67th Anniversary of Intrepid’s Commissioning August 16, 2010, 1:00 p.m. location: flight deck

Please join us as we honor the 67th anniversary of Intrepid’s Commissioning with a ceremony on our Flight Deck with remarks from former crewmembers who served aboard the Intrepid, followed by a cake cutting. Following the ceremony the Former Crewmembers will be on hand during the day to share their stories and memories of Intrepid’s historic service. 1943 intrepid Timeline 1974

August 16, 1943 Intrepid is commissioned at the Newport November 25, 1944 During action in the Philippines, two kamikaze News shipyard. planes strike Intrepid within minutes of one another, killing 69 men and injuring 35. January 29 – February 2, 1944 Seeing her first action of the war, Intrepid participates in the invasion of the Marshall Islands March 18, 1945 During the Battle of Okinawa, a Japanese bomber in the Pacific Ocean. explodes just off Intrepid’s bow, igniting fires in the hangar deck. The ship remains in action, helping to sink the Japanese battleship February 16-17, 1944 Intrepid participates in a major carrier Yamato less than three weeks later. offensive against the Japanese base on the island of Truk. A Japanese air-launched torpedo hits Intrepid, flooding several April 16, 1945 A kamikaze airplane plunges through Intrepid’s compartments and jamming the rudder. The crew jury-rigs a sail Flight Deck during the Battle of Okinawa, killing eight men and in the fo’c’s’le to keep the ship on course as she heads to Pearl wounding 21. Harbor for repairs. August 6, 1945 The repaired Intrepid participates in raids on September 6-17, 1944 Intrepid launches air strikes on Wake Island. the Palaus and the Philippine island of Mindanao. On September 17, she returns to the Palaus to support the August 15, 1945 After the surrender of Japan, Intrepid receives Marines fighting on Peleliu. orders to “cease offensive operations.” The ship supports the occupation of Japan and remains in the Pacific until December, October 23–26, 1944 Intrepid participates in the Battle of when she arrives in California. Leyte Gulf, one of the largest naval battles in history. Intrepid planes help sink the Japanese battleship Musashi. March 22, 1947 Intrepid is decommissioned and joins the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard near San Francisco. October 29, 1944 Intrepid suffers her first kamikaze hit when a Japanese airplane smashes into the port side of the ship near 1952–1954 Intrepid undergoes a modernization program that Gun Tub-10. The African-American volunteer gunners manning includes installing new steam catapults, reinforcing the Flight Gun Tub-10 courageously keep firing as the plane crashes into Deck for heavier jet planes, removing many smaller caliber their position. Ten men are killed, and six are wounded. weapons, and building a pilot’s escalator between the Hangar Deck and Flight Deck. 1943 intrepid Timeline 1974

June 18, 1954 Intrepid is recommissioned as a CVA attack April 4 – November 21, 1966 Converted to a “special attack carrier. The following year, she embarks on the first of numerous carrier,” Intrepid serves her first of three tours in Vietnam. deployments to the Mediterranean during the Cold War. October 9, 1966 Flying an A-1H Skyraider, Intrepid pilot September 1956 – April 1957 Intrepid sails to the Brooklyn William T. Patton shoots down a North Vietnamese MiG-17. Navy Yard for a seven-month modernization overhaul, which includes the installation of the angled flight deck and the mirror May 11 – December 30, 1967 Intrepid serves her second tour of landing system. duty in Vietnam.

September 1957 Intrepid participates in NATO’s “Operation June 4, 1968 – February 8, 1969 Intrepid serves her third tour Strikeback,” the largest peacetime naval operation up to that time. of duty in Vietnam.

March 31, 1962 Intrepid is reclassified as a CVS anti-submarine September 19, 1968 Intrepid pilot Lt. Anthony J. Nargi, flying an carrier. F-8 Crusader, shoots down a North Vietnamese MiG-21 using a Sidewinder missile. May 24, 1962 Intrepid serves as a primary recovery vessel for the Mercury 7 space mission. Helicopters from the ship pick up 1970–1974 Intrepid resumes her anti-submarine role, cruising to astronaut Scott Carpenter, commander of the second manned the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and the Baltic Sea and orbital flight. participating in NATO exercises.

March 23, 1965 Intrepid helicopters pick up Gemini 3 astronauts March 15, 1974 Intrepid is decommissioned in a ceremony at John Young and Virgil “Gus” Grissom. Intrepid also recovers their Quonset Point, Rhode Island. two-person capsule nicknamed “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.”

July 1965 Intrepid returns to Brooklyn for FRAM (Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization) refitting. The ship receives new bow-mounted sonar, automated CIC and new electronics.