Keith Borrelli, U.S. Navy Veteran
The USS Langley (CV-1), commissioned in 1920. She was innovative in most respects in providing the new sea arm of aviation, which became the staple of future warfare. The naval air wing gave aircrews the ability to fly in combat as a unit expanding U.S. defensive capabilities.
Commander Lawrence P. Chicchelly Jr., U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired)
The USS Langley (CV-1). As small and as slow as she was, the amazing success of her experiments is what convinced the Navy to construct the Lexington and Saratoga. Their rapid, tremendous evolutionary developments became the foundation of our World War II–winning carrier doctrine.
Captain Hiram Patterson, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired)
The USS Lexington (CV-2) for providing emergency electric power to Tacoma, Washington, for 30 days during the winter of 1929–30 and medical personnel/relief supplies to Managua, Nicaragua, after the 1931 earthquake. Her aircraft also conducted numerous searches for Amelia Earhart’s missing plane in 1937.
The USS Lexington (CV-2). Naval Institute Photo Archive
Captain Woody Sanford, U.S. Navy Reserve (Retired)
The second USS Lexington (CV-16), after the first was sunk at the Battle of the Coral Sea. It was the first U.S. carrier to get an angled landing deck and was used as a landing platform for student pilots at Pensacola.
Patrick Bruskiewich, Royal Canadian Navy Veteran
The USS Midway (CV-41). The Midway was commissioned in 1945 and saw service until 1992. She participated in the transition from propeller operations to jet operations and was modernized from a single through deck to an angled deck. Several of her air wings distinguished themselves during the Midway’s many deployments. Midway is now a floating museum in San Diego.
Chief John. M Duffy, U.S. Navy (Retired)
The USS Midway (CV-41). The Midway’s career spanned 47 years from 1945–1992. During the Vietnam War her F-4 Phantoms had the first confirmed MiG kills with AIM-7 Sparrows. She took part in Operation Frequent Wind and the Mayaguez Incident. The Midway saw action in the First Persian Gulf War. The Midway carrier battle group’s presence often kept North Korean aggression in check.
The USS Midway (CV-41). Naval Institute Photo Archive
Commander Greg Atchison, U.S. Navy (Retired)
The USS Enterprise (CVN-65). Her nuclear-powered configuration revolutionized carrier aviation unlike no other advancement. Sustainability at sea alone is justification enough, but it stands tall in terms of longevity and combat service. The Enterprise paved the way for today’s modern carriers and held its own alongside them for decades.
David Nilsen, Military Historian
The USS Coral Sea (CV-43). She launched P2V Neptune maritime patrol aircraft to prove the concept of carrier-based nuclear strike. Nuclear deterrence in the Mediterranean in early Cold War and Suez Crisis. She participated in Operation Flaming Dart February 1965 against North Vietnam and over the next ten years spent the most steaming days of any carrier off Vietnam.
Captain Michael Sebastino, U.S. Navy (Retired)
The USS Enterprise (CVN-65), named after CV-6, the most decorated ship of World War II, was the first nuclear-powered carrier. Her more than 50 years of service included the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, enforcement of Bosnian no-fly zones in the 1990s, and Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
Richard Wakefield, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
Undoubtably the Big “E”—USS Enterprise (CVN-65). She had a long and distinguished 51-year career and a reputation as the ship that could do. During a port call at a foreign base the Big “E” found the newest U.S. carrier in the fleet with a sign on her that said, “The Newest and Truest.” Shortly the Big “E” had a sign saying, “The Oldest and Boldest.”
Michael Romero, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
The USS Enterprise (CVN-65) protected U.S. interests, from the Cuban Missile Crisis through the Global War on Terror. Her name dates from the beginnings of American sea power in the Revolutionary War, and CVN-80 will carry the Big E’s legacy into the future.
John Snyder, U.S. Navy Veteran
The USS Enterprise (CVN-65). First nuclear-powered carrier, first nuclear-powered carrier to circumnavigate the globe (Operation Sea Orbit), and first nuclear-powered carrier to see combat (Yankee Station off Vietnam). She had a long and superlative career.
