A-3 Flight Operations
Want to tell sea stories? Now you know these have to be well documented and true and verifiable. Just kidding. Try telling your favorite story about that incident that made you pucker, smile, or grin from ear to ear.
Use this category for story telling and comments on the stories.
September 14, 2006 at 3:32 am
I was a third crewman in VAH-1 and flying with Cdr. Speigel doing a nav flight. I was taking a nav shot when the pilot said some fuses poped. I reached over to check them when my chute caught the upper hatch handle and I blew it back. We were flying at about 40K and 550 mph as I recall. Everything broke loose. Things got sucked out that was loose and I , not being strapped in was fighting to get into my seat. Cdr. Speigel thought we had a midair collision. The cockpit looked like a blizzard was taking place and Speigel said I was about a foot of being sucked out.
I don’t remember who the B/N was. Does anyone?
Ed Sykes PS. Happened July 1959
October 13, 2006 at 12:19 am
The B/N probably has had a loss of memory after that one. The closest thing I ever had as a T/C similiar to yours was the pilots front windshield collapsing in and shattering ,but not going completely out at 30000. It really made the carrier approach interesting! Pilot went down low in seat and stayed on instruments all the way to the deck. This time the LSO did it the old way…..by voice. Sid Humphreys VAH II 59-62 CVA-42
November 21, 2006 at 7:58 am
I remember in HATRON TEN 2 guys whose names elude me but I believe they worked on the flight line. They liked to drive up and down the e-way to Seatle and drink beer. They got tired of having to stop and pee all the time because it cut into their drinking. They had a brilliant idea (at least it was to them) they got an old piss tube from an A-3 and installed in their car(I believe it was a 58 Chevy with a custom chrome chain link steering wheel). Then there was the Latino guy on the flight line who would let out Mexican bean farts quietly then start snickering. Well one day he let one and everyone ran outside. Some of us ran out front, when the others ran out back the wind blew through so did the aroma and we who so foolishly stood by the door almost passed out. “Well” and thats a deep subject thats 2 sea stories. I have more but maybe later see ya.
January 16, 2007 at 5:28 pm
As I remember they said if an A-3 lost power you had only 7 seconds to bail or nose in with the plane. One day in summer of 69 over by the hanger (heavy 10) they had an A-3 set up with mattresses laid below the trap door. They were timing various crews in the bail out procedure. That was scary, some of them took 30-40 seconds or more. Just another reason I was proud to have others be the plane captain. We had a Luie over the flight line for a time. A young guy, who thought everyone should be a plane captain. I had no desire to be one and he didn’t appreciate it. I was getting reasonable evaluations, when he started doing them for the line they went down very quickly. I hadn’t changed but my evaluations did. I wonder why? I had my own car when Uncle Sam got me and was a good driver but for some reason I never could pass the Navy Driver test. Once for not putting on the seat belt, I had a 59 Chevy in 66 and I don’t remember it having seat belts. So I never learned to put them on! I thought that was unfair, but at least I never had to do duty driver haha. I was in charge of all the flight line equipment after I arrived at Heavy 10 from 123. I arrived at 123 in mid October? From arrival until March 70 I drove all the equipment everywhere except for towing the planes. When a certain gongho 1st class found out I didn’t have a Navy license he made me stop driving. On swing shift I drove stuff anyway. I usually operated the huffer. Swing shift was great, no hassles and Mid-Rats was great. All you could eat eggs toast etc. and left overs but I only ate left overs if the six o’clock meal was a good one. Once it was watery boiled potatoes and boiled hot dogs. Even the lifers complained about that one. See Ya “Wally Myers”
January 21, 2007 at 4:23 am
Did you know my father - LCDR Allen Karst, pilot in Heavy 10?
