USS Kitty Hawk '70-'71 Cruise (launch/recovery)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ธ.ค. 2009
- Edited film from USS Kitty Hawk deployment 1970-71:
excerpts from full 36 min. home-made movie by John Blandford,
VA-195 pilot. Launch and recovery during combat operations.
I was on this deployment as the Flight Deck Maintenance Chief for RVAH-6 the Vigilante Squadron. We had six RA-5C Viggies and the were brand new aircraft that we had received from the North American factory just prior to deployment. The Squadron was home based at NAS Albany Georgia before this cruise. I served in eight aircraft carriers during my 26 plus years. This "Hawk" deployment was the best of my career! Our pilots were second to none and our Maintenance crew was the best! aur maintenance guys achieved 31 consecutive sorties without a miss. All flights were combat sorties over Vietnam and Laos and reconnaissance sorties over North Vietnam.
WOW, great video! I was plane captain on Fieldgoal 605, 156627 RA5C with RVAH-6 on this cruise. Brought back memory's and it even has that distinctive radar buzz. Thanks for sharing, glad I found it.
What did you do on this tour? What was your job like? And what do the abbreviations mean? Very cool, BTW
A-7’s, F-4’s, and an H-2 spotted. All some of my favorite aircraft. The Navy was phasing all of them out when I enlisted in 1990.
There was also an A-3 & an A-5 shown as well .
@@dennishayes65 yup, I definitely saw an a-5 vigilante and the a-3 that we called the"whale" . But I think the official name was sky warrior, not sure.
My squadron was attached to the Indy cv-62 in early 80's. I still remember seeing the a-3 during my first work ups or cruise. I was in f-14 squadron and asked other troubleshooter, "wth is that!?". He said "the whale". I couldn't believe they used a special harness to launch it.
After that work ups or cruise, never saw it again. I guess it was phased out along with the f-4.
I've never seen a-5 in operation, I always loved its looks though.
I can smell the jet exhaust and cat steam through my monitor!
Mr. Blandford. I served during this deployment - V-2 arresting gear, various task's which included engine operation and tail hook runner on this magnificent carrier during this deployment. Only took me 50 yrs to stumble upon this. Many great memories! Thank you Sir!
Bill, Thanks for the note. It's you guys who made it all possible. We all trusted the deck crews, the ships
personnel who basically made it all happen. The Kitty Hawk was a great ship......looking back I have
memories that never leave me. Thanks for you and your shipmates professionalism......John B. (retired from Western and Delta Airlines 2003....in Hawaii now)
I was with V-2 Arresting Gear from 68-70, I was supposed to make part of this cruise but the Navy was cutting manpower so I received a 3-month early out. I left the ship on Nov 4 and I believe you guys left on 7 Nov. I recognize a few of the guys working the deck!!
I was in 4th Division on this cruise. Loved Olongapo City.
I have some old photos.
I prefer to say I survived O city. WE A GRAND IN THE KITTY FOR THE GUY THAT JUMPED IN THE RIVER! NO TAKERS? LOL!
@@michaelding9182 you mean shit river, lol
Mr. Blanford, WOW, I was on that cruise,served in AIMD dept.ejoyed that time of my life,watched many a take offs, and
landings.Got catapulted off in May"71" to leave the navy.Was master at arms for awhile,never will forget olongapo .P.I.
I was also on that cruise. IC3, saw many air ops as electronics repair on the bridge as my duty station.
I was an AO3 with VF-213 during wespac 70-71. Brought back memories. thanks to John Blandford
I was part of the original crew at Camden shipbuilding in NJ. Was aboard Kitty Hawk 1/1960-8/1962. Best years spent in the Navy.
I joined in '87 but you served on a newer ship than me. I was on the USS Coral Sea. Older but bolder.
Mr. Blandford, I was an AK in 195 from 72-75. This was a trip down memory lane to the max. Great shots of the "Chippys"
My father worked on this ship from Dec 56 to completion in 1960 in Camden N J. Thanks for posting.Impressive ship.
thats tough work
Loved it because was able to see the A-7, A-5, A-3 and the F-4, all legendary AC!
