USS Constellation, or ‘Connie’ was commissioned in 1961, but the 33-year-old carrier had completed a 3-year Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) in March of 1993 which prepared her for another 20 years of sailing. When war breaks out she is conducting a training exercise with the Philippine Navy and Air Force after spending several months visiting various western Pacific countries. She was due to return to San Diego in late February but was rushed north to support USS Independence (CV-62) when the war started. Her air group takes a beating in the first days of the war and she is withdrawn to the West Coast to reconstitute.
USS Constellation CVBG
CV-64 Constellation (FLAG)
CVWR 2
VF-1 Wolfpack F-14A
VF-2 Bounty Hunters F-14A
VFA-151 Vigilantes F/A-18C (N)
VMFA-323 Death Rattlers F/A-18D
VAQ-131 Lancers EA-6B
VAW-116 Sun Kings E-2C
VS-31 Topcats S-3B
HS-16 Bullfrogs SH-3H
VQ-5(El) Sea Shadows ES-3A
CG-21 Gridley
CG-49 Vincennes
CG-70 Lake Erie
DD-965 Kinkaid
DD-990 Ingersoll
FFG-27 Mahlon S. Tisdale
AO-180 Willamette