AO3 Smitty's USS Enterprise Logbook

[airdale]

Hello!
Been surfing the web for a while trying to connect with old shipmates...found out that there are a LOT of completely BOGUS sites under the guiise of 'military'....lots of keyboard personas.
Anyway, my name is Lou; known as 'L.A.' in my squadron; VF 102; the DIAMONDBACKS. I repaired/maintained the fire control systems (radar) aboard the F4H Phantom.
We were stationed in NAS Oceana; and became part of the Carrier Air Group 6 aboard the USS Enterprise after her shakedown. She was known then as CVA(N)65. Those white 'slabs' on her island were functional; more on that later.Our pilots landed their Phantoms aboard; we were ferried aboard via COD's.
The magazine Popular Science did a great article on her; calling her the 80,000 ton Hot Rod.
The Cuban Blockade was our first campaign.
Did a few Med cruises; some middle east ops; ran around the Red Sea one night; full tilt boogie; just to piss off the Russians; and did Operation Sea Orbit.
Caught the beginning of Vietnam.
Loved being on the island; watching flight ops; the Spads sitting bunched up; wings folded; engines idling on the aft flightdeck; patiently waiting for the jets to be catapaulted off; clearing the way for their flightdeck take off run.
Lots of memories to share.

USN Aviation AQ2 1961-1965 Shellback

[eric]

Well hello airdale old timmer .I was in the 1st.,divison @ the same time & was in Cuba then on the ship after 3days there. best time i had on the ship .. Good too see an old shipmate still around <<salute>> eric

[airdale]

Hey Eric!
Marine?
Good to hear from you; too.
Gitmo.
White barracks and officer housing cooking in the sun; brown,dried out plants and lawns; stagnant half empty algea filled swimming pools. (Cubans had cut off the water supply; we installed a fresh water plant.)
Kinda quiet; walking the parimeter along the fence; topped with concertina wire; us on one side; Cubans on the other.
Remember when the Big 'E' swung at anchor in the bay; and a loaded Navy tanker came around the point; couldn't stop and lightly T Boned the side of the 'E'while in full astern? Scratched our paint; but it folded up his foc'sle a bit'.
The Big "E".
Even though I wasn't ships company; I was proud to be aboard.

[airdale]

A little more about CAG 6 during my time aboard the Big "E"...

It was made up of the following aircraft squadrons-

VF 102; F4H Phantom; the Diamondbacks
VF 33; F8U Crusader; (last of the gunfighters) the Starfighters
VA 65; A4 Skyhawk (scooter) the Black Lancers
VA 65; A1 Skyraider; (the Spad); the Flying Tigers
VA 66; A4 Skyhawk; the Waldos
VA 76; A4 Skyhawk; the Spirits
VFP 62 (det. 65); RF8 Crusader (photo recon); the Fighten' Photo
VAH 7; A5 Vigilante (heavy attack); the Peacemakers
VAW 12 (det. 65); WF 2 Tracker (early warning); the "Willie Fudds"
HU 2 (det. 65) S3H Sea King (helos); the Fleet Angles.

Interesting factiod:
While I was aboard as a 'Phantom Phixer'; so was John McCain. Yeah; the future Senator!
He was a pilot with VA 65; a Spad jockey.
He also had something to do with the '70's flight deck fire; but that's another topic.
Did the Cuban Missle Crises; Med Cruises and Operation Sea Orbit with us.

