An aircraft carrier is one of America’s greatest symbols of freedom and power. It’s a strategic asset in our national defense arsenal. It’s our greatest projection of combat power. It’s a city at sea. And for RADM (ret) John “Mac” McLaughlin it was a challenge he never expected. 

For our milestone Episode 100 of The Jedburgh Podcast, Fran Racioppi took over the Hanger Deck of the USS Midway Museum for a conversation with Mac on the history of the American aircraft carrier, the importance of the US Navy, what it was like to fly anti-submarine helicopters, and what’s next in the battle for naval supremacy. 

Mac also shares the story of the USS Midway; for decades America’s flagship carrier and host of many American Navy firsts. He explains his vision for the museum and how he led the team that built it from an empty ship towed into San Diego Harbor to one of the most visited tourist destinations in the United States. 

The USS Midway was built primarily by women in 1942 and later led the coalition in over 3000 sorties in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Today the ship is tribute to all who serve America; especially those at sea. 

Special thanks to the San Diego Military Advisory Council for their support in producing this episode.  

Learn more about the USS Midway and theUSS Midway Museum at midway.org and on social media at @ussmidwaymuseum.

Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. Watch the full video version on YouTube.

Highlights:

• 0:00 Welcome to the USS Midway Museum, Freedom and Episode 100
• 3:28 Building the USS Midway in 17 months by women in 1943
• 5:21 The USS Midway at war in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and the Cold War
• 8:27 The many “firsts” of the USS Midway
• 10:16 Mac’s career in the Navy flying helicopters
• 14:41 The role of United States Navy in America’s national defense
•  17:15 The peer-to-peer Naval adversary of the Chinese and Russians
• 20:58 USS Midway comes to San Diego
• 26:02 The exhibits of the USS Midway
• 29:34 The USS Midway Foundation
• 33:54 Mac’s Foundations to Success

Quotes: 

• “The Midway represents the transformation of the United States Navy from a battleship centric Navy to an aircraft centric Navy.” (5:08)
• “It became the most operationally effective aircraft carrier in the Western Pacific despite the fact it was so old.” (7:29)
• “As long as America has a responsibility of maintaining its supremacy as an international power we will need to continue investing in a very strong Navy.” (17:04)
• “The day you stop investing in your military resources is the day you can ensure that your country is in jeopardy.” (19:32)
• “We had nothing. If you see anything on this ship it wasn’t here when we started.” (23:08)

This episode is brought to you by Jersey Mike’s, Compass Workforce Solutions & Rhone