The USS John F. Kennedy was the last conventionally powered aircraft carrier built by the U.S. Navy. Originally slated to become the fourth carrier Kitty Hawk class, JFK received so many changes during construction that he founded his own class. Named after the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, TX., The USS John F. Kennedy was the first Navy ship to bear the name. Transferred to the Naval Reserve Force in 1995, Kennedy returned to the active fleet again in October 2000.
The Navy initially wanted to dismantle the Kennedy in mid-2005 because the company was in poor condition and was in need of costly repairs that did not seem to be profitable. However, Congress decided to keep the Kennedy in service to a total of 12 active aircraft carriers. The John F. Kennedy was later docked at Mayport Naval Station for several months. Its flight deck was not certified for aircraft operations and the Navy was hoping to remove the boat.
In late 2006, it was decided to remove the last Kennedy. The Kennedy made a last trip to the East Coast to visit the last port of Boston, Massachusetts, in early March 2007. The closing ceremony of the John F. Kennedy was the March 23, 2007 in Mayport, Fla. The official closing date of the USS John F. Kennedy August 1, 2007.