February 16, 2007 at 7:08 am
Yes Adam, I served with your father on the USS Forrestal in 1969-1970. He was the AOIC of the Heavy Ten Det. I don’t remember who his crew was but I flew with LCDR Guisinger, the OIC. We left the States as Heavy Ten Det 59 and returned as VAQ-129 Det 59. Hatron Ten had been decomissioned and recomissioned as VAQ-129 while we were gone.
May 16, 2007 at 12:21 am
Reading these comments bring back a lot of memories. I was in Heavy 4, when the powers that be decided we should change our name and move to Alameda. As the final days ticked down, and we had no airplanes, they sent us over to VAH 123 (us being the remaining CN’s) to get in our flight time. On one eventful flight, I got my first look at a Boeing 747. I took off with a Training Pilot for a local VFR flight with nothing in particular to do, so I buried my head in the Radar looking for the Ginger Bread Man and anything else of interest. When I raised my head, there was a 747 crossing our 12 o’clock close enough to see the people in the window if there had been any. They were on a test flight out of Everett, (I assume)
The rookie pilot had been practicing IFR, and hadn’t noticed. We did a quick avoidance dive. Needless to say my eyes never dropped back to the Radar the rest of the flight.
May 20, 2007 at 10:37 pm
To Wally Myers - thanks for the memory jogging. I too, was with Heavy 10 in 68-70 at NAS Whidbey. AE-3 at the time. The jump drill that day may just have been the Det. 19 crews getting ready for the Westpac cruise on the USS Hancock that left in Aug 69 from Alameda.
I have a lot of great memories of Heavy 10, VAH-123, and NAS Whidbey. I was lucky to have my twin brother, Rich, with me, although since his rate was PH, he was TAD to the Photo lab over at the Seaplane Base. I left with Det. 19 in August of 69, and since there was no billet for a PH on the det. he had to stay behind. He later surprised me by getting orders to ship’s company on the Hancock and he joined the ship in January of 70, just after we left Hong Kong on our way back to Yankee Station. We spent four months together on the Hancock before the cruise ended. I was separated in June of 70, and he had to stay with the ship in Alameda until he was separated in August. He was killed in a car accident in Bellingham only three weeks later.
The lousy chow you received at the galley at NAS Whidbey in 69 was because the LTjg. in charge of the galley went over budget, and since I happened to be mess cooking at that time, we had very little food to serve to the personnel for a few days. That wasn’t a fun time to be a mess cook. I did like the cook’s liberty we were on during the few months that my brother and I were mess cooking - 3 on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off - tough duty. We worked Midrats and since we were from the local area just north of Seattle, we spent a lot of time visiting friends who thought we were “supposed to be in the Navy”.
I have been an aircraft mechanic for almost 40 years now (currently working for Alaska Airlines - 23 yrs), and I have worked on a lot of different aircraft, helicopters, and everything from a Cessna 120 to a 747. I still have a real soft spot for the A-3, though. It was the first “real” aircraft I ever worked on, and I will always remember my days in Heavy 10 working on “the Whale”. I later spent some time back at NAS Whidbey with the Reserves in VP-69 in the late 70’s, but it was a different Navy then from what it had been like in Heavy 10.
A special “hi”to AEC Fred Brown who was my boss on that Westpac cruise in 69-70. His son, Gary and I work together at Alaska Airlines, and another to AE1 Billy Ruth ( William Cornelius Ruth Jr.) who was responsible for teaching me “everything I always wanted to know about being an AE” and also some other stuff too that came in handy in later years. You were a great teacher, Billy, and I hope you are well and still with us.
