Consternation on the bridge as a $45,000 forklift–unchocked–rolled slowly across the flight deck and disappeared over the side and into the grey waters of the Mediterranean. Loose gear heard clattering all over the ship as it heeled hard over into the unexpected tight turn.
Then, after making a 270 degree turn, out to sea again as the sheer cliffs of Corsican rock showed up much too close astern on the radar screens.
Five miles south, the correct entrance is identified and the ship threads its way between cliffs in the deep but narrow S-shaped passage only a mile or so wide. The cottony air clings wetly to your face as you peer down to the bare patch of grey water visible from the “wing” of the bridge.
A fisherman’s dory suddenly pitches into view out of the cottony mist. In the instant before the ship’s huge bow wave sends the little boat tumbling end over end, the Corsican fisherman stands up and shakes his fist at you standing alone on the “starboard wing” of the bridge.
Just as swiftly, the boat blinks from view.
You wonder, did this just happen or did I imagine it? The Rosy reached her rendezvous on time. I’ll never know if the hapless fisherman survived.
…Other memories crowded in as well, such as the time the air group let loose stray cats and dogs on the flight deck of the USS Saratoga as a departing gesture when they relieved us from our Sixth Fleet duties, after sending a clandestine group of sailors over that mingled with our crew in the hopes of stealing our ship’s wheel. They were not successful.
…Steaming through the Straits of Gibraltar at midnight doing 25 knots and the power to all the bridge instruments fails for over 15 minutes–In Dire Straits of Gibraltar.
…A tragic image of an aircraft dribbling over the bow after a “cold cat” shot sent the doomed aircraft and LTJG Williams down the catapult without enough power to get the plane air borne. At breakfast that morning, I had read the message alerting him that was the proud father of a new son.
…On the way from CIC to the bridge to stand yet another watch…looking up at two A4C “Skyhawk” aircraft flying at low speed up the starboard side of the ship prior to landing, when they merged into a large cloud of dirty red-gray smoke with flashing pieces of wings and tails falling out of the cloud…a moment of heart-stopping
“Oh my God,” followed by a sigh of relief as two small parachutes floated down out of the bottom of the cloud.
Joining from “Vultures Row” in applauding the pilots and rescue helicopter crew as they were redeposited on the flight deck, skaky, wet and very glad to be alive.
…Endless games of Acey-Duecy in the Wardroom–Junior officers griping about the chow, the duties to which they were assigned, and the ship in general.
…Endless cups of black coffee that was bad–I mean really bad.
…Standing on the Bridge during the cacophony of a live “firing exercise” with the five-inch gun mounts banging away at a target sleeve being towed by an aircraft at the end of a long wire. As the guns tracked and fired automatically—boom—(pause)—boom—(pause)–the barrels following and leading the target–boom. They finally followed the target over the ship and to my shock I realized the barrels were pointed directly at and into the bridge. At the last instant, with their muzzles smoking and my heart pounding, the guns stopped firing, as they pointed directly at me. I realized, finally, that I had stopped breathing. That’s when I understood the importance of having the “cut out cams” on the guns working properly.
…En route from Naples to a rendezvous in the Western Mediterranean and behind schedule or “PIM,” position and intended movement. Steaming at a fast 25 knots through pea soup fog and navigating only by radar. The Navigator mistook for the entrance of the Straits of Bonifacio what turned out to be a cul de sac—stark cliffs were waiting at the end of the sac. “Right full rudder,” came his yelled command to me, the Officer of the Deck. A glance at the Captain and his nod told me to follow the order. “Right full rudder,” I told the helmsman and ordered the Boatswain’s mate to announce “Stand by for hard turn to starboard,” over the ship’s 1MC or general announcing system. Consternation on the bridge as a $45,000 forklift—unchocked—rolled slowly across the flight deck and disappeared over the side and into the grey waters of the Mediterranean. Loose gear heard clattering all over the ship as it heeled hard over into the unexpected tight turn. Then, out to sea again as the sheer cliffs of Corsican rock showed up much too close astern on the radar screens. Five miles south, the correct entrance is identified and the ship threads its way between cliffs in the deep but narrow S-shaped passage only a mile or so wide. The cottony air clings wetly to your face as you peer down to the bare patch of grey water visible from the bridge. A fisherman’s dory suddenly pitches into view. In the instant before the ship’s huge bow wave send the little boat tumbling end over end—the fisherman stands up and shakes his fist at you standing alone on the “starboard wing” of the bridge. Just as swiftly, the boat blinks from view. You wonder, did this just happen or did I imagine it? The Rosy reached her rendezvous on time.
