Cool video. Unlike you I was boat bound and working on the birds, but still a very cool thing to see and be a part of. Watching night ops from the hawks nest is something to be seen. Only bad thing (well there were many) was my bunk was right below wire #3, talk about loud!
In the early 70's when I was a kid we lived next to NAS Albany GA before they closed & moved to Key West. We lived right under there landing path every window in the house would vibrate. They would have those touch & go exercises all night every once & awhile. It was cool to a kid to watch. If my memory is correct they called them vigilantes.
That's awsome! They must have a huge hole in the seat for the pilots balls to fit.
:USA
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."
First trap . . . like it was yestiddy. It wasn't, believe me.
That must have been cool! How long after your first carrier landing did they switch from props to jets? :wink
Straight white male living a life of privilege and proud of it.
"The greatest pleasure is to vanquish your enemies and chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth and see those dear to them bathed in tears, to ride their horses and clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters."
In the early 70's when I was a kid we lived next to NAS Albany GA before they closed & moved to Key West. We lived right under there landing path every window in the house would vibrate. They would have those touch & go exercises all night every once & awhile. It was cool to a kid to watch. If my memory is correct they called them vigilantes.
Small world. Yes, they were Vigilantes, RA-5C. Coolest jet in the Nav at the time. I was in Awbenny 'til 71.
I loved Awbenny. Drove through it recently. :hairraiser You wouldn't recognize it.
Not me, but this was my squadron, RVAH-6.
I loved Awbenny. Drove through it recently. You wouldn't recognize it.
Not me, but this was my squadron, RVAH-6.
Albany is bad now, after the Navy left & Firestone closed. It's an entitlement town now 80% black. We still have MCLB & P&G. If you left in '71 you dont remember P&G moving in around '73 & Miller beer bought the old Navy base 2nd largest brewery in the US. Most of the white people moved to Lee Co.
:hail:hail:hail:hail:hail:hail Ask any carrier pilot.
Toward the end of cruise. Non-skid worn off the deck. Last recovery of the night. You're directing me to the very aft of the fantail or forward on the bow. Nose over the water. You're pissed cause I cain't make the aircraft turn tight enough. I'm wondering if my flight suit will need laundering. :hairraiser
LOL Magot! I hated that turn on the bow; taxi up the starboard side and make the nose-over-the-water turn to the port side. The A-7 felt like you were sticking out 25' over that black **** water and you were screaming in the mask for the yellowshirt to TURN ME! TURN ME! G-**** YOU A**HOLE, TURN ME! Too bad they couldn't hear all that cussing. I always wanted to lock one of them in the cockpit and make him do that turn! Like you though, I'd do it again right now if the chance came up. :grin
I landed a mini helicopter on top of and end table
3 times in a row without it falling off or clipping the
adjacent palm tree.
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen."
I've got a VHS tape from both the plat camera and an angle from the air boss of an F-14 barricade landing on Big John (start to finish). It also shows the remnants of the fire and F-14 collision with a parked A-6 up near cat 1 near the foul line which caused the circumstances that led to the barricade.
Unfortunately for me, we had been towed out of the trash and deposited near spot 2 to launch and assume plane guard to relieve the bird with the damaged rescue hoist that had snapped while plucking the pilot and RIO of the F-14 who clipped the A-6. HAC decided he was unable to launch do to malfunctioning doppler (or something to that effect) and there was no being towed back to the trash as the barricade was already up so we sat there manning the H-3 forward of the barricade somewhat near spot 2 and NOT on the safe side of the foul line. Talk about compound emergencies.......yowza.
It was January on a dark night (zero moon) and we were blue water ops with 45 knt winds over the deck, 25ft seas with OAT around 40 degrees.
So, we successfully caught the F-14 in the barricade as I sat there in my wetsuit in the cargo door of the H-3 with the foul line painted on the deck just below my feet and with the cockpit extending out into the danger zone. What a view of events. Yeah, it's all on tape and all worked out.......did I mention it was my friggin birthday to boot....Jan 3 (won't forget that one). And also to make it even more interesting........the pilot making the barricade approach was hot mic nearly the entire approach and didn't realize it.
I need to convert that VHS tape to video. One of these days I'll post it up.
HAC decided he was unable to launch do to malfunctioning doppler (or something to that effect) . . . It was January on a dark night (zero moon) and we were blue water ops with 45 knt winds over the deck, 25ft seas with OAT around 40 degrees.
That makes me sick. Not gonna make any accusations, cause I wasn't there. Had a "similar" situation happen in the North Atlantic, blue water ops, of course. I was one of three alert 30's during a non flight ops timeframe. (Gotta be able to get airborne in 30 minutes.) Weather was dog crap. Zero zero, no kidding. Below minimums, even for a carrier. A Russian Badger was inbound to the task force. This was when the cold war was going strong. I considered it "real world," which it was. Figured I'd have to come along side and eject after it was over. The shooter was shaking his head as he launched me. I intercepted the Badger and escorted him around for a couple of hours as he made low passes over the boats in our task force. He finally went away, the weather was better, I was skosh on gas and got a tanker. When I recovered, I found out the other two alert birds went "down." (probably a "malfunctioning doppler or some such.") In the ready room I got a call from the captain of the boat. He thanked me for launching and said something about the guy who ate the first oyster.
