Sailors celebrate Enterprise’s 50th birthday

A logo to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). U.S. Navy photo illustration/Released)

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. —
The world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has turned 50.
Hundreds of current and past crew members gathered Sunday and Monday at Naval Station Norfolk to celebrate Enterprise’s 50th birthday.


There also was a memorial service on Monday to honor those who died while serving aboard “Big E.”
Enterprise was commissioned Nov. 25, 1961, in Newport News. It participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, the Vietnam War and launched the first strikes against the Taliban in October 2001. It will deploy one final time in March 2012 and is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2015.

A graphic depicting some of the characteristics of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). U.S. Navy photo illustration/Released) - click on it for hi-res

Sailors spell out "E=MC2" on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ship's commissioning. Enterprise is the first and oldest nuclear powered aircraft carrier still in service and is celebrating its 50th birthday on Nov. 25, 2011. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd class Alex R. Forster/Released) - click on it for hi-res

Plank owners of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) gather on the flight deck for a photograph during the ship’s 50th birthday celebration. The term “plank owner” is used to identify members of a ship’s commissioning crew.  Enterprise is the oldest active ship in the U.S. Navy and is making preparations for her final deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Carpenter/Released)- click on it for hi-res

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