The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. She is home-ported at NAS Norfolk, VA and underwent a major overhaul in the early '90s, deployed with CVW-17 in 1996, completed a short overhaul in the summer of 1997, deployed again with CVW-3 in late 1998 to May 1999 to the Med and Arabian Sea regions during which time, they planned many contingency operations in support of the Kosovo crisis while in the Adriatic Sea, as well as participated in Operation Desert Fox while in the Persian Gulf. This is the small version of their patch. This ship has now been decommissioned.

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. She is home-ported at NAS Norfolk, VA and underwent a major overhaul in the early '90s, deployed with CVW-17 in 1996, completed a short overhaul in the summer of 1997, deployed again with CVW-3 in late 1998 to May 1999 to the Med and Arabian Sea regions during which time, they planned many contingency operations in support of the Kosovo crisis while in the Adriatic Sea, as well as participated in Operation Desert Fox while in the Persian Gulf. This is the medium-sized version of their patch. This ship has now been decommissioned.

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. She is home-ported at NAS Norfolk, VA and underwent a major overhaul in the early '90s, deployed with CVW-17 in 1996, completed a short overhaul in the summer of 1997, deployed again with CVW-3 in late 1998 to May 1999 to the Med and Arabian Sea regions during which time, they planned many contingency operations in support of the Kosovo crisis while in the Adriatic Sea, as well as participated in Operation Desert Fox while in the Persian Gulf. This is the large version of their patch. This ship has now been decommissioned.

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. She is home-ported at NAS Norfolk, VA and underwent a major overhaul in the early '90s, deployed with CVW-17 in 1996, completed a short overhaul in the summer of 1997, deployed again with CVW-3 in late 1998 to May 1999 to the Med and Arabian Sea regions during which time, they planned many contingency operations in support of the Kosovo crisis while in the Adriatic Sea, as well as participated in Operation Desert Fox while in the Persian Gulf. This is the "rainbow" patch first created back in 1996 on my cruise for Airwing 17.

Based out of NAS Cecil Field, FL, the Marauders of VFA-82 converted from the A-7 in July 1987 and became the first Fleet squadron to be equipped with McDonnell Douglas' F/A-18C Hornet Strike Fighter. They were assigned to the USS America (CV-66) and participated in Desert Storm. Since Cecil Field closed, they moved to and are currently stationed at MCAS Beaufort, SC. This is their most recent cruise patch from the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and shows they participated in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom as well as the Horn Of Africa (HOA).

This is one of the cruise patches for CVN-65 (USS Enterprise) for their OIF/OEF cruise in 2007. It is a moonshine jug with all the participating squadrons in the middle overlaid onto a CENTCOM AOR map. On the bottom of the patch it states: "I'd rather be drinking". This patch does not have velcro attached.

This is one of the cruise patches for VFA-86 (Sidewinders) for their OIF/OEF cruise in 2007. The Sidewinders fly the F-18 hornet out of MCAS Beaufort, SC. It is a knock-off of the Jack Daniels label. This patch does not have velcro attached.

This is another cruise patch for CVN-65 (USS Enterprise) for their OIF/OEF cruise in 2007. It is a cirucular patch denoting all the participating squadrons in the middle overlaid onto a CENTCOM AOR map. On the top it states: "USS ENTERPRISE CVN-65" and on the bottom of the patch it states: "OIF / OEF 2007". This patch does not have velcro attached.

This is the cruise patch from the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and Airwing One when they were in the Persian Gulf in 2003-04 for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. It shows a can of beer (or adult beverage) and says, 'Twice The Red Ass Half the Combat'. Pretty unique patch.

This is the cruise patch from the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) when they were in the Persian Gulf in 2003-04 for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. It is an oval patch that shows a poker hand with the various participating squadrons. On the bottom it says 'Dealin' The Dead Man's Hand'.

This is the cruise patch from the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and Airwing One when they were in the Persian Gulf in 2006 for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. It shows a bottle of hot sauce and says, 'Cleared Hot' with a Taliban Pete character.

This is the cruise patch from the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and Airwing One when they were in the Persian Gulf in 2004 for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. It shows the Dove of Peace and asks "Are we late? Did we miss it?".

