America’s most famous operational aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, returned to Naval Air Station North Island on Wednesday following an overhaul at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
The nuclear-powered supercarrier’s arrival in San Diego is a homecoming for members of the crew whose families opted to remain in San Diego during the ship’s maintenance period.
“We’re back, San Diego! After 17 months of maintenance in Bremerton, Washington, the Mighty 70 crew is glad to be home and ready to continue the fight!” said a post on the ship’s Facebook page.
The warship was upgraded to support the new F-35C Lightning II stealth fighters, while crew quarters were renovated and the hull, rudders and propeller shafts repaired.
The Carl Vinson can carry 65 aircraft and cross 5,000 nautical miles in less than seven days.
The carrier has long been based in San Diego, and is famous for being the ship from which the terrorist Osama Bin Laden was buried at sea in 2011.
Updated at 6:10 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020
