On the 16th August 1943 the U.S.S. Intrepid (CV-11) was the third Essex Class Aircraft Carrier to enter service. The "Intrepid" was involved in many operations in the war against Japan with its crew of up to 3,450 men. It was the US Aircraft Carrier with the most combat hits in the Pacific Theatre. The "Intrepid" was subsequently used as the main recovery ship by NASA in the Mercury and Gemini Space Program's. The carrier was finally decommissioned in the spring of 1974 after seeing service in the Vietnam War. Lying at anchor in the Port of New York as a museum ship since 1982, the carrier is now home to the"Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum".