I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Introduction
A. Thesis: The USS Midway is a naval ship built in 1945 that served in the Atlantic Fleet,
Cold War, Vietnam War and many other historically significant events within the United
States. Earning its name after the Battle of Midway, it served in a multitude of naval
missions and experiments and now sits at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego,
California where it is adored and visited by thousands of people annually.
Topic Sentence: The USS Midway, for its time, was a technologically advanced freight that
could withstand any element and the hardships of battle.
A. Example
- Built in Newport News, Virginia, it was commissioned in 1945 to serve as a
testimony of naval technological prowess and military experiment
B. Example
- In its first decade of service, the USS Midway served in the Atlantic Fleet and was
used in a multitude of naval experiments
C. Example
- On its first mission in 1947, though initially it was used as a missile launch pad, it
was deployed to the Mediterranean, constantly straying between the North Atlantic
and the Mediterranean to better serve the United States Navy.
Topic Sentence: Rich in historical significance, the USS Midway travelled to almost every
part of the world, variating between serving as a cruise and battleship for almost the
entirety of its time when it was commissioned.
A. Example
- In December of 1954, the USS Midway cleared Norfolk, Virginia and set off on a
world cruise through the Cape of Good Hope in hopes of reaching Taiwan
B. Example
- In February 1955, the ship joined the 7th Fleet for operations in the Western Pacific,
where it was the first operation of ships in its class.
C. Example
- In 1962, the ship tested the air defense systems of Japan, Korea, Taiwan Okinawa,
and the Philippines.
Topic Sentence: Decommissioned in 1992, the USS Midway, though up for donation in 1999,
now sits in San Diego, California, made into a museum for all to enjoy.
A. Example- After it was decommissioned, it was stricken from the US Naval List in 1997 and
stored in the Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Bremerton, Washington.
B. Example
- It had some brief stints of activity in the early 2000s as it was tugged out to sea by
the Foss Maritime Company to set out on one of its final voyages to Oakland,
California.
C. Example
- Today, the ship sits in San Diego, California where hundreds of people gather to
examine its history and maritime majesty.
Conclusion
VI.
A. Restate thesis: The USS Midway holds significant historical value in the United States as
one of the longest running and technologically advanced maritime naval ships.
B. General statement: Though the ship may be stationary, the history will always remain in
the minds and hearts of the American people as it is considered one of the many prides
and joys of the United States of America.
Keywords
- USS Midway, Cold War, Vietnam, commission, decommission, Korea, Japan, Taiwan,
Atlantic Fleet, San Diego, California
NAME____________________________________
History _____ Section__________
GATHERING RESEARCH NOTES
Now it’s time to start taking notes. Grab 5 sources that contain enough information for you to use. These
maybe any type of resource. Fill out Research Form; list your source and add three facts copied directly
from the source, make sure to include page #s. Refer to pp 73-84 in SHH for research tips.) If quote is
longer than the lines provided, continue quote at bottom of hmwk. Use number and letter to indicate
location. E.g. “2c continuation:”
Topic: USS Midway
Thesis: The USS Midway is a naval ship built in 1945 that served in the Atlantic Fleet and the Vietnam
War, earning its name after the Battle of Midway. It served in a multitude of naval missions and
experiments and now sits at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, California where it is adored and
visited by thousands of people annually.
1) Source (bibliographic citation): Hull Number. (2019). U.S.S. Midway. Retrieved from
https://www.hullnumber.com/CV-41
Subject Topics: What is the U.S.S Midway
Research Notes (copy facts directly, include page numbers with each quote): (x3)
a) “USS Midway, built in Newport News, Virginia, was commissioned in September 1945 (Hull
Number, 1st para., 2019).”
b) “She served in the Atlantic Fleet for her first eight years of service. The ship was used in a couple
of important naval experiments (Hull Number, 1st para., 2019).”
c) “In 1947, she was the launch pad for a V-2 ballistic missile. Later that same year, the carrier
began its first deployment to the Mediterranean. For the next few years she worked in both the
Mediterranean and in the North Atlantic (Hull Number, 1st para., 2019).”
