The Middle Years
Continued
INTREPID proceded to the NY Naval Shipyard for a 7 month modernization period on Sept 29th 1956.
The modernization resulted in the INTREPID boasteing a new, reinforced angle flight deck, and a new morror landing system. For the finishing touches in modernization she moved from Brooklyn to Bayonne, NJ during the last weeks of April.
On May 20, INTREPID departed NY for refresher training at Guantanamo to regain her "sea legs". Aboard were squadrons VA-66, VAH-11 and VA-25, arriving on June 10th.
On September 3, 1957 INTREPID was underway for her 1st visit to Northern Europe. As part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) "Operation Strikeback".
On March 11th, RADM K. Craig, Commander Carrier Division 2, relieaved RADM Griffin, COMCARDIV 5 and broke out his flag on board the INTREPID.
On June 25, 1958, "I" arrived in Lisbon, Portugal. By July 9, INTREPID arrive in Oslo, Norway. The last port-of-call was Rotterdam, Netherlands. Afterward INTREPID got underway for Mayport, FL for of two generators. Later in September, INTREPID was embarked to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for some primary engineering department work.
On October 4, 1958, CAPT P. Masterton relieved CAPT Kuhl. Also, embarked aboard was Air Group 6. Pilots of VA-106 totaled a record number of 46 landings in one hour with their A4D Skyhawks. A total of 225 landings that same day set an Atlantic Fleet mark. Operations in the Caribbean in November comprised the 2nd Atlantic Fleet Exercise of 1958.
On March 1, 1959 INTREPID reported to the Commander of the 6th Fleet, then VADM C. E. Ekstom for duty after 407 hours in transiting the Atlantic. She relieved the FORRESTAL & the RANDOLPH on station, in the shadow of Gibraltar's Harbor.
Air Group (CAG) 6, now aboard was composed of VA-65, VA-66, VA-46, VF-33, VF-74, VFP-62 (Det 33), VAW-12 (Det 33), and VAW-33 (Det 33). INTREPID then returned to Naples in March and helped observe NATO's 10th anniversary. She then returned to and arrived back at the Norfolk Naval Yards on August 30, 1959 and CAPT Masterton was relieved by CAPT E. C. Outlaw. A 4 month overhaul then proceded to upgrade INTREPID and then she moved to Norfolk on December 3rd spending the holiday season pierside. By January 1960 INTREPID prepaired for her post yard period shakedown csruise at Guantanamo Bay.
For this cruise Air Group 6 slightly changed in make-up, returned aboard. VF-66, VA-65, VF-33 and HU-2 all returned, along with the new addition of VA-76.
Having the newly commissioned USS INDEPENDENCE (CVA-11) moored to the other side of Pier 12 made it awkward for the INTREPID to continue with her old nickname the "Mighty I". However she could rightfully claim to a better title: "The Fighting I, the Oldest and the Best". As evidence of this the INTREPID put to sea on April 25th with an array of the Navy's newest and mightiest aircraft. Among those planes then being given carrier suitability trials was the new ASW plane, the S2F-3, and, of greater interest, the Navy's not yet operational record-breaking F4H Phantom II that was capable of reaching speeds of 2500 MPH.
In July 1960 INTREPID broke her own record and may have set a new fleet record by launching 11 jets in 8 monutes, 32s seconds on a single catapult.
On August 4, 1960, INTREPID sailed for a 7 1/2 month deployment to the Mediterranean with CAPT Outlaw in command. He was then relieved of command by CAPT C. S. MInter, Jr. On February 17, 1961, INTREPID returned to Norfolk.