"Midway Magic"
Since I don't have a lot more pictures left of my vacation due to the lousy weather the entire second half of my trip, I will post some interesting facts about the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier.
- The USS Midway was in service for 47 years, from the end of WWII to the liberation of Kuwait in 1991
- The USS Midway was the first ship that was too large for the Panama Canal
- It was the first carrier to operate extensively in the sub-Arctic
- Pilots from the Midway shot down the first and last MiGs of the Vietnam War
- Midway led the evacuation of Saigon, rescuing 3,073 refugees in two days
- Rescued 1,800 Americans fleeing the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Phillipines in 1991
- 225,000 sailors served on the Midway, average age was 20
- No other aircraft carrier has served America as long as the USS Midway
- Surpassed 2.5 million visitors since opening in San Diego in 2004
Here are some additional numbers about USS Midway, that might be interesting:
- It only cost $90 million to build in 1945, but cost $260 million to overhaul it from 1966-1970
- 69,000 tons total weight (average car is about 2 tons)
- 2,000 compartments
- 2,000 electric motors
- 1,500 telephones
- 1,001 feet long (305 metres)
- Set all-time record for days at sea, 327
- 258 feet wide (78.6 metres)
- 18 decks
- 12 boilers
- 3.4 million gallon fuel capacity
- 100,000 gallons fuel used daily
- 260 gallons fuel used per mile (glad my car doesn't get that kind of mileage!)
- 2 physicians were on board, and 1 dentist (for 4,500 man crew)
- 10 tons of food daily
- 13, 500 meals served daily
- 2,000 potatoes daily
- 1,000 loaves of bread daily
- 4,500 lbs of beef when served
- 500 pies when served
It's track record of humanitarian missions, establishment of new naval aviation standards, and dedication to the American ideals of liberty, freedom, and peace was unmatched. The called it "Midway Magic."
The #Dogs’ July 2024 Vet Trip
1 year ago
Wow, that's really interesting reading. That ship sounds huge! Terri served on the USCGC Morgenthau out of Governor's Island, New York, when he first joined the Coast Guard in 1972. I just found an interesting website for that, too...will have to post it sometime. I didn't know much about the Midway, but that is so interesting to read. (wasn't there a movie a long time ago titled "Midway"?)
ReplyDeleteI do believe so Alice. Another one of those movies I was inflicted with every year on one anniversary or another.
ReplyDeleteIt did make some interesting reading. That's alotta gas...and I thought hubby was a gassy one...
well dang!! all that woulda been cool to show Michael with the pictures! gonna have to show him again lol
ReplyDelete260 gallons fuel used per mile? Yegads.. Thats 0.0038 miles to the gallon - or 20 FEET to the gallon! I bet that EPA milage sticker is an interesting read and about the only thing worse would be the Space Shuttle at launch.
ReplyDelete