USS Midway Museum-More pix added on page 2

Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:18 am

I went to see the USS Midway museum today in downtown San Diego, California with a couple of friends. It was my first time to see this museum and I was impressed. They have done a beautiful job.

Here are a lot of photos, probably too many:

There are two active duty carriers just across the bay; the Nimitz CVN-68 and the Ronald Reagan CVN-76

Last edited by Taigh Ramey on Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:20 am, edited 1 time in total.

Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:54 am

Great photos, thank you for sharing them.

My wife and I visited there in 2005, great museum, friendly staff and a credit to all concerned.

Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:22 am

Great pictures! Thanks for posting them...

Got any of the interior of your B-29 Nose... :wink:

Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:35 am

What does the 41 on the Carrier signify?
Is that the Midway # or another carrier?
No captions - hard to tell...
Thanks.

Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:38 am

ww2John wrote:What does the 41 on the Carrier signify?
Is that the Midway # or another carrier?
No captions - hard to tell...
Thanks.

41 is the Carrier Number for Midway.
Current Carriers Nimitz is 68 and Reagan is 76.
The number actually came before the name and there would be money authorized by Congress to build carriers Number x through Y. Then it would get a name.
Rich

Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:27 am

Not too many pictures. Heck, its the only non-Essex class US carrier to make it as a museum ship.

Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:42 am

The airline puts us up at the Holiday Inn a block away so I get to see the ship every time I'm in town. Took the tour when she first opened, but I can see I need to go back - many new airplanes in the past few years. Did you get any shots of the deceptive paint scheme in the F-18 (false wing tips and vertical fins)? Is the Skyraider prop correct - or maybe off a Bearcat? Blades look short and pitch is fairly high for an A-1 at rest ... or maybe I can't see straight?

PS: If any of you get to visit - may I recommend the Fish House restaurant just out of frame to the right of the kissing sailor statue ... never had a bad meal there yet.

Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:45 am

Beautiful pics of some very nice looking birds, although I would worry about leaving them exposed to the salt air like that. Of course, it's hard to avoid if you're gonna display them on a carrier.

SN

Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:16 am

Great shots Taigh, thanks for posting!

Did you see the F-8 Crusader on display at all?

The New England Air Museum gave there's back to the Navy a few years ago and it went to the Midway. I'm not sure it's hit the restoration cue yet.
Jerry

Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:48 am

Dang! Can you believe I live here in San Diego and still have not gone down to see her! :oops:

I see a carrier in my future this coming weekend!!

Thanks for the pics!

Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:08 am

Jesse C. wrote:Dang! Can you believe I live here in San Diego and still have not gone down to see her!

No, shame shame. As additional penance, may I suggest you also visit the Air & Space Museum (lots of pics) and the Maritime Museum (lots of pics and is "Stars & Stripes" still out front?).

Last time I was in San Diego, the Midway was across from the Amphibs being decommissioned.

Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:33 am

That looks like an awesome museum. Aircrat look upkept to a high standard.

Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:02 pm

How many F-4 Phantoms were there? I see number 104 left side, 201 right side and 102. I think based on backgrounds that 104 and 201 are the same airframe.

Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:03 pm

Great pics Taigh, was there 2 years ago and it's a great Museum. The last time I saw the Midway in operation was in the Persian Gulf for Desert Storm when I was on the USS.Ranger, hope they get the Ranger set up as a Museum up in Oregon.
http://www.ussranger.org/

Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:08 pm

Nice photo's! Thanks for sharing.