1967 by [[Jacqueline Kennedy]] and her 9-year-old daughter, [[Caroline Kennedy|Caroline]], two days short of what would have been President Kennedy's 50th&nbsp;birthday. The ship entered service 7 September 1968.

''John F. Kennedy'' is a modified version of the earlier {{sclass|Kitty Hawk|aircraft carrier}}s.<ref name="DANFS"/> Originally scheduled to be the fourth ''Kitty Hawk''-class carrier, the ship received so many modifications during construction she formed her own class.<ref name="donation"/> The ship was originally ordered as a nuclear carrier, using the [[A3W reactor]], but converted to conventional propulsion after construction had begun.<ref name=friedman/> The island is somewhat different from that of the ''Kitty Hawk'' class, with angled funnels to direct smoke and gases away from the flight deck. ''John F. Kennedy'' is also {{convert|17|ft|m}} shorter than the ''Kitty Hawk'' class.<ref name=friedman/>

After an ORI (operational readiness inspection) conducted by Commander, [[Carrier Strike Group Two|Carrier Division Two]], ''John F. Kennedy'' left for the Mediterranean in April 1969. The ship reached [[Naval Station Rota, Spain|Rota]], Spain on the morning of 22 April 1969 and relieved {{USS|Forrestal|CVA-59|6}}. Rear Admiral Pierre N. Charbonnet, Commander, Carrier Striking Forces, Sixth Fleet, and Commander, Carrier Striking Unit 60.1.9, shifted his flag to ''John F. Kennedy''. The turnover complete by nightfall, the carrier, escorted by destroyers, transited the [[Strait of Gibraltar]] at the start of the mid watch on 22 April. The next day, ''John F. Kennedy'' refueled from {{USS|Marias|AO-57|6}}, and acquired the company of a [[Soviet Navy|Soviet]] {{sclass2|Kotlin|destroyer|1}} (Pennant No. 383).

=== 1970s ===

''John F. Kennedy''{{'}}s maiden voyage, and several of her subsequent voyages, were on deployments to the [[Mediterranean]] during much of the 1970s to help deal with the steadily deteriorating situation in the Middle East. During the 1970s ''John F. Kennedy'' was upgraded to handle the [[F-14 Tomcat]] and the [[S-3 Viking]].

''John F. Kennedy'' was involved in the Navy response to the [[Yom Kippur War]] in the Middle East in October 1973, with her actions and the larger U.S. Navy picture being described in [[Elmo Zumwalt]]'s book ''On Watch''.<ref>Zumwalt, 'On Watch', 1976, 436–448</ref>

In 1974, she won the [[Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award]] for the Atlantic Fleet.

On 20 June 1975 ''John F. Kennedy'' was the target of possible arson, suffering eight fires, with no injuries, while at port in [[Norfolk, Virginia]].<ref name="navsea-uss-kennedy">Naval Sea Systems Command DC Museum [http://dcfpnavymil.org/mc/museum/JFKENNEDY/JFKENNEDY.htm "USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67)"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107050450/http://dcfpnavymil.org/mc/museum/JFKENNEDY/JFKENNEDY.htm |date=7 November 2010 }}</ref>

On 22 November 1975, ''John F. Kennedy'' collided with the [[cruiser]] {{USS|Belknap|CG-26|2}}, severely damaging the smaller ship. As a result of the collision with ''John F. Kennedy''{{'}}s overhanging deck, JP-5 fuel lines were ruptured spraying fuel over an adjacent catwalk, and fires ensued aboard both ships. ''Belknap''{{'}}s superstructure was gutted almost to the main deck, and seven of her crew killed. Aboard ''John F. Kennedy'', smoke inhalation claimed the life of Yeoman 2nd Class David A. Chivalette of VF-14, CVW-1.
{| style="margin:auto"
| [[File:USS JFK damaged deck after collision with USS Belknap.JPEG|thumb|A view of damage sustained by ''John F. Kennedy'' when she collided with the cruiser USS ''Belknap'']]
| [[File:USS John F. Kennedy (CVA-67) underway in December 1968.jpg|thumb|''John F. Kennedy'' on her initial [[shakedown cruise]] in December 1968]]
|}
On 14 September 1976, while conducting a nighttime [[underway replenishment]] {{convert|100|mi|km}} north of Scotland, the destroyer {{USS|Bordelon|DD-881|2}} lost control and collided with ''John F. Kennedy'', resulting in such severe damage to the destroyer that she was removed from service in 1977. Earlier the same day, one F-14 Tomcat, following a problem with the catapult, fell off of the flight deck of ''John F. Kennedy'', with [[AIM-54 Phoenix]] missiles in international waters, off the coast of Scotland. Both crew members ejected and landed on the deck, injured but alive.<ref>''Popular Mechanics'', June 1977, Volume 147, #6</ref> A naval race (surface and submarine) followed between the Soviet Navy and U.S. Navy to get back not only the plane (because of its [[weapon system]]), but also its missiles. After a prolonged search, the U.S. Navy retrieved the aircraft and its missiles.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