Marc DeLamater, Member since 1974
The USS Enterprise (CVAN/CVN-65) because she was the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier ever built. CVN-65 served in the Vietnam War and the Global War on Terror. She was in service for a precedent-breaking 51 years, more than 15 years past her original service life. Truly, the Big E was ground-breaking and trend setting.
Bill Slupe
The USS Enterprise (CVN-65). She introduced nuclear power to the carrier service, showcasing capabilities in Operation Sea Orbit, a 1964 around-the-world cruise. This increased the striking power of carriers with greater sustainable cruising speed and capacity of fuel stores and ordnance. She served in an active status for 51 years (1961–2012), longer than any other carrier.
Commander Rick Bennett, U.S. Navy (Retired)
The USS Nimitz (CVN-68). The tragic accident of 26 May 1981 provided the impetus to clean up illicit drug use in the armed forces. This action did more to show the resolve of the U.S. military than any deployment in support of a political goal.
Midshipman Third Class Webster Lowe, U.S. Naval Academy
The USS Ranger (CV-61) distinguished itself through service in the Vietnam War and Desert Storm. She supported combat efforts in conflicts spanning from the post–World War II period to the decade preceding 9/11.
Norman Polmar
The most distinguished aircraft carrier in American history is the USS Lexington (CV/CVA/CVS/CVT/AVT-16). After action-packed World War II (11 battle stars) and Cold War careers, she was a training carrier from 1962 to 1991, training many thousands of U.S. and foreign naval aviators.
Thomas M. Goethe
The USS Enterprise (CVN-65). She was the forerunner of the Nimitz-class carriers and, while her design is very different, proved the value of nuclear propulsion in carriers. She pioneered phased radar, served around the world, and kept alive the traditions of her name, Enterprise.
Chief Electrician’s Mate Terry A. Gardner, U.S. Navy (Retired)
The USS Enterprise (CVN-65). Why? Because I served on her, and the chief is always right that's why! What more reason do you need?
Major John Boyes, UK Territorial Army (Retired)
The USS Midway (CV-41). On 6 September 1947, a captured German V2 ballistic missile was launched from her deck. Although the launch emphasized the dangers of handling volatile fuels on warships, it was the first tentative step in the subsequent development of the fleet ballistic missile.
Captain Todd C. Davis, U.S. Navy (Retired)
No contest—the USS Midway (CV-41). Had the longest tenure of commissioned service, distinguished herself in multiple campaigns across the globe, was a pivotal forward-deployed asset, and put more ordnance down range during Desert Storm than her Nimitz-class counterparts (with no waist catapults!). By almost any measure, it’s “Midway Magic.”
Captain Fred Lydic, U.S. Navy (Retired)
The USS Midway (CVB/CVA/CV-41). Forty-seven years of active service. Her air wing recorded the first and last air-to-air combat victories over Vietnam, in 1965 and 1973, respectively. She never broke down or missed a deployment. She was the first aircraft carrier assigned to a foreign homeport.
Craig Faust, U.S. Navy Veteran
The USS Midway (CV-41) and the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) would have to share the honors. They bridged the gap between the Essex class of World War II and the advent of the supercarriers, and stood toe to toe with the supercarriers until the 1990s.
Hans Quitmeyer, U.S. Navy Veteran (USS Midway 1973–76)
The USS Midway (CV-41) had a long history of notable “firsts”: Vietnam-era Presidential Unit Citation, Operations Frequent Wind and Desert Storm, first carrier homeported overseas, and now an inspiring museum ship in San Diego. It must be Midway Magic!
Henry A. Kyle III
Unquestionably, the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) because she was the first nuclear-powered carrier and served her country from 1961–2012. Her name is carried on with the construction of the new USS Enterprise (CVN-80).
Robert N. Beck, Dean, Naval Postgraduate School
The USS Hornet (CV-8) carried Doolittle’s Raiders for the first strike on the Japanese Homeland in World War II.
Chris Landis
The USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is the only U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to have traveled through a time vortex. Thankfully, it traversed the vortex a second time, returning to its original position in time. (The Final Countdown, 1980)