Big E leaves
 

This somewhat touches me.

Since childhood this ship was a symbol of the modern aircraft carrier to me - a very special ship with legendary name.

I believe there is at least one picture of it in every book about modern warships i got. All the Nimitz carriers may be more modern and better but seeing the distinctive look of the USS Enterprise on the TV news was like meeting an old friend.

After more than 50 years of service she seems to leave the stage ...

What a great ship :yeah:

http://www.navy.mil/viewVideo.asp?id=17847

Sad to see her go after such a long service, but 51 years is a very long service for any warship. :salute:

A great ship, with 50 years service it will be sad to see her go.......

Wow, 50 years... someday in the future, Big E will be thought of as the Ironsides of the 20th century.

Milestones of Big E's career

When she was young, she boldly went where nobody had gone before.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

Name and ship are iconic, no doubt.

A fine vessel and a loyal supporter of her country and peole.

~SALUTE~

I read the news back when she was launched. :sunny:

It's official! SECNAV just announced CVN-80 will be ENTERPRISE.

Open the bottle of Champagne, the ninth American Enterprise will sail the 7 and many more oceans in some years time!

I'm surprised, in more than 50 years of service, I can only find 3 air-to-air kills and two ships sunk for the Big E. Looks like she was away from Vietnam when the MiGs came out to play.

9 May 1968 - 2x MiG-21 Kills VF-96
28 Dec 1972 MiG-21 VF-142

18 April 1988: Boghammar, IS Sahand


Did the Big E have any other combat victories (aside from successful bombing runs)?

:salute:

I wonder if Roddenberry was right in that there will be a long string of fleet ships named after the Enterprise.

On a similar note, Shatner had to cancel his plans to attend the ceremony. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/enterta...966/story.html

I doubt he'll be missed :)

Probably, since there were seven USS Enterprises before this one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise

I hope he has a good excuse.
Star Trek is where I first learned of the name Enterprise.
(I was young once!:rock:)

You don't get a chance like this twice in a life time Bill!!
WTH are you thinking?
:o

Imagine the brass actually having a clue about the pulse of the nation, you sure the wasn't USS Enterprise Car Rental in fine print? :D