USS Nimitz CVN-68 Looking Back (to my pre-digital camera days) Stokes Bay September 1980

A brief photo-report using scanned slides taken aboard USS Nimitz with CVW-8 (AJ) embarked, during its UK visit when moored in Stokes Bay which is between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. USS Nimitz was the first of its class of nuclear powered super-carriers. It was first deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in July 1976 with Carrier Air Wing 8. By 2017 it was the oldest carrier in service in the world.

Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) A-7E Corsair (157510 'AJ-412') with VA-86 the 'Sidewinders'.

Left to right: The flight deck from the tower. F-14A Tomcat (160384 'AJ-204') with VF-84. A-7E Corsair (157573 'AJ-406') with VA-86 the 'Sidewinders'.

Left to right: A-7E Corsair IIs (159301 'AJ-301' and 157580 'AJ-302') with Attack Squadron 82 (VA-82) the 'Marauders'.

Left to right: A-7E Corsair IIs (159306 'AJ-401', 157573 'AJ-406' and 156820 'AJ-404') with VA-86 the 'Sidewinders'.

Grumman A-6E Intruder (155684 'AJ-502') with VA-35 the 'Black Panthers'.

Left to right: A-6E Intruder (155684 'AJ-502') with VA-35 the 'Black Panthers'.

Left to right: KA-6D Intruder (154133 'AJ-523') with Attack Squadron 35 (VA-35) the 'Black Panthers'. A-6E Intruder (157002 'AJ-510') with VA-35.

Grumman F-14A Tomcat (160413 'AJ-203') with VF-84 the 'Jolly Rogers'.

Left to right: F-14A Tomcats (160404 'AJ-112', 160411 'AJ-110' and 160402 'AJ-102') with VF-41 the 'Black Aces'.

Left to right: F-14A Tomcats (161138 'AJ-221' and 160386 'AJ-200') with VF-84 the 'Jolly Rogers'.

Left to right: F-14A Tomcat (161143 'AJ-106', 160408 'AJ-100' and 160402 'AJ-102') with VF-41 the 'Black Aces'.

Left to right: F-14A Tomcats (160382 'AJ-206' and 160386 'AJ-200' and 161140 'AJ-222') with VF-84 the 'Jolly Rogers'.

Left to right: Grumman E-2C Hawkeye (161094 'AJ-011') with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 124 (VAW-124) the 'Bear Aces'. Lockheed S-3A Vikings (160137 'AJ-700' and 160147 'AJ-711') with Sea Control Squadron 24 (VS-24) the 'Duty Cats'.

Sikorsky SH-3G Sea King (149898 'AJ-731') with HS-9.

Left to right: Sikorsky SH-3G Sea Kings (149898 'AJ-731' and 149717 'AJ-735') with Anti-Submarine Squadron 9 (HS-9) the 'Sea Griffins'.