Subject:USS Midway VA-25's Toilet Bomb

[bennylaird]

For those too young to remember, during Viet Nam conflict, carriers were
So woefully short of ordinance that missions were often launched with only
a half load just to keep the sortie rate up so that the REMF's in DC would
not send out blistering messages about failure to support the war effort,
etc.? Given that the loss rate approached, and sometime exceeded, one
aircraft a day, all will understand that there was a degree of reticence
to launch with less than a full load -- if I must dance with the elephant
at least let's make it worth while.? Nevertheless, the indomitable spirit
of the carrier aviators, and their squadron-mates, prevailed in some
rather perverse ways (see below).

I have every hope that today's successors to the mantel left at the Cubi
"O" Club bar persevere as well.? Kick the tires, light the fires, bolt for
the blue and brief on guard -- last one up is lead.

Back in Nam, I know you weren't on USS MIDWAY in Oct 1965, but thought
you'd get a kick out of one squadron's ingenuity.

Yes, this really happened## Once again history is stranger then fiction,
and a lot funnier:

USS Midway VA-25's Toilet Bomb.

[TassieKiwi]

Cor. What is that aircraft - sea fury?

[mic-d]

That's a Skyraider!

[bennylaird]

Nah a Skyraider

http://skyraider.org/skyassn/index.htm

Didn't see your post sorry Mic-D

[Stuart]

Wonder it wasn't a kitchen sink - "We threw everything at them, even the kitchen sink..."

On another matter - do you have access to the video of the fire on USS Forestal? Saw it duing NBCD training - would love to get a copy.

For those that don't know, a ?bomb? ?missile? fell off one of the planes while still on deck, exploded and started a major fire (wooden deck from memory). The video is all pieced together from the onboard cameras - quite unbelievable.

[Iain]

Heard of the expression sh#tstorm, but this puts a whole new meaning to it

[bennylaird]

Wonder it wasn't a kitchen sink - "We threw everything at them, even the kitchen sink..."

On another matter - do you have access to the video of the fire on USS Forestal? Saw it duing NBCD training - would love to get a copy.

For those that don't know, a ?bomb? ?missile? fell off one of the planes while still on deck, exploded and started a major fire (wooden deck from memory). The video is all pieced together from the onboard cameras - quite unbelievable.

Foxtel have a full show on it running at the moment. Seems the rockets were being armed too early to speed things up. This was done by connecting the plug just before launch normally. Also the safety cap was found to have disloged as well. The Phantom fired into the Shyhawks opposite. Might be able to make a backup of the show so I can watch it later?

[bennylaird]

Heard of the expression sh#tstorm, but this puts a whole new meaning to it

Raafies are far to professional to try anything like that

[Stuart]

When is the show on? - Hope I haven't missed any episodes already...

[bennylaird]

When is the show on? - Hope I haven't missed any episodes already...

It's just one episode on Discovery, forget the name. Seconds from disaster I think.:confused:

Has been on a few times this week.

[bennylaird]

National Geographic Channel

Seconds From Disaster Aircraft Carrier Explosion
Sci/Nature. The USS Forrestal has been deployed to the Gulf of Tonkin in 1967. During a routine launch a rocket accidentally fires across the deck and hits a fuel tank, setting off a horrific chain of events. (PG)

[bennylaird]

Hmmm not programmed for a repeat in the next week, should come around again though.

[Stuart]

Bugger - will have to pay more attention to the Foxtel guide. Normally, I just channel flick until something catches my eye.

[duckman]

Wonder it wasn't a kitchen sink - "We threw everything at them, even the kitchen sink..."

On another matter - do you have access to the video of the fire on USS Forestal? Saw it duing NBCD training - would love to get a copy.

For those that don't know, a ?bomb? ?missile? fell off one of the planes while still on deck, exploded and started a major fire (wooden deck from memory). The video is all pieced together from the onboard cameras - quite unbelievable.

FWIW, the USS Forestal along with a destroyer and a submarine were in Melbourne in 1964 I think it was. They came here to commemorate an anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea. Mum took my brother and me to see them. Got to go on the sub and the carrier. I was very young but still remember walking through the hangar, riding the aircraft elevator and sitting on one side of a AA gun whilst a gunners mate sat oppositte and traversed the gun. He gave all the kids a turn on it.

Probably wouldn't happen now because of the damn, stinkin' nanny state

[namtrak]

Search www.youtube.com for USS Forrestal Airplane Accident
it is pretty full on

And read this entry in wikipedia for a bit more