Well three more Ready Reserve ships have left for across the Bay leaving only three. Strange looking around on the flight deck now. Without the Cape Henry we now have an unobstructed view south all the way down to San Jose so to speak. Can definitely see the San Mateo Bridge and even the Dumbarton on a very clear day. Turning down the road for the Hornet you can see the Hornet immediately now.
Only had 4 hours today because of picking my son up from school. With the high winds spent the time on something familiar to many. Sailors man your brooms. Swept down O11, all around the Island on O7, port side O6 and O5, starboard side O6, inside Nav Bridge, and port side forward gun sponson. O11 and O7 are always interesting as there must be some carnivorous birds in the area. Find, torsos, wings, legs mostly striped to the bones.
We also had a TV production on board for Netflix. What I don't know so will have to wait and see.
Learned that our F-8 pilot, Willie Sharp got out of ICU where he was for 7-8 days in two hospitals. Had a shoulder infection, a hip infection and knee infection. How I don't know. However, I learned Willie's history as a Lt. flying the F-11 Tiger and F-8 Crusader. Got his wings in 1964 and was flying over North Vietnam in 1965. He was shot down that year, in an F-8, and the story you turn up is that it was over Tonkin Gulf. No, he was shot down over Haiphong and parachuted into the harbor. Once down the ever present junk came by and grabbed him. Two men on the junk with one having a rifle. He motioned for Willie's service revolver which he handed over. Meanwhile, due to his mayday, a couple of Spads appeared and glided up behind the junk. When they passed the junk the fellow with the rifle started to shoot at them. Willie pulled out his second gun (his XO suggested to wives that their men would do well to have a second gun just in case) and shot the guy with the rifle. The other fellow had the service revolver and he turned to shoot at Willie. Bang, nothing. Second bang, nothing again. Willie turns to fire and the man jumps overboard. The XO told his men to keep one or two empty rounds at the top. Mainly for guys screwing around in their state rooms. That was interesting since the XO must have seen some accidents. So Willie kept two empty rounds in his gun.
Now with the two Spads flying around the junk Willie goes back into the water and gets in his life raft. He paddles out towards the sea as a rescue helo comes in to get him. He is picked up up the line but they don't have time to haul him all the way in as the helo hopscotches away from the harbor. Once clear he is pulled aboard. Willie has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 12 Air Medals, Purple Heart (shoulder damaged during ejection), and Navy Commendation with Combat V Medal. His later life was spent with United Airlines and he was Captain of the Year in 1999. Willie is now 79.
Only had 4 hours today because of picking my son up from school. With the high winds spent the time on something familiar to many. Sailors man your brooms. Swept down O11, all around the Island on O7, port side O6 and O5, starboard side O6, inside Nav Bridge, and port side forward gun sponson. O11 and O7 are always interesting as there must be some carnivorous birds in the area. Find, torsos, wings, legs mostly striped to the bones.
We also had a TV production on board for Netflix. What I don't know so will have to wait and see.
Learned that our F-8 pilot, Willie Sharp got out of ICU where he was for 7-8 days in two hospitals. Had a shoulder infection, a hip infection and knee infection. How I don't know. However, I learned Willie's history as a Lt. flying the F-11 Tiger and F-8 Crusader. Got his wings in 1964 and was flying over North Vietnam in 1965. He was shot down that year, in an F-8, and the story you turn up is that it was over Tonkin Gulf. No, he was shot down over Haiphong and parachuted into the harbor. Once down the ever present junk came by and grabbed him. Two men on the junk with one having a rifle. He motioned for Willie's service revolver which he handed over. Meanwhile, due to his mayday, a couple of Spads appeared and glided up behind the junk. When they passed the junk the fellow with the rifle started to shoot at them. Willie pulled out his second gun (his XO suggested to wives that their men would do well to have a second gun just in case) and shot the guy with the rifle. The other fellow had the service revolver and he turned to shoot at Willie. Bang, nothing. Second bang, nothing again. Willie turns to fire and the man jumps overboard. The XO told his men to keep one or two empty rounds at the top. Mainly for guys screwing around in their state rooms. That was interesting since the XO must have seen some accidents. So Willie kept two empty rounds in his gun.
Now with the two Spads flying around the junk Willie goes back into the water and gets in his life raft. He paddles out towards the sea as a rescue helo comes in to get him. He is picked up up the line but they don't have time to haul him all the way in as the helo hopscotches away from the harbor. Once clear he is pulled aboard. Willie has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 12 Air Medals, Purple Heart (shoulder damaged during ejection), and Navy Commendation with Combat V Medal. His later life was spent with United Airlines and he was Captain of the Year in 1999. Willie is now 79.
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