That was my life at one time.
Great memories.......thx
right on shipmate.
I went back to the cruise book. A good friend of mine was a plane captain in VA195. Jim Gruber
Great show I was in VAQ133 ON THIS CRUISE....
Dwight......thanks, if the tankers weren't there we would have lost a whole lot more aircraft....thanks for your service and efforts !! John
I was on the Saratoga cva 60 as a yellow shirt flight deck v-1 div. 1960-1962 used to fly with my div. commander on a f8u crusader.sometimes it was awesome. these videos bring back lots of memories.
In 90 -94 I served in VFA - 27 out of NAS Lemoore CA . We were transitioning form A-7 to FA - 18 . I did a West Pac deployment on the Kitty Hawk after she came out of Dry-dock. Watching this video of the Kitty Hawk was amazing . I was born in 1971 and 20 years later after this video I was a plane captain working this flight deck. I'm 50 years old now. Time sure flies .
Fox, Thanks for the note....we too were at NAS Lemoore as you probably know...crappy war but squadron was great, mostly in Laos going after NVA.....Ho Chi Minh Trail, lots of trucks, truck parks.....supported Lam Son 719.....highlight of
cruise was support of ARVN and US helos who
took the brunt of the losses at that time. P.S. I'm now 77 but remember those days clearly.
Bro I was a plane captain for VA27 fr. Lemoore CA. I went 3 cruise's with 27 with A7E aircraft
Wow, very cool! So interesting to see the flight deck from that era when F-4's and A-7's were active.
This was real combat missions these pilots were undertaking. Note on the recovery there ordinance is gone. These pilots were facing anticraft and surface to air missiles. Everyone on that ship was supporting this mission. I was proud to have served on two attack carriers during the Vietnam War
Big aircraft slamming on to the deck. It's amazing to watch them in the groove, they just glide on in
I have done that many times!
Great to see the A-7's of VA-195 in action. Moneymaker, Hausmann, Mahoney Cmdr.Cotton and Bose... Those were the days.
Mick Sanger I was with them from 99 to 2003 when they flew the F/A-18C. Now they fly the super Hornet e model
Old men have old ways. LOL!
Wow! This is some really excellent footage. Beats any documentary I've ever seen, and there don't seem to be too many about CV ops during Vietnam, at least on YT. Thanks!
Excellent video, just not enough Vigilante. My Dad was XO and CO of RVAH--6 on that cruise.
Thanks for posting.
Corsairs, Phanthoms and Vigilantes, Oh My! With just a pinch of Hawkeye thrown in. No doubt bringing it "North". Excellent, historic film. Thank you for sharing this.,
Ya know , u just hit the nail on the head ! Luv ya , Bud !
Thanks bud ! You're vid really made my day !!
71-72 CAT ONE ON KITTY HAWK. Lots of action.during Easter VC offensive build up, we launched 2126 planes in 23 days. Balls to the wall. Great ship and crew. A BEE MIKE GEARY. God bless our military
Michael, Great ship, and you guys running the Cats were awesome....thanks for your dedication ! John
Great footage, thank you for posting it.
After the explosions and fire in Vietnam, the oiler Tide Serge refueled us for our trip home.
Thanks for the look back.
Kitty Hawk CV63, great ship. I was on Constellation CV64 77-81 (your TWIN Sister Ship). You guys were ALWAYS on time, on station, etc. YOU GUYS ROCKED. Thank You for the Video. KITTY HAWK, GREAT SHIP AND CREW. The other ships I liked, ENTERPRISE CVN65, CORAL SEA CV43 and MIDWAY CV41. The only ship WE HATED, RANGER CV61, POS
WAS ANYONE ON THE HAWK-V-2 BOWCATS 74-78
? DING ME PLZ!
My enlistment ran out halfway through the WestPac cruise on the Connie in ‘77. I was in VA-146!
great video! I was on this cruise as one of five who took care of ship's C1A. Several shots of plane in this video. Thanks for the memories!
