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Shooter's Gallery (as in Catapult, not firearms)
- Thread starter HeyJoe
- Start date
120617-N-RX668-196 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 17, 2012) Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Colon gives the pilot of an E/A-6B Prowler assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142 the signal to launch off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during flight operations. Nimitz recently got underway to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world's largest international maritime exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jess Lewis/Released)
Yeah...not subtle like the rest of us...
Nature of the beast. Within minutes of coming onboard, all the media types are whisked up to the flight deck by a group of Shooters. They stand around and watch Shooters do their thing, and then they spend about 30 minutes asking Shooters a bunch of questions, usually about arresting gear cables snapping and how many airplanes we put into the water every week. That, coupled with our bright yellow plumage (the alpha males of the flight deck) makes us natural media darlings. There is a picture of me a few posts up shooting a Prowler and I didn't even know it was on here.
He WAS such a nice guy...
So...can I assume you're NOT the guy who had to go through life with the last name of "Colon"? But the callsign possibilities are...well...nearly endless.
Our piece de resistance as shooters was on Yankee station. They wanted a four F-4 CAP launched just before an alpha strike recovery began. The air boss asked us how fast we could get four birds off. Waist asked what restrictions applied and the boss said none. We talked to the pilots (all pukin dogs) and they were game and so we briefed the topside crews very carefully. We lifted the cat interlocks that keep the two bow or two waist cats from going to final ready at the same time and when the boss turned on the green light we had four F-4s in burner on cats with a final ready and four salutes. Waist fired four and as he got to the end of the track, I fired two. Waist immediately fired three and then I fired one. As the last one off had his gear up he was joining up. The captain came up on the 5-MC and said "Bow, Waist, that was very very impressive and if you ever pull any shit like that again I'll court martial the both of you." My topside crew struted around for weeks on that comment.
It was called a 'covey launch'. I recall participating in one for a Dependent's Day cruise airshow on RANGER. Never saw it done on Yankee Station.
BzB
No, not Colon, although my last name has been the catalyst of a few callsigns. I am sure he pronounces it like Call-own or Call-in or with some sort of accent on the correct syllable. I was a Lincoln Shooter.So...can I assume you're NOT the guy who had to go through life with the last name of "Colon"? But the callsign possibilities are...well...nearly endless.
A four cat covey?! Be still my beating heart! That is the Shooter wet dream. Unfortunately, our CAG and DCAG put the kabash on all covey launches (once COMPTUEX was over and we weren't being evaluated anymore).
I never quite understood that policy. I wonder if it came from you know who.
Quite possibly. Not that he would overreach his bounds and micromanage everything...I never quite understood that policy. I wonder if it came from you know who.
Best I could do was a double hook at the bow. Coveys were verboten on the big stick with the regime at the time. Oh yes....the night or case 3 covey: the bolter and simultaneous cat one launch.
Shooter in bubble: "crap. bet I'm gonna get a call in a minute...."
Tower over flight deck common: "bow shooter, pick up the goddamn phone...."
Shooter in bubble: "crap. bet I'm gonna get a call in a minute...."
Tower over flight deck common: "bow shooter, pick up the goddamn phone...."
Funny, I remember doing them on that cruise. Perfect for the Prowler and the spare.