The decommissioned aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy started its final voyage this week with an end destination set for Brownsville, Texas. The ship had been out of service since 2007 and spent the past nearly 18 years at the Navy’s Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia.

"Big John," as it was affectionately nicknamed, was decommissioned in 2007 and has been in Philadelphia ever since.

The decommissioned aircraft carrier formerly known as the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) has begun its final journey, departing from its long-held berth in South Philadelphia Thursday morning. Now, the retired U.