Associated Press - November 25, 2009 9:25 AM ET

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The U.S. Navy plans to donate the retired aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy as a museum or memorial.

The ship is currently at the Navy's Inactive Ships Maintenance Office in Philadelphia.

The navy says the deadline for submission of initial paperwork for applications will be Jan. 22.

The John F. Kennedy was the last conventionally powered aircraft carrier built by the Navy.

Officials decided to retire the ship in 2006. It traveled up the East Coast and made a final port visit in Boston in March 2007.

It was removed from service on Aug. 1, 2007 after 38 years of service and 18 deployments.

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