[eric]

oh how i do remmber all of it .started in Cuba & the med and all the fun we had on the ship .The great one she is the best. hope she stays in service for a while after the refit

[airdale]

As reported by the Navy Times; Adm. Gary Roughhead (CNO) is pushing for decomissioning the Big "E" in 2012; and admits the process will be a long one (8 nuclear reactors to shut down and safely dispose of; for one).
She will be replaced by the Gerald R. Ford.
She is currently the oldest commisioned ship on active duty in the fleet; and the longest serving aircraft carrier.
Old Gal.
Like all of her 'old' aircraft; ship's company; and career; she will be replaced.
She will be in the history books; us "old timers'" forgotten; A few of her "old" aircraft will survive; parked; engineless; in front of the local VFW or mounted on a pylon in a park; like a bugs on pins in a high school science project.
Got a little off topic here; us "old timers" tend to wander.
Anyway; this is a great site for those who were (are) a part of the legacy of the Big "E".
I am proud to have been a 'part' of the CAG6 airgroup in her youth.

[Carol Vogel]

Which is why we need to make sure she is made into a museum, I think.
_________________
Proud Navy Mom X 2

[airdale]

I just can't picture the Big "E" as a 'museum' ship...she is just to damn big!
It would be like like establishing a small city dedicated only to itself.
I don't think the general public would be inclined to visit; better to go to Disneyland or Vagas.
But you do have a point:
In the '60,s; we in America; and the worlds population, were wrapped up in the Cold War;with both sides eyeing the nuclear trigger. Spooky times.
Then along came the Big "E"; the biggest; baddest; fasted and most technologically advanced ship in the world; and WE built it.
Not only that; it's hanger and flight deck held the best of purpose built aircraft; among them the world's finest and best high altitude interceptor; the F4H Phantom.
From my own experiences (and reception) on shore leave; all over the world; WE were on top of the world.
During Operation Sea Orbit (1964) our reception in Sydney, Austrailia, when Vietnam was heating up; confirmed that.
We were the 'beacon' in the dark.
Things have changed.
I think a specific 'wing' or sepperate complex at the Smithsonian; dedicated to this time in our history; focused on the Big 'E and her
airgroup; would serve better to remind the general public of what "role" America played..
There it is.
I'll jump down off of my soapbox now.
After all; this topic is about CAG6 aboard the Big "E" in the '60,s.
I tend to get all wound up with certain things!

[D. Simmons]

OK how many have a P 38 can opener from the old days of C-rations? I still have the first one I got. I buy them and give them to old vets. It always gets a big response. You can buy them on line. Google P38 can opener. It is a thing of our time.

Dennis

[airdale]

P38 can opener???
I think you posted in the wrong topic; but I'll respond:
Can't remember ever being issued one with meals; or ever using one while I was in the Navy.
Today;I think bagged MRE's and pull top cans are provided; no P 38's.
Could be wrong; dunno.
If you do buy a P38 on the Internet or anywhere else; there is a good chance it is imported or made in China.
Now,THAT is a sign of our times!
Meanstwhile; back to CAG6 VF102 etc. etc....

[airdale]

Woof!
Got a little 'flack' in my email; F4B vs. F4H Fhantoms.
Listen up....
I worked on the F4H; it's the one with the black nose cone (rubberized coating), which housed the Ratheon radar system.
But the big visual difference is the "bubble"`under the chin (nose cone).
This housed the AN/AAA4 heat seeker...it's job was to take over if the main radar was 'confused' by chaff or was jamed. Worked like the guidence system in the Sidewinder.
It was made by the American Boxcar Company.
We had congresstional "pork" back then, too!
Hope I cleared up the F4B vs. F4H tizzy.

[D. Simmons]

excuse me air dale, I did not realize that this is your personal blog. Try a Google, US Shelby Co. P-38, during your time on Enterprise you got one when you went to general quarters. Oh that's right, you were not ships company. Perhaps you can find a place on the web for your unit.

[airdale]

Sorry; but I was never "issued" a P38, muchless a tin of spam and some crackers when we went on GQ aboard the Big E.
We were sealed up in our shops or berths during those drills.
Just trying to keep this topic on course; D. Simmons.
Nothing personal about it.

[D. Simmons]

I'm talking about real general quarters, not drills, like fire and over seas readiness inspections, crashes, you do not have a clue. Please do dot respond with your BS.

[airdale]