Modelling the Monty

Our museum contains a variety of treasures. Every object tells a tale. One of my personal favorites involves a very popular piece in our core exhibit galleries. It’s a scale model of the USS Monterey (CVL 26). The “Monty” was one of nine light carriers built on cruiser hulls during World War II. These small Independence-class carriers fought in some of the most ferocious battles of the Pacific Theatre. Thousands of aviators and sailors saw action aboard these ships, including Gerald R. Ford.

Lt. Gerald R. Ford served on the Monty from May 1943 to December 1944. He started out as the ship’s athletic director and a gunnery officer, but would eventually move up to assistant navigator. During his time aboard, the Monty supported many amphibious landings and strikes against Japanese targets and barely survived the devastation of Typhoon Cobra. Ford was always proud of the USS Monterey and honored to serve aboard her during World War II.

In February 2008, I received a call from Raymond F. Guyette of North Carolina. He was an avid modeler who built and donated scratch-built scale models to museums throughout the United States. Mr. Guyette sent photographs of some of his ship model projects to President Ford in 2001. Ford admired his work and hoped a model of the USS Monterey would someday grace his museum. Mr. Guyette informed me that he was ready to embark on that project and presented his intentions.

The proposal consisted of a 1:144 scale rendering of the Monty that would measure roughly 62” in length. Mr. Guyette had thoroughly researched the ship by attending reunions and tracking down every possible image of the ship. It would take him one year to complete the ship, at which time he would donate it to the museum. I immediate accepted the offer and eagerly awaited the model’s completion.

Mr. Guyette sent progress reports and photographs over the course of the year. His expertise and meticulous attention to detail astounded me. He constructed the keel, 28 support ribs, and overall frame and planking out of wood. Then he fiber-glassed and painted the hull. Over 800 individual wood planks were used to build the flight deck! He even included the brass tie down strips crewmen used to secure the planes to the deck. He used metal cast gun renderings, doors, hatches, life rafts, davits, and whale boats.

The final product arrived at the museum in the spring of 2008. We quickly placed it on permanent display. The magnificence of the model never fails to capture the eyes of museum visitors from across the gallery. People gravitate to it. The model will illuminate Ford’s Navy service for generations to come. I am greatly indebted to Raymond Guyette for all his hard work and generosity.

More information on Gerald R. Ford's time on the USS Monterey can be found at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum website - https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/.