USS Independence (CV-62)

USS Independence (CV-62) was an American aircraft carrier, commissioned in 1959 and decommissioned in 1998, serving as a key element of U.S. naval power. It was a Kitty Hawk-class carrier, designed to deploy and support aircraft for defense, reconnaissance, and strike missions worldwide. With a large flight deck, it could carry hundreds of aircraft and was equipped with advanced radar and missile systems for defense. The ship participated in various military operations, training exercises, and shows of force during the Cold War and beyond. Its role was to project power across oceans, serving as a floating airbase and strategic asset for decades.