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USS George H.W. Bush

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USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is the tenth and final Nimitz-class supercarrier of the United States Navy. She is named for the 41st President of the United States and former Director of Central Intelligence George H. W. Bush, who was a naval aviator during World War II. The vessel's callsign is Avenger, after the TBF Avenger aircraft flown by then-Lieutenant George H. W. Bush in World War II. Construction began in 2003 at Northrop Grumman, in Newport News, Virginia and was completed in 2009 at a cost of $6.2 billion. Her home port is Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)
USS George H.W. Bush in January 2011
History
United States
NameGeorge H.W. Bush
NamesakeGeorge H. W. Bush
Ordered26 January 2001
Awarded26 January 2001
BuilderNorthrop Grumman Newport News[1]
Cost$6.2 billion[2]
Laid down6 September 2003[1]
Sponsored byDorothy Bush Koch[1]
Christened7 October 2006
Launched9 October 2006
Commissioned10 January 2009[2]
HomeportNorfolk
Identification
MottoFreedom at Work
Nickname(s)Avenger
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeNimitz-class aircraft carrier
Displacement102,000 long tons (114,000 short tons)[3][4]
Length
  • Overall: 1,092 feet (332.8 m)
  • Waterline: 1,040 feet (317.0 m)
Beam
  • Overall: 252 ft (76.8 m)
  • Waterline: 134 ft (40.8 m)
Draft
  • Maximum navigational: 37 feet (11.3 m)
  • Limit: 41 feet (12.5 m)
Propulsion
Speed30+ knots (56+ km/h; 35+ mph)[7]
RangeUnlimited distance; 20–25 years
Complement
  • Ship's company: 3,532
  • Air wing: 2,480
Sensors and
processing systems
  • SPS-48E 3-D air search radar
  • SPS-49A(V)1 2-D air search radar
  • SPQ-9B fire control radar
  • 2 × SPN-46 air traffic control radars
  • SPN-43C air traffic control radar
  • SPN-41 instrument landing system radar
  • 3 × Mk 91 NSSM guidance systems
  • 3 × Mk 95 radars
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Armor2.5 in (64 mm) Kevlar over vital spaces[9]
Aircraft carried90 fixed wing and helicopters

Naming

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George H. W. Bush in a Grumman TBM Avenger during World War II

George H. W. Bush became one of the U.S. Navy's youngest pilots when he received his Naval Aviator wings and naval commission on 9 June 1943, three days before turning 19.[10] He flew torpedo bombers off USS San Jacinto on active duty from August 1943 to September 1945 during World War II. On 2 September 1944, during a mission over the Pacific, Japanese anti-aircraft fire hit his plane. The Navy submarine USS Finback rescued him. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals for courageous service in the Pacific Theater.

USS George H.W. Bush is the second United States aircraft carrier to be named after a naval aviator (Forrestal was the first) and the second, following Ronald Reagan, to be named after a then living former president (Ronald Reagan was christened in 2001 while Reagan was still alive).

Ship's seal

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Each element of the seal is significant for its relevance to the ship's namesake, naval aviation, naval service, and the nation. There are six prominent features of the seal, beginning with the 41 white stars, symbolizing the ship's namesake (the 41st president). The rays of light that appear on the seal's horizon represent Bush's concept of a "thousand points of light", wherein he urged Americans to find meaning and reward by serving a purpose higher than themselves. The graphic depiction of the aircraft carrier reflects the carrier, as both a symbol and instrument of American strength as a force for freedom. Above the carrier are the overhead profiles of a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber (representing Bush's days as a Navy pilot), an F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter, and an F-35C Lightning II, superimposed one upon the other in reverse chronological order of the individual aircraft's service entry date, and in diminishing scale so each outline is contained within that of the newer aircraft.[11]

Fouled anchors and shields, centered on naval aviators wings, honor the ship's namesake's aviation history. Finally, the motto "Freedom at Work" is adapted from Bush's inaugural speech, during which he said, "We know what works: Freedom works. We know what’s right: Freedom is right."[11]

Description

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George H.W. Bush measures 1,092 feet (333 m) and displaces over 100,000 tons, making her one of the world's largest warships (though she is slightly shorter than USS Enterprise). Her top speed exceeds 30 knots; powered with two nuclear reactors, she can operate for more than 20 years without refueling.

