USS Ranger, April 1991, 1stLt Frumby waiting at the hold short at NAS Miramar in the mighty T-2. Whole flight recalled back to the ramp due to a TomKitty catching an improperly weighted 3 wire ripping it out of the flight deck and carrying it to Davey Jones. Crew got out. Day two, 1stLt Frumby, T-2, NAS Miramar, hold short, recalled yet again. Why? A-6E caught a beautiful 2 wire (3 wire could not be fixed until back in port due to severe damage. Fresnel Lens retargeted for 2 wire vice 3)except on decel, hook snapped, A-6E veers toward front of the island. Marine RAG student pilot and Instructor NFO wisely decided to exit the accident investigation scene. In front of the island sit 3 pristine F/A-18C from VMFAT-101 with a grand total of less then 75 hours on all 3 aircraft combined. Like the ol buck, Grumman Iron proves it is still formidable to the 3 plastic, unsuspecting, McDonnell Douglas, young bucks and carrys them to Davey Jones Locker. Not one person got hurt during both incidents except for the Marine A-6E pilot. Showing a distinct dilike to water, the good lord decides to place him and his chute on the forward angle deck. As if on parade to his peers, he is drug the length of the flight deck because the ship is making her own 30 knots of wind. After his body scab is removed and his is returned to up medical flight status 1 year after the accident, he is given the callsign "ACE." After 4 American kills he needed only one more to become a Russian Ace. 1stLt Frumby never sees the Ranger on this detachment because flight operations are suspended. Point is, the flight deck is damn dangerous. You never, ever know what is going to happen and you have to constantly stay on your toes. You have genuine concern and respect for ever one who works on the flight deck. Everyone except the P-3 puke Catapult officer.....Its about damn time they find out that the Navy means "Ships!" Semper, Frumby
Attack Pilot
Major USMCR
Attack Pilot
Major USMCR