Roger that; I meant F-14's, obviously not F-4's (spastic keyboard, one more time ???
) as the MIDWAY had F-4's, big time. I also don't think the MIDWAY ever had any VIGI's for the same reason(s) that they didn't have -14's ... I think the ship always used RF-8's and RF-4's during her WestPac cruises ...
Again, CAT will have the definitive answer, but I think we're 'close' ...
I can't be too definitive since I left the Midway before she was home ported in Yokosuka, and missed the many late years of her long career.
But I am pretty sure she never had Viggies on board ever. But I did hear the story of the 2 Big E F-14s that trapped aboard her. Regardless that was the only time she trapped an F-14, AFAIK.
I do remember hearing that the JBDs were the limiting factor as you and AE606 said, and I believe true.
We always operated with RF-8s. We even operated with Whales. And when the F-4 retired, the Midway had F/A-18s.
She was an unusual carrier. She was in 4 long years of overhaul in the late '60s, primarily for McNamara's TFX dual service, F-111. They expanded her flight deck from just over 2 acres, to over 4 acres! .... About the same area as today's carriers... except she was/is far shorter. And
Top-heavy !