On June 15, Northrop Grumman Corporation employees Charles Pierce and Jimmy Shoulars painted the carrier designation "77" onto the island of the nation's newest aircraft carrier, George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), in preparation for its crane lift onto the carrier's flight deck July 8. for what will be the tenth and final ship of the Nimitz-class. Northrop Grumman Newport News is building the George H. dock with the sector's massive 900-ton gantry crane. month. The George H. W. Bush's keel was laid Sept. 6, 2003. The christening will occur in October 2006 with delivery to the U.S. Navy in late 2008.