In 1979 ''John F. Kennedy'' underwent her first year-long overhaul, which was completed in 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John F. Kennedy I (CVA-67) |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/j/john-f-kennedy-cva-67.html |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=NHHC |language=en-US}}</ref> While the carrier was at [[Norfolk Naval Shipyard]], Virginia for the overhaul, arson attacks were carried out on the ship on two occasions. On 9 April 1979, she experienced five fires which killed one shipyard worker and injured 34&nbsp;others, and on 5 June 1979 the carrier was the target of two more fires; no one was injured in the latter incident.<ref name="navsea-uss-kennedy"/><ref>{{Cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=1979-04-10 |title=FIRES SWEEP CARRIER AND KILL A WORKMAN |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/04/10/archives/fires-sweep-carrier-and-kill-a-workman-34-crewmen-hurt-in-11-blazes.html |access-date=2023-04-07 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In 1979 she won her second [[Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award]].{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

=== 1980s ===

On 4 August 1980, ''John F. Kennedy'' left Norfolk, Virginia and voyaged to the Mediterranean Sea.
<ref>[https://kribbsmemories.blogspot.com/2019/06/uss-john-f-kennedy-cv-67.html John F. Kennedy S-3 Division during departure from Norfolk, Virginia to the Mediterranean Sea, 4 August 1980.]</ref>

On 4 January 1982, ''John F. Kennedy'', with Carrier Air Wing Three (AC), sailed as the flagship for [[Carrier Group Four]] (CCG-4) from Norfolk, Va. on her ninth deployment, and her first visit to the Indian Ocean after port visits to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Malaga, Spain, and transiting the [[Suez Canal]]. In her time in the Indian Ocean ''John F. Kennedy'' conducted her only port visit to Perth/Fremantle, Western Australia, anchoring in Gage Roads on 19 March 1982 for a R&R visit, departing on 25 March back to the Indian Ocean. During this time ''John F. Kennedy'' played host to the first visit of the Somali head of state, President [[Mohammed Siad Barre]]. Her cruise ended with port visits to Mombasa, Kenya and Toulon, France, and another visit to Malaga, Spain before returning home on 14 July 1982.

In October 1983 ''John F. Kennedy,'' with Commander, [[Carrier Group 6]] (CCG-6) embarked, was diverted to [[Beirut]], Lebanon from her planned Indian Ocean deployment, after the [[Beirut barracks bombing]] killed 241 U.S. military personnel taking part in the [[Multinational Force in Lebanon]], and spent the rest of that year and early 1984 patrolling the region. On 4 December 1983 ten [[A-6 Intruder|A-6]] aircraft from ''John F. Kennedy'' along with A-6 and [[A-7 Corsair II|A-7]] aircraft from {{USS|Independence|CV-62|6}} took part in a bombing raid over Beirut, in response to two U.S. F-14 aircraft being fired upon the previous day. The Navy lost two aircraft during the raid: an A-7E from ''Independence'' and an A-6E from ''John F. Kennedy'' were shot down by [[Surface-to-air missile|SAMs]]. The A-7E pilot was picked up by a fishing boat, but the A-6E pilot Lt. Mark Lange died after ejecting and the B/N Lt. [[Bobby Goodman|Robert "Bobby" Goodman]] was taken prisoner and released on 3 January 1984.<ref name="DANFS" />

In 1984 the ship was [[drydock]]ed at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a one-and-a-half-year complex overhaul and upgrades.

