South China Sea - 1967 - (Page 3): I was also on the Kearsarge CVS33 but in 69 and70 when we decommissioned her in Long Beach.Spent my time on the flight deck as a plane capt, two...

the hiker Loc: San Diego

kschwegl wrote:

I was over there (Yankee Station) '65 and'66. USS Kearsarge, CVS33. Same class ship. I was an ET, maintained shipboard radar.

Ken S.

I was also on the Kearsarge CVS33 but in 69 and70 when we decommissioned her in Long Beach.Spent my time on the flight deck as a plane capt, two westpacs then off to NAS mirmar for 71 and 72 with VF124.Discharged in sept.of 72 at Miramar and still live in San Diego.

Don W-37 Loc: Bangkok, Thailand

Really enjoyed your photos! Thanks for posting.

You are correct: being on an active flight deck will get your juices going. I was a Warrant Officer on the USS Constellation (CVA-64) at that time.
Best,
Don

Darren01 Loc: Fallbrook California

A4 ready launch on cat on1...click click boom....

Darren01 Loc: Fallbrook California

My first father in law was on the Connie when she was rammed in the Suez Canal. His name is Master chief Donald Peek

Don W-37 Loc: Bangkok, Thailand

Interesting. Never heard about such an incident. To my knowledge, CVA-64 was a 7th Fleet carrier based in the Pacific and home ported in San Diego. If you have any info about that please PM me. Thanks, Don

Darren01 Loc: Fallbrook California

Don W-37 wrote:

Interesting. Never heard about such an incident. To my knowledge, CVA-64 was a 7th Fleet carrier based in the Pacific and home ported in San Diego. If you have any info about that please PM me. Thanks, Don

I forget what year that was. She either hit a ship, or a ship hit her.

gener202002

Don W-37 wrote:

Interesting. Never heard about such an incident. To my knowledge, CVA-64 was a 7th Fleet carrier based in the Pacific and home ported in San Diego. If you have any info about that please PM me. Thanks, Don

I am not sure which incident you are talking about. When I was on the Bonnie Dick there was an incident with the U.S.S. Forrestal which caught on fire. I think it was 1967. A bomb dropped on the deck off of a wing, (the reasons which were kind of strange.) We were just leaving Vietnam waters and were called back to render assistance. A lot of guys died in that. About 10 years ago, I made friends with a guy and found out he had been on that ship when the incident happened.

I saw the Constellation several times in San Diego, and I am pretty sure it was in Vietnam with us at times. There were always two active carriers, and one in port. One ship, as a rule, would do flight sorties in the day, and the other at night.

Dewman Loc: SW Idaho

I can very vividly remember 24-hour flight ops. Our berthing quarters was beneath the flight deck near the fantail. Imagine jet planes landing on your roof all night long while you're trying to sleep! 12 on, 12 off, 7 days a week. Longest was 109 days at sea. Then, 10 days of R&R (????) in Subic Bay. Can you say, "Tombstone, 1870?"

IIRC, Arizona Senator John McCain had a dubious part in the mess aboard the Forrestal.

gener202002

Dewman wrote:

I can very vividly remember 24-hour flight ops. Our berthing quarters was beneath the flight deck near the fantail. Imagine jet planes landing on your roof all night long while you're trying to sleep! 12 on, 12 off, 7 days a week. Longest was 109 days at sea. Then, 10 days of R&R (????) in Subic Bay. Can you say, "Tombstone, 1870?"

IIRC, Arizona Senator John McCain had a dubious part in the mess aboard the Forrestal.

Yes, I've heard some theories about what happened there. The official story was something about a maverick radio signal causing a missile to fly. It did fly off of John McCain's aircraft as I understand. Interesting times, the younger generation has little awareness of the situation there in South China, and how our country was rocked by controversy, and all kinds of things going on. I would suggest we are about to enter another rocky time in our history.

Dewman Loc: SW Idaho

gener202002 wrote:

Interesting times, the younger generation has little awareness of the situation there in South China, and how our country was rocked by controversy, and all kinds of things going on. I would suggest we are about to enter another rocky time in our history.

Your words echo my thoughts, sir. Those of us who have lived long enough to have the insight that only comes with age can see the precipice that lies ahead. Our peril grows in lock-step with our national debt.

Thomas Jefferson said, "Banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies; and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale."

I'm sorry. I digress. It's an open wound.

gener202002

Dewman wrote:

Your words echo my thoughts, sir. Those of us who... (show quote)

I understand. People nowdays do not understand the nature of the fight we have always had with forces of tyranny. Once the Federal Reserve was established in 1913 a twenty two trillion dollar debt was inevitable, and every president gets blamed for its growth. Enough said for now, as this is a photography forum. But just wanted to say, I agree.

Dewman Loc: SW Idaho

gener202002 wrote:

Enough said for now, as this is a photography forum. But just wanted to say, I agree.

Our progeny deserve far better than what we've left them. Now.... on with the shutter clickin'!

I've got a very nice, older manual Pentax-M 100mm f:2.8 lens that needs some mileage put on it.... so, maybe tomorrow will be the day. It's one of those legendary lenses from Pentax that has bucket loads of pixie dust!

This review will show what I mean. A superb little lens.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-M-100mm-F2.8-Lens.html

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Very nice photos, thanks for sharing!!