Several features differentiate CVN-77 from other ships in the Nimitz class.[12]

Hull

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New features include a bulbous bow design that provides more buoyancy to the forward end of the ship and improves hull efficiency, curved flight deck edges to reduce radar signature, a new underwater hull coating system, deck modernized coverings to reduce ship weight by 100 tons, low solar absorptive and anti-stain paint, a less cluttered hangar bay, and a new propeller design.[13]

Island

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Placement of the 700-ton island onto the ship's flight deck in 2006

George H.W. Bush is the second carrier to have a modernized island, which includes a new radar tower (enclosed to reduce radar signature), navigation system upgrades, communication systems enhancements, and armored windows. The island is smaller and has been repositioned further aft to improve flight deck access and reduce signature and electronic self-interference.[14]

Air operations

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New air operations design features include an updated aviation fuel storage and distribution system, semi-automated refueling and servicing with new deck locations to provide faster, more efficient aircraft pit stops, requiring fewer people, modernized aircraft launch, and recovery equipment, and redesigned jet blast deflectors.[15]

Environmental

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Environmental upgrades have also been designed into the ship, including a vacuum collection/marine sanitation device (VC/MSD), a new marine sewage system that uses sea water in lieu of fresh water for lower maintenance costs. Many older ships in the U.S. Navy utilize a gravity-driven collection holding and transfer (CHT) system to handle sewage waste. Newer U.S. Navy ships, including now CVN-77, collect sewage waste by vacuum, allowing for greater flexibility in piping installation, smaller pipe sizes overall and reducing water consumption. The collection tanks of George H.W. Bush were modified to accommodate both the VCHT (Vacuum CHT) equipment and the elements of a marine sanitization device to treat the waste prior to discharge. George H.W. Bush is the only aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy to combine the two technologies.

This new VC/MSD driven waste management system has, however, not been without problems. Reports began surfacing immediately after delivery in May 2009 of issues with the ship's toilet system. As of November 2011, the entire system has gone down at least twice, rendering all 423 commodes in the ship's 130 heads inoperable, with many more incidents that have rendered either half of the ship, or sections of the ship, without operating sanitary facilities. In one ship-wide incident, a repair crew spent 35 non-stop hours attempting to return the system to working order. The system is said to suffer breakdowns when inappropriate materials such as feminine hygiene products are flushed down the toilets.[16] During a four-month maintenance period in the dock in 2012, anti-clog measures were installed in the ship's toilet disposal systems.[17]

Electronics and communications

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New electronics and communications technology,[vague] space rearrangement, operational procedure changes, advanced sensor technologies and maintenance systems have been incorporated to reduce manning costs. A new zonal electrical distribution system will keep problems from affecting other parts of the ship. Automated material movement devices, semi-autonomous, gravity compensated weapons handling devices, damage control automation systems and components have also been installed. Medical and dental equipment have been upgraded, integrated display screens in Damage Control Central have been modernized to improve data integration and display, and equipment in general shops has been modernized to improve productivity.[14]

History

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Pentagon naming ceremony in December 2002

The contract to build CVN-77 was awarded to Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Newport News on 26 January 2001. A naming ceremony was held on 9 December 2002 at Northrop Grumman Newport News, with former president George H.W. Bush attending.[18][19] Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England, presided at the ceremony.

Construction

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Construction took place at the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard's Dry Dock 12, the largest in the western hemisphere.[18][20] The keel laying ceremony was held on 6 September 2003,[18] with former president George H. W. Bush serving as the keynote speaker. Former First Lady Barbara Bush also attended with their daughter, Dorothy Bush Koch, the ship's sponsor. The former president authenticated the keel by chalking his initials onto a metal plate. His initials were then welded onto the plate, which was permanently affixed to the ship.

 
USS George H.W. Bush shortly after being released from dry dock for the first time

The ship was modularly constructed, where large sections are assembled and then lifted into place using a large crane. Major milestones in the construction include the bow placement in March 2005, followed by the island placement on 8 July 2006.[18] The 700-short-ton (640 t; 620-long-ton) island was lifted onto the flight deck in a ceremony called "stepping the mast" which dates from antiquity and consists of placing coins or other items of significance under the step or bottom of a ship's mast during construction. Since at least the construction of USS Constitution in the 1790s, this tradition has been passed on as a symbol of good luck for U.S. Navy ships. George H. W. Bush participated in the event, placing his naval aviator wings underneath the island during the ceremony.[21]

George H.W. Bush was christened on 7 October 2006.[1] Former president George H. W. Bush attended the ceremony and became the first president in history to participate in the christening of his namesake ship. President George W. Bush also attended and honored his father during the ceremony as a special guest speaker. Other officials participating in the ceremony included Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter; Virginia Senators John Warner and George Allen, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Mullen.[22]