In 1985 ''John F. Kennedy'' received the initial awarding of the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] Phoenix Award for Maintenance Excellence for having the best maintenance department in the entire Department of Defense.<ref>[http://www.acq.osd.mil/log/mpp/awards/SecDef_Mx_Awards_History_thru_2011.pdf United States Department of Defense, Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
{| style="margin:auto"
| [[File:DN-ST-87-01292.jpg|thumb|An elevated starboard quarter view of ''John F. Kennedy'' during the International Naval Review in New York Harbor, 4 July 1986]]
| 
[[File:F-14A VF-32 Exercise Display Determination Mediterranean 1986.JPEG|thumb|An [[Grumman F-14 Tomcat|F-14A]] of [[VF-32]] prepares to launch from ''John F. Kennedy'' during her 1986 Mediterranean cruise.]]
| [[File:USS JF Kennedy CV-67.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|right|US Naval Cover, 22 September 1982<br>Signed by Commanding Officer,<br>Denny Bruce Cargill]]
|}
Setting sail in July 1986, ''John F. Kennedy'' participated in the [[International Naval Review]] to help mark the [[Liberty Weekend|Re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty]]. ''John F. Kennedy'' served as the [[flagship]] for the [[Naval fleet|armada]] before departing on her eleventh overseas deployment to the Mediterranean in August{{Spaced en dash}}highlighted by multiple Freedom of Navigation exercises in the [[Gulf of Sidra]], and operations off of the coast of Lebanon as a response to increasing terrorist activities and U.S. citizens being taken hostage in Beirut. The ship returned to Norfolk, Virginia in March 1987 and was dry-docked a second time for fifteen months for critical upgrades and major repairs.

In August 1988 ''John F. Kennedy'' departed on her twelfth overseas deployment. During this deployment, a pair of [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23|MiG-23 Flogger]] [[fighter aircraft]] from Libya approached the carrier task force, which was {{convert|130|km|mi|order=flip}} off the shore of Libya near the declared Libyan territorial waters of the Gulf of Sidra. ''John F. Kennedy'' launched two F-14 Tomcats from VF-32 "Fighting Swordsmen" to intercept the incoming MiGs. The U.S. planes were sent to escort the MiGs away from the task force. During the course of the intercept, the MiGs were determined to be hostile and [[Gulf of Sidra incident (1989)|were both shot down]].

=== 1990s ===
{{More citations needed section|date=October 2024}}
[[File:DN-ST-91-04361.jpg|thumb|Laser-guided bombs line the flight deck of ''John F. Kennedy'' in preparation for air strikes against Iraq during Operation Desert Storm on 23 January 1991. The A-6E Intruder aircraft in the background is armed with laser-guided bombs.]]
''John F. Kennedy'' returned to the U.S. in time to participate in [[Fleet Week]] in New York and [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] celebrations in [[Boston]], Massachusetts before receiving an "All-hands" recall on 10 August 1990, for [[Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|Operation Desert Shield]]. The ship was empty of fuel, and ordnance and equipment as she was ready to join the yards for some SRA maintenance. Once the Warning order was issued, the ship went into 24-hour supplies replenishment procedures. She took on all the supplies and equipment she had just been offloading. She took on additional fuel and ordnance while crossing the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. She departed the United States combat ready faster than any ship had accomplished since the [[Vietnam War]]. She departed on 15 August 1990, and became the flagship for the commander of the Red Sea Battle Force. At midnight on 17 January 1991 ''John F. Kennedy''{{'}}s Carrier Air Wing&nbsp;3 commenced the first strike operations against Iraqi forces as part of [[Operation Desert Storm]]. Between the commencement of the operation and the cease-fire, ''John F. Kennedy'' launched 114 [[airstrike]]s and nearly 2,900 [[sorties]] against Iraq, which delivered over 3.5&nbsp;million pounds of [[wikt:ordnance|ordnance]]. On 27 February 1991 President [[George H. W. Bush]] declared a cease-fire in Iraq, and ordered all U.S. forces to stand down. ''John F. Kennedy'' was relieved, and began the long journey home by transiting the [[Suez Canal]]. She arrived in Norfolk on 28 March 1991.

