U.S.S. Yorktown in Trouble

[Brad]

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009 ... r-junk-it/

Seems the Navy's preservation policy for ships is about as retarded as the one for airplanes!

Lots of cool airplanes on the Yorktown. We got married with her in the background last year.

[bdk]

The old, "So you better fix it or else we'll make you scrap it, but we won't give you any money to save USN heritage trick.."

I guess the USN would have no problem hiring 100 lawyers to sue the City of Charleston though, otherwise they could just ignore the navy.

[mustangdriver]

I was out there a couple of years ago. The volunteers there are great and it's a wonderful museum. In the navys defense some of the stuff was in really rough shape. The sub was really bad. The planes looked great and the Yorktown itself looked good although the flight deck was messed up. I hope it works out for them

[Shay]

The Laffey (DD), they had on display, just went into drydock for repairs. They stated that they were pumping out 2000 gal. a day. I'm willing to bet, if a well publized funds campaign is setup, a lot of Essex class vets and squadron mates will show support.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[RMAllnutt]

Did you notice that the article title located immediately below this one says "Sink the Yorktown, and bring in another ship". That kind of defeats the purpose, I woud think.... someone clearly doesn't get it. However, that being said, where on earth are they going to get the sort of money needed to fix the boat?

Richard

[Shay]

Can they apply for grants?

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Brad]

The planes looked great and the Yorktown itself looked good although the flight deck was messed up. I hope it works out for them

The flight deck was being resurfaced.

Did you notice that the article title located immediately below this one says "Sink the Yorktown, and bring in another ship". That kind of defeats the purpose, I woud think.... someone clearly doesn't get it. However, that being said, where on earth are they going to get the sort of money needed to fix the boat?

Richard

Richard,

The cat that wrote the article you are refering to is a well known trouble maker. By that, I mean he stirs up the pot to get people to read his columns. He wrote that particular story on Memorial day to get a bigger response. When the airport runway was to be extended a few years ago, the city wanted the USAF to pay for 80% because we shared the runway and used it the most. Trouble was that we didn't need a longer runway so we didn't want to pay for building one just so the city of Charleston could get more airliners in. This guy wrote several columns about getting the AFB closed down since we didn't want to contribute to the city.

I don't think he means most of what he says. He's just creating a story.

All that being said, I personally don't think the city or the Patriot's Point museum can afford to dry dock or sink the Yorktown. In fact, I'm not sure Patriot's Point was ever doing real well cash wise. That being said, I love the place and went often during the five years I lived in Charleson. Like so many historical things in that city, it's worth whatever money they can put into it.

[RMAllnutt]

The planes looked great and the Yorktown itself looked good although the flight deck was messed up. I hope it works out for them

The flight deck was being resurfaced.

Did you notice that the article title located immediately below this one says "Sink the Yorktown, and bring in another ship". That kind of defeats the purpose, I woud think.... someone clearly doesn't get it. However, that being said, where on earth are they going to get the sort of money needed to fix the boat?

Richard

Richard,

The cat that wrote the article you are refering to is a well known trouble maker. By that, I mean he stirs up the pot to get people to read his columns. He wrote that particular story on Memorial day to get a bigger response. When the airport runway was to be extended a few years ago, the city wanted the USAF to pay for 80% because we shared the runway and used it the most. Trouble was that we didn't need a longer runway so we didn't want to pay for building one just so the city of Charleston could get more airliners in. This guy wrote several columns about getting the AFB closed down since we didn't want to contribute to the city.

I don't think he means most of what he says. He's just creating a story.

All that being said, I personally don't think the city or the Patriot's Point museum can afford to dry dock or sink the Yorktown. In fact, I'm not sure Patriot's Point was ever doing real well cash wise. That being said, I love the place and went often during the five years I lived in Charleson. Like so many historical things in that city, it's worth whatever money they can put into it.

Thanks Brad... he does seem a bit of a self-serving rabble rouser. I suppose in this particular case he might actually help more than hinder if he gets the right people motivated. I'd hate to see Yorktown scrapped though... I've been several times, and it's a great place. So much history, and I love the city too. I went last a couple of years ago, and the parking lot was packedl They were also doing a lot of welding on the side of the ship. She seems well looked after to me, but it is a big hunk of iron sitting in salt water... nature will have her way in the end.

Cheers
Richard

[Robbie Roberts]

Great another thread subject which pisses me off... At least it isn't about the leftists in office in DC. I really think Patriots Point is a great place- I was there about 5 years ago, en route to Florida for a week, and spent the better part of a day exploring all those ships. The only thing I didn't like was he solid nose on the B-25...

Robbie

[Tom Moungovan]

The Laffey (DD), they had on display, just went into drydock for repairs. They stated that they were pumping out 2000 gal. a day. I'm willing to bet, if a well publized funds campaign is setup, a lot of Essex class vets and squadron mates will show support.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

Would this be the same Laffey that was in the Pacific Theater in WW2?
I can't remember all the particulars, but this DD was heavily involved
in the Guadalcanal Campaign.

[Pogmusic]

Yes, it is the Laffey of WWII fame -- The Ship That Would Not Die

[Jack Cook]

but this DD was heavily involved
in the Guadalcanal Campaign.

No No No!!
The first Laffey was a Benson class DD sunk at Guadalcanal by the BB Hiei.
The 2nd a Gearing class was damaged at Okinawa and is at the museum.

[Tom Moungovan]

The Battleship Hiei was herself sunk at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal,
part 1 on or about Noverber 13, a Friday no less, 1942.
Thanks to the two previous posters for the help.

[Jack Cook]

My cousin was one of the pilots who attacked the Hiei.

[Holedigger]

The DD-724 Laffey was also an Atlantic escort and participated in the D-Day operation at Normandy! She is the only Sumner-class destroyer Preserved. A real vet that also deserves preservation. It only takes lots of $$$$ and manhours!