Other construction milestones included catapult system testing on the ship's flight deck on 25 January 2008. Former president George H. W. Bush signaled the launch of two "dead loads" off the deck of the carrier. Dead loads are large, wheeled, steel vessels weighing up to 80,000 pounds (36,000 kg) simulating the weight of actual aircraft.[23]

On 11 August 2008, the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) crew moved aboard the ship, the first meals were served in the galley, the U.S. flag was raised on the fantail for the first time, and the first watches were set.[24] George H.W. Bush left Northrop Grumman Ship Building for the first time on 23 December 2008, proceeding a few miles down river to Norfolk Naval Station.

Commissioning

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Guests and U.S. Navy personnel at the commissioning ceremony on 10 January 2009
 
George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush depart the ship following the commissioning ceremony

George H.W. Bush was commissioned 10 January 2009 at Norfolk Naval Station[25] prior to her official delivery to the Navy, in a ceremony attended by approximately 15,000 people. Veterans of USS San Jacinto, the ship George H. W. Bush served on during World War II, were also present. President George W. Bush delivered the principal address, George H. W. Bush set the first watch, and ship's sponsor Dorothy "Doro" Bush Koch gave the order to "man our ship and bring her to life!" A GM-built Grumman TBM Avenger like the one then-Lieutenant junior grade George Bush flew in World War II performed a fly-over.

Northrop Grumman Corporation Builder's sea trials were completed on 16 February 2009, providing an opportunity to test systems, components and compartments at sea for the first time. The trials included high-speed runs and a demonstration of the carrier's other capabilities.[26] Following builder's trials, the ship underwent acceptance trials on 10 April 2009,[27] conducted by representatives of the U.S. Navy Board of Inspection and Survey, to test and evaluate the ship's systems and performance.

Delivery and shakedown

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George H.W. Bush was officially delivered to the Navy on 11 May 2009.[28]

The first fixed-wing flights were conducted on 19 May 2009 when F/A-18 Super Hornets from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland began flight deck certification, which tests a carrier's ability to conduct air operations.[29]

On 26 May 2009, former president George H.W. Bush and his daughter, Dorothy Bush Koch, flew aboard the carrier to observe flight operations during the ship's underway period in the Atlantic Ocean. USS George H.W. Bush successfully completed her first flight deck certification on that day.[30]

George H.W. Bush returned to Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard on 18 June 2009 for post-delivery maintenance work, also known as the ship's post shakedown availability (PSA). A PSA is a typical availability in the early life of a carrier that allows the Navy and builder to resolve any items that came up during trials and delivery and make any last-minute changes and upgrades. Work includes the installation of a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) handling system and a new fresh water purification system. Other changes include compartment reconfigurations, combat system and radar equipment upgrades, and minor repairs. The work was scheduled to last through early 2010.[31]

Maiden 2011 deployment

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George H.W. Bush (top) conducts an ordnance transfer with Harry S Truman off the East Coast in 2011

The ship was assigned to Carrier Strike Group Two for her first deployment. Under the command of Rear Admiral Nora Tyson, George H.W. Bush, Carrier Air Wing Eight and the four ships of her group departed on her first deployment on 11 May 2011.[32] They sailed across the Atlantic to Britain to participate in Exercise Saxon Warrior, held in the Western Approaches and culminating in a so-called 'Thursday War'.[33] She then moved towards Portsmouth, United Kingdom, on 27 May, anchoring adjacent to Stokes Bay through 31 May, because she was too large to enter the harbor, and the naval base did not have sufficient nuclear berths for the carrier to moor alongside.[33][34] The carrier arrived at Naples, Italy on 10 June 2011.[35]

The carrier returned to Norfolk on 10 December 2011, following a seven-month deployment supporting operations with the U.S. Navy's 5th and 6th fleets.[36]

2012

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George H.W. Bush undertakes carrier qualifications in the Atlantic in May 2013; an F/A-18F Super Hornet is on the catapult; another F/A-18F and an X-47B are parked forward of the island superstructure; two more F/A-18Fs and four C-2 Greyhounds are parked aft.

