WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- The U.S. aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy will finally be retired from service next spring.
The veteran giant carrier will "begin the process of decommissioning March 31," the Navy Tiems reported Friday. It cited a Naval Administrative message released Thursday.
The carrier known throughout the U.S. Navy as "Big John" will "formally decommission Sept. 30, according to NavAdmin 373/06, and its inactivation availability will begin March 31," the Navy Times said.
"Officials have approved a plan that will take the ship to Boston for a final port visit. Sen. Edward Kennedy and Navy officials announced Monday that the ship will make a final port call in Boston from March 1 through March 5," the reprot said.
The decommissioning marks a long-sought victory for U.S. Navy planners. They have wanted for years to phase the JFK out of service but they were repeatedly blocked by its supporters in Congress.
