~ PRE-OWNED, US MILITARY PATCH, USS KITTY HAWK CV-63, CVW-15 WESTPAC 79-80 IN GREAT CONDITION. PATCH IS APPROXIMATELY 5" IN DIAMETER AND HAS LIGHT FRAYING ON EDGES. THIS PATCH WAS MADE AFTER THE IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS. SEE BELOW. SEE PICTURES FOR DETAILS.
From Naval History Online:
15–21 Nov 1979: Kitty Hawk arrived at Subic Bay, preparing for a 28 November departure for NAS North Island. During this period, however, Iran’s pro-Western government collapsed, however, forcing the Shah into exile in the U.S. Tensions among opposition groups produced a state of near-anarchy within the troubled land. One of the more radical groups, “Students Following the Imam’s Line,” blamed the U.S. for the discord, and sought to mobilize support for their policies by seizing the U.S. Embassy in Teheran, on 4 November 1979. Receiving tacit approval from the Ayatollah R. Khomeini, the extremists continued to hold 52 American hostages. America was outraged by the act, the government responding by sending Kitty Hawk to the region, which was underway on the 21st within 12 hours of receiving her orders.
28 Nov 1979: Kitty Hawk arrived in the vicinity of Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory. NL 626, an EA-6B (BuNo 158541), CDR Peter T. Rodrick, squadron CO, LCDR William J. Coffey, LT James B. Bradley, Jr., and LT(JG) John R. Chorey, VAQ-135, launched for a scheduled electronic support measures (ESM) mission, at 1324, at 07º33’S, 073º19’E. Kitty Hawk was under EMCON A conditions, which prohibited electronic emissions from either the ship or the Prowler. Within two minutes the Prowler passed close abeam of guided missile cruiser Jouett (CG-29), about eight nautical miles ahead of the carrier. The EA-6B suddenly executed a “near vertical climbing turn,” partial cloud cover obscuring further observation of the aircraft, though it is surmised that the crew was practicing a “low level ingress tactic.” Though not verified, it is believed the Prowler impacted the water at approximately 13 miles off the port beam of Kitty Hawk, 63 nautical miles from Diego Garcia, at 1505. Despite determined efforts by two SH-3Hs from the carrier and a Lockheed P-3 Orion from Diego Garcia, none of the men were recovered.
4 Dec 1979–23 Jan 1980: Kitty Hawk operated at “Camel Station,” in the northwestern Arabian Sea as flagship, TF 70 and TG 70.2 (Battle Group Bravo). Throughout the Iranian Hostage Crisis she was under “constant surveillance” by Soviet ships and submarines, and CVW-15 aircraft “intercepted and escorted frequent” Soviet Ilyushin Il-38 Mays and Il-22 Cubs flying out of Aden, South Yemen, the Mays at three-day intervals; Iranian P-3Fs on three occasions; Omani SEPECAT Jaguars six times; an Iranian Lockheed C-130 Hercules and an Egyptian Hercules, reconnoitering the carrier. Despite strenuous efforts by logistics people in the supply chain, the exigencies of the extended deployment caused numerous problems for the crew due to shortages, especially of spare parts. Aircrew conducted small arms familiarization, and 10 Leathernecks from Kitty Hawk’s Marine detachment trained as door gunners on board HS-8’s Sea Kings in preparation for “air-sea rescue missions in case of hostilities during Iranian contingencies.” In addition, following a revolution in Afghanistan beginning on 27 April 1979, and the subsequent Soviet invasion on 24 December, the U.S. decided to maintain two carrier battle groups on station in the Indian Ocean.
28 Dec 1979: During an exercise with the Pakistanis, an HS-8 SH-3H detected an “unidentified contact in international waters,” and prosecuted the contact to protect Kitty Hawk. The submarine surfaced, revealing a Pakistani Agosta-class boat. During the same evolution, a Daphne-class sub also tracked the carrier, but was herself tracked by HS-8.
29 Dec 1979: NL 521, a KA-6D (BuNo 152632), CDR Walter D. Williams, Jr., and LCDR Bruce L. Miller, VA-52, launched from No. 2 catapult on a scheduled tanker sortie, at 1415. Almost immediately, NL 521 settled off the bow, due probably to low airspeed resulting from catapult errors (129 knots was the required airspeed; the KA-6D had attained only 92). A plane guard helo (HS-8) ¼ mile aft of the ship, immediately initiated a SAR, supported by a helo from HC-1 Det 2, embarked in Midway, and by destroyer David R. Ray (DD-971). Those concerted efforts proved fruitless: neither of the men survived.
21–22 Jan 1980: Kitty Hawk experienced “provocative maneuvers close aboard” by Soviet AGI No. 477.
23 Jan 1980: Kitty Hawk conducted cross-deck and relief operations with Nimitz (CVN 68) and CVW-8. Battle Group Bravo was centered upon three carriers: Kitty Hawk, Nimitz, and Midway, together with 12 escort and support ships. The next day, Kitty Hawk came about from Camel Station, beginning her eastward transit to the U.S.
25 Jan 1980: While en route to Subic Bay, Kitty Hawk was reconnoitered by Soviet Il-38s.
1 Feb 1980: Russian Tu-95 Bears shadowed the carrier.
13 Feb 1980: A Russian Bear D reconnoitered the ship.
25 Feb 1980: Kitty Hawk returned from her WestPac/Indian Ocean deployment (having originally been scheduled only for WestPac with a return date of 17 December 1979) mooring at 1019. Secretary of the Navy Edward Hidalgo flew out to greet the crew. The ship had steamed a total of 73,435 nautical miles, logging 11,276 catapult launches and 11,242 recoveries (8,115 day/3,127 night).
24 Apr 1980: An attempted rescue mission of the hostages held by the Iranians failed, costing eight U.S. servicemen their lives. The hostages would not be released until 21 January 1981, after 444 days of grueling captivity.
27 Mar–27 Jun 1980: Kitty Hawk underwent a Ship’s Restricted Availability (SRA).
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