Navy Chief
November 29th, 2014, 12:13
Way back in 1973, not long after I arrived at Patuxent River for duty, I stood my first hangar watch. The ASDO (Assistant Duty Officer) was a ADJ1 named Russell Doane. He told me many sea stories, which of course I found fascinating, my being recently out of boot camp and "A" School.
One such story was about a Naval Aviator, last name of Sears, and (according to Petty Officer Doane) was a direct descendant of the Sears of Sears and Roebuck Co.
Anyway, he said Sears was NOT liked by the flight deck crew, or for that matter, his squadron mates. He was somewhat of a show off. At that time, A-4 Skyhawks were in the fleet. Sears, he said, had a superior attitude, and would oftentimes ignore whatever the Plane Capt. would tell him, even skipping preflighting his aircraft. He was quite arrogant.
So on one occasion, Doane, strapped Sears in the cockpit, aircraft turned, and sent to the cats. Doane was in the catwalk next to the catapult Sears was on. Sears went through the "wipe out", checking flight controls, etc....and turned his head towards the Catapult Officer. Standing up in the catwalk, behind the Catapult Officer, Doane simply held up a large bolt. As Sears saluted, and put his head back for the cat shot, he apparently realized what Doane was holding, but the aircraft was immediately catapulted.
Upon landing, Sears had Doane report to the Ready Room, to explain his actions.
Doane simply replied, "Sir, I just wanted you to know that the bolt was not laying on the flight deck, and in danger of fodding your engine."
Doane told me many other stories, over the time I was at Pax River; many of them about Olongapo, ("Po City") in the Philipines. I almost felt I'd been there, listening to his tales. Alas, I never got the chance, as all the deployments I was on were Med.
NC
One such story was about a Naval Aviator, last name of Sears, and (according to Petty Officer Doane) was a direct descendant of the Sears of Sears and Roebuck Co.
Anyway, he said Sears was NOT liked by the flight deck crew, or for that matter, his squadron mates. He was somewhat of a show off. At that time, A-4 Skyhawks were in the fleet. Sears, he said, had a superior attitude, and would oftentimes ignore whatever the Plane Capt. would tell him, even skipping preflighting his aircraft. He was quite arrogant.
So on one occasion, Doane, strapped Sears in the cockpit, aircraft turned, and sent to the cats. Doane was in the catwalk next to the catapult Sears was on. Sears went through the "wipe out", checking flight controls, etc....and turned his head towards the Catapult Officer. Standing up in the catwalk, behind the Catapult Officer, Doane simply held up a large bolt. As Sears saluted, and put his head back for the cat shot, he apparently realized what Doane was holding, but the aircraft was immediately catapulted.
Upon landing, Sears had Doane report to the Ready Room, to explain his actions.
Doane simply replied, "Sir, I just wanted you to know that the bolt was not laying on the flight deck, and in danger of fodding your engine."
Doane told me many other stories, over the time I was at Pax River; many of them about Olongapo, ("Po City") in the Philipines. I almost felt I'd been there, listening to his tales. Alas, I never got the chance, as all the deployments I was on were Med.
NC