2018 End-of-Year Update: Land-based Facility

In August we reported that we were redoubling our efforts to develop a land-based facility at the former Quonset Point Naval Air Station, which would incorporate museums and memorials for the USS John F Kennedy and USS Saratoga, as well as a permanent home for the RI Aviation Hall of Fame.
We also promised to keep a pilot light lit in hopes that a permanent mooring solution may arise prior to the day that CV-67 is towed away to be scrapped.
While there has been no constructive response to our ongoing efforts concerning CV-67, we have made significant progress on the land-based facility.
Over the past several months we have gained the endorsements of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation and the RI National Guard (a major aviation tenant at Quonset) for our planned museum, recreation center and family attraction.
While we are still trying to determine the exact location, the Quonset Development Corporation, landlord for most of the Quonset property, has promised to make land with ramp access available to RIAHOF at a favorable non-profit rate. We hope to have more clarity on an exact site by the end of the year.
As we explained, we must find another way to honor all the JFK sailors who served so honorably in her. It would be foolhardy for us to just give up and allow all those years of hard work and all the money spent so far to simply go down the drain with nothing to show for it.
We have collected a wealth of memorabilia and artifacts over the years, and we firmly believe that it would be criminal to risk the loss of that historic collection.
There are also three aircraft still on the site of the former Quonset Air Museum, and with your help we may be able to rescue them.
We hope you will continue to support us in that quest.

Please visit the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame website for more background and updates.

5 comments

  1. I think they should really look at the pier on Quonset Point Naval Air Station where they want to also put the building museum to house artifacts. The pier use to have carriers on it back in the day, so why not the USS John F. Kennedy CVA/CV-67 now. Someone who is close enough there should go talk to those folks from the Air Force and hopefully re-light the flame of hope of making JFK a museum. I may be handicapped, but I’m ready to bust rust and do some painting or whatever I can to bring “BIG JOHN” back to life.

  2. Steve Rogers,
    Send a letter to
    USS JFK Project
    PO Box 845
    North Kingstown, RI 02852
    With your question
    While interesting, no one can make any public comments on funding (Especially in a “Chat Room”
    Rest assured, there is interest in your offer…

  3. What if anything, can we do in the public, that can help find a place, or help keep CV 67as a museum?

    I have already se.nt messages to then senator John Kerry, and senator Ed Markey from Massachusetts, asking for their help.

    I think the perfect spot would be JFK library in Boston

  4. Quitting is for quitters. I requested info on how much money was needed to get this done and got no answer. I support saving the JFK but the RI museum is nice but is not a motivator for most people.

    I have a plan and know donors but I need to know how much money is needed.

  5. Hi
    Has any thought been put in to trying to obtain the Kennedy’s island? The angled uptakes are one of the most iconic parts of the Big John and at least it would be something substantial that could be preserved from her.

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