For the first time in its history, authentic structural material from USS Midway (CV-41) has been made available to the public.

These PlaneTags are crafted from manganese-bronze removed from the ship’s original propellers during documented preservation efforts by the USS Midway Museum.

OUR PLANE'S STORY

On marine vessels, a propeller is properly called a screw.

USS Midway was fitted with four massive manganese-bronze screws, two to port and two to starboard. The inboard screws measured 17 feet 6 inches in diameter and weighed nearly 20 tons each. The outboard screws were even larger, stretching 18 feet 8 inches and weighing over 21 tons.

In 2023, during museum-led preservation work addressing tidal stress at the stern, portions of several screw blades were carefully removed. Those removed sections are now being preserved through this limited PlaneTags release.

Each tag originates from that manganese-bronze alloy, a metal chosen for strength, corrosion resistance, and decades of open-ocean service.

Why These Pieces Were Removed

While berthed in its current location, parts of the lower screw blades would contact the shoreline during extreme low tides. Over time, this caused stress within the shaft alleys and contributed to structural strain.

To remediate this issue and ensure long-term preservation, the museum removed portions of seven screw blades and sections of the rudders. This careful intervention reduced stress on the vessel and helped protect Midway’s integrity for future generations.

The material removed during that preservation effort is what you see here.

USS MIDWAY C-41-Propeller

Characteristics:

Manufacturer / Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding
Class: Midway-class Aircraft Carrie
Ship Name: USS Midway (CV-41)
Commissioned: 10 September 1945
Crew: Approx. 4,100–4,700 (Ship’s Company and Air Wing)
Length: 1,001 ft
Beam: 121 ft (Waterline), up to 238 ft (Flight Deck)
Draft: 34.5 ft
Height: Approx. 222 ft (keel to mast)
Aircraft Capacity:
- Up to ~137 aircraft (design capacity)
- Typical operational air wing: ~65–100 aircraft depending on era

Performance:

Max Speed: 33 knots (≈38 mph)
Range: ~12,000 nautical miles at cruising speed (approx., depending on operations)
Service Life: 1945–1992 (47 years in service)
Displacement:~45,000 tons (standard) / Up to ~64,000–70,000 tons (full load after upgrades)

Propulsion:

Powerplant: 12x Babcock & Wilcox boilers, 4x Westinghouse geared steam turbines
Total Power: ~212,000 shaft horsepower
Propulsion: 4x shafts driving 4 × propellers (screws)

Propeller/Screw Configuration:

Midway is fitted with four screws constructed from special manganese-bronze:

Inboard Screws: • Five blades • 17 ft 6 in diameter • Approx. 19.7 tons each
Outboard Screws: • Four blades • 18 ft 8 in diameter • Approx. 21.7 tons each

Preservation Partnership

This release is part of an exclusive collaboration with the USS Midway Museum.

All material used in this edition was removed as part of documented preservation and maintenance work. Proceeds received by the museum support the continued conservation of USS Midway and its educational mission.

This marks the first time authentic structural components of the ship have been made available in this way.

About the Metal: Manganese Bronze

Manganese bronze is a high-strength copper alloy engineered for marine propulsion systems. It withstands immense torque, vibration, and saltwater exposure.

For decades, these screws converted steam power into forward motion, carrying USS Midway through the Cold War, Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, and countless deployments across the globe. Each PlaneTag preserves a small fragment of that engineering legacy.

What Makes This Release Different

Authentic manganese-bronze from USS Midway’s original propeller screws
Removed during documented 2023 museum-led preservation efforts
Exclusive collaboration with the USS Midway Museum
Individually engraved and serialized
Presented in a premium collector’s box with a custom USS Midway preservation card documenting the origin and historical significance of the material
Limited inaugural release of structural material from the ship

No two tags are identical. Each carries natural variations in color, texture, and patina from decades of service at sea.

A Piece of Naval Engineering History

USS Midway served from 1945 to 1992, nearly fifty years of continuous evolution in naval aviation. Beneath the flight deck, below the hangar deck, and deep within the hull, these screws powered the ship through some of the most pivotal moments of the 20th century.

Now, a small portion of that propulsion system has been preserved in a form that can be held, studied, and remembered.

This is more than a collectible. It is a preserved fragment of a ship that carried generations of sailors, aviators, engineers, and history across the world’s oceans. Own a piece of USS Midway, preserved with purpose.

Join our USS Midway mailing list and be notified of future Midway PlaneTags.

DISCLAIMER

Perfect Aviation Gift

PlaneTags are:

Authentic - made from actual retired aircraft fuselage, not merely stamped metal.
Unique - each PlaneTag bears the color, thickness, and wear and tear from the portion of the fuselage from which it was cut and it is therefore rare to create two identical PlaneTags.
Collectible - each one is numbered in a limited edition and comes attached to a display card.
Versatile - comes with a durable metal ring, strong enough to attach to luggage or keys or display.

*Important Notice – Please Read Carefully

PlaneTags are made from actual retired aircraft fuselage, not merely stamped metal. Because PlaneTags are made from real fuselage, each PlaneTag bears the color, thickness, and wear and tear from the portion of the fuselage from which it was cut and it is therefore rare to create two identical PlaneTags. These variations and imperfections are not product flaws. They are part of the beauty of PlaneTags. As a result, you will not have an option to select the color of your PlaneTag. The images on this website are provided for reference only and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a particular PlaneTag.

USS Midway Collection

USS MIDWAY-Propeller

USS MIDWAY-Watertight Door