While at Norfolk the ship was placed on a four-month selective restricted-availability period as shipyard workers carried out maintenance. Extensive repairs to the flight deck, maintenance and engineering systems were made. Additionally, the ship was refitted to handle the new [[F/A-18 Hornet#C.2FD|F/A-18C/D Hornet]].
[[File:DN-ST-93-03777.jpg|right|thumb|Twenty-five year "Silver Anniversary" banner hanging from the starboard bow missile sponson of ''John F. Kennedy'', 7 April 1993]]
With the upgrades completed, ''John F. Kennedy'' departed on her 14th deployment to the Mediterranean, assisting several task forces with workup exercises in anticipation of intervention in [[Yugoslavia]]. When ''John F. Kennedy'' returned she was sent to the [[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]], where she underwent a two-year extensive overhaul. Upon completion of the overhaul the ship was transferred to the [[Mayport Naval Station]] near [[Jacksonville, Florida]], which remained the ship's home port.

On 1 October 1995, ''John F. Kennedy'' was designated to be an operational reserve carrier and [[U.S. Navy Reserve|Naval Reserve Force]] ship with a combined full-time active duty and part-time Naval Reserve crew complement, assigned to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. ''John F. Kennedy'' would be available to deploy with either an active or reserve carrier air wing when mobilized in support of urgent operational requirements. In this capacity, ''John F. Kennedy''{{'}}s new primary function would be to provide a surge capability, and in peacetime, to support training requirements. She would participate in routine fleet exercises, aviator carrier qualifications, and battle group training.<ref name="DANFS"/> The impetus for this initiative was post-Cold War defense spending in the mid-1990s, however, the Naval Reserve was never adequately funded to accomplish major maintenance actions for ''John F. Kennedy'', further exacerbated by additional defense cutbacks that eliminated Carrier Air Wing Reserve 30 and the downgrading of Carrier Air Wing Reserve 20 to a non-deployable [[Tactical Support Wing]] and the return of many of the Reserve's front-line combat aircraft to the active duty force. Following the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States, the Operational Reserve Carrier concept was discontinued and ''John F. Kennedy'' was returned to the active duty fleet and placed back in the same maintenance rotation as active duty carriers.

''John F. Kennedy'' made a high-profile visit to [[Dublin]], Ireland during an Atlantic deployment in 1996. Here, more than 10,000 people were invited to tour the ship at anchor in Dublin Bay. The visit was also intended to honor two personalities who had made a great impact on history: John F. Kennedy, for whom the ship was named, and [[Commodore (United States)|Commodore]] [[John Barry (naval officer)|John Barry]], a native of [[County Wexford]], Ireland who played an instrumental role in the early years of the United States Navy. Officers and crew from ''John F. Kennedy'' joined local military and civilian organizations in celebrating Barry's achievements at his statue in Crescent Quay, [[Wexford]], and three F-14 Tomcat fighters flew at low level over the town. [[Jean Kennedy Smith]], sister of John F. Kennedy, was the [[United States Ambassador to Ireland|U.S. ambassador to Ireland]] at the time, and was among those who welcomed the ship to Ireland.

During her visit to Ireland, high winds in Dublin Bay caused the boarding pontoon to tear a large hole in ''John F. Kennedy''{{'}}s hull.

''John F. Kennedy''{{'}}s 15th Mediterranean deployment included two transits of the Suez Canal, and four months deployed in the [[Persian Gulf]]. One night in the Gulf two Iranian F-14's were flying low altitude at high speed heading toward the ship. The AEGIS cruiser {{USS|Vicksburg|CG-69|2}} acquired the jets on radar and warned them to turn away, which they did. She returned in time to participate in Fleet Week '98 in New York City.

Shortly before ''John F. Kennedy''{{'}}s 16th deployment, she became involved in a rescue mission when the tug ''Gulf Majesty'' foundered during [[Hurricane Floyd]] in mid-September 1999. The ship successfully rescued the crew of the vessel, then headed toward the Middle East, where she became the first U.S. aircraft carrier to make a port call in [[Al Aqabah]], Jordan, in the process playing host to the [[King of Jordan]], before taking up station in support of [[Operation Southern Watch]].