May 22, 2007 at 7:19 am
Ron Foster; as I remember I was in det 19. I would have had to go TAD to the ground support shack. When they told me I couldn’t go was so heart broken I laughed all the way back to the barracks. I went on carrier quals to with det 19 Miramar, a fun time. I remember an AE but can’t recall his face or name, you may have been him. Miramar was the only place I ever got wrote up. I got a hair cut chit and actually had to get a haircut even tho I felt I didn’t need one. I remember a guy on the line with us at Miramar named Flynn. Four of us went drinking. On the way back from somewhere in the Miramar area we got lost. A local guy told us the way back, as we went Flynn said it was the other way. I Argued no it’s this way, Flynn, normally a nice quiet guy got mad. The veins in his neck began to bulge, his face got red, I thought his head was going to explode. It was almost scary. I also remember a slightly heavyset guy on det 19 flight line from Philly he had brown curly hair. I signed the guest book my E-Mail address is there. Well See ya Richard former ASH-3
May 22, 2007 at 7:25 am
P.S. Ron Foster, I was to get out in June but not being on det ” I got the early out in March. As I remember now there was another guy named Myers on det 19 he may have been an AE.
May 28, 2007 at 3:29 pm
I was in VAH-5 from 1957 to 1960 and was the the third crewan for LCdr Dave Deardolph. I saw he was at the 2007 reunion. Anyone know how I can contact him? Any other Sanford 3rd crewmen out there form that time frame?
May 28, 2007 at 9:51 pm
I was in VAH 11 from 1959-1962 flying on then Lt. Jerry Knutson’s crew. I started out on Commander Charles Donnaud’s crew and as we left Mayport in February 0f 1961 they put me on Knutson’s crew. Thirty days later Donnaud’s crew was all dead after failing to recover from a loft maneuver off the coast of Libya.
We have just returned from Pensacola and our 2007 reunion. It was really great to see our “old” buddies again.
What about AEC Fred Brown? He was with me in VAH 11 and finished a long career in A3’s. Last I heard he was in San Antonio, Texas.
Wayne Musgrove deserves a pat on the back for helping all of the others who put on the Pensacola get together. Wayne is another Vah 11 crewman. Also Bill Vinson and Bill Parsons of 11 were there.
May 28, 2007 at 11:43 pm
Jerry Ercikson,
I am in contact with a few of the Fine A3 TC’s of the World Famous Savage Sons. I also have all the info on Dave Dearoplh, he just traveled from PNS A3 reunion to his summer home in PA.
My Email is dpierce12@tampabay.rr.com
May 29, 2007 at 12:12 am
Hey Erickson, Kilbride here.
email: brigand2@aol.com
June 8, 2007 at 5:26 am
If anyone knows AQC M.S. Dilts of Heavy 5, his flight jacket (G1) is up for auction on eBay.
June 22, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Was in VAH-2, Whidbey, Is. 63-66. 2 WESTPAC criuses; Then VAQ-130 (Det 2) 69-73. Alameda, Ca.. 2 more cruises. ADJ -1 Rex Swindle. Enjoyed Magsaysay Dr. in Olongapo very much. LOL
June 27, 2007 at 9:45 pm
How did the name Whale came about for the A-3s???
July 7, 2007 at 6:29 pm
RAT,
The yellow shirts, aircraft directors on the flight deck and hanger deck, gave it the nick name “whale” for its size. It was not the easest aircraft to handle by the yelow shirts, the “point” being one of the hardest. The point is the parking spot forward of number 1 elevator. During directing the A3 to there, the pilot could look down and see the sea, nose wheel inches from edge of flight deck!!
By the way did you check out a bomber and see the hole on the back bulkhead to kick out the main gear, if required?
Those were the days my friends!
July 12, 2007 at 9:18 pm
Thanks for the answer Don.
It is more appropriate name than those boys could have ever imagined. Years ago we had to salvage one of our A-3s and I tell you it was a sight. They brought this construction tractor that looked like a T-rex. Well, it was not easy as they thought and if anyone had any doubt about the A-3s ruggedness they should have been there. We had to take the air out of the tires because she would bounce three feet into the air every time she got hit on the wing spar. Finally after what seem to be an hour the spar eventually gave with such a force that rivets and sharpneral flew across the ramp and hit me!!! I was 100ft away!! (I took that as a good omen)
I tell you when that spar finally gave she made a sound just like a humpback whale. I kid you not.