I was air crew of our C1A #146052
Thank You John for posting. I served on your sister ship Constellation CV64 / 6 years later. I have had the opportunity twice to be on 63. Thank you so much for posting this video. Our ships were identical so I know Kitty 63 and Connie 64 went through the same exercises. Kitty was a great, ship, just like Connie. Always ontime, relieving other ships and doing our duty. Once in a while I would hear people make the stupid saying ______ Kitty and I never did like this at all and would get in their face. I will always defended Kitty against all enemies foreign and domestic. Kitty and Connie were fine ships. Here are the ships I personally give the outstanding mark to me while I was active were: 41, 43, 63, 64, 65. That's all I have known, from 77-81. There was only one ship that EVERYONE HATED, 61, that was a POS. I have mentioned this many times how RANGER 61 was always the failure. Not once but many times RANGER 61 failed to do their duty. If anyone wants the details, send me an email. bobbycv64@yahoo.com
The Navy put 800, not 400 boilers in Ranger, not her fault.
Great video!
I was on this cruise RA5C RVAH-6 AQB-2
Thank you John
To this day, the thought of landing an F4 on a carrier deck still amazes the shit out of me!
👍👍👍
I watched the Kitty Hawk pass thru the Sydney Heads on her last voyage a few years back when I lived there...🇺🇸
l was on the USS CORAL SEA - CVA 43 FLIGHT DECK CAT 3 , THEN CAT 2 ,1972/ 1975 TEX . GREAT MEMORIES. LAUNCH ALERT FIGHTER 🤠
I have lots of cat shots, once of the angle deck no cat.
I was on the coral sea in 71-72 in IM3
Love the soundtrack .
RAW POWER .
mind blowing footage - love the hum from the ship's radar
Pure chaos at the same time pure choreographed dance. The Yin Yang of flight deck ops. Everything at the extreme limits of balance………..
Fabulous! I was an AO in VF-114 on this cruise.
Brings back a lot of memories...I was a Storekeeper down in the ships supply dept on the Kitty Hawk the later half of "71 and all of the '72. Westpac cruise. Would go up on the tower to watch flight opps when not working. Always exciting to see the launch/recovery. It took a lot of organization to make this all happen.
9ol
I have that patch.
I was an IC3 and stood many electronic repair watches on the bridge during air ops.
Fantastic
I was on a carrier during the Vietnam War. Some of these combat planes like these came back all shot up and still landed. How they did in the dark of night is unbelievable. Those boys had guts!
My grandpa was on the coral sea in the mid-late 60s. His favorite as the Phantom. Sadly he died a few weeks ago. I plan on building a model of the CS to honor him.
Had a AMH buddy in VA-195 I think on the next 72 WestPac. V.K Walker. Me, PR2 in VA-122 A7-E's. Also spent time on the Hawk in 72. Also aboard Lexington CV-16, Midway CVA-41, Coral Sea CVA-43, and Constellation CVA-64. Thanks for the memories and your service sir!
Patrick..I instructed at VA-122 mid '71 thru Nov 72..then got out.. We would've overlapped....maybe...thx for comment...don't thank me, thank you sir for doing a job that all pilots depended on....and saved a lot of guys...John
@@johnblandford Yes we would of sit! Obviously, I worked with many pilots. My memories of names isn't the best anymore. I probably spoke with you in person. Thanks again shipmate. Best wishes.
Exciting to watch!
Bring s Back Memories of the good old Day 's.i was on the USS Franklin D Roosevelt 1976.I used to Help work AWP was a E-3..⚓⚓⚓⚓🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷🇱🇷
Looks like fun. I was there on land in 70-71.
I was VA192 tad to GSE my regards to ALL who served. 2 months on flight deck most incredible experience ! Left in Sasbo end of enlistment!
👏👏👏 thanks!!!
it is a great video and appreciate our men in the navy, army, airforce and marines thank you all
That was great! Made my day! I love those times because of all the dissimilar aircraft, nowadays there are mostly variants of the F-18 Hornets on board, back then you had RA-5C's, F-4's, A-7's, E2-C's etc etc.
Thanks, Traveler.....appreciate it!
