USS Intrepid (CV, CVA, CVS-11)
      Former Crewmember Association
 
      KETCHER OnLine Report Alert - Thursday, July 6, 2006  
 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
Editor's Message :
 
For the benefit of the Former Crewmembers of the USS Intrepid, the Intrepid Museum has just informed me of the true and final facts, in regard to the previous Scuttlebutt that was published pertaining to up-and-coming  disposition of the Intrepid and Pier 86. 
 
The Intrepid Museum's Statement follows:
 

6 July 2006

The Board of Trustees of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, as duly authorized at a regular meeting of the Board held on 19 June 2006, hereby orders the following:

To address significant repair and refurbishment needs that have developed in the 24 years since Intrepid arrived in New York and opened as a Museum in 1982, the aircraft carrier Intrepid, CV,CVA,CVS-11, is hereby ordered On Leave for a period sufficient to perform this needed infrastructure repair, upgrade, and maintenance.

Intrepid’s leave will commence at close of business Sunday, 1 October 2006.  On that date the Museum will temporarily close to the public and the crew is ordered to prepare the vessel to get underway.

Intrepid will depart her berth at Pier 86 on or about Veterans Day, 11 November 2006, for drydock and structural repair at Bayonne Drydock & Repair Corporation.  Following drydock Intrepid will undergo major interior and exterior exhibit overhaul and refurbishment.  This will include exhibit installation and upgrade, maintenance of her entire aircraft collection, and acquisition of new historic aircraft.

The crew is ordered to also undertake maintenance work on the submarine Growler, SSG-577, the British Airways Concorde and other major exhibits that constitute the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum.

While Intrepid is offsite, the crew will use the opportunity to address the condition of Pier 86.  The pier is extremely deteriorated due to age.  The pier will be completely demolished and rebuilt. Intrepid will therefore return to a completely new, modern fully-capable pier fitting as the home to this great world-class educational, cultural and historic institution. 

Intrepid will return to berth at Pier 86 and reopen for public visitation at the earliest available opportunity, today estimated at 18 months from her time of departure and in time for Fleet Week 2008.  The crew is ordered to take any and all steps necessary to ensure expeditious return of Intrepid, so she may continue to perform her critically important national mission of Honoring our heroes in uniform, Educating the public and Inspiring our youth about the price of freedom.

Orders presented on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Arnold Fisher, Chairman

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John Simonetti, OnLine Report Editor