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| Approach................................by CDR R.G. Pearson | First Blue................................................................... |
| Capt. Glenn Rojohn................................................... | 3 Days in Banda Aceh................................................ |
| "A Sea Story"........................by Capt. R.C. Corbeille | Carrier Antisubmarine Stories..................................... |
| "A Cross Country Weekend"..................................... | U2 At Atsugi.............................................................. |
| A Wild Ride.............................................................. | Where do we get such men?....................................... |
| Black Sheep Squadron.............................................. | Number 3 Elevator..................................................... |
| OOPS....................................................................... | Mail Run..................................................................... |
| Vietnam Heros........................................................... | Final Inspection........................................................... |
| F18 Barrier Landing................................................... | The Wrong Army.......................by Chief Jeff Edwards |
| Thanks for Remembering............................................ | The Sea Bag............................................................... |
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"Approach",10 June 1969, the story of a near fatal crash on the Carrier USS Constellation, and the remarkable events that followed, written by Commander Russel G Pearson and contributed by Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Dean, now serving with the 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment deployed to Kuwait. |
First Blue,the true story of Roy Marlin "Butch" Voris, World War II Ace and the father of the legendary "Blue Angels". Information courtesy of the "Blue Angels Alumni Association" |
Captain Glenn Rojohn, his miraculous escape from certain death, as his B-17 was caught
in a deadly lock with another B-17 over the skies of Germany.....more
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THREE DAYS IN BANDA ACEH.....I just spent three days ashore at Banda Aceh working to assist all of those in dire need in Indonesia. I thought you might like to hear what we have been doing........more This letter was writen by: Commander Ted R. Williams, Executive Officer of VAQ-131 |
SEA STORY - A true one experienced by Frenchy Corbeille USN(Ret)
It was Sunday afternoon, early in the month of August, 1968 when USS Forrestal (CVA-59) was making her way through the Western Mediterranean during the first days of a 7-month cruise. ....more |
"CARRIER ANTISUBMARINE STORIES"A collection of Stories, anecdotes and other yarns about the life of those individuals who's everyday life was flying Antisubmarine missions from the decks of carriers all over the world. Many spent a life time of this adventureous way of life, many did not. But they all shared experiences that will live in their memories forever.......more Donald R. Elliot |
CROSS COUNTRY WEEKEND
It was around mid December, 1956. We had just retuned to San Diego from cruising Hawaiian waters during the Suez Crisis. It was getting close to Christmas so a couple of the younger Pilots decided to take a cross country flight to Dallas over a weekend. Since I hadn’t been home for a while, I signed up to go, too. All was fine when we left North Island early Friday afternoon. ....more |
U2 AT ATSUGI
The 1957 WESTPAC cruise of VS-37 was one of many odd occurrences. One such occurrence was during one of our two week operational stays at the Navy side of NAF Atsugi. The other side was occupied by the Marines ....more |
A WILD RIDE
This incident happened aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt some where off the southern coast of the Dominican Republic in 1960 with the introduction by Jim Robrts and as related by Swede Hedberg. Photos are courtesy of Swede Hedberg. The Pilot was LTjg Terry Kryway. Ripper Jim Roberts: I recall it clearly, having flown that same day. The sea state was really crappy and when Terry made his landing I was in the ready room watching his landing on the PLAT. ....more |
Where do we get such men ? They are all so young!I was going to the gym tonight (really just a huge tent with weights and treadmills), and we had heard that one of the MEUs (Marine Exp Units) that had come out of service in the "triangle" was redeploying (leaving country). We saw their convoy roll in to the Kuwait Naval Base as the desert sun was setting. ....more |
Gregory "Pappy" Boyington
and his "Black Sheep Squadron",the true story of Greg Boyington, World War II Ace and Skipper of the famed "Black Sheep", VMF 214.....more |
Number 3 Elevator - Len "Jake" Jacobson.... "I just looked at the picture of the Hornet model with the number
three elevator lowered, it reminded me of a sea story from long ago"....more
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OOPS.....
Carrier Quals had been going on for several weeks after a new group of Pilots had arrived onboard. This particular day,
CDR. Yarnell had drawn the duty of getting this one particular “Nugget” qualified to make day traps. Night trap qualification would come later.
....more
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Mail Run.....
I received orders to Bennington as "numerical relief" for the Cat Officer.
It was common knowledge that many who tried hard to chase a carrier all over
the Pacific, could in fact eat up about 6 weeks....thus enjoying the freedom
to roam around, with no particular duty to fulfill. I couldn't even begin
to force myself to do that. I had finished H-8 Catapult Training just days
before my departure from Conus, and frankly, I was anxious to find my new
home and settle in.
....more
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Vietnam Heros.....
The rapidly disappearing cohort of Americans that endured the Great Depression
and then fought World War II is receiving quite a send-off from the leading lights
of the so-called 60s generation. Tom Brokaw has published two oral histories of
The Greatest Generation that feature ordinary people doing their duty and suggest
that such conduct was historically unique.
....more
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Final Inspection.....
The Marine stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, you! Marine, How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?" ....more |
F18 Barrier Landing.....
There I was .. 'manned up' a hot seat for the 2030 night launch
about 500 miles north of Hawaii. I was taxied off toward the
Carrier's island where I did a 180 degree turn to get spotted so as
to be the first one off Catapult # 1. They lowered my launch bar and
started the launch cycle. All systems were 'go' on the run-up. And
....more
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The Wrong Army..... America's military can win wars. We've done it in the past, and I have absolute confidence that we'll continue to do it in the future. We've won fights in which we possessed overwhelming technological superiority (Desert Storm), as well as conflicts in which we were the technical underdogs (the American Revolution). We've crossed swords with numerically superior foes, and with militaries a fraction of the size of our own. ....more |
Thanks for Remembering.....
FROM THE OTHER SIDE..........At first there was no place for us to go until someone put up that "Black Granite Wall." Now, everyday and night, my Brothers and my Sisters wait to see the many people from places afar file in front of this "Wall." Many stopping briefly and many for hours and some that come on a regular basis. ....more |
The Sea Bag.....
There was a time when everything you owned had to fit in your seabag.
Remember those nasty rascals? Fully packed, one of the suckers weighed
more than the poor devil hauling it. The damn things weighed a ton and some idiot with an off-center sense of humor sewed a carry handle on it to help you haul it. Hell, you could bolt a handle on a Greyhound bus but it wouldn't make the damn thing portable. ....more |
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