navychief 1 Posted August 22, 2004 I was with Attack Squadron Fifteen (VA-15), from 1981 to 1984. We deployed on USS Independence (CV-62) on June 7, 1982 for a Med cruise, with 12 A-7E Corsairs. Shortly after transiting the "pond", we met up with USS Eisenhower. She was about to outchop to head towards home. Flight ops were in process as normal, when word came down that our "nugget" (a new pilot on his first deployment) had done something VERY stupid. I remember walking into M/C (Maintenance Control), and seeing the M/C Master Chief doubled over, laughing hysterically. The M/C Officer was also smiling, but right about that moment the CO walked in. Everyone in M/C became immediately silent. The skipper said to send the nugget to see him in the Ready Room as soon as he got back from his flight. The nugget arrived shortly thereafter, and was told to go see the skipper in the Ready Room. He looked embarassed, sheepish, and scared. What had happened, was that he somehow got confused when flying in the pattern for a trap on the Indy, and he landed on the Eisenhower by mistake, instead. Both carriers were operating in the same vicinity. He trapped on the Ike, and instead of allowing him to immediately cat off again, the Air Boss parked him, shut him down, and had him go see the Ike's skipper to explain how he landed on the wrong ship. In the meantime, the flight deck crew of the Ike plastered USS Eisenhower bumper stickers all over the external tanks of his Corsair. By the time he catapulted off the Ike, his aircraft looked like a NASCAR aircraft; not a NAVAIR aircraft. The pilot went to the Ready Room, and entered. Upon seeing him, the skipper ushered everyone out, and immediately started yelling. You could hear the yelling above everything else. No one had ever seen the CO that mad. He was beyond pissed. The pilot's name isn't even in the cruise book. Within a day or so of the incident, he was flown off the ship, and I believe he resigned his commission. The crew of the Ike definitely got a kick out of it, and the CO of the Indy caught quite a lot of flack about it too. True story. Navy Chief Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PG_Raptor 0 Posted August 22, 2004 haha! Man, that would've sucked being that pilot though... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Foofighter 0 Posted August 23, 2004 (edited) Hey Chief, During the 82 med cruise when I was on the Ike we had an VF-143 F-14 miss the wires and go vertical. I think the pilot panicked after missing the wires and pulled back on the stick too hard while going to militay thrust. Pilot and rio ejected and the plane barely missed the ship. Scared the S#*t out of me. Anyway, Here's another pic from the cruise thought you might like. Foofighter. Edited August 23, 2004 by Foofighter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scout_51 0 Posted August 23, 2004 Scared the S#*t out of me bet it did that rio also... ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