My last tour in Nam. Was in the Power and Rewind shop.
Well that brings back memories. That RF bleed through from the ship's search radar brought back the butterflies in my gut that I would get as a nugget J.O.
SPN 41
Man I had that RF on all of my reel to reel tapes wondered what’s wrong with this music. Worked bow and aft cats 68-71
audio and video surprisingly good for being this old! Awesome stuff!
Awesome 👍
John, AE2 Bench here, I hope you will comment on my post. During this cruise I debriefed you in the ready room about a gripe on one of the birds. Someone mentioned that an A3 took the barrier but it was actually an E2C. The sailor who jumped over the side was in the brig at the time getting exercise in the hanger bay, It was during the day. Ironically he was attached to our Squadron, I wouldn't mention his name out of respect for the dead, but he was an AMS3. I, also have a home movie of a bombing run that was taken by LCDR Mixson. I never said or showed it to anyone because at the time the HUD Heads Up Display was Classified. I hope my post sheds some added light on 1970 -71 cruise.
John, Thanks for the comment.....I do remember the E2 ! As I remember it, after arrestment, had a left drift on landing, and dropped a gear off the
side. Crane came out and removed the E2.....and landings continued.
I think it was the first day of combat hops for us. I was the junior pilot in the squadron so was doing the ready room duty. Does that sound close to right? Been a long time !! I just checked the cruise book and there you are......and I remember you well. We had a great squadron......thanks so much for the note....stay safe and well, John
@@johnblandford I thought it was a barber pole on the nose wheel indicator. Did you happen to see the F4 re-spot when the yellow shirt was making a turn to park the first F4 after recovery? The starboard main mount slipped into the cat walk with the port main mount on the flight deck. I thought the plane captain was gonna leap over the side. Luckily he didn't. Well, they let him get out before they pushed the Phantom over the side. What state do you live in? I'm in Charleston SC. I'd love to reminisce with you on the phone. Let me Know? I see that in the cruise book we're both on the same page.
i OPENED A DOOR, i SHOULD NOT HAVE AND CRUNCHED A TAIL OF A e2c. You were there!
I was in VA192 during the 1970-71 cruise as a plane captain on plane 302. I was a AQ3. I remember as if it was yesterday about the kid who went overboard. If I remember and I may be wrong, it was during flight ops and the Kitty Hawk couldn’t stop so our escorts looked for him and the word was they couldn’t find him. Thank you for bringing up this meaningful memory.
the vigilante was a pretty big plane for an aircraft carrier
I was deployed to the Kitty Hawk as part of the Naval Security Group from the Philippines from Nov 70 to April 71. It was my honor to serve on this great carrier with my fellow Navy mates.
She was fresh out of overhaul at Bremerton, if I remember my childhood correctly.
I was on the Hawk for three year with two combat tours in Vietnam. We called it shitty kitty but I loved the duty and damn good chow. Made lot of friends some I stay in touch with but others gone there separate ways
I was also on her for two cruises. 70-71, and 71-72. IC3, spent many hours watching flight ops from the bridge as electronics repair.
At 3:43 is the A5 Vigilante Aircraft.
Yes it is the vigi. you can even find a diecast model of the plane. Not exactly the same side number but pretty close.
www.hobbymastercollector.com/HA4701.html
Outstanding video. Wish there had been a few A1 Skyraiders.
We were on the U.S.S. Hancock with our squadron VAQ-129 at the same time. VAQ-129 were A-3.
wow, those guys were pretty close to that A-7's intake...amazing how close these guys really get to the machines when they're running and they still keep their heads on their shoulders 100%. Some very very good footage I have to say
We never worried about those things back then ! We just -------- did our jobs . Why , -_------------ because we loved you all back here in the U S of A ! And we'd do it again today!
Tragically in 1972, we lost a new flight deck director that had been onboard the Kitty Hawk less than a month and turned his back on an A-7 that was at full throttle before launch and got sucked into the intake. The pilot was unable to see it happen, but the engine surged so he shut it down. Sadly, the flight deck director didn't survive. The plane was taken down to the hanger deck, the engine was dropped so the corpsmen could remove what was left of the director and encased the engine into a container with a warning message stating what was to be expected to the person/s that would be opening the container at some future date.