As far as the access hole for manual emergency gear extension yes I have seen it on our bombers in Mojave. I have also heard stories of crew members who had to crawl back there without a chute over the bomb bay doors and use that big crowbar to dislodge the gear. All of our A-3s have that kick out cylinder now.
July 17, 2007 at 1:08 am
RAT,
Thank you!
I know you don’t have an (1) airplane of your own, but us plane captains of A3’s, we referred to our airplane as “my airplane”. I have responded to every plane captain that signed on to the web site and said “my airplane”, about how proud we were to had a A3 of our own. Such a large, graceful, majestic flying machine and they let us take care of her, fly in her, and still paid us.
One time my A3 was scheduled in a bomber stream, launch time 0900. As I came down the flight line at 0400 to pre flight my airplane, I noticed a power unit was already plugged into my aircraft, everyone knew you didn’t touch my airplane without getting my OK, so I charged up into cockpit hollering and much to my surprize; there was ASB shop E-9 running the sample a problem on my airplane.
When I say “Those were the days” that is truely what I mean!
Everyone just loved those “WHALES”.
“World Famous”
August 4, 2007 at 12:04 am
Thanks Don
I know the feeling and you are right.
Deep down I feel that all of our A-3s are MINE since I am the lead Mech on all of them and nothing happens until I make it happen. Nobody cares for our whales as much as I do.
Lately I have been assigning A/C to individual Mechs trying to bring them up to speed faster and to give them the feeling that you know so well but the bottom line is that the connection and the bond is not there for most of them. However there is hope for a young one (at 24 he must be the youngest whaler today) to replace me eventually. I must be careful though since many don’t deserve to learn my A-3s.
It has been nothing but an honor and a privilege to work on the A-3s and I hope to continue working on them until retirement.
August 5, 2007 at 2:10 pm
I am enjoying the conversations of the old pros. I am reminded that almost 50 years ago (in September 1957) we Niners accompanied the good ship Saratoga on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic to participate in NATO’s Operation Strikeback. Along with 150 other ships from six NATO powers, the Sara tested her operational capabilities in the icy waters of the Norwegian Sea. We were still flying AJs in March, not receiving our first A3Ds until the next month. Just 5 months later we were operating within the Arctic Circle like old pros. Yes, we had our share of exploding windshields, violent storms, and ultra black nights. Magnetic North was due west of us, and there were so many large ships in the area it was sometimes difficult to locate the Sara. The Russians weren’t happy that we were there launching nuclear bombers southward toward undefended areas of the Soviet Union. Large numbers of small fishing craft positioned themselves in the path of the Sara during flight ops, and our crew got ambushed by some MiGs while sightseeing near a former sensitive area. But the Navy taught us well; we completed our mission, and had a little fun along the way. I have noted that each year there are fewer remaining from the “big stick” era; and I pause more often to give thanks for the old pros that I met along the way.
August 7, 2007 at 7:16 am
Mr. Parris: Please contact me about your 57/58 Med cruise. VKRETSINGER@bak.rr.com
August 13, 2007 at 6:58 pm
HATRON TEN it “69/70″ was a fun and memorable time. Everyone on the flight line were good guys although some were a little too gungho for me. I recall once, great discussion on how long should sideburns be. Now after almost 40 years it almost seems sureal, maybe it was… Richard W. Myers (my current e-mail is listed in the Skywarrier Assoc. guest book)
August 20, 2007 at 6:55 am
Hey, all! I was just googling around for hits on VQ-2, and came upon this site. Wish the main entries were more recent (LOL) but I’m glad to see the comments still going. My husband and I were based at VQ-2 in Rota, Spain from 87-90. Although he flew the EP-3, we had several friends in the A3 community.
