Ranger was the first aircraft carrier in the world to be laid down as an angled-deck ship (her elder sisters Forrestal and Saratoga had been laid down as axial-deck ships and were converted for an angled deck while under construction). She was laid down 2 August 1954 by Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., Newport News, Virginia, launched 29 September 1956.
Ranger was decommissioned on 10 July 1993, and is at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Bremerton, Washington. As of 2004,a nonprofit organization is working to bring ex-Ranger to Portland, Oregon to serve as a naval and aerospace museum, educational center, and a setting for special events.
Ranger earned 13 battle stars for service in Vietnam.
Sea - Military - Aircraft Carrier
Links: en.wikipedia.org
By: kjfitz