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On board the USS Midway Museum – San Diego

Standing on the flight deck of USS Midway

View from the flight deck

USS Midway is a United States aircraft carrier, and was the largest ship in the world until 1955.

The Midway was commissioned a week after the end of World War Two, and served for 47 years. The vessel took part in the Vietnam War, was the Persian Gulf flagship in Operation Desert Storm and evacuated 1800 people from Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines when a volcano erupted nearby. In all, over 225,000 sailors served about the carrier.

Her last voyage in 1991 took her to San Diego Harbour, in California, where she became the USS Midway Museum.

The hanger on USS Midway

The hanger on USS Midway – this is the entrance area. There’s a collection point for the audio tour machines and some helpful docents sitting opposite.

Admission includes a self-guided audio tour, with different versions for adults and kids. The tour takes in more than 60 points of interest on every level of the ship, from the engine room up to the flight control area.

The adult version of the tour was excellent, with an entertaining mixture of facts and personal stories from retired crew.

Looking down from the control tower on USS Midway

Looking down from the control tower

Seats in the control tower on USS Midway

The entire flight deck operations are run from here

In some areas there are also veteran Docents (ex-sailor museum guides) who lead groups round the ship with their personal tales and well-worn banter.

Plane in the hanger on USS Midway

Plane in the hanger on USS Midway

The 1001-foot-long flight deck holds a wide variety of aircraft, many of which you can climb inside and pretend to be attending the nearby TOP GUN aviation school.

USS Midway Visitor Tips

Open 10am-5pm. Admission: $17 adults, $13 seniors, $10 retired military, $9 children, free for active military or kids 5 and under. There’s a large car park at the dock alongside, which is $7 for 4hrs, which is more than enough.

Each colour represents a different job

Each colour represents a different job

Flight deck warning

Flight deck warning

Take off

Take off

USS Midway Helicopter controls

At the controls of one of the many helicopters that line the flight deck

Below decks it can get quite cramped, so watch your head!  As an old warship, disabled access is not complete, and some areas can only be reached by steep steps.

www.midway.org

Weapons room on USS Midway

Weapons room

Buttons

Too many controls

USS Midway Canteen

The sailors canteen on board – all the dishes have their calorie count listed.

USS Midway Officers Cabin

One of the officers cabins down in the bowels of the USS Midway

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