The USS Midway: a Museum Warship
official logo and emblem
Welcome back to Brooke In The Air, new phone is in hand and we are cooking!
I’ve booked a couple of my next flight, and one I’m really looking forward to is my trip to San Diego and the USS Midway carrier and museum!
So today, I’m presenting the USS Midway! In all her glory!
The USS Midway Museum is now an historical naval aircraft carrier museum located in downtown San Diego, California at the Navy Pier.
The museum consists of just the aircraft carrier Midway.
The ship houses an extensive collection of aircraft, many of which were built locally in Southern California.
FUN FACTS
The USS Midway was the United States' longest-serving aircraft carrier of the 20th century, from 1945 to 1992. Approximately 200,000 Sailors served aboard the carrier, known for several naval aviation breakthroughs as well as several humanitarian missions. It was the only carrier to serve the entire length of the Cold War and beyond. It is currently a museum ship in San Diego, California.
Midway opened as a museum on 7 June 2004. By 2012 annual visitation exceeded 1 million visitors. As of 2015 Midway is the most popular naval warship museum in the United States. The museum has over 13,000 members, and hosts more than 700 events a year, including more than 400 active-duty Navy retirements, re-enlistments, and changes of command. The museum also hosts approximately 50,000 students on field trips and 5,000 children in its overnight program annually.
Admission includes a self-guided audio tour, narrated by former Midway Sailors to more than 60 locations, including sleeping quarters, engine room, galley, bridge, brig, post office, foc's'le (forecastle), pilots' ready rooms, officers quarters, primary flight control, and "officers country". Other features include climb-aboard aircraft and cockpits, videos, flight simulators, and a narrated audio tour for youngsters.
Membership has grown to more than 25,000. A high definition, holographic movie theater, "The Battle of Midway Theater", was added in 2017, and in 2019 the museum added a virtual reality flight simulator ride in addition to its existing four flight simulators.
The GI Film Festival and the San Diego International Film Festival have scheduled screenings at the museum.
USS Midway being docked in San Diego
A Grumman C-2 Greyhound “the flying post office” was craned aboard the carrier in June of 2023.
In addition to private events, the museum has hosted several events, including a nationally broadcast NCAA basketball game between San Diego State University and Syracuse University in 2012. American Idol has filmed an episode on Midway, as have the Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, FOX News, The Bachelor, Extreme Makeover, History Channel, and Military Channel. The nationally televised annual "Battle on the Midway" collegiate wrestling showcase has been staged each November on the flight deck of the museum since 2017.
The USS Midway Museum has had the opportunity to host various high-profile events and productions throughout its lifetime. In 2018 and 2019, scenes from the critically acclaimed film Top Gun: Maverick were filmed on the museum premises. Additionally, planes featured in the movie, such as the F/A-18 Hornet Jet, are displayed at the museum now that filming has concluded. Moreover, the USS Midway Museum had the opportunity to host the global premiere on 4 May 2022.
On every anniversary of the September 11 attacks in 2001, the USS Midway Museum hosts a memorial service to remember the lives lost during the incident. This is in conjunction with the FDNY retirees of San Diego, San Diego Fire & Rescue Department, National City FD, SDFF Emerald Society and the Wounded Warrior Project. During the ceremony, the names of all the first responders that have died during 9/11 are read out loud. The service takes place on the flight deck, where hundreds of people gather each year.
Aircraft Currently on Display
Bombers/attack
Douglas A-1 Skyraider
Douglas A-4 Skyhawk
Douglas SBD Dauntless
Douglas TBD Devastator (replica)
Grumman A-6 Intruder
Grumman TBM Avenger
LTV A-7 Corsair II
Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler
Fighters
Grumman F4F Wildcat
Grumman F9F Panther
Grumman F-11 Tiger
North American FJ-2/-3 Fury
Vought F4U Corsair
Vought F7U Cutlass
Vought F-8 Crusader
Multirole Aircraft
Grumman F-9 Cougar
Grumman F-14 Tomcat
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
Helicopters
Bell UH-1 Iroquois gunship
Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight
Kaman SH-2 Seasprite
Piasecki HUP Retriever
Sikorsky HO3S
Sikorsky H-34 Seabat
Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King
Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk
Reconnaissance and surveillance
Lockheed S-3 Viking
North American A-5 Vigilante
Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
Trainers
North American T-2 Buckeye
North American T-6 Texan
Transport/Utility
Cessna O-1 Bird Dog
Grumman C-1 Trader
Grumman C-2 Greyhound
And more are constantly being added!
Main exhibit on the Main Deck of the Midway
