As @webmaster knows, I actually was actively trying to score a 200 HP Yamaha prize engine. On my first deployment, I knew exactly where a vessel ended up (Rodman) that we interdicted, but it took us too long (like several weeks) before we pulled back in there to even see the motors. The vessel was completely stripped and moored at one of the piers waiting to be repurposed.
On my second deployment, for some reason, JIATF wanted one of the engines on an interdicted vessel. But in standard Shoe fashion, they couldn't figure out how to a) get the motor off the transom and b) get it up on to the weather deck. Because the ship never hauls anything from one of their many davits, apparently. The Shoe's solution was to disconnect the motor head from the drive and then just bring that up (collective forehead slap). I was flying at the time, orbiting and watching our fuel tapes get lower and lower. I think that might have been the longest single flight I've ever done in a -60B (and only one of two times I ever peed in a -60).
Even if I had been aboard, given the complete goat rope the operation was, getting a second motor up would have been impossible. Naturally, the motor head they did bring up sat in the salt air for another 1-2 months, completely corroding away and going to waste. No one from JIATF ever did come and collect it.
JIATF Sea Stories
Stupidity
Oh, I forgot to say (sorry, got distracted) we managed to take the cover off an engine that we shot out, mount it, sign it next to the bullet holes, and put it up in the ready room. Sad thing is I was at my old squadron several months ago and the JOs were completely in the dark about it and were asking me about its origin. I'm not even that old...it was only a couple years ago that we put it on the wall! SMH.As @webmaster knows, I actually was actively trying to score a 200 HP Yamaha prize engine.
Not exactly sure, except to note that one of the grievances leading to the mutiny at the Nore in 1797 was a demand for a fairer distribution of prize money. Odd that it took 11 years for the issue to be addressed and codified (or maybe not all that odd...), but the change was significant, especially for senior petty officers, like Captains of the Top, whose individual shares of prize money more than tripled.Why the change after 1808?
Oh, I forgot to say (sorry, got distracted) we managed to take the cover off an engine that we shot out, mount it, sign it next to the bullet holes, and put it up in the ready room. Sad thing is I was at my old squadron several months ago and the JOs were completely in the dark about it and were asking me about its origin. I'm not even that old...it was only a couple years ago that we put it on the wall! SMH.
Probably not that odd. You can’t reward behavior like a mutiny with instant benefits. Incongruent with a strong chain of command.Odd that it took 11 years for the issue to be addressed and codified (or maybe not all that odd...)
Or just that there's nothing new under the bureaucratic sun.Probably not that odd. You can’t reward behavior like a mutiny with instant benefits. Incongruent with a strong chain of command.
Or just that there's nothing new under the bureaucratic sun.
Welcome to getting old. When I left my DH squadron, the majority of the pictures hanging up on the wall were taken by me (or with my camera). When I came back 3 years later, most were still up. When the squadron moved, there were still a few up, but then they started deploying with the new airframe and have new pictures. Now I'm a has-been.
They do have a sweet, complete stab (with center box) from the old show bird hanging up in the ready room, though, and a cool story on how they got it. So props to them.