CREW'S STORIES
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PICK UP WHOEVER WAS FLYING THE DRONE
HELLO MY NAME IS BOB FITZGERALD AND A MEMBER OF HS-8 DURING 65,66 AND I HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING TO ADD TO THE STORIES REGARDING THE A4 HOOKED AND HUNG.
IT REMINDED ME OF A SHAKEDOWN CRUISE I BELIEVE OFF OF SANDIEGO A D.A.S.H., DRONE ANTI SUB HELICOPTER. WAS LAUNCHED FROM THE FAN-TAIL OF A DESTROYER. IT WAS FLOWN AFT OF THE BENNINGTON FOR A # MILES, QUITE A WAYS AND TURNED AROUND, RETURING TO THE DESTOYER SOMETHING WENT WRONG AND THE DRONE TURNED LEFT AND CRASHED INTO THE SUPER STRUCTURE AND BRIDGE OF THE BENNINGTON. A TORPEDO(UNARMED) SLICED THROUGH THE OVERHEAD OF THE BRIDGE, A FIRE THEN STARTED IN THE RADIO ANTENNAS IN THE SUPER STUCTURE. MOST OF THE DEBRIS WENT OVER THE SIDE AND SOME PARTS OF THE DRONE LANDED ON THE FLIGHT DECK, HOWEVER THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE CREW OR MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE SHIP.
WHAT IS REAL IRONIC AFTER THE ACCIDENT(THE ADMIRAL WAS ON BOARD THE BENNINGTON) OVER THE P.A. CAME THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO LAUNCH A HELICOPTER TO PICK UP WHOEVER WAS FLYING THE DRONE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
THANK YOU
BOB FITZGERALD
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