Just received this from Rick Burgess over at the Navy League's pub Sea Power. Because they need to keep KH in mothballs until USS Gerald R. Ford is commissioned, the effort to get Kitty Hawk for a museum is on hold for two years:
The Wilmington Kitty Hawk Concept Team, an ad hoc group working behind the scenes to bring the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) to the area as a museum ship, has suspended its efforts for at least two years.
Concept Team secretary Wilbur D. Jones, Jr., a retired Navy captain, announced the decision today on behalf of the group, which began its quest in early 2006.
The reason: the Inactive Ships Branch of the Naval Seas Systems Command in Washington, D. C., informed the team the Chief of Naval Operations decided to hold the ship in reserve as a retention asset until its replacement - in numbers of carriers - the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), is commissioned in 2015.
The Kitty Hawk, which left its permanent station in Japan in May, is in Bremerton, Wash., undergoing its final decommissioning process prior to being placed there in the reserve fleet. In service since 1961, it is the Navy’s last oil-fired carrier.
“Our effort generated much statewide political, civic, and public interest and support, and media attention, which our team has appreciated,” Jones said. "We felt our beginning effort had a tacit go-ahead from the Navy. We particularly thank Congressman Mike McIntyre, the Wilmington City Council, and New Hanover Commissioners.
“Relocating a carrier anywhere is an enormous planning and financial undertaking. A huge planning and preparation lead time is required within a detailed, cumbersome ship donation application process. Such a project can be accomplished, but it is not for the faint of heart.
“We had identified a potential site on the Cape Fear River, had spoken with a consultant, and were prepared to apply for a foundation when we learned that continuing this pursuit until 2011 at the earliest would not be time or money well spent. In 2011 we will reevaluate the prospect and go from there, contingent of course upon the Navy’s plans,” Jones added.
Other concept team members are Frederick Willetts III, chairman and CEO of Cooperative Bank; retired Navy captain Howard Loving; county commissioner and retired Coast Guard captain Bill Caster; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Dick McGraw; and retired Corps of Engineers environmental engineer Dr. Wayne Wright.
For further information, contact Jones at 910-793-6393 or JonesWD@aol.com.
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Wilmington Group Suspends
Efforts to Obtain Carrier
USS Kitty Hawk as Museum Ship
Wilmington Group Suspends
Efforts to Obtain Carrier
USS Kitty Hawk as Museum Ship
The Wilmington Kitty Hawk Concept Team, an ad hoc group working behind the scenes to bring the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) to the area as a museum ship, has suspended its efforts for at least two years.
Concept Team secretary Wilbur D. Jones, Jr., a retired Navy captain, announced the decision today on behalf of the group, which began its quest in early 2006.
The reason: the Inactive Ships Branch of the Naval Seas Systems Command in Washington, D. C., informed the team the Chief of Naval Operations decided to hold the ship in reserve as a retention asset until its replacement - in numbers of carriers - the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), is commissioned in 2015.
The Kitty Hawk, which left its permanent station in Japan in May, is in Bremerton, Wash., undergoing its final decommissioning process prior to being placed there in the reserve fleet. In service since 1961, it is the Navy’s last oil-fired carrier.
“Our effort generated much statewide political, civic, and public interest and support, and media attention, which our team has appreciated,” Jones said. "We felt our beginning effort had a tacit go-ahead from the Navy. We particularly thank Congressman Mike McIntyre, the Wilmington City Council, and New Hanover Commissioners.
“Relocating a carrier anywhere is an enormous planning and financial undertaking. A huge planning and preparation lead time is required within a detailed, cumbersome ship donation application process. Such a project can be accomplished, but it is not for the faint of heart.
“We had identified a potential site on the Cape Fear River, had spoken with a consultant, and were prepared to apply for a foundation when we learned that continuing this pursuit until 2011 at the earliest would not be time or money well spent. In 2011 we will reevaluate the prospect and go from there, contingent of course upon the Navy’s plans,” Jones added.
Other concept team members are Frederick Willetts III, chairman and CEO of Cooperative Bank; retired Navy captain Howard Loving; county commissioner and retired Coast Guard captain Bill Caster; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Dick McGraw; and retired Corps of Engineers environmental engineer Dr. Wayne Wright.
For further information, contact Jones at 910-793-6393 or JonesWD@aol.com.
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