LET ME SPEAK,NO DIS. WHAT TJEY DO ON DECK NOW IS A JOKE! YOU KIDS CANT STAND IN A REAL ABE'S SHOES!
@@xlte I was a plane captain on an A7. One time during a pre launch turn up two plane handlers were playing around the intake, one on one side the other on the other side and I noticed one of them had their safety googles pull off their head towards the intake. They were that stupid and that close. Luckily the cat officer and I both saw them and went over to them. Even with all the plane turn up noise I heard the cat officer jump their rear ends. I had both ear plugs and Mickey Mouse ears and I heard what he told them. Very scared because I probably would have to help clean out the what was left of the body. The turbine blades weren’t that far in.
A-7D corsair, I love the best!.
This brings back a lot of memories From the Saratoga and the Kennedy.
I loved working on the F4 ejection seats,1971-75 (VF-33)USS INDEPENDENCE
Jeff....thanks for all you guys !! Watched a friend off the angle cat one night in an F-4 get a bridle slap on buddy store ......huge fire ball....crew ejected about a mile out......black nite....but like day with the fire ball....seat worked perfect for both ......I was next to go behind him....picked up successfully.....took so long we had to cancel launch........thanks for all the men working on the planes and deck.....😬🥵😃
@@johnblandford we lost two aircraft during my time ,all four aircrew ejected safely,and took us to the officers club that same night.I told the story of both incidents to Martin Baker and a month later got a very nice medallion in recognition of being a successful seat maintainer
The good old A-7... not a sexy or glamorous airplane, but it was tough and reliable - it never broke down!
We’re getting a lot of this for dcs soon
Hear that raspy hum at 0:04? That's the ship's air search radar inducing an EMF wave as it sweeps past. I used to listen to that hum every 45 seconds when I was working the flight deck of the Kitty's sister, the USS Ranger (I was an AX with VS-21, so my cranial had a microphone and headset).
That radar used to play hell with the sensitive voltmeters we used to calibrate the autopilot computers.
My brother Kevin was on Kitty Hawk 71-74...westpac cruise
Great video ! Thank You for your service !
This "Kitty Hawk" was born December 17, 1970... hence the nickname I was given by former Navy & Air Force pilots I've worked with.
Air-Missile Div,..70-71,...loved it,..
I was on the USS Hancock on Yankees Station '70 - '71, The Kitty Hawk was one of 3 Carriers on Station at that time. I saw her off in the distance. We had A-4's and F-8's on the Hancock. One day an A-7 from the Kitty Hawk landed on our ship, guys rushed toward the plane and put their own squadrom stickers on the nose of the A-7, so when he landed back on the Kitty Hawk he would probably get Razzed. LOL.😄😄😄
He said his TACAN was not working, or he could have been a Hot Dog like Maverick.
That was one of VA 192 birds, I was in that squadron and a plane captain on 302. The pilots name was LT Dick Knee, when he got back to the Kitty Hawk, they gave him the nickname Trick Knee. The plane had every color painted on it you could imagine. What was funny, I don’t think the Hancock had an angle deck and the Kitty Hawk did so how did he land on the wrong ship?
@@ridgerunner471 Yes we had an Angle Deck on the Hancock 70-71. I was change years before 1970
@@antoniomik100 sorry about the mistake, I wasn’t sure if the Hancock did or didn’t. I knew it was one of the oldest ships on line.
By the way, my experience with the younger pilots was that they were a little arrogant and like Maverick. Some of them we’re Academy grads and walked with a bit of a swagger. The older pilots tended to be good guys and easy to deal with.
A7s are awesome aircraft
We would never step in front of an A7 or an F8
I used to watch her come home to San Diego always thought she was my ship I was just a little kid
First action video I’ve ever seen of an A5
A huge THANK to those who served in the Vietnam war.