…Other memories crowded in as well, such as the time the air group let loose stray cats and dogs on the flight deck of the USS Saratoga as a departing gesture when they relieved us from our Sixth Fleet duties—steaming through the Straits of Gibraltar at midnight doing 25 knots and the power to all the bridge instruments fails for over 15 minutes…a tragic image of an aircraft dribbling over the bow after a “cold cat” shot sent the doomed aircraft and pilot down the catapult without enough power to get the plane air borne…looking up at two A4C “Skyhawk” aircraft flying at low speed up the starboard side of the ship prior to landing, when they merged into a large cloud of dirty red-gray smoke with flashing pieces of wings and tails falling out of the cloud…a moment of heart-stopping “Oh my God,” followed by a sigh of relief as two small parachutes floated down out of the bottom of the cloud……Endless games of Acey-Duecy in the Wardroom. Junior officers griping about the chow, the duties to which they were assigned, and the ship in general. Endless cups of black coffee that was bad—I mean really bad.
But let’s face it, the happiest memory of all if we really admit it about any ship board duty is the day you got the nicest present of all—a set of orders off the ship and to shore duty.
© Copyright 2017-2022 BelleAire Press
Other works by Dr. Connors…
Baited Trap, the Ambush of Mission 1890
Now Available As E-Pub
Baited Trap, The Ambush of Mission 1890 is the story of helicopter rescue Mission 1890, one of the most heroic—and costly—air rescues of the Korean War. This harrowing Air Force-Navy mission is explained in compelling detail, creating a detailed personal account of what five incredibly brave and determined Air Force and Navy airmen achieved on June 25, 1952 in the infamous “Iron Triangle.”
The Korean War’s Greatest Love Story
Baited Trap is much more than a heroic war story from the “forgotten war.” It is also the Korean War’s greatest love story, following Wayne and Della Lear, Bobby Holloway, Ron Eaton and Dolly Sharp, and Frankie and Archie Connors as they tried to put their lives and families together even as the Korean War was reaching out to engulf them.
Truckbusters From Dogpatch: the Combat Diary of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing in the Korean War, 1950-1953
Truckbusters from Dogpatch is the most comprehensive Korean War unit history yet prepared–over 700 pages summarizing squadron histories and first person accounts—and includes over 1,000 never before published photographs and images, highlighted by the 8 ½ x 11-inch format.
Arguably, Truckbusters From Dogpatch is the most authoritative unit history ever prepared on the Korean War. In addition to consulting formerly classified squadron histories filed monthly throughout the conflict, the author was in touch with hundreds of veterans of the 18th—pilots and ground crew—whose personal recollections add vivid detail and emotion to the facts recounted in the official documents.
Recent Log Entries by CAPT Connors…
Carrier Captain’s Night Orders: “Call Me…”
After reading these Night Orders you can better appreciate what training, attention to duty, and vigilance was required by underway watchstanders in those days. What has changed since then that has resulted in the recent tragic collisions between U.S. Navy ships and other vessels?
“We do it all!” (USS Saipan LHA-2 motto)
Saipan CO, CAPT Jack Renard, was not exaggerating when he noted that “without exception, SAIPAN is the most versatile instrument of peace or war on the seas today.” Like its motto pointed out, SAIPAN could do it all.