On 25 July 2012, George H.W. Bush began her four-month overhaul at Norfolk Naval Shipyard at Portsmouth, Virginia, included scheduled short-term technical upgrades.[37] On 1 December 2012, George H.W. Bush completed her PIA maintenance cycle and began sea trials on 3 December 2012. After completing sea trials on 4 December 2012, the carrier started her training and qualification cycle in preparation for the group's 2013 deployment.[38]

2013

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During a two-week underway period beginning 14 January 2013, George H.W. Bush tested the MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft from squadron VMX-22 as a potential carrier onboard delivery aircraft as well as operating mine-sweeping MH-53E helicopters from squadron HM-14.[39]

 
An X-47B is catapulted from George H.W. Bush in May 2013, the first time a UCAV had been launched from an aircraft carrier at sea, during carrier qualifications in the Atlantic

During another underway period, George H.W. Bush conducted at-sea tests for X-47B unmanned drone in the Atlantic Ocean, including the first time that an unmanned drone has been catapulted off an aircraft carrier on the morning of 14 May 2013 (pictured).[40] On 17 May 2013, another first was achieved when the X-47B performed touch-and-go landings and take-offs on the flight deck of Bush while underway in the Atlantic Ocean.[41] Also during this two-week underway period, the aircraft carrier tested a new torpedo self-defense system, as well as completed more than 115 launches and landings in assessing a new precision landing system, before returning to Norfolk on 24 May 2013.[42]

On 10 July 2013, an unmanned X-47B drone completed an arrested landing on the flight deck of George H.W. Bush. The landing marks the first time any unmanned aircraft had completed an arrested landing on board an aircraft carrier operating at sea.[43] The drone completed a second successful arrested landing on George H.W. Bush, but it was diverted to the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia after an issue was detected, requiring that a planned third landing to be aborted.[44] One of the drone's three navigational sub-systems failed, which was identified by the other two sub-systems. The anomaly was indicated to the mission operator, who followed test plan procedures to abort the landing. The Navy stated that the aircraft's detection of a problem demonstrated its reliability and ability to operate autonomously.[45] On 15 July 2013, in a fourth attempt, an X-47B drone failed to make a successful flight deck landing on board the vessel due to "technical issues."[46]

2014 deployment

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George H.W. Bush transits the Straits of Gibraltar in February 2014

In late February 2014, George H.W. Bush transited the Strait of Gibraltar on the way to a stop in Piraeus, Greece, for a scheduled port visit.[47]

On 5 March 2014, George H.W. Bush arrived off southern Turkey, which is under 500 miles away from Crimea, amid developing tensions over Ukraine with Russia.[48] On 9 March 2014, the carrier entered port in Antalya, in southern Turkey.[49] Some news sources had speculated that the ship's stay in the Mediterranean Sea would be extended as a result of the annexation of Crimea, but this proved to not be the case with Carrier Strike Group 2 proceeding through the Suez Canal.[50]

 
Carl Vinson (foreground) relieves George H.W. Bush as the 5th Fleet on station carrier in October 2014.

The carrier was transiting the Suez Canal on 18 March 2014. On 23 March USS Harry S. Truman officially turned over the watch to George H.W. Bush in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and supporting theater security cooperation efforts.

On 14 June 2014, George H.W. Bush was ordered to the Persian Gulf to protect US interests in Iraq in light of the militant group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's (ISIL) offensive and takeover of several major cities in that country.

On 8 August 2014, two F/A-18F Super Hornets launched from the ship and dropped 500-pound (230 kg) laser-guided bombs on an ISIL mobile artillery cannon shelling Kurdish forces outside their capital city, Erbil.[51] The mission was launched in accordance with President Obama's announcement on the evening of 7 August that the US would begin airstrikes to protect US personnel and the Yazidis in the region from ISIL attacks.

On 23 September 2014 F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets from Carrier Air Wing Eight launched from George H.W. Bush in the Persian Gulf to strike at specific targets in Syria such as command-and-control centers, training camps, and weapons depots.[52]

On 15 November 2014, George H.W. Bush returned to her homeport in Norfolk, Virginia after a nine-month deployment.

2017 deployment

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George H.W. Bush in company with HMS Queen Elizabeth and escorts
 
A pair of Super Hornets from USS George H.W. Bush overfly HMS Queen Elizabeth during Exercise Saxon Warrior in 2017

Following a 14-month shipyard availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard and a compressed training cycle, George H.W. Bush and Carrier Air Wing Eight departed Norfolk on 21 January for her third deployment. She transited the Strait of Gibraltar on 2 February and after a port visit to Souda Bay, Crete, she again participated in strikes against ISIL in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.[53]