2) Source (bibliographic citation): Navy. (2009). USS Midway. Retrieved from
https://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/carriers/histories/cv41-midway/cv41-midway.html
Subject Topics: The History of the USS Midway
Research Notes (copy facts directly, include page numbers with each quote): (x3)
a) “Midway cleared Norfolk 27 December 1954 for a world cruise, sailing via the Cape of Good
Hope for Taiwan, where she joined the 7th Fleet on 6 February 1955 for operations in the western
Pacific. This was the first operation of ships of her class in the western Pacific (Nav, 5th para.,
2009).”
b) “During her 1962 deployment, her aircraft tested the air defense systems of Japan, Korea,
Okinawa, the Philippines, and Taiwan (Navy, 6th para., 2009).”
c) In August 1991, Midway departed Yokosuka and returned to Pearl Harbor. Here, she turned over
with USS Independence (CV 62) which was replacing Midway as the forward-deployed carrier in
Yokosuka. Midway then sailed to San Diego where she was decommissioned at North Island
Naval Air Station on 11 April 1992. She was stricken from the Navy List on 17 March 1997
(Navy, 22nd para, 2009).”
3) Source (bibliographic citation): USS Midway Museum. (2019). Midway History. Retrieved from
https://www.midway.org/about-us/midway-history/
Subject Topics: The significance of the USS Midway
Research Notes (copy facts directly, include page numbers with each quote): (x3)
a) “From the beginning of its service, the Midway played key roles in the Cold War. In 1946 it
became the first American carrier to operate in the midwinter sub-Arctic, developing new flight
deck procedures (USS Midway Museum, 2nd para., 2019).
b) The trial’s success became the dawn of naval missile warfare. Just two years after that, Midway
sent a large patrol plane aloft to demonstrate that atomic bombs could be delivered by a carrier
(USS Midway Museum, 2nd para., 2019).”
c) “In 1990 Midway deployed to the Persian Gulf in response to the Iraqi seizure of Kuwait. In the
ensuing Operation Desert Storm, Midway served as the flagship for naval air forces in the Gulf
and launched more than 3,000 combat missions with no losses (USS Midway Museum, para 7.,
2019).”
4) Source (bibliographic citation): Military Analysis Network. (1999). CV-41 Midway Class. Retrieved
from https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/cv-41.htm
Subject Topics: The aftermath of the decommissioning of the USS Midway
Research Notes (copy facts directly, include page numbers with each quote): (x3)
a) “The former USS Midway, now part of the Navy's mothball fleet in Bremerton, Washington, is
available as a donation (Military Analysis Network, 5th para., 1999).”
b) “While unable to operate either the F-14 Tomcat or S-3 Viking, MIDWAY was still an amazing
and powerful national asset over forty years after her commissioning (Military Analysis Network,
4th para., 1999).”
c) “After being the first aircraft carrier forward deployed for 17 years in Yokosuka, Japan, she
returned to North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego for decommissioning in April of 1992
(Military Analysis Network, 3rd para., 1999).”
5) Source (bibliographic citation): Midway Sailor. (2019). The History of Midway’s Magic. Retrieved
from https://www.midwaysailor.com/midway/history.html
Subject Topics: Where is the USS Midway Now
Research Notes (copy facts directly, include page numbers with each quote): (x3)
a) “Midway was decommissioned for the last time at North Island Naval Air Station in San Diego,
California on April 11, 1992. She was stricken from the Navy List on March 17, 1997 and was
stored at the Navy Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Bremerton, Washington (Midway Sailor,
para 63, 2019).”
b) “On September 30, 2003, a long-awaited event happened... after eleven years, Midway was
finally underway again! Although only under tow by the Foss Maritime Company's tugs Lauren
Foss and Lindsey Foss, she was heading back out to sea for another voyage. With the Lindsey
Foss only assisting during the harbor transit, the Lauren Foss continued towing Midway on her
journey to Oakland, California (Midway Sailor, para 64, 2019).”
c) “Several hundred guests were aboard as she was towed across San Diego Bay to her new home at
Navy Pier. With much celebration and ceremony, Midway was berthed at Navy Pier, where she
officially opened as the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum on June 07, 2004. Once again,
Midway's popularity showed as 3,058 visitors went aboard on opening day (Midway Sailor, para
65. 2019).”
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