It’s always hard to say goodbye, but this year we wrapped up NECA 2024 San Diego with the Closing Celebration aboard the USS Midway, sponsored by ABB.
The USS Midway Museum showed off her patriotic colors for the Anchors Away closing reception.
Attendees were treated to a stunning view of San Diego at night from the flight deck.
Classic funk band Kool & the Gang sent us out in style with a concert to remember. The band played many of their classic hits such as “Celebration,” “Ladies Night” and “Get Down On It.” There was plenty of dancing and merriment to be had by attendees! You can watch music videos and recordings of live performances of Kool & the Gang’s hits, learn more about their upcoming tour dates and more on their website.
Kool & the Gang delighted audiences with their classic hits such as “Get Down On It."
One of the unique features of this year’s closing celebration was the historic nature of the party’s location. Veteran docents were available to provide tours of the ship—the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the 20th century, named for the historic Battle of Midway in June 1942—during which attendees had the opportunity to learn more about the ship and its history, from the pilot house to the engine room, and the 220,000 sailors who served aboard it.
Partygoers learned about the historic Battle of Midway.
A plane fuselage gave participants a taste of being in the cockpit, just like Maverick and Goose.
The USS Midway was commissioned in September 1945 and played key roles in the Cold War, the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. It also engaged in several historic “firsts.” For example, in 1946, the ship became the first American carrier to operate in the midwinter sub-Arctic. It also was the only ship to launch a captured German V-2 rocket, initiating the start of modern naval missile warfare. After nearly 50 years of service, the ship was decommissioned in April 1992.
Attendees got a close look at the many historical planes on the flight deck, such as this F4U-4 Corsair. The Corsair's bent wings allowed the landing gear to be shorter, which meant it weighed less and experienced less torque. The bent wings also provided better sight lines when landing—an important feature because the pilot could not see over the plane's nose while doing so.
The USS Midway Museum featured a number of mannequins showing examples of the work performed by the 220,000 sailors who served aboard the ship over the years.
Partygoers could also enjoy an exciting ride on one of the flight simulators on the hangar deck.
Long lines didn't bother attendees looking for an exciting ride on one of the flight simulators.
The team at ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR looks forward to seeing everyone next year at
NECA 2025 Chicago.
About The Author
Colleen Beaty
Senior EditorColleen Beaty is senior editor at ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR Magazine, where she has worked since 2020. She has been writing about topics such as outside line work, wildlife and habitat conservation for more than 18 years. In her role with ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR, she primarily works with the editorial team to fine-tune stories for the magazines and curate content for ECmag.com. She can also be found hosting ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR's webinars. She holds a BS in wildlife conservation from the University of Delaware.
Colleen is fueled by tea (especially chai), and can often be found cross-stitching or birding in her spare time (but not both at once).
Reach her on LinkedIn or at [email protected].