I think y’all might be interested on a video I was finally able to upload to Google Video yesterday: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4903832763538491686&hl=en (It’s also at my own blog, CatHouse Chat ( http://www.cathousechat.com/cathouse_chat/2007/08/a3-flyby-rota-s.html ) In 1989, VQ-2 staged a 7 plane flyby of the EA3B, and that’s what the video’s all about. It’s about 20 minutes long, and the video and sound aren’t the greatest (hey! it’s almost 20 years old!), but if you decide to go watch, I hope it’ll bring back a few memories.
I’m glad I found you - now start posting more entries!
– Kat
http://www.CatHouseChat.com
August 23, 2007 at 1:29 am
To: Ed Parris
My Dad, Richard E. (Dick) Fowler, Jr., flew in Heavy 9 and deployed on the Sara, I believe also in ‘57. Perhaps you knew him. He passed away in April ‘01. He enjoyed flying the A3. He said it flew so high and so fast that, at the time, there were few aircraft in the world capable of intercepting it. But the advent of SAMs meant they had to change tactics and he told me of the loft bombing technique they adopted. It sounded prety improbable to me so I asked him how accurate could that be. He said that with the computer turned off (he didn’t like it) from 6 miles out he could put it within a 500 foot radius of the target. The saying that close is only good in horseshoes and handgranades should also include nukes!
Dad also served in VAH-4 and RECONTAKWINGONE.
rfsaltypup@aol.com
August 23, 2007 at 1:37 pm
I have some great p;ictures of whales landing on the Ranger, is there any way I can attach them to the comments??
August 23, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Jim,
It should be possible. I’ll check. One way or the other, email them to us and we’ll use them on the web site.
Al Rankin
President, A-3 Assn.
president@a3skywarrior.com
September 9, 2007 at 2:40 am
I was with VAH-4 from 1961 to 1964 as an ordnanceman and later as a weapons loading crew chief. Around 1963, a plane captain, I think his name was Mike Greber was up on one of our birds dippng a fuel reading in the center tank. The problem was that Mike had a nylon flight jacket on and the stick was glass. He wiped the dip stick with the jacket and then stuck the stick back in for a 2nd reading and then there was a large boom and Mike went straight up for about 20 ft came down on one of the engines which broke his fall along with his arm, probably saving him from a more serious injury. After that the Navy changed all of their sticks to wood. Does anyone at Whidbey during that time remember the incident!!!!
September 14, 2007 at 5:24 pm
I was just looking at the page that said that several Whales were stored at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tuscon AZ. Then I went to “Live Search” on windows. I looked up D M AFB fully spelling it as in the previous sentence. Then I zoomed in and found them. Then I clicked on birds eye view. I counted 28 whales. One looked as if it was urwrapped. If you zoom in on birds eye you can almost read the tail markings. I imagine one could find any whale (that is on display out doors) that way. Most areas have birds eye view some don’t. If you are familiar with a place you may only have to find it on the map and zoom in. Have fun trying; Richard W. Myers former ASH-3
September 14, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Regarding the dip stick incident. It was explained to us thoroughly as rookies. Our CO in H10 flew to Norfolk to fly accross to visit one of our dets on a Med cruise in 1969. He found out the plane had a plastic push button dip stick. We had to ready another whale and crew just to fly a wood dip stick to Norfolk so the P.C. could check the fuel. (I think the plastic push button ones were much easier to read as long as you didn’t load it with static.) Wouldn’t it have beem much cheaper and quicker just to have someone on base to use the plastic stick to pattern a new wooden one. Of course there was three ways to do anything, the right way, the wrong way and the Navy, which was usually to use a bigger hammer hahaha.