''John F. Kennedy'' was the only conventionally powered U.S. carrier underway at the end of 1999, arriving back at Mayport on 19 March 2000. After a brief period of maintenance ([[Advanced combat direction system]] was installed), the carrier sailed north to participate in 4 July International Naval Review, then headed to Boston for '''Sail Boston 2000'''.<ref>{{cite news |author=Globe Staff |title=Visits running ahead of '92 |url=https://archive.boston.com/news/packages/sailboston/stories/visits_running_ahead_of_92+.shtml |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=13 July 2000|access-date=7 September 2019}}</ref> The City of Boston arranged this independent event to take advantage of the transit of Tall sailing ships participating in [[Operation Sail#Summer Millennium Celebration (2000)|Operation Sail 2000]] as they passed by from [[New London, Connecticut]] en route to their final port-of-call in [[Portland, Maine]].

=== 2000s ===
[[File:Fleet 5 nations.jpg|thumb|right|USS ''John F. Kennedy'' (center right) with ships from five nations during ''[[Operation Enduring Freedom]]'', 16 April 2002]]
During ''John F. Kennedy''{{'}}s last round of refits the ship became a testbed for an experimental system for the [[Cooperative Engagement Capability]], a system that allowed ''John F. Kennedy'' to engage targets beyond original range.

In 2001, during a pre-deployment trial, ''John F. Kennedy'' was found to be severely deficient in some respects, especially those relating to air group operations; most problematic, two [[aircraft catapult]]s and three aircraft elevators, which are used to lift aircraft from the hangar deck to and from the flight deck, were non-functional during inspection, and two boilers would not light. As a result, her captain and two department heads were relieved for cause.

As the [[September 11 attacks|11 September attacks]] of 2001 unfolded, ''John F. Kennedy'' and her battle group were ordered to support [[Operation Noble Eagle]], establishing air security along the mid-Atlantic seaboard, including Washington, D.C. ''John F. Kennedy'' was released from Noble Eagle on 14 September 2001.<ref name="DANFS" />

During the first six months of 2002, ''John F. Kennedy'' aircraft dropped 31,000 tons of ordnance on [[Taliban]] and [[al Qaeda]] targets in support of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]].<ref name="DANFS"/>

[[File:US Navy 020803-N-6492H-503 USS Kennedy (CV 67) pulls into Spain for a port visit.jpg|thumb|left|''John F. Kennedy'' entering Port of [[Tarragona]], 2002]]
In August 2002, ''John F. Kennedy'' visited the city of [[Tarragona]] in [[Spain]].<ref>{{cite web|title=020803-N-6492H-503|url=http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=2169|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923063317/http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=2169|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 September 2016|publisher=United States Army|access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref>

In July 2004 ''John F. Kennedy'' collided with a [[dhow]] in the Persian Gulf, leaving no survivors on the traditional Arab sailing boat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=14399 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041106055034/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=14399 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 November 2004 |work=navy.mil |title= Persian Gulf Maritime Mishap |access-date= 24 October 2009 |date=23 July 2004}}</ref> After the incident the Navy relieved the commanding officer of ''John F. Kennedy''. The carrier herself was unscathed, but two jet fighters on the deck were damaged when an F-14B Tomcat assigned to VF-103 slid into an F/A-18C Hornet assigned to VFA-81 damaging the wing of the F-14 as well as the upper section of the radome and forward windscreen of the F/A-18 as the ship made a hard turn to avoid the tiny vessel. A popular misconception is that ''John F. Kennedy''{{'}}s captain waited to make the turn at the last possible moment to recover aircraft critically low on fuel returning from airstrikes. The official review board determined this was not the case and the aircraft could have remained safely aloft until ''John F. Kennedy'' maneuvered to avoid the dhow.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=14927
| work = navy.mil
| title = USS John F. Kennedy Commanding Officer Relieved
| date = 26 August 2004
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041106054143/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=14927
| archive-date = 6 November 2004
| access-date = 15 July 2021
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>

''John F. Kennedy'' was the most costly carrier in the fleet to maintain and was due for an expensive overhaul; budget cutbacks and changing naval tactics
prompted the U.S. Navy to decide to retire her.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05093/482167.stm
| title = Carrier's fate launches political battle
| author = Jack Kelly
| work = The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
| date = 3 April 2005
| access-date = 31 October 2009
| archive-date = 11 December 2008
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081211044721/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05093/482167.stm
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> On 1 April 2005 the Navy formally announced that the carrier's scheduled 15-month overhaul had been cancelled.<ref>{{cite report |last1=O'Rourke |first1=Ronald |last2=Library of Congress |first2=Congressional Research Service |title=Navy Aircraft Carriers: Proposed Retirement of USS John F. Kennedy -- Issues and Options for Congress |date=2005 |publisher=Defense Technical Information Center |location=Washington, DC |page=1 |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA472555.pdf |access-date=23 September 2023}}</ref>