In July 2017, George H.W. Bush arrived in the UK to take part in Exercise Saxon Warrior, a joint exercise involving Carrier Strike Group 2 plus elements of the Royal Navy, German Navy, Royal Norwegian Navy and Swedish Navy. This included the staff of the Royal Navy's Carrier Strike Group embarking Bush as part of their preparation for the entry into service of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the first of Britain's new aircraft carriers.[54]

2018

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In May 2018, George H.W. Bush took part in the Franco-American exercise Chesapeake Mission, with twelve Dassault Aviation Rafale M and a Grumman E-2C Hawkeye from the French Navy embarked on board.[55]

2019

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In February 2019, George H.W. Bush arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard for a planned 28-month docking planned incremental availability (DPIA). This was the ship's first DPIA.[56]

The United States Navy announced on 24 September that there had been three suicides aboard George H.W. Bush in one week. Two previous ship suicides had taken place in November 2017 and July 2019.[57]

2020

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On 30 July 2020, Navy Times reported that a spokesperson for Naval Air Force Atlantic confirmed that a "small number" of sailors assigned to George H.W. Bush had tested positive for COVID-19 during the summer.[58] The spokesperson declined to provide an exact number of sailors or a more precise date regarding when the virus was detected, citing US Defense Department policy, but added that the carrier was not deployed at the time, and that those infected "remain[ed] in isolation at their private residences in Virginia and receive[d] daily medical supportive care".[58][59]

In August 2020, George H.W. Bush left dry dock at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, after 18 months of the planned two-year overhaul. It was the vessel's most extensive maintenance period and marked the first time out of water since she was built. The overhaul was the most complex undertaken at the shipyard to date, according to the Navy.[60]