September 17, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Just wanted to relate an incident that happened during the 60-61 cruise
on the Coral Sea. I was attached to VAH2 at the time. As I remember,
we were having some high altitude bombing practice on an old tug boat
that was towed out from Yokosuka. It seems our XO, CDR Tucker zeroed in
on the tow boat that pulled the tug out to sea. Anyway, he nearly got a
direct hit on the tow boat. luckily, no one was killed but several of
the crew were brought aboard the Coral Sea for treatment of assorted
injuries. When we pulled back into Yokosuka, the bar (H-Bomb) that the
VAH2 guys frequented had a sign on the door that said, “welcome back
VAH2 - tug boat bombers”. How they knew so quick is beyond me. By the
way, CDR Tucker was transferred, to Spain (I think) in short order. I
would like to hear from anyone who might remember this incident as my
memory is starting to fade.
Darwin “Hap” Litzell
PN3, VAH2
September 19, 2007 at 5:40 pm
I was with VAH-4 from early 1959 through January 1963 and made two WestPac cruises aboard the Bonnie Dick (CVA-31) and the Lex (CVA-16).
When I was first assigned to the line crew, we used the wooded dip sticks to check how many pounds of fuel were in the tank while fueling.
After each ‘dip’ we would wipe the stick dry with the inside of our foul weather jacket (remember this was Whidbey Island) to get a dry stick and contine until we reached the correct amount.
We just eyeballed the wing tanks and had the refueling truck operator cut the supply when it got close to the top.
While I was on carrier quals, the Navy made the switch to the plactic dip sticks. The top had a metal circular flange (probable stainless or chromed steel) to stop the dip stick at the correct depth and a hole that one would put his thumb over to stop air from entering the tube and keeping the fuel from running out. They were a lot easier to read.
But poor Greber was the first and hopefully the only plane captain to destroy a brand new plane with static electricy with the new dip sticks!! Opened the forward fuel tank like a sardine can.
After that, we were instructed to touch the steel ring to the metal skin (away from the open tank) to discharge the static prior to insertion.
Anyone know the whereabouts of Greber?
(Funny, I always thought it was Mel Fry that blew that plane apart.)
Harold C Lewis
lewish2@gdls.com
November 20, 2007 at 4:29 pm
I went to VAH-2 in March 1957 to be with my brother, Carl Fitzwater “Big Fitz” at North Island, San Diego, CA. Went aboard Bon Homme Richard Det Bravo for Carrier Quals them to NAS Whidbey Island, WA. Then went aboard the Ticonderoga for Far East Cruise 1957-58 then back to Whidbey. In 1958-59 aboard the Bon Homme Richard for second Far East Cruise. Transferred to VAH-123 in 60-62. Would like to hear from anyone from VAH-2 or VAH-123. I have year books from both cruises.
November 24, 2007 at 12:59 am
For Mike Fitzwater,
Mike, my brother (Dave “Tweets” Litzell) were both in heavy 2. My brother was in North Island in 57′ and made a cruise on the Bonnie Dick. He went to Whidbey the same time you did. I joined the squadron out of boot camp in AUG 59′. Dave was discharged in 1960 as an ADJ3. We are both retired and live in Wisconsin. You can email me at mrhap@chibardun.net. Regards,
Hap Litzell
December 14, 2007 at 12:51 am
CVA-64 Horn Cruise VAH-10 Det. Bravo:
Cdr. Bob Turley lost a nose wheel and strut on the cat shot. He landed into the net as soon as fuel dump was complete and the deck was ready. Allegedly he landed it one handed while filming with his movie camera. Is there such a film? Maybe Mr Andy Lazas the BN knows. It landed on the blown down lower hatch and that held the nose and plane up. It was up and flying by the time we got to San Deigo.
December 16, 2007 at 2:53 am
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce
December 16, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Mike…the word “allegedly” has got your six covered. I flew some with CDR Turley when he was a LT, and a good pilot he was even then. However, having trapped aboard about 300 times in an A3, I have yet to see a pilot that wasn’t much too busy to be taking a video, at good/normal conditions, much less coming in to take the net. Good story though.
