The Kiss statue from USS Midway, San Diego

Went, eventually, on a tour of the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier moored in San Diego harbour. I say eventually because it took a long time and several phone calls to buy tickets over the internet.

The tour took in 3 decks of the carrier and was well worth the admission money. We only saw about half of all there was to see, from the accomodation of the lowest rank to the comparative luxury of the admiral's and captain's quarters. Also explained was the role of various groups on board from those who managed the aircraft to those whose responsibility it was to sail the ship.

USS Midway was delivered to the US Navy in 1945, just after the end of the Second World War and was in service until 1992, having led the invasion of Iraq in 1991. Apparently the vessel could be brought back into commission if circumstances required it.

This view of the Kiss (or Unconditional Surrender) was taken from the flight deck of the USS Midway. The Kiss is the infamous embrace starring a sailor and a nurse and is one of the iconic images of the end of the Second World War.

In the background is another icon of San Diego, the Coronado Bridge, the 2.1 mile link between San Diego and Coronado Insland.