{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| image1 = US Navy 070220-N-1550W-001 USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) departs Naval Station Mayport for the last underway period before her decommissioning in March.jpg
| width1 = 220
| caption1 = ''John F. Kennedy'' gets underway from [[Naval Station Mayport|Mayport]] for her final cruise, up the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] for [[Fleet Week]] in [[New York City]], and then a final port visit to [[Boston]], prior to her decommissioning in Mayport.
| image2 = US Navy 070323-N-8544C-160 Command Master Chief Charles L. Dassance presents the ensign to USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Commanding Officer Capt. Todd A. Zecchin during the historical decommissioning ceremony of the aircraft carr.jpg
| width2 = 220
| caption2 = U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Charles L. Dassance presents the ensign to U.S. Navy Capt. Todd A. Zecchin, commanding officer of USS ''John F. Kennedy'', during the ship's decommissioning ceremony.
}}
Before decommissioning she made a number of port calls to allow the public to "say farewell" to her, including a stop at her "homeport" Boston Harbor.<ref name="urlThe Daily Free Press – Thousands pay last visit to USS JFK">{{cite news
 |url = http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/1.586163
 |work = The Daily Free Press
 |title = Thousands pay last visit to USS JFK
 |author = Raphaella Zerey
 |date = 5 March 2007
 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20240524080728/https://www.webcitation.org/5e0ZpHidS?url=http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/1.586163
 |archive-date = 24 May 2024
 |access-date = 21 January 2009
 |url-status=dead
}}</ref> ''John F. Kennedy'' also took part in the 2005 New York City Fleet Week festivities at the [[Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum]].<ref>[http://wirednewyork.com/guide/fleet_week/]. City Guide For Fleet Week 2005</ref> She was decommissioned in [[Naval Station Mayport|Mayport, Florida]] on 23 March 2007.<ref name="Outpouring">{{cite web|url= http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/navy_jfkarrives_032208/|title= An outpouring of memories upon JFK arrival|author= Mark D. Faram|date= 24 March 2008|work= Navy Times|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130129130706/http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/03/navy_jfkarrives_032208/|archive-date= 29 January 2013|access-date= 21 January 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The ship's unique in-port cabin, which was decorated by [[Jacqueline Kennedy]] with wood paneling, oil paintings, and rare artifacts, was disassembled, to be rebuilt at the [[National Museum of Naval Aviation]] at [[Naval Air Station Pensacola]], Florida.<ref>{{cite web
 |url = http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/03/ap_jfk_decommission_kennedy_070323/
 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130129181241/http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/03/ap_jfk_decommission_kennedy_070323/
 |url-status = dead
 |archive-date = 29 January 2013
 |title = After storied career, JFK's saga finally ends
 |author = Mark D. Faram
 |work = Navy Times
 |date = 26 March 2007
 |access-date = 31 October 2009
}}</ref>

[[File:A640, USS John F Kennedy, starboard side, Navy Yard, Delaware River, Philadelphia, 2018.jpg|thumb|right|ex-''John F. Kennedy'' docked at the [[Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility]] in [[Philadelphia]], October 2018]]
Ex-''John F. Kennedy'' was towed to Norfolk, Virginia on 26 July 2007. She remained in Norfolk until a shoaled area near Pier&nbsp;4 in Philadelphia could be dredged to enable the ship to safely dock. On 17 March 2008 at about 1700, she was seen leaving Norfolk Naval Station under tow of the tug ''[[Atlantic Salvor]]''. On 22 March 2008 ex-''John F. Kennedy'' arrived, with the afternoon high tide, at the [[Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility]] in [[Philadelphia]].<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080322_Aircraft_carrier_John_F__Kennedy_scheduled_to_arrive_in_Philadelphia_today.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080408133848/http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080322_Aircraft_carrier_John_F__Kennedy_scheduled_to_arrive_in_Philadelphia_today.html
| archive-date = 8 April 2008
| title = Aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy scheduled to arrive in Philadelphia today
| author = Henry J. Holcomb
| work = The Philadelphia Inquirer
| date = 22 March 2008
| access-date = 31 October 2009}}</ref>

