 Her first Vietnam combat tour completed , New Jersey departed Subic Bay 3 April 1969 for Japan . She arrived at Yokosuka for a two @-@ day visit , sailing for the United States 9 April . Her homecoming , however , was to be delayed . On the 15th , while New Jersey was still at sea , North Korean jet fighters shot down an unarmed EC @-@ 121 Constellation electronic surveillance plane over the Sea of Japan , killing its entire crew . A carrier task force was formed and sent to the Sea of Japan , while New Jersey was ordered to come about and steam toward Japan . On the 22nd she arrived once more at Yokosuka , and immediately put to sea in readiness for what might befall . 