![http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/trmcinvale/th_sig22.jpg[/SIGPIC]](http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r135/trmcinvale/th_sig22.jpg[/SIGPIC]){kind=link}
Replies
Me too, Pumpkin, on Forrestal, 0-3 level. Most of these guys have no idea how loud that is . . . or that you can learn to sleep through it.
http://www.amazon.com/big-bend/dp/1456453270
That's awsome! They must have a huge hole in the seat for the pilots balls to fit.
:USA
Including LtJG Work. :grin
That must have been cool! How long after your first carrier landing did they switch from props to jets? :wink
"The greatest pleasure is to vanquish your enemies and chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth and see those dear to them bathed in tears, to ride their horses and clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters."
Small world. Yes, they were Vigilantes, RA-5C. Coolest jet in the Nav at the time. I was in Awbenny 'til 71.
I loved Awbenny. Drove through it recently. :hairraiser You wouldn't recognize it.
Not me, but this was my squadron, RVAH-6.
http://www.amazon.com/big-bend/dp/1456453270
Same here on the Eisenhower. 03 level at the fantail. Yellow shirt duty on the Ike, Lincoln and then Kennedy. Good times!
Albany is bad now, after the Navy left & Firestone closed. It's an entitlement town now 80% black. We still have MCLB & P&G. If you left in '71 you dont remember P&G moving in around '73 & Miller beer bought the old Navy base 2nd largest brewery in the US. Most of the white people moved to Lee Co.
:hail:hail:hail:hail:hail:hail Ask any carrier pilot.
Toward the end of cruise. Non-skid worn off the deck. Last recovery of the night. You're directing me to the very aft of the fantail or forward on the bow. Nose over the water. You're pissed cause I cain't make the aircraft turn tight enough. I'm wondering if my flight suit will need laundering. :hairraiser
Great memories.
http://www.amazon.com/big-bend/dp/1456453270
Explosive to shatter the canopy in the event you need to eject.
http://www.amazon.com/big-bend/dp/1456453270
Have forwarded to my fellow seniors and military/pilot friends.
:thumbsup
A southeast Florida laid back beach bum and volunteer bikini assessor who lives on island time.
How many carrier landings did you have Magot? I heard them say you take the training even if you never do it again?
Bill
Another president put a man in the Lady's bathroom.
447, but who's counting?
http://www.amazon.com/big-bend/dp/1456453270
WOW !! :USA
X2
Bill
3 times in a row without it falling off or clipping the
adjacent palm tree.
I bet the military was scrambling to get you to enlist after that feat.
Bill
That is ONE BIG BOAT!!!
FWIW, Awbeeny ain't that bad if you don't have to live there.
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Unless you happen to be in jail at the time.
Cool video though.
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Unless you happen to be in jail at the time.
Unfortunately for me, we had been towed out of the trash and deposited near spot 2 to launch and assume plane guard to relieve the bird with the damaged rescue hoist that had snapped while plucking the pilot and RIO of the F-14 who clipped the A-6. HAC decided he was unable to launch do to malfunctioning doppler (or something to that effect) and there was no being towed back to the trash as the barricade was already up so we sat there manning the H-3 forward of the barricade somewhat near spot 2 and NOT on the safe side of the foul line. Talk about compound emergencies.......yowza.
It was January on a dark night (zero moon) and we were blue water ops with 45 knt winds over the deck, 25ft seas with OAT around 40 degrees.
So, we successfully caught the F-14 in the barricade as I sat there in my wetsuit in the cargo door of the H-3 with the foul line painted on the deck just below my feet and with the cockpit extending out into the danger zone. What a view of events. Yeah, it's all on tape and all worked out.......did I mention it was my friggin birthday to boot....Jan 3 (won't forget that one). And also to make it even more interesting........the pilot making the barricade approach was hot mic nearly the entire approach and didn't realize it.
I need to convert that VHS tape to video. One of these days I'll post it up.
Part 1
That makes me sick. Not gonna make any accusations, cause I wasn't there. Had a "similar" situation happen in the North Atlantic, blue water ops, of course. I was one of three alert 30's during a non flight ops timeframe. (Gotta be able to get airborne in 30 minutes.) Weather was dog crap. Zero zero, no kidding. Below minimums, even for a carrier. A Russian Badger was inbound to the task force. This was when the cold war was going strong. I considered it "real world," which it was. Figured I'd have to come along side and eject after it was over. The shooter was shaking his head as he launched me. I intercepted the Badger and escorted him around for a couple of hours as he made low passes over the boats in our task force. He finally went away, the weather was better, I was skosh on gas and got a tanker. When I recovered, I found out the other two alert birds went "down." (probably a "malfunctioning doppler or some such.") In the ready room I got a call from the captain of the boat. He thanked me for launching and said something about the guy who ate the first oyster.
http://www.amazon.com/big-bend/dp/1456453270