Old days Good times I remember Fun days Filled with simple pleasures Drive-in movies Comic books and blue jeans Howdy doody Baseball cards and birthdays Take me back To a world gone away Memories Seem like yesterday (Chicago) (Nimitz intercept pics)
Yesterday’s post announced the demise of the CO’s gig on the carrier due to "hangar space" considerations…(riiight…) Well, it didn’t take long before the sea stories started coming in from all quarters recounting first hand experiences with the gig. Some were just too good to not put up, so, properly expunged (as we aren’t…
So there we were, all bundled into the back of the COD — the AIRLANT eval team headed back to Norfolk after “evaluating” the ship/air wing lo these past 3 days. Not being fond of COD flights to begin with, YHS had managed to snag a seat on the last row, or if looking at…
(Note: I am in the process of moving the postings off the old site to this one, beginning with this series) “Alpha Whiskey, Alpha Romeo, Tango One. Tango One recommends launching all available alert. Multiple bogeys inbound. Break, track 1231 now non-squawker, negative Mode 4, investigating with 9B. Setting station 9B with 11B” “Alpha Whiskey,…
Part II Here Window covers down, overhead hatch in and all harnesses locked, the crew was ready. Bluetail 602 went into tension, the throttles against their stops, the aircraft mercilessly shaking. In an instant, they were down the catapult and airborne. As the wheels were coming up, Bird exclaimed “Hey look, we’ve got a visitor…”…
Part I here Badgers, Buccaneers and Bears…(Pt 2) (A North Atlantic tale from the "good ole days") Stopping by Maintenance Control, the lieutenant asked for the aircraft discrepancy book on 602. All the current and near past ills of the aircraft are chronicled in this three-ring binder, giving crews an idea of what they…
(Note: I am in the process of moving the postings off the old site to this one, beginning with this series) The Playing Field. In his far off conscious he heard it – the incessant ringing of the phone on the bulkhead. Not just any ring either – more like a loud clattering and right…
The Playing Field In his far off conscious he heard it – the incessant ringing of the phone on the bulkhead. Not just any ring either – more like a loud clattering and right now it was the most annoying sound intruding into his world. Wearily, he rolled out of the top bunk, carefully avoiding…
This is the conclusion of the 4-part series. Parts 1-3 may be found by following the links in the margin on the left. “Alpha Whiskey, Alpha Romeo, Tango One. Tango One recommends launching all available alert. Multiple bogeys inbound. Break, track 1231 now non-squawker, negative Mode 4, investigating with 9B. Setting station 9B with 11B”…
There is a long-standing tradition in Naval Aviation that no screw-up goes unrecognized…just check out the variety of callsigns out there. Sometimes though, the screw-up is so monumental that it deserves special recognition — sort of like, um, landing on the wrong carrier. Recognition is afforded not unlike re-branding a steer that wandered off its…
