060515-N-5328N-180 Pensacola, Fla. (May 15, 2006) - Former Navy Gunnersmate and USS Oriskany (CVA 34) plank owner, Mike Hajek Jr., of Cape May , who served aboard the warship from 1949 to 1954, salutes the hulk of the Oriskany as it makes its way along the Intracoastal Waterway from its last port call at Naval Air Station Pensacola, to its final destination in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship will be scuttled 22 miles south of Pensacola in approximately 212 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico, May 17, 2006, where it will become the largest ship ever intentionally sunk as an artificial reef. Af
060515-N-5328N-180 Pensacola, Fla. (May 15, 2006) - Former Navy Gunnersmate and USS Oriskany (CVA 34) plank owner, Mike Hajek Jr., of Cape May , who served aboard the warship from 1949 to 1954, salutes the hulk of the Oriskany as it makes its way along the Intracoastal Waterway from its last port call at Naval Air Station Pensacola, to its final destination in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship will be scuttled 22 miles south of Pensacola in approximately 212 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico, May 17, 2006, where it will become the largest ship ever intentionally sunk as an artificial reef. After the Oriskany reaches the bottom, ownership of the vessel will transfer from the Navy to the State of Florida. The public will be allowed to fish and dive on the ship two days later. Known as the "Big O," the 32,000-ton, 888-foot aircraft carrier was built at the New York Naval Shipyard and delivered to the Navy in 1950 where it later became a highly decorated veteran during conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. Navy photo by Gary Nichols (RELEASED) US Navy 060515-N-5328N-180 Oriskany is towed to sea from Naval Air Station Pensacola
Size: 2008px × 1244px
Photo credit: © PJF Military Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: armed, conflict, forces, military, oriskany, sinkex, states, united, war