2022–2023 deployment

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On 10 August 2022, George H.W. Bush, with Carrier Air Wing 7 (CVW-7) embarked, began a deployment as part of Carrier Strike Group 10 (CSG-10). This marks the carrier's first deployment since her 2017 deployment, after which she underwent major maintenance.[61] CSG-10 was reportedly set to relieve Carrier Strike Group 8 (CSG-8) and its flagship, USS Harry S. Truman, in the Mediterranean Sea.[62] On 25 August 2022, George H.W. Bush and CSG-10 transited the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean Sea.[63] George H.W. Bush returned to Norfolk on 23 April 2023.[64]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d "Future USS George H.W. Bush to Transit". Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs. 18 December 2008. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Aircraft Carrier Named the USS George H.W. Bush Commissioned". Fox News. 10 January 2009. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  3. ^ Polmar, Norman (2004). The Naval Institute guide to the ships and aircraft of the U.S. fleet. Naval Institute Press. p. 112. ISBN 978-1-59114-685-8. Retrieved 26 September 2016. nimitz class displacement
  4. ^ "CVN-68: NIMITZ CLASS" (PDF).
  5. ^ Kuperman, Alan; von Hippel, Frank (10 April 2020). "US Study of Reactor and Fuel Types to Enable Naval Reactors to Shift from HEU Fuel". International Panel on Fissile Materials. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  6. ^ Hanlon, Brendan Patrick (19 May 2015). Validation of the Use of Low Enriched Uranium as a Replacement for Highly Enriched Uranium in US Submarine Reactors (PDF) (MSc). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  7. ^ Gibbons, Tony (2001). The Encyclopedia of Ships. London, United Kingdom: Amber Books. p. 444. ISBN 978-1-905704-43-9.
  8. ^ "USS George HW Bush Project". USS George HW Bush (CVN-77) Aircraft Carrier, United States of America. Net Resources International/SPG Media LTD. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  9. ^ Fontenoy, Paul E. (2006). Aircraft carriers: an illustrated history of their impact. ABC-CLIO Ltd. p. 349. ISBN 978-1-85109-573-5.
  10. ^ "George Herbert Walker Bush". Navy History and Heritage Command. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  11. ^ a b "The Ship's Seal". USS George H. W. Bush (CVN77). United States Navy. Archived from the original on 21 December 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  12. ^ "Design Enhancements". Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  13. ^ "Northrop Grumman Delivers Final Nimitz-Class Aircraft Carrier to the U.S. Navy". Globe Newswire. 11 May 2009. Archived from the original on 21 May 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  14. ^ a b Pike, John. "CVN-77 – George H.W. Bush". Global Security. Archived from the original on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  15. ^ "USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) Aircraft Carrier". naval-technology.com.
  16. ^ "Carrier Bush suffers widespread toilet outages – Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq". Navy Times. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  17. ^ Shapiro, Michael Welles, "Naval Shipyard Tackles Toilet Clogs on the Bush While Ship Is in For Repairs", Newport News Daily Press, 29 September 2012
  18. ^ a b c d Peña, Fabio. "USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN-77)". NavSource Naval History. NavSource Online: Aircraft Carrier Photo Archive. Archived from the original on 27 October 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  19. ^ "MaritimeQuest - USS George H. W. Bush CVN-77 Page 1". www.maritimequest.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2011. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  20. ^ "USS George HW Bush Project (Construction Photos)". USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) Aircraft Carrier, United States of America. Net Resources International/SPG Media LTD. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  21. ^ "A Crowning Achievement For Northrop Grumman's Newest Aircraft Carrier". northropgrumman.com.
  22. ^ "U.S.A.P.T. Command and Staff Attend USS George H.W. Bush Commissioning". army.mil.
  23. ^ "Carrier's Namesake Tests Catapult". News.navy.mil. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  24. ^ Bailey, Nathan A. (13 August 2008). "PCU Bush Celebrates In-Service Day, Moves Aboard". News.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  25. ^ Jones, Matthew (10 January 2009). "Carrier awaits a call to come to life in ceremony today". The Virginian Pilot. Landmark Communications. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  26. ^ "Northrop Grumman Completes Builder's Sea Trials for USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77)". Globe Newswire. 16 February 2009. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  27. ^ "Navy's Newest Carrier Successfully Completes Acceptance Sea Trials". United States Navy. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  28. ^ "Navy Takes Delivery of Aircraft Carrier George H.W. Bush". Navy.mil. 11 May 2009. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  29. ^ "Navy's Newest Aircraft Carrier Lands First Aircraft". Navy.mil. 19 May 2009. Archived from the original on 17 December 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  30. ^ "Bush Certified for Flight Ops". News.navy.mil. 29 May 2009. Archived from the original on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  31. ^ "Northrop Grumman Awarded PSA Contract for USS George H. W. Bush". Globe Newswire. 18 June 2009. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  32. ^ Affairs, Press Release, USS George H. W. Bush Public (18 May 2011). "USS Bush departs for maiden deployment". Military News. Retrieved 22 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ a b "George Bush bound for Portsmouth after war games with Royal Navy". 23 May 2011. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011.
  34. ^ McMichael, Bill (5 May 2011). "Bush to make first-ever overseas deployment" (Scoop Deck). Navy Times.
  35. ^ Ziezulewicz, Geoff (11 June 2011). "Navy's newest carrier reaches Naples during first deployment". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011.
  36. ^ "George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group Returns from Deployment" (U.S. Fleet Forces Public Affairs). The Flagship. Military Newspapers of Virginia. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  37. ^ Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Samantha Thorpe, USN (26 July 2012). "CVN 77 Begins Planned Incremental Availability". NNS120726-09. USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) and Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Samantha Thorpe, USN (24 August 2012). "CVN 77 Starts Planned Incremental Availability". NNS120824-02. USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  38. ^ Mass Communication Specialist Margaret Keith, USN (3 December 2012). "CVN 77 Departs Shipyard on Time". NNS121203-03. USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2012. and Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Samantha Thorpe, USN (3 December 2012). "CVN 77 Back To Sea For Trials". NNS120726-09. USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 12 December 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ Richard Whittle (5 February 2013). "It's Great Time To Run V-22 Osprey Program; POTUS Duty, Multiyear, Safety". Sea. AOL Defense. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013. Ospreys from VMX-22, the Marine Corps test squadron, were operating from the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) the weekend of Jan. 26–27, carrying cargo and passengers to and from the big deck flattop in a demonstration of the V-22's ability to operate either as part of a carrier's cyclic air operation or, as helicopters do, outside it...
  40. ^ "Navy launches unmanned aircraft from deck of aircraft carrier for 1st time". Washington Post. Retrieved 14 May 2013.[dead link‍]
  41. ^ Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brandon Vinson, USN (17 May 2013). "X-47B Accomplishes First Ever Carrier Touch and Go aboard CVN 77". NNS130517-15. USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013. The Navy's X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator (UCAS-D) has begun touch and go landing operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) May 17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Derrik Noack, USN (24 May 2013). "USS George H.W. Bush Completes Historic Underway". NNS130524-11. USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  43. ^ Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brandon Vinson (10 July 2013). "X-47B Makes First Arrested Landing at Sea". NNS130710-06. USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 14 July 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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Further reading

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  • Dyer, Geoff (2014). Another Great Day at Sea: Life aboard the USS George H.W. Bush. New York: Pantheon Books. ISBN 9780307911582.
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