What is interesting about the museum

USS Midway is the 20th century's most long-serving American aircraft carrier, with 225,000 sailors on board. This historical relic provides visitors with the opportunity to view 60 different artifacts and 29 reconstructed aircraft, including those that flew during World War II, Operation Desert Storm and the Korean War.

During the tour you will see crew bedrooms, engine room, ship prison and the main control room, as well as other service rooms. You will be shown flight simulators and will conduct a master class on tying marine knots. You will also find a cafe in case you start to feel hungry.

Although the audio guides are quite informative, we recommend stopping by to listen to knowledgeable volunteers. Many of them are war veterans who served on the ship. Not even the biggest history buffs call the aircraft carrier a must-see. The US Air Force appreciated the contribution of servicemen to their military service.

Since this is one of San Diego’s most popular attractions, it’s best to come here early to avoid line-ups and fleas.

Story

Named for the Battle of Midway in mid-1942, the USS Midway was built in just 17 months. But the Second World Ship did not catch, since it was put into operation only on September 10, 1945. Midway was the first in the class of large-tonnage ships, accommodating up to 120 aircraft.

From the very beginning of its service, the ship played a key role in the Cold War. In 1946, he became the first ship to operate in the middle of winter in the subarctic.

The first participation in the Midway battle took place in 1965, when the US command decided to launch air strikes on North Vietnam. In 1966, the ship was decommissioned and sent for a four-year overhaul.

During the fall of Saigon in April 1975, Midway was a floating base for large Air Force helicopters that evacuated more than 3,000 refugees during Operation Frequent Wind.

In 1990, Midway was sent to the Persian Gulf in response to the capture of Kuwait by Iraq. During Operation Desert Storm, the aircraft carrier served as the flagship of the Navy and without loss passed more than 3,000 battle skirmishes. His last mission was to evacuate civilian personnel from an air base in the Philippines.

On April 11, 1992, Midway was finally decommissioned and left in storage in Washington until 2003, after which it was donated to the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum. In June 2004, the ship was transformed into a museum and opened to the public.

Interesting Facts

• USS Midway is one of America's longest-serving aircraft carriers.
• Simulators give you the opportunity to experience the life of a pilot and fight the enemy. Visitors can choose between a two-seat attack fighter and the F-18 that flew during the Desert Storm naval operation.
• The museum features 25 restored aircraft — from TBM Avenger from World War II to the A-6 Intruder. Other airplanes that flew during the Korean and Vietnam Wars are also on display.
• From the rooms available to visitors, guests can visit: a galley, an infirmary, an officer’s cabin, and even a flight control area.
• The audio tours offered are unique in that USS Midway sailors personally tell them.