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USS Constellation decommissioned
With the order, "De-man the USS Constellation," the huge aircraft carrier known affectionately as "The Connie" was decommissioned today in a ceremony at the North Island Naval Air Station. The ship, which took part in eight combat deployments over 41 years of service after surviving a series of construction accidents, was labeled "Americaâs Flagship" by former President Ronald Reagan. It is scheduled to be mothballed next month in Bremerton, Wash. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Escondido, who was an ace fighter pilot while serving aboard the ship, told the audience that parts of the Connie will be installed on its replacement, the USS Ronald Reagan. "Itâs like a mother who passes DNA on to her daughter," Cunningham said during an often tearful speech. "The Connie indeed does live." Homeported in San Diego for its entire active career, the Constellation deployed off Vietnam seven times during the 1960s and â70s. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Constellation-based warplanes flew more than 1,500 sorties and dropped more than a million pounds of ordnance. The ship returned its crew and fliers to their homes on June 2. The Connie deployed 21 times overall, mostly in peacetime operations. Next week, a tugboat will tie up to the aircraft carrier and begin the two- week journey to Bremerton. Crew members have been reassigned to a variety of other posts. The air wing will deploy aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Reagan is scheduled to arrive in San Diego sometime next year. Rest easy, Connie. Posted by: Steve 2003-08-07 |
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