CREW'S STORIES
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HOOKED AND HANGIN'
HOWDY
My Fading Navy Memories
PART 2
I remember an incident that had to have happened some time in 1965. We were running flight operations and the wind had changed. An A4 was coming in for a landing and the order was given to make a right turn. The LSO gave the pilot a wave off, but he didn't take it. He caught a cable and slid over the side of the flight deck. The plane hung there for ever while folks in charge were trying to figure out what to do. The cherry picker, Tilley (rolling crane) couldn't handle the weight of the plane extended that far. The pilot got safely out (after a couple of bounces) and was picked up. Finally the decision was made to cut the cable and let the plane fall in the ocean. An IC buddy of mine (can't remember his name either) went down to the area where the landings are recorded on video tape and watched the tape before it was taken for the incident review. Looked just like what we had seen happen on the flight deck (but not in color).
Typhoon Trix, (On the way to Yokosuka 1966 I think, Name is right, time may not be).
Seas were too rough to refuel our escort, I remember and had movies of BLUE WATER over the flight deck. Catwalks and communication antennas torn off the side of the flight deck. (I didn't retain custody of the movies from my previous life.) Seas were so rough that the cans couldn't even refuel from us. Another ET ( ETN-2 Communications type, Ken Brown, Billings, Montana) and I(a radar a type), being the experts (Ha), were sent to one of our cans by chopper to repair their radar and communications systems. They had none working. Seas were too rough for the chopper to land on the landing platform so we had to DROP to the deck from a cable.
That tin can ride is something I'll never forget. I spent as much time on the under side of the bunk above me as I did on the one I was assigned. Definitely an 'E' Ticket Ride. That thing was under water as much as it was on top. They can keep that navy.
See Ya
Lonnie Whittaker
ETR-3
OE Div
1964 Oct - 1966 Dec
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