USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER CVA-69

Wnl66: This aircraft carrier definitely is not Forrestal. It is Dwight D. Eisenhower (Nimitz class) for these 3 reasons: CVA69 (Forrestal was CVA59); Forrestal did not have a seperate mast behind the island, but a rather tall mast on top of the island; Forrestal had only one aircraft lift in front of the island and two behind. The NImitz class ships had just the opposite design.

Good pick up wn166

The number on the island of this aircraft carrier is 69. That means the picture is of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), NOT the USS Forrestal, which was CVA-59. The date attributed to this photo (Jan. 1, 1978) still works, since the "Ike" was commissioned in 1977.

For much interesting history detail see http://www.navsource.org/archives/02/59.htm

She was the first new built CVA (Carrier Vessel Attack) after WW2. 280.000 shp max. geared to 4 shafts to obtain a speed of up to 34kn! The multitude of different aircraft she carried was amaizing and very interesting. James V. Forrestal was Secretary of the Navy and managed the enormous newbuilding programme in World War 2.

1967 she suffered from a terrible fire at the Gulf of Tonking during the Viet Nam war. A rocket form a Phantom aircraft exploded due to some lax ahndling and the ensuing fire caused 134 deaths and much damage. She was repaired later.