Will Haney USN Retired
December 18, 2007 at 3:07 pm
I was saddened to hear about the passing of Bill Sowell last week. I am sure that most of the old-timers from Sanford knew him. I first met him in August 1956; we were part of a B/N class in HATU. Others in the class were ENS Bob Anderson, ENS Dave Bielawski, AQC Cromwell, and PO1 Pemberton. We graduated in early 1957 while the squadrons were still flying the memorable AJ, but it was not long before the new A3Ds began to arrive and the NAS came alive. Over the next few years the squadrons were heavily committed to augment with the fleet, and personnel were busy coming and going, but years later I managed to catch up with Bill on the Internet and we discussed a range of topics. Bill was a square-shooter, and I always looked forward to his comments on various matters. His hard work and expertise in Heavy Attack–with the help of others similarly dedicated–allowed the Navy to produce a formidable fighting force that helped win the Cold War. We will miss him.
December 20, 2007 at 10:34 pm
The landing into the net did happen, I was in Flight Deck Contol when it happened! I also worked on replacing the raydome and all the ASB parts in the nose. It may have been the BN or 3rdCrewman that shot the movie, if there is one. It would be worth seeing. That Lower door sure was tough.
January 2, 2008 at 3:47 pm
It is great to hear all of these stories. I was a plane captain (ao3) in vaq130 det 3 From 1968 to 1971. Went wespac on the tyco, bonnie dick and the big O.Had some great times in the process. Got together with for a reunion with some of the boys this past october in las vegas. We are planning another one in 09.If you need info contact gordy davidson nalan@mchsi.com. When I have more time i’ll relate some of my own. Jack
February 19, 2008 at 2:37 am
Hey Rat, that A-3 you guys had to salvage was 144846, VAQ-34’s GD210.
I wish that I had known about the salvage, I would have done just about anything to get a couple parts from it as I have about 180 flight hours in it and countless maintenance hours working on it.
Do you have any pictures of it being salvaged?
Drop me a line at vaq34webmaster (at) yahoo.com
February 19, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Served in HEAVY 5 1961 to 1964 then to HEAVY 3 till discharge feb 65.
Just found this site and it does bring back many good memories of our tour of duty and to see that a lot of our shipmates are still around.
I flew with Cdr. Ken Hamilton and B/N “Pete” Denlea.
live 45mi west of Philadelphia
Have agreat day everyone
mac
March 3, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Was in Pax river on Vip A3 with Bud Theesen ,Cdr Savage, Ltcdr Lillybow
from 61-63, then went to Heavy 8 until 65.
Have made contact with a few of the guys from VAH 8 , had a lot of good times during the two westpac cruise’s and up in Vancouver BC would like to hear from some of the other guys in the “line crew & plane captains”.
Have a good one / Syd
March 5, 2008 at 2:20 am
I was in VAQ-33 1971-1974 First time to this site. Don’t see much about the jammers.
March 8, 2008 at 7:10 am
One night out in the Pacific near Japan, about 1962,aboard the Midway,one of my squadrons (VAH-
A3s lost its brakes during night flight deck operations. With full crew aboard, it rolled backwards and one wheel dropped down into the catwalk. It was very dark, probably only starlight. I was about 30 feet out in front of the plane as its radome started swinging upwards into the near black night sky. I could just barely make out the image of the extended strut and nose wheel way above my head, aircraft at about a 45 degree angle to the deck. Hanging from the nose wheel was the plane captain. I’m pretty sure that his name was Young. I ran over and grabbed his ankles! The plane did not go over the side. I’ve always thought that the plane captain saved his plane. Does anyone out there remember this story? Perhaps the pilot used power to bring the nose down as far as he could, a near gonner!!!
April 25, 2008 at 9:50 pm
My dad was Dick Favreau - Heavy 9 - Saratoga - crashed in the Med. 2/58 when I was 3 weeks old. Anyone out there remember him/or the accident. Would love to hear stories.
