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USS Constellation CV-64(V)

The USS Constellation (CV-64), known as "Connie", was actually named for the U.S. flag's "new constellation of stars". During her 41 years of life, she was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for her service in the Persian Gulf and three Navy Unit Commendations and one Presidential Unit Citation for actions during her Vietnam deployment. The USS Constellation also received two Pacific Fleet Battle Efficiency Awards, a very highly desired acknowledgement of naval operational quality.

While Connie was still being constructed, one of her fuel tanks was damaged by a forklift. Fuel spilled and caught on fire. Spreading out of control, 323 shipyard workers suffered injuries and 50 others were killed. This set back her commissioning until 1961, and the repairs, at $75 million, brought her overall cost to approximately $400 million.

Many Early Contributions

Connie's maiden voyage came the following year as she was deployed with a CVG-14 to the Pacific Fleet's 7th Fleet. In 1965, during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, she launched F-4B Phantom IIs in air strikes over North Vietnamese oil facility and naval vessels. The ship's F-4B experienced her first MiG kill of the war, but she returned home with a loss of 15 aircraft and 16 airmen. The Constellation's following mission found her patrolling first at Dixie Station, then at Yankee Station.

During this and her next assignment, her F-4Bs shot down four MiG kills, but suffered a loss of 31 aircraft, 13 soldiers killed in action, 11 men as prisoners of war, and 5 other fatalities. She had her 100,000th arrested landing on board the following year, and by 1972, accounted for 8 more downed North Vietnamese MiG-21 jet fighters. The one unfortunate incident involving Connie also occurred during that year; when African American crew members claimed disparate treatment by the Navy, their protest led some to refer to it as "an abortive mutiny". Constellation also supported mine-clearing operations in North Vietnam when the war ended, making her "on station" when combat operations began, as well as when it ended 9 years later.

More Modifications and Disasters

After a 1974 overhaul, Connie was now equipped to employ mechanisms for the newest warfare. She boasted the most up-to-date antisubmarine and multipurpose air and surface equipment, including the F-14A Tomcat. After a few more deployments, she was visited by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, who proclaimed Connie as "America's Flagship". After the presentation of a presidential flag to the crew, he stated: "Let friend and foe alike know that America has the muscle to back up its words with ships like these and men like you are that muscle." The US continued to put faith in the Constellation by replacing her existing missile system with the Sea Sparrow and the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System in 1983. At this time, she was also permitted operation of the new F/A-18A Hornet. Five years later, a fuel leak into the number One Main Machinery Room caused an explosion. The consequent fire tore through the ship and caused additional explosions. Ordered to general quarters, some of the crew remained in the scorching conditions to fight the fire and eventually contained it. However, it reignited the following day and again threatened the vessel. It was extinguished relatively quickly, but the Constellation required continuous repairs to keep her on schedule. Four days into her next mission, one of Connie's Prowler aircrafts and four airmen were lost at sea. In 1990, Constellation was the recipient of an $800 million overhaul termed the Service Life Extension Program, which took three years; she was now almost like new and considered to have another 15 years of service ahead. She actually made history when her largest steam turbines were replaced, since such an update had never before been attempted on a vessel of her size.

Her Final Decade

Connie traveled to the Persian Gulf near Iraq for Operation Southern Watch. She supported activities there until called to monitor gunfire between North and South Korean vessels in 1999, then returned to the Gulf to acquire air strikes against two Iraqi radar stations. Her final deployment came in 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Her CVW-2 aircraft delivered over 1.7 million pounds of ordnance; during this mission there were no crew deaths, but one of Connie's aircraft was irreparably damaged. On her final day of service, the Constellation boasted arrested landing number 395,710 of her career. She was decommissioned in 2003 and towed to the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, Washington, where she is scheduled for dismantling within the next five years.

The fires Connie suffered during construction and while at sea proved the high risk of danger associated with so much fuel and heat within such small, contained locations. Even on land, 50 individuals unfortunately lost their lives. This is why shipbuilders relied heavily on asbestos for additional insulation and protection. Its qualities to restrict heat, flames and electricity, along with its properties to mold into tiny and awkward spaces, made asbestos seem invaluable. Sadly, it did not always save lives from onboard fires, and it also posed risks of which sailors weren't even aware. If any minute-sized fibers separated from the asbestos sealant and drifted into Connie's air system, it may have been inhaled by those on board.

If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on the USS Constellation CV-64(V), or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a free packet with more information. Enter your contact information in the form in the right column and we'll send a copy immediately.

Aircraft Carriers Index

USS America USS Antietam CV 36 K USS Antietam CV 36 USS Badoeng Strait CVE 116 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Bairoko CVE 115 USS Belleau wood CVL 24 USS Bennington CV 20 USS Bon Homme Richard CVa USS Boxer CV USS Bunker CV USS Cabot CVL 28 USS Constellation CV USS Coral Sea CV USS Corregidor CVE 58 USS Sable ix USS San jacinto CVL USS Saratoga CV USS Saratoga CV3 USS Shangri La

USS Cowpens CVL 25 USS Enterprise CV 6 USS Enterprise CVN USS Essex CV 9 USS Forrestal CV USS Franklin CV 13 USS Hancock CV 19 USS Hornet CV 12 USS Hornet CV 8 USS Independence C1 USS Independence CVL 22 USS Intrepid CV 11 USS Kearsage CV 33 USS Kearsage CV USS Kitty Hawk USS Sicily CVe USS Sitkoh bay USS Tarawa CV USS Ticonderoga CV USS Valley forge CV

USS Lake Champlain CV 39 USS Langley CV 1 USS Langley CVL 27 USS Lexington CV 16 USS Lexington CV 2 USS Leyte CV 32 USS Midway CV USS Oriskany CV USS Phillipine Sea CV USS Point cruz CVE USS Princeton CV USS Princeton CVL USS Randolph CV USS Ranger CV USS Rendova USS Wasp CV 18 USS Wasp CV 7 USS Wolverine IX 64 USS Yorktown CV 10 USS Yorktown CV 5

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