This Essex Class aircraft carrier was one of America's most effective military vessels. Along with her 23 sister ships, the USS Intrepid formed the backbone of the United States Navy and its commitment to securing peace and freedom.
Throughout the Pacific Campaign of World War II, the USS Intrepid suffered seven bomb attacks, five kamikaze strikes and one torpedo hit; yet the ship continually returned to action after repairs, earning her the reputation among the enemy as the "The Ghost Ship."
After World War II, the Intrepid underwent a modernization, enabling her new, angled flight deck to accommodate jet aircraft. During the 1960's, the Intrepid served as a primary recovery vessel for NASA, picking up both the Mercury and Gemini capsules.
After three tours of duty in Vietnam and tracking Soviet submarines during the Cold War as an ASW (antisubmarine warfare) ship, the Intrepid was officially retired in 1974.
A campaign led by the Intrepid Museum Foundation saved the ship from the scrap yard and led to the opening of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum as a symbol of peace and education in August 1982. Today, the Intrepid’s halls and decks have been converted into a learning experience at every turn.