This is the FIRST Operation Enduring Freedom patch that came out. It is also the LAST cruise patch for the VF-41 "Black Knights" in the F-14 Tomcat. It has the now-famous cat (Tomcat) sharpening it's claws for our turn.

This is one of the cruise patches created for CVN-65/CVW-8 for their 2001 Summer Med Cruise. It is a spoof from the popular TV series called 'SURVIVOR' and says "OUTFLY, OUTFIGHT, OUTDRINK". This patch does not come with velcro attached.

The "Bulls" of VFA-37 were formerly a Vought A-7 Corsair II squadron, but now fly the F/A-18C as part of CVW-3 aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). This is the cruise patch they made from their Med Sea/Persian Gulf tour in '98-'99.

This is the "shield-shaped" cruise patch from the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and Airwing Three when they were in the Persian Gulf in 1998/1999 for Operation Desert Fox.

This is the cruise patch from the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and CVW-3 when they were in the Persian Gulf in 1998 for Operation Desert Fox. This cruise patch shows an F/A-18 with a black foxhead as the background and says OPERATION DESERT FOX Night Precision Bombing Derby. This patch does not have velcro attached.

This is the cruise patch from the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and Airwing Three when they were in the Persian Gulf in 1998-1999 for Operation Desert Fox.

This is the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) / Airwing 17 (CVW-17) cruise patch created for the 1996 Mediterranean cruise....summer in the Med! "THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES" was our slogan, as we hit 10 ports in 5 months. Was a great summer! No velcro on this patch.

VF-103 was established in May 1952 and began the transition from F-4S Phantoms to the F-14A Tomcat in January 1983. The 'Sluggers' were with the USS Saratoga in CVW-17 for the majority of her time, before switching to the USS Enterprise. VF-103 adopted the "Skull and Crossbones" of VF-84 to continue their tradition. VF-103 painted the vertical tails of one of their jets with this schematic on the 1996 Med Cruise they were on. I saw this firsthand, as I was on that cruise also.

This is the "SUEZ CANAL/I DID THE DITCH" patch from the CVN-65 1996 Mediterranean cruise with Airwing 17 onboard.....we ran on the flight deck the entire time the boat was in the Ditch. This patch does not come with velcro attached.

This patch is from CVN-65 and says "AT 3/4 OF A MILE, NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU SCREAM" along the top. Having been there, I laugh hysterically at the thought of this patch and what all the others were doing in the same place! This patch does not have velcro already attached.

This patch is for the T-45 Egnine Sea Trials conducted in May 2010 onboard the USS Enterprise for the USN/Rolls Royce/Boeing engines.

This is the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) patch for the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). They handle the "mid-level" maintenance repairs for the aircraft attached to them.

This patch is from the USS Enterprise with Airwing 11 aboard during the "Persian Excursion" of 1988. It has the "handmade/in-country" feel to it also.

This is the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) patch for the USS Enterprise (CVN-65). They handle the "mid-level" maintenance repairs for the aircraft attached to them.

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. This is the "100-traps" patch for having landed on her for a total of that many times. This patch does not come with velcro attached.

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. This is the "200-traps" patch for having landed on her for a total of that many times. This patch does not come with velcro attached. I only have 195 on her!

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. This is the "300-traps" patch for having landed on her for a total of that many times. This patch does not come with velcro attached.

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. This is the "400-traps" patch for having landed on her for a total of that many times. This patch does not come with velcro attached. I only have 195 on her!

Use this link to get a discount on the purchase of all FOUR of the Traps Patches for the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) as listed above.

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. This is the "100 Total night traps" patch for having landed on her that many times in the dark! I only had 75 of those on her and I remember every single one!! This patch does not have velcro attached.

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. This is the "200 Total night traps" patch for having landed on her that many times in the dark! This patch does not have velcro attached.

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. This is the "300 Total night traps" patch for having landed on her that many times in the dark! This patch does not have velcro attached.

Use this link to get a discount on the purchase of all THREE of the Night-Traps Patches for the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) as listed above.

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth ship to carry this proud name, the Big 'E' was commissioned on 24 November 1961. This is the nametag for the Commanding Officer.