The keel for the lead ship of this class was laid on 27 December 1956, and was named to honor the location of the first flight made by the Wright brothers. “Kitty” was launched on 21 May 1960 and placed in commission on 29 April 1961. She was home-ported now in Yoosuka, Japan after arriving there on 11 August 1998 upon completion of a 12-month, $65 million overhaul in April 1998. This is the famous “Don’t Tread on Me” Patch.
