The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. She is home-ported at NAS Norfolk, VA and underwent a major overhaul in the early '90s, deployed with CVW-17 in 1996, completed a short overhaul in the summer of 1997, deployed again with CVW-3 in late 1998 to May 1999 to the Med and Arabian Sea regions during which time, they planned many contingency operations in support of the Kosovo crisis while in the Adriatic Sea, as well as participated in Operation Desert Fox while in the Persian Gulf.

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. She is home-ported at NAS Norfolk, VA and underwent a major overhaul in the early '90s, deployed with CVW-17 in 1996, completed a short overhaul in the summer of 1997, deployed again with CVW-3 in late 1998 to May 1999 to the Med and Arabian Sea regions during which time, they planned many contingency operations in support of the Kosovo crisis while in the Adriatic Sea, as well as participated in Operation Desert Fox while in the Persian Gulf. This is the "rainbow" patch first created back in 1996 on my cruise for Airwing 17.

This is the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) patch for the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). They handle the "mid-level" maintenance repairs for the aircraft attached to them.

This is the nametag worn by the Commanding Officer of the USS Enterprise. He's always a flyer, and most of the time a pilot.

Home based at NAS Oceana, VA, the airwing operates onboard the JFK for East Coast Mediterranean cruises.

The 'Sidewinders' of VFA-86 fly the F/A-18C Hornet out of MCAS Beaufort, SC. They left NAS Cecil Field upon the closure of the base a few years ago. They participated in Desert Storm and Operation North Star in 1991, and are attached to CVW-1 onboard the USS Roosevelt (CVN-71).

The 'Sidewinders' of VFA-86 fly the F/A-18C Hornet out of MCAS Beaufort, SC. They left NAS Cecil Field upon the closure of the base a few years ago. They participated in Desert Storm and Operation North Star in 1991, and are attached to CVW-1 onboard the USS Roosevelt (CVN-71).

These are the nametags for the pilots for VFA-211.

These are the nametags for the WSOs for VFA-211.

These are the desert nametags for the pilots for VFA-211 worn when over in other parts of the world.

These are the desert nametags for the WSOs for VFA-211 worn when over in other parts of the world.

This is the new squadron patch for the VFA-211 "Checkmates" that now fly the F/A-18F Hornet out of NAS Oceana, VA.

This is the new aircraft triangle patch for the VFA-211 "Checkmates" that now fly the F/A-18F Hornet out of NAS Oceana, VA.

This is the round version of the aircraft patch for the VFA-211 "Checkmates" that now fly the F/A-18F Hornet out of NAS Oceana, VA.

This is the "KOOLAID" patch for the VFA-211 "Checkmates" that now fly the F/A-18F Hornet out of NAS Oceana, VA. It means that they are now "onboard" with the new aircraft, happy to have it (after a little bit of getting used to the new mindset).

The "Checkerboards" of VMFA-312 fly the F/A-18C Hornet out of MCAS Beaufort, SC. They had a long history with the F-4 Phantom, but transitioned to the F/A-18A in the early '80s, but traded them in for the F/A-18C night-attack Hornets in 1991. They reached their operational strength with 12 aircraft in late '91.

The "Checkerboards" of VMFA-312 fly the F/A-18C Hornet out of MCAS Beaufort, SC, transitioning to them from the F-4 Phantom in August 1981. They traded them in for the F/A-18C night-attack Hornets in 1991, reaching their operational strength of 12 aircraft in late '91.