Dave Starr works at the USS Hornet (CVS-12) Museum and volunteered to work aboard USS Midway for the two months she was in Oakland, California for restoration. The following are Dave's own words from several emails he sent me:

"I am working with CDR Pete Clayton and will be doing some restoration work on the Midway over the next 60 days while she is in Oakland. I worked with CDR Clayton on the USS Hornet for the last 6 years. I went on the Midway today for the first time since 1974, when I was with my dad who is now a retired Navy Captain. This was a dependents day cruise out of Yokosuka Japan. RHIP got us up to the bridge and I got to steer the ship for about 5 minutes. It was a strange feeling being back up there today after almost 30 years."

"I will officially start my work on the ship tomorrow and I will be taking more shots over the next 60 days that the Midway website will be welcome to use."

"Glad to be of help to you and all of the other Midway crew members! I will be working for all of you guys over the next 60 days. Cool to see that you were at NAF Atsugi, I know it well! We were there from 72-75, dad was Chief Of Staff COMFAIRWESTPAC back then."

"Here are a few pics taken of me today on the Midway. Now you can put a face to the e-mails you get from me!"

"If you know anyone in the Bay Area who can come down to help us, let me know. We need help getting the ship ready. If you can believe this, I worked alone on the ship today for two hours before two others guys came aboard (as in I was the only one on the ship between 9 and 11 this morning!)."

(All photos in this gallery were taken by Dave Starr.)