Van, Thank you for that, being Veteran's Day, it means a lot to all of us, John
I was with vfa-195 from 99 to 2003. Our 03 birthing was underneath the landing area aft of cats 3 and 4. That was a bad time to work nights when you had flight Ops during the day especially with the top rack.
Daniel Dunlap. I was on the Saratoga,and our birthing was underneath the catapults. Felt like a bomb going off everytime they launched. No sleep.
I was in 192 during that cruise and our birthing was under the arresting cables as well. I was a plane captain and luckily was on deck during flight ops so didn’t have to deal with the noise. Unfortunately I once got the stomach flue and was sick for over a week and didn’t get much rest.
@@ridgerunner471 Good ol' gastroenteritis. We probably saw each other quite often then. I remember you guys had a berthing up there. I was in the line shack from '99 to late '01, and in the airframes shop after that.
@@danieldunlap4077 sorry to say, I was in VA 192 on board the Kitty Hawk from ‘70 to ‘71 and worked in the line shack but our birthing compartment was up there next to 195.
I was there 84-86. DC/R division.
Excelente documento! y pensar que nací mientras se realizaba este crucero (Mayo 1971), 40 años atrás!
I was an SAR HMM255 Corpsman. Still a sailor.
any footage from the mid way or coral sea out there?? A-1 Skyraiders in action on the deck
Yes, I will look.
Ops/Intel Yeoman in ready room with VA-195 68-72. Remember Lt. Blandford...
I was on this cruise RVAH-6
Me too. Heavy-6 CNI shop under ATC Carr.
USS Kitty Kat!!
Brings back alot of memories, I was there on CVA-63 from 66 to 69, DC 3, I got to know a few pilots. CO squadron VF 213 CDR. Ted Steele was a really cool guy, Lt.jg Tom Mills same also. What they did was very courageous ad brave. I take my hat off to them.
There are many videos recorded like this that have been replaced with terrible BGM, but it is really good to keep the jet sound at the time of shooting.
Try to remember this was 1970, there were no cameras with sound recorders,
I had to dub all the sounds; this is a home movie, not a news reel.
@@johnblandford Hey, AE2 Bench again, What was the story about the 2 Jade Elephants?
I was in S-6 division on this cruise
Mike, Thanks for your service, really appreciate it, John
Amazing planes American power, hard to believe 50 years ago love those airplanes if I were rich I put it the A-7 or the F- 4 phantom on my backyard
Did the F-4 at 8:26 take an AA shell in the vertical? Or was the rudder turned and the gap letting the sunlight through.
Bluenose352........No, must have been the lighting, thx for watching, john
johnblandford You're right, John. Thank you for your service. Welcome home.
I think my dad is in some of this. He was a green shirt on the Kitty Hawk in '70 - '71
Mr Ken..if he was a green shirt...he was in line division and/ or checkers..that was my division...thx for the note...few years late for me to reply...great group of guys...John
love watching these wonderful ships in action
No A-6's that day, great vid nonetheless
SSUUPPEERR
Looks much the same as my '81 cruise on KITTY HAWK, albeit w/ Tomcats sans Phantoms. A-5 was still there as were the A-3s.
Chester, thanks for note.....any relation ??
3:37 what aircraft is this?
Edit: It's the A-5 Vigilante.
there flight deck footage from the Ranger, America or Forrestal??
Kitty Hawk only
I also was on this cruise. G div.
What was this shot on? It looks like VHS but i dont know if cameras were being sold that early in the 1970s, wild!
Desert....had a hand gripped Super-8 film camera.(1970)..Sony I think....as time went on edited full 40 minute movie onto VHS....then in 90's, I think, downloaded using Apple Movie to digital....had original movie here, but was told because I had protected music, I had to remove movie...Am now in process of shortening movie with actual combat footage...over targets mostly in Laos going after trucks, etc...hope to get it back on maybe by summer...will be about 36 min. and great music from back then.!....Thx for asking, John
@@johnblandford Thank you for preserving this footage! I'm also curious if you still have the super 8 reels as they can be scanned for a much better picture. Unfortunately it seems a lot of people tossed their 8mm after converting it to VHS which, in hindsight wasn't as future proof.