Research Library, USS Midway Museum

5 June 1966, 60 years ago today: While orbiting the earth in the NASA Gemini IX-A spacecraft commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas P. Stafford, USAF, naval aviator Lieutenant Commander Eugene A. Cernan, USN becomes the second American astronaut to walk in space. His two hour, eight minute experience showed there was still much to be learned about working in microgravity.

NASA photo # S66-38515D

4 June 1942: Navy flight surgeon and corpsmen treating casualties aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5) shortly after the carrier had been hit by Japanese bombs.

U.S. Navy photo # 240604-N-N1526-1001 from BuMed archives

3 June 1942: The opens when a Consolidated PBY Catalina patrol plane flown by Ensign Jack Reid spots the Japanese Occupation Force carrying troops for the invasion of Midway Atoll.

Painting, Oil on Wood; by John Hamilton; C. 1975; Framed Dimensions 28H X 40W

U.S. Navy accession # 80-142-P

Chinese Carrier Strike Group Conducts 170 Sorties During Drills in Philippine Sea — USNI News

2 June 2006, 20 years ago today: Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Dr. Donald C. Winter addresses the crew of the conventionally powered U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) during an all hands call in Mayport, Florida. SECNAV toured Kennedy and several naval facilities within Navy Region Southeast.

U.S. Navy photo # 060602-N-0325D-001 by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Ryan Dougherty

1 June 1991, 35 years ago today: Sailors man the rails aboard the conventionally powered Forrestal-class aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-61) while the large harbor tug Tuskegee (YTB-806) escorts the vessel toward the Naval Supply Center pier. The large harbor tug Niantic (YTB-781) approaches to assist with the docking. Aircraft of Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) crowd the flight deck. Ranger was stopping off at Pearl Harbor while en route to its home port of San Diego, California after returning from deployment in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. U.S. Navy photo by PH3 Rusty Bos from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

NARA DN-SC-93-04704

31 May 1946, 80 years ago today: The Independence-class light aircraft carrier USS Langley (CVL-27), seen here in an undated photo, was assigned to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, Philadelphia Group. She was later decommissioned on 11 February 1947, and was transferred to France under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program on 8 January 1951. In French service she was renamed La Fayette (R-96). The carrier was returned to the United States on 20 March 1963 and sold to the Boston Metals Co., Baltimore, Maryland, for scrapping.

U.S. Navy photo # NH 67579

30 May 1971, 55 years ago today: Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Russell "Bud" Zumwalt Jr. visited the U.S. Navy attack aircraft carrier (CVA-41) while the ship was operating on Yankee Station. From the ship's command history:

"On 30 May the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Elmo R. ZUMWALT arrived for a short visit aboard. After conferring with Rear Admiral [John "L"] BUTTS [Jr.] and Captain [Eugene J.] CARROLL [Jr.] he reenlisted 25 men into the Navy, met with the junior officers in the wardroom and held a forum over MIDWAY's TV station, KMID."

Page scanned from Midway's 1971 recommissioning and Vietnam cruise book

29 May 1951, 75 years ago today: The Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) joined Task Force 77 off Korea and launched her first air strikes two days later on the 31st.

U.S. Navy photo from Bon Homme Richard's 1951 recommissioning and Korea cruise book