# Who DESERVES to Have an Aircraft Carrier Named in His Honor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 19, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623 "2016-04-19T04:04:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/21 "2016-04-19T20:39:55Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > Me. Nope, 'tis moi - 'cause I so _fly_. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/22 "2016-04-19T21:05:10Z")
Obviously the only appropriate capitalist solution is to sell naming rights to corporations a la sports arenas. Fear the mighty USS ConAgra Foods! ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/23 "2016-04-20T00:20:58Z")
> [@Mk\_VII](#): > > The _Robert S MacNamara_ Unfortunately, in an effort to streamline costs and maximize parts commonality, this carrier’s design was derived from work originally done on the Interstate Highway System… While, admittedly, building a section of five-lane freeway in the drydock may not have been the best plan in itself, the _real_ pain is trying to land on the lower deck. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/24 "2016-04-20T00:52:23Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Assuming you meant Admiral Mitscher, both he and Spruance have had 2 destroyers named after them, with one of each currently active. ISTM the part of the old tradition by which Destroyers/Frigates were named after celebrated naval figures or war heroes remained mostly in place through the chaotization of the naming conventions that **bump** mentioned. I would imagine part of the matter was that with the reduction in the total size of the fleet and the reduction in _classes_ of ship (no more battleships, soon no more cruisers, frigates are on then off then on again, no more non-nuke carriers or subs), there came increased pressure for some of the “prestige” names to be kept alive on _some_ ship afloat, and at the same time for the names of some “special people” to be given to prestigious “capital” ships. Once was you’d never dream of naming a fleet carrier after a living ex-Senator; now, well, do you or don’t you want his buddies still in the Senate to vote to approve your weapons system? (The old _general_ convention used to be IIRC: Battleships: States (Arizona, Oklahoma, Nevada, Iowa) Carriers: historic battles, historic ships (Lexington, Saratoga, Enterprise, Bonhomme Richard) Cruisers: Cities (St. Louis, Indianapolis, San Juan) Destroyers: Heroes, historic naval figures (Farragut, Fletcher, Gearing) Submarines: Sea creatures real and imaginary (Balao, Finback, Squalus, Kraken)) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/25 "2016-04-20T08:49:27Z")
Batman. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/26 "2016-04-20T19:06:54Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Unfortunately, in an effort to streamline costs and maximize parts commonality, this carrier’s design was derived from work originally done on the Interstate Highway System… > > While, admittedly, building a section of five-lane freeway in the drydock may not have been the best plan in itself, the _real_ pain is trying to land on the lower deck. This is silly. The [lower deck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Glorious#Conversion)is only for take-offs! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/27 "2016-04-20T19:33:40Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Batman. I’d pay real money to see that. Would have to be one of those stealth destroyers. Or maybe one of those special submarines outfitted for the Navy Seals. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/28 "2016-04-20T19:59:46Z")
**Flattop** , the Dick Tracy Villain. If you have any doubts, look at his image from the Daffy Duck cartoon _The Great Piggy Bank Robbery_: [https://www.google.com/search?q=flattop+"Great+Piggy+Bank+Robbery"&biw=1920&bih=906&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDyL-pgJ7MAhUJzmMKHQvoAB8QsAQIJQ#imgrc=o2c8yB\_R-hl7ZM%3A](https://www.google.com/search?q=flattop+%22Great+Piggy+Bank+Robbery%22&biw=1920&bih=906&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjDyL-pgJ7MAhUJzmMKHQvoAB8QsAQIJQ#imgrc=o2c8yB_R-hl7ZM%3A) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9ly35NQfZw8/hqdefault.jpg "Daffy Duck Dick Tracy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ly35NQfZw8) ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/29 "2016-04-20T20:05:43Z")
They should sell the naming rights. USS “Coca-Cola” is a GREAT idea!!! Big white sloop along the ballast line. Who is going to shoot at the coca cola ship? Uh-Oh, here comes the Pepsi ship!! WAR IS ON! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/30 "2016-04-20T21:42:46Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Cpt. Boaty McBoatface Mission Accomplished. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/31 "2016-04-20T21:44:00Z")
Samuel Pierpont Langley ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/32 "2016-04-21T03:11:16Z")
I think Langley had one. How about the USS Mark Twain? or Tecumseh? didn’t Tecumseh try to get accepted into the Naval Academy, or am I dreaming ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/33 "2016-04-21T05:05:39Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I’d pay real money to see that. Would have to be one of those stealth destroyers. Or maybe one of those special submarines outfitted for the Navy Seals. Well, we DID have a USS Wolverine, a USS Colossus, _and_ a USS Cyclops…'though the latter has up and vanished on us. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/34 "2016-04-21T12:10:33Z")
> [@5\_time\_champ](#): > > I think Langley had one. How about the USS Mark Twain? or Tecumseh? didn’t Tecumseh try to get accepted into the Naval Academy, or am I dreaming If boomers are now capital ships, he got his: > **[USS Tecumseh (SSBN-628)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tecumseh_(SSBN-628))** > > USS Tecumseh (SSBN-628), a James Madison-class ballistic missile submarine, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for Tecumseh (c.1768–1813), the leader of the Shawnee people. > The contract to build Tecumseh was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of the General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 20 July 1961. Originally, she was to have been named William Penn, and would have been the first Navy ship to bear that name, but was renamed on 11 April 1962. > Tec... And yes Langley had his carriers. The Navy’s first one in fact [USS Langley (CV-1) - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Langley_(CV-1)) and another one [USS Langley (CVL-27) - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Langley_(CVL-27)) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/35 "2016-04-21T12:18:58Z")
Huh… for some reason the link-parse function placed the final parenthesis outside the url tag… ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/36 "2016-04-21T13:36:05Z")
No one living. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/37 "2016-04-21T14:39:12Z")
Since carriers are all about projecting power, creating a “don’t fuck with me” image to potential trouble, then I vote USS Harry Callahan. You KNOW what the squadron motto would be, ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/38 "2016-04-21T14:45:11Z")
“Watch me yell at this empty chair!”? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/39 "2016-04-21T14:50:59Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > “Watch me yell at this empty chair!”? No, that’s the USS Clint Eastwood. An easy mistake. They had to take it out of service, though, because it started turning to the right and couldn’t stop. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623/40 "2016-04-21T14:58:57Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Since carriers are all about projecting power, creating a “don’t fuck with me” image to potential trouble, then I vote USS Harry Callahan. In the _Harry (“don’t fuck with me”) Callahan_ carrier class, the next two would be the USS _Rocky Balboa_ and the USS _John J. Rambo_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-deserves-to-have-an-aircraft-carrier-named-in-his-honor/752623.md?page=3)