=== Retirement ===
In November 2009, the Navy placed ''John F. Kennedy'' on donation hold for use as a museum and memorial.<ref>[http://peoships.crane.navy.mil/Inactiveships/Donation/inactiveships_news.asp navy.mil]{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> A report in the ''[[Boston Herald]]'' newspaper on 26 November 2009 mentioned the possibility of bringing ''John F. Kennedy'' to the Boston, Massachusetts area, as a museum or memorial at no cost to the city, if desired.<ref name="Hub floated as possible home for JFK warship">{{cite news| url = http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1214666&srvc=rss| work = The Boston Herald| title = Hub floated as possible home for JFK warship| author = Edward Mason| date = 26 November 2009| access-date = 26 November 2009| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121001093136/http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1214666&srvc=rss| archive-date = 1 October 2012| url-status=dead}}</ref>

In August 2010, two groups successfully passed into Phase II of the U.S. Navy Ship Donation Program:<ref name="navsrc139"/>
*Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame,<ref>[http://www.ussjfkri.org/ Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame's USS ''John F. Kennedy'' Aircraft Carrier Project]</ref> [[Providence, Rhode Island]]
* USS ''John F. Kennedy'' Museum,<ref>[http://www.ussjfkri.org/ USS John F. Kennedy Museum], Portland, Maine</ref> [[Portland, Maine]]
On 4 January 2010, [[Portland, Maine City Council]] unanimously endorsed the efforts of the USS ''John F. Kennedy'' Museum while Gov. [[John Baldacci]] also offered his support.<ref>[https://www.portlandmonthly.com/portmag/2010/02/dream-boat-2/ Portland Monthly Magazine: ''Dream Boat''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930184028/https://www.portlandmonthly.com/portmag/2010/02/dream-boat-2/ |date=30 September 2019 }} February/March 2010.</ref> One year later on 19 January 2011 the [[Portland, Maine City Council]] voted 9–0 to not continue with the project to bring the ship to Maine.<ref>[http://www.pressherald.com/news/proposed-carrier-site-voted-down_2011-01-20.html PressHerald.com: ''Proposed Carrier Site Voted Down''], 20 January 2011.</ref>

Plans as of September 2014 had the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame working to secure Pier 2 of the [[Naval Station Newport]]. These developments come after the former {{USS|Saratoga|CV-60}} was sold for scrapping earlier after years of being moored in Newport.<ref name=PJ1>{{cite news|title=Goodbye, Sara|url=http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/editorials/20140831-goodbye-sara.ece|access-date=11 October 2014|publisher=[[Providence Journal]]|date=31 August 2014}}</ref><ref name=Lennon>{{cite news|last1=Lennon|first1=Frank|title=Frank Lennon: JFK carrier could be big boon for R.I.|url=http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/commentary/20140920-frank-lennon-jfk-carrier-could-be-big-boon-for-r.i..ece|access-date=11 October 2014|publisher=Providence Journal|date=20 September 2014|archive-date=16 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016102744/http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/commentary/20140920-frank-lennon-jfk-carrier-could-be-big-boon-for-r.i..ece|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:A639, USS John F Kennedy, stern, Navy Yard, Delaware River, Philadelphia, 2018.jpg|thumb|''John F. Kennedy''{{'}}s stern, [[Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility]], [[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]], 2018]]
With the advent of the nuclear carrier, {{USS|Kitty Hawk|CV-63|2}} and ''John F. Kennedy'' were the last two candidate carriers to become museum ships as they have conventional propulsion. Nuclear carriers, such as {{USS|Enterprise|CV-65|2}} and the {{sclass|Nimitz|aircraft carrier|4}}, require extensive deconstruction to remove their nuclear reactors during decommissioning, leaving them in an unsuitable condition for donation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/10/22/enterprise-nimitz-class-carriers-wont-be-museums.html|title=Enterprise, Nimitz-Class Carriers Won't Be Museums|website=military.com}}</ref> In October 2017, it was announced that ''Kitty Hawk'' would be disposed of by scrapping, leaving ''John F. Kennedy'' the last available carrier capable of conversion to a museum.

