Here was 15. The first relief crew post appeared here over seven years ago. The idea is to feature someone else’s photos and/or writing, just because so many of you see, photograph, and write such interesting stuff AND –of course–because collaboration is such powerful leaven.
All these photos today come from Birk Thomas. The event was the departure last week of CV-60 USS Saratoga–Brooklyn built–for the scrapyard. For some intriguing photos of the other end of her life, click here for this navsource site.
Signet Warhorse III is the motive force.
Iona McAllister, Rainbow, and Buckley McAllister assist with the hookup and departure from Narragansett Bay.
Not until last night did I learn that a final aircraft takeoff and landing was happening at this very moment up on her flight deck.
Warhorse . . . what a name!
Note the riding crew on the deck.
Rainbow straightens out the tow. . .
in the early minutes of the tow.
Again, many thanks to Birk Thomas for use of these photos, which not all of you have seen on Facebook.
tugster: a waterblog 
5 comments
Comments feed for this article
August 25, 2014 at 6:34 am
John Eric Dupee
SARATOGA – DEPARTING
August 25, 2014 at 9:37 am
Harry T Scholer
Sad to see a one time beautiful vessel towed off to be cut up for scrap. Witnessed the same in Taiwan. Capital ships like Saratoga should at least be afforded the dignity of being sunk as an artificial reef. In this way generations of divers would be able to see a hero ship in a new role, that of a marine sanctuary. Recycled for scrap and most likely to wind in in a smelter somewhere in China is not a fitting end for a vessel such as this one.
August 25, 2014 at 8:31 pm
Anonymous
I agree 100% with you, Harry T Scholer!
August 25, 2014 at 3:11 pm
sfdi1947
Just plain sad, I remember Sara in the Gulf, and other places, unless I am mistaken, excepting museum ships, she was the last converted (to angle deck) Essex Class left.
September 7, 2014 at 7:16 pm
georgewsarasailor
Correction: Forrestal Class