Thanks for looking.
April 26, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Old -but-true-story.
I.O det on Connie in 81-82/ PR003
Ripper driving, Mouse in the right seat.
Comming off track and enroute for the last recovery.
Ripper has to drain off the coffee. Pilot-seat relief tube is…to short.
Ripper gets up to use the tube by pos-4, and prior to unplugging, asks Mouse to drive. SO, as Ripper struggles aft, shedding the in-the-way-gear, Boris and Mouse conspire via ICS and the nose of ” The Aging Beauty” starts up almost imperseptively. Camera now on Ripper w/ right-hand on personal-hardware and left-hand on rapidly filling cup. “OK MOUSE”. Now the nose comes gently(?) down and our intrepid pilot must let go of SOMETHING, to stop his assent to the overhead. Never asked him which hand he…reached up with, but the effect would be the same irrespective.
To his credit, Ripper didn’t whimper and Mouse, et al stopped their Laugh-Ex prior to the BALL-CALL.
Ripper was a NATURAL pilot, First Round-Eye to captain for JAL, I think. As to Mouse, already the best NAV, had a grand career as a TRANSVEST-FO in Hoovers.
It’s true. No SHIT!
April 26, 2008 at 7:55 pm
It would be worth a dollar to me if anyone could get Cdr Nico Over to tell the true story of the Cubi C.Q. period w/ Cdr Ron Woltman.
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Or the one about Capt Jimmy Vambell and the cat.
June 2, 2008 at 1:02 am
I remember Coyote and Nico from VQ-1 (and Nico again from VAQ-33).
Does Coyote ever relate the tale of how Ens. Dave Dolan (drunk, as usual) spun Coyote’s white Boss 302 Mustang into a stand of bamboo on Guam and then just “didn’t bother” to tell him about it? When Coyote came into the Ready Room the next morning to ask Dolan to step outside he showed more self control than I ever thought he had - of course, he was a LT in those days.
Mad Dog Kelley - EC-121J and EP-3B/E - VQ-1
ERA-3B VAQ-33
June 2, 2008 at 1:04 am
Of course, there are other stories about Coyote and Nico I WON’T be telling here!
June 2, 2008 at 6:58 pm
For Liz Favreau.
Hi; In regard to your note of 25 April 2008, I feel very sorry for the loss of your Dad in that air accident involving an A3D over 50 years ago. I knew him well, and flew with him many times as the squadron was acquiring new aircraft and preparing for a busy deployment schedule. Your Dad had a great personality and was very bright and efficient. The Saratoga was on its way to the Mediterranean, as I recall, and our squadron–VAH-9–was still attempting to gain familiarity with the new aircraft. Our crew–LCDR Jim Nelson, Chief Bolger, and I were airborne at the time of the accident, and there were recurring comments on the radios that one of the fighter aircraft appeared to have lost an external fuel tank. As I recall, Abe Fennell, flying with LCDR McBratnie, saw the object and made a comment on VHF. I believe that the point of impact was noted, and the Saratoga began an investigation at that time. It was not until our aircraft were recovered, however, that we began to suspect that the mishap involved one of our aircraft, one piloted by Jim Chaffee with Bob Martin as the B/N, and Dick Favreau as the Crewman. The loss of these three wonderful people will never be forgotten by any of their squadron mates. On a personal note, our crew had been involved with the same aircraft on an Operational Readiness Inspection flight aboard the Ranger on 3 December 1957 and we suffered an oxygen problem which caused the pilot to lose consciouness for a significant amount of time. I am not qualified to comment on the cause of the accident involving your Dad, but I feel confident that something catastrophic occurred at altitude. Best wishes, Ed Parris eparris@earthlink.net
July 4, 2008 at 5:40 am
does anyone remember my dad, ray d murphy? He passed away this last February and I would love to hear some stories about him. I do remember Dick Fowlers name and also remember Charlie McCarthy