Meat, I saw "your" ejection story at the Grand Junction FBO. Interesting story.
-ea6bflyr
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Has anyone ever actually witnessed this ritual?
- Thread starter zpatman
- Start date
Meat, I saw "your" ejection story at the Grand Junction FBO. Interesting story.
-ea6bflyr
Here is a photo essay on this; it seems that the USS New Orleans recently crossed the line.
http://www.defense.gov/PhotoEssays/PhotoEssaySS.aspx?ID=1757
Not a member myself, but my Dad is and he treasures his Caterpillar Pin. He got out of a burning F4U at Atsugi back in the early 50's. I've prpbably told the story here before, but he caught the opening shock of the 'chute just before touching down.
Better then crossing the thing twice and having a Captain who was way to much of a tool to give you one.
Naaaaahhhh ... write to the ship and give them name, rank, serial, day, date ... all the usual suspects and REQUEST a card & certificate.
You don't want to be a Polywog 'once again' ...
Afraid it is....but at least we don't have grossly overweight sailors anymore so head will get buried only so much.
We had the ceremony a couple of weeks ago, though I spent most of it sleeping in. The most amusing thing I witnessed this time was a wog having to blow out jelly from someone's bellybutton. It was nothing more than jelly and a bellybutton, but every time he tried, he'd start getting the pre-hurl retching.
Came close...but never received any of the aforementioned awards.
On a routine training mission out of JAX, ~1963, got a call on Guard Channel...all Bengal (VA-35 call sign) A/C Buster home...WTH? In the ready room, ordered to get home, pack it all up, and return ASAP...emergency deployment! Did all that, and lit off for Oceana...landed at the field, walked aboard USS Enterprise (the 1st Nuke??). Spads were craned aboard, and we steamed out and southbound for a time...scuttlebutt had it heading for South America...just before crossing the line, though, reversed course, back to Oceana...walked off, A/C were craned off, flew back to JAX...just missed Shellback time. :icon_rage
Almost made Caterpillar Pin...but "chickened out"...story here: (published a few years ago)
http://a4skyhawk.org/2d/tins/tins-glider_ron-marron.htm
Did the "Ditch" thing in Intrepid en route Tonkin Gulf in early 1966...but never even heard of a card to solemnize the occasion...LOL!
On a routine training mission out of JAX, ~1963, got a call on Guard Channel...all Bengal (VA-35 call sign) A/C Buster home...WTH? In the ready room, ordered to get home, pack it all up, and return ASAP...emergency deployment! Did all that, and lit off for Oceana...landed at the field, walked aboard USS Enterprise (the 1st Nuke??). Spads were craned aboard, and we steamed out and southbound for a time...scuttlebutt had it heading for South America...just before crossing the line, though, reversed course, back to Oceana...walked off, A/C were craned off, flew back to JAX...just missed Shellback time. :icon_rage
Almost made Caterpillar Pin...but "chickened out"...story here: (published a few years ago)
http://a4skyhawk.org/2d/tins/tins-glider_ron-marron.htm
Did the "Ditch" thing in Intrepid en route Tonkin Gulf in early 1966...but never even heard of a card to solemnize the occasion...LOL!