The interesting world of VQ

[Sky-Pig]

Great pix ... what's that funny little thing nose on in pix #4 ... a Texan??

Loved Rota as well; very civilized -- except for these boys standing around the base w/ a Schmeisser slung over the shoulder -- mean lookin' SOB's, too -- one looked at us MIDN's ... grunted/nodded "HOLA" ... and turned away (thankfully -- probably disgusted w/ us ) as we scurried off to the Exchange to buy our new Toledo steel Navy Sword.

The first thing I learned during the Inter-Cultural Relations course...don't mess with the Guardia Civil.

By the time I left my second tour (2003 ish) they weren't so hard-core...I actually saw one smile once.

I could really go for a cafe con leche right now...

 

[Sky-Pig]

VQ Trivia

VQ Trivia of the day:

Okay, this actually pre-dates the VQ squadrons, but it deals with the birth of Navy airborne ISR.

1. (Easy) What is the origin of the VQ-2 "Phantasm" patch symbol?

2. (Medium) When was the first US recce aircraft shot down by a communist power, post-WW II?

3. (Hard) When/where/what aircraft was the first flight by a US Navy ESM crew?

4. (Hardest) Name the first Navy airborne ESM receiver.

 

[blackbart22]

Back in the day, we deployed to DaNang with an EA-3 for a month or so at a wack. The whale crews would occasionally get a stand down day (usually when switching from night to day schedule) and some OinCs would have us A/C ride along in one of the Big Birds to see how the other half lived. So I've got a few 7+ hour hops in BuNo 149678 in my log. THeir galley put out a better product than the EC-121s did.

 

[Single Seat]

This isn't the place to talk about that. LT Shane Osborne was the pilot on PR-32 and wrote a book about the incident, Born to Fly. Shane is now the Nebraska State Treasurer.
http://www.treasurer.state.ne.us/about.asp

Deepsea out.

I've yet to meet a single P-3 bubba that agrees with what he did.

 

[Pugs]

I've yet to meet a single P-3 bubba that agrees with what he did.

He did a lot. Are you saying the beginning decision about taking the plane to China or everything he did?

 

[Single Seat]

He did a lot. Are you saying the beginning decision about taking the plane to China or everything he did?

Landing in China and not ditching it.

 

[Pugs]

Landing in China and not ditching it.

Likely a topic into itself that was probably discussed at some point here. Certainly an intriguing one.

 

[Single Seat]

Likely a topic into itself that was probably discussed at some point here. Certainly an intriguing one.

Yeah, not one to really be discussed here either.

 

[Mumbles]

I'm not VQ...but I do know that the ditch characteristics of the EP-3 are decidedly different from a non-queer P-3.

 

[Flash]

I've yet to meet a single P-3 bubba that agrees with what he did.

Landing in China and not ditching it.

Actually the vast majority of EP-3 and P-3 pilots and NFO's that I know agree he did the right thing. I believe that our very own Webmaster and Zab have said the same.

As someone who was only 4 months out of the squadron when they landed in China, I for one firmly believe that he did the right thing. Whatever you may think of Shane Osborn personally, I think the decision that he and the crew made was the the right one and the only one that would have ensured the survival of the crewmembers. Ditching and bailing out likely would have cost some of the crew's lives. And as someone who is intimately familiar with what was on the plane and what was compromised, nothing on that plane was worth anyone's life.

Likely a topic into itself that was probably discussed at some point here. Certainly an intriguing one.

Yeah, not one to really be discussed here either.

It was actually discussed and debated thoroughly about 2 or 3 years ago. I posted a pretty lengthy and thorough explanation of why the crew made the decision.

And to disabuse of any notions otherwise, there were no standing orders for them not to land there, it was entirely up to the discretion of the MC. There is at least one of my former squadronmates (the guy who trained me ) here on this board and he can chime in too if he wants.

Even now I still have very little doubt that the crew did the right thing. Nor do the vast majority of current and former EP-3/P-3 guys I work with today, only one of them disagrees with his decision.

The previous thread, my comments are on page 3:

http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10152&highlight=hainan

 

[Single Seat]

Actually the vast majority of EP-3 and P-3 pilots and NFO's that I know agree he did the right thing. I believe that our very own Webmaster and Zab have said the same.

As someone who was only 4 months out of the squadron when they landed in China, I for one firmly believe that he did the right thing. Whatever you may think of Shane Osborn personally, I think the decision that he and the crew made was the the right one and the only one that would have ensured the survival of the crewmembers. Ditching and bailing out likely would have cost some of the crew's lives. And as someone who is intimately familiar with what was on the plane and what was compromised, nothing on that plane was worth anyone's life.





It was actually discussed and debated thoroughly about 2 or 3 years ago. I posted a pretty lengthy and thorough explanation of why the crew made the decision.

And to disabuse of any notions otherwise, there were no standing orders for them not to land there, it was entirely up to the discretion of the MC. There is at least one of my former squadronmates (the guy who trained me ) here on this board and he can chime in too if he wants.

Even now I still have very little doubt that the crew did the right thing. Nor do the vast majority of current and former EP-3/P-3 guys I work with today, only one of them disagrees with his decision.

The previous thread, my comments are on page 3:

http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10152&highlight=hainan

Lets just say that the last 3 times I've been out to Fallon, and the multiple threat capes and lims briefs I've been through... repeatedly bring up what was lost from that landing. I've got nothing against the dude personally, and that's all I'll say.

 

[Pugs]

Lets just say that the last 3 times I've been out to Fallon, and the multiple threat capes and lims briefs I've been through... repeatedly bring up what was lost from that landing. I've got nothing against the dude personally, and that's all I'll say.

I believe I have a copy of the power point presentation and I'll work with flyinspy to put it on the aw share on JWICS.

 

[Sky-Pig]

Recommend we drop this thread-jack...y'all are making me nervous.

And remember...the title is the "WONDERFUL world of VQ", not the flying habits of the current state treasurer of Nebraska.

Now, trivia answers (since no one bothered)

1. Inspired by the "Don" of the George Sandeman Sherry bodega.
2. PB4Y Privateer flown under the marking of VP-26. Lost in April 1950, shot down by USSR fighters over the Baltic. 10 KIA.
3. PTO, 31 October 1942, 2 US sailors on a USAAF B-17E, 11.0 hours with no collect.
4. XARD. Basically a hunk of crap, but it was the best the Navy had a few months.

 

[Pugs]

Recommend we drop this thread-jack...y'all are making me nervous.

+ for the trivia. I wouldn't sweat the issue vis a vi the mishap or the rest of the VQ mission. Those in the know aren't going to talk beyond what they would.

It's an interesting mission and those that go patrol should certainly consider it and it's ilk.

 

[P3 F0]

Ditching and bailing out likely would have cost some of the crew's lives... there were no standing orders for them not to land there, it was entirely up to the discretion of the MC. There is at least one of my former squadronmates (the guy who trained me ) here on this board and he can chime in too if he wants.

Sorry Sky-Pig, but I think I've been paged. I totally back what Flash says. Wrong or right, folks (especially Navy guys) shouldn't be banging Shane on his decision, but instead the policy (or lack thereof) at the time.

Single Seat, your P-3 friends may disagree, but they aren't flying with that anti-ditch M&M. There is no doubt in my mind that many lives would have been lost had they ditched. I can close my eyes and see that huge fucking ladder snapping off and meat-grinding forward as soon as that M&M plows into the water. That's if they hadn't cartwheeled, of course.