In late 2017, the Navy revoked ''John F. Kennedy''{{'}}s "donation hold" status and designated her for dismantling. There were still several groups, from Florida, Maine and Rhode Island, with the assistance of the USS ''John F. Kennedy'' Veteran's Association, hoping to persuade the Navy to reinstate the "donation hold" status, while they pursued the goal of obtaining her as a museum.<ref name= "fate">{{cite web|url=http://www.jacksonville.com/news/military/2017-12-29/scrapyard-or-museum-after-10-years-still-no-firm-plans-former-mayport|title=Scrapyard or museum? After 10 years, still no firm plans for former Mayport carrier USS JFK|publisher=Jacksonville.com|date=29 December 2017|access-date=14 August 2018}}</ref>

On 6 October 2021, ''John F. Kennedy'' and [[USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)|''Kitty Hawk'']] were sold for [[Penny (United States coin)|one cent]] each to International Shipbreaking Limited.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Colson|first=Thomas|title=The US Navy sold 2 obsolete aircraft carriers to scrap dealers for 1 cent each|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/us-sells-2-aircraft-carriers-1-cent-each-2021-10|access-date=2021-10-06|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Trevithick|first=Joseph|title=The Navy's Last Conventionally Powered Aircraft Carriers Have Been Sold For Literal Pennies|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42643/the-navys-last-conventionally-powered-aircraft-carriers-have-been-sold-for-literal-pennies|access-date=2021-10-07|website=The War Zone|publisher=The Drive|language=en}}</ref>

On 16 January 2025, ''John F. Kennedy'' started the voyage to Brownsville, Texas where it will be scrapped.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Simon |first1=Alexandra |title=USS John F. Kennedy leaving Philadelphia's Navy Yard to be dismantled in Texas |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/uss-john-f-kennedy-leaving-philadelphia-dismantled-in-texas |access-date=12 February 2025 |work=CBS News |date=16 January 2025 |location=Philadelphia, PA}}</ref> The carrier arrived on 2 February.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Brendan |title=Lake Charles towing company tugs in USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier for demolition |url=https://www.fox8live.com/2025/02/04/lake-charles-towing-company-tugs-uss-john-f-kennedy-aircraft-carrier-demolition/ |access-date=12 February 2025 |work=fox8live.com |publisher=WVUE |date=4 February 2025 |location=New Orleans, Louisiana}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
The TV series ''[[Supercarrier (TV series)|Supercarrier]]'' was partially filmed on board the ship between September and November 1987, while the ship was undergoing a period of upkeep.<ref name="DANFS"/>
<!---**DO NOT ADD THE MOVIE "2012" HERE. THAT BRIEF SHOT OF A CGI CARRIER NAMED "KENNEDY" IS NOT SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO WARRANT INCLUSION, PER WP:MILPOP, AND CONTINUED ATTEMPTS TO ADD THIS WILL BE REVERTED**--->

== See also ==
* [[List of memorials to John F. Kennedy]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.navysite.de/cvn/cv67.htm USS ''John F. Kennedy'' webpage] Unofficial
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/aircraft_carriers/john_f_kennedy-cv_67/uss_john_f_kennedy_cv_67_page_1.htm Maritimequest USS ''John F. Kennedy'' CV-67 Photo Gallery]
* [http://www.uscarriers.net/cv67history.htm USS ''John F. Kennedy'' history at U.S. Carriers]
* {{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.dod.dimoc.25432|name=Home From The Sea (1970)}}
* [http://www.ussjfkri.org/ USS ''John F. Kennedy'' Project]
* [https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/uss-john-f-kennedy-leaving-philadelphia-dismantled-in-texas/ USS John F. Kennedy leaving Philadelphia's Navy Yard to be dismantled in Texas]

{{Coord|39.8852826|N|75.179374|W |format=dms |type:landmark_region:US-PA |display=title }}

{{Kitty Hawk class aircraft carrier|state=expanded}}
{{1975 shipwrecks}}
{{John F. Kennedy}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:John F. Kennedy (Cv-67)}}
[[Category:Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carriers]]
[[Category:1967 ships]]
[[Category:Cold War aircraft carriers of the United States]]
[[Category:Gulf War ships of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Newport News, Virginia]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1975]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials to John F. Kennedy in the United States]]