Stories from one strike fighter squadron

[army198527]

Now I want to start this off by saying sorry for posting so much in one night.

 

I have found a app to reconnect me to this grew community, so i apologize if I am annoying anyone.

 

 

 

Now to the topic here and my last new topic.

 

 

 

Now since I love this community I have got thinking about a new idea for chit chat with this topic as a way to see what life was like in a squadron. I realized I have had a fortunate stint in naval aviation and got to see alot, be apart of alot, and do alot of awesome things, and thought sharing these stories once a day or every other day would be a way to share this life with you all.

 

 

 

Before i take it on my self to do this I just want to see your alls input and the admins input on doing a topic like this, to make sure it's ok and to see if you all would even be interested.

 

 

 

Also before I would start this, I would like to share a little background of myself to you all. I am in my late 20's, I enlisted in to the navy at 18, the rate I chose was aviation machinist mate, (power plants/fuel systems) or in lame terms jet engine mechanic. I started my career at great mistakes I mean great lakes naval recruit training command, I went on from here to Tinker AFB Oklahoma for initial jet strand maintenance, I graduated 2nd in my class of 33. I received my choice of orders for being in the top 5 percent of my class and I chose VF32 Virginia Beach at NAS Oceana which was at that time still flying 14's.

 

 

 

When I arrived I was immediately sent to C school for specific for F18E/F "Super Hornet", I graduated 9 weeks later and went on to aviation fire fighting school, fuel contamination school, and other assortment of schools.

 

 

 

I made 3 cruises, I am plane captain certified (had my name on my bird) and I took care of that aircraft on the ground. AC107 tail number, I was an aviation air warfare specialist, trouble shooter (white jersey and float coat) and in my later years aircrew certified.

 

 

 

I switched to the army around 2010/2011 for personal reasons we will touch on later if you all are interested in this idea.

 

 

 

Main reason, like I stated above, just to share the life that was aviation. To tell you all of the sacrifices made, the guys that did it and still are out there as we speak on flight lines/flight decks around the world, and to share a little bit of myself with you all. Look forward in hearing back from you all.

[FraserNZL]

Cool good stuff bud. Would like to hear a bit more about your stint in the army and from other people to. Good idea

[WildBillKelsoe]

We'd be so much interested. Just remember to stay off politics, religion, etc...

[army198527]

Will do and ill kick this off tomorrow and Fraser I agree, others should jump in on this as well and tell their stories, would put a face on squadrons.

[Aginor]

I like that idea!

[Flagrum]

That is a great idea / thread. Imho it is always interesting to learn about other people'S lives and even more so if it comes to anything directly or indirectly related to our all hobby.

[ttaylor0024]

Now since I love this community I have got thinking about a new idea for chit chat with this topic as a way to see what life was like in a squadron. I realized I have had a fortunate stint in naval aviation and got to see alot, be apart of alot, and do alot of awesome things, and thought sharing these stories once a day or every other day would be a way to share this life with you all.

 

Would love to hear stories and talk to you sometime, my OCS app for SNA is in and awaiting selection, so I would like to know how I could make life better everyone when I'm in and a part of a squadron.

[army198527]

So I assume I shall start this off at the beginning weeks with my first command which would be VF-32 swordmen call sign gypsy. I was only a E3 at the time and fresh out of F18 E/F specific school, but here was the first humorous thing that took place, I was checking in to VF not a VFA squadron and what that meant for me was no immediate job, they were still a tomcat squadron but some how my orders directed me there. The LT on shift looked confused upon checking my orders. I was being stared at, like I was the enemy/ odd creature from space.

 

 

 

Now the thing with tomcat guys was that they hated 18 guys, we were the girly jet that was phasing them out of existence, (good video that depicts this is a scene in Fighter Fling 2004 navy video on YouTube, check it out, great video of the tomcats last year and they diss the F18 epically in it lol)

 

 

 

The reason for the phase out was for every 1 hour the tomcat flew it took 30 man hours of maintenance, many did not know that.

 

 

 

But back to the ASDO checking me in, he signed my papers, welcomed me to the squadron and took me to my shop. After meeting my LPO (leading petty officer) and LCPO (leading chief petty officer) the took me on "the tour".

 

 

 

I'll never forget this moment for the rest of my life and it still feels as if it happened yesterday, but as he opened the door you seen 4 F14 tomcats in the hanger, all being worked on and taken apart in a beautiful, organized chaotic, fashion. Seen one jacked up off the ground with landing gear extended out and engines dropped out on port and starboard sides. The chief smiled and said we got a case of beer outta this one and I smiled and said what happened chief? He said damn pilot hot dogging it in mid air at top speed with center line tank and port wing tank full and the pressure placed a fracture down the fuselage and we got to strip the airframe to see if it can be saved. I remember thinking im glad i wasn't that pilot.

 

 

 

After we walked past this location he pointed up and said, let me be very clear, DO NOT get in cockpit with out being ejection seat qualified or you'll end up like the poor bastard that died here. I looked up and there was a massive dent in the hangar ceiling where the seat hit with the guy in it. I got the point and didn't ask any questions about it after that and this was my first day in VF 32

[army198527]

I made that short, but because my phone is dying, ill continue this later this evening. Sorry for the typos, using a phone to type all of this.

[ttaylor0024]

VF-32 swordmen call sign gypsy

 

They Gypsies of VFA-32 were over here a few months ago for some training in Kansas, cool guys

[army198527]

Yep, that's my squadron. Cool you got to meet them.

 

 

 

Now the phone is charged up I can explain what happened to the guy. So after the tour I go on to meet the rest of the power plants shop, they kept referring to me as the 18 guy (that hatred ran deep lol). I made friends with a power plants mech named Jones and I asked him about the ejection seat incident and he did say it happened.

 

 

 

The story he told me was about this AME from the Jolly Rogers, (AME's work on life support and egress systems for the aircraft along with ejection seats, especially the rockets under the seat. My new friend said he climbed in to the seat to work on some issues, he placed the flag in to the seat to keep the handle from moving which engages the ejection system, as he worked maintenance control was riding him about hurrying it up and he started to get complacent and he moved off to the side of the seat to work on the seat its self. After correcting the issue he climbed back in to the seat to check a line and didn't place the pin back in and as he went to get up his tool pouch got hung up and the seat ejected with him in it. I was in shock at this point hearing all of this. Jones smiled and said just because these birds are on the ground they can still kill you so watch what you do at all times.

 

 

 

At this point Jones was ordered to take me to the flight line to show me the ropes. He told me what to expect how to move around a turning aircraft, staying away from intakes and how to check to see if the seats were safe. (AMEs were suppose to do that, but Jones said they were crack baby retards and it was best if he gave me the run down. I was nervous as hell and will not lie about that, he said its simple, if the handles are yellow, than your ok fellow, but if the handle is red and he flipped it to armed, then your one dead fellow. I just stared speechless lol. He showed me the canopy and how to open it and how to emergency jettison it which he said I should never have to do but wanted to show me so I would know if I was hitting the wrong switch.

 

 

 

See on the tomcat there was a design flaw that was really tiny but a major nightmare, the switch to open the canopy was right next to the jettison button and both were red lol. He said a girl in the squadron was rushing and hit the wrong switch and jettisoned the canopy when he was new there, he said you heard the boosters and seen the canopy rocket off in to the air and down and shattered. Luckily no one was hurt. But this was my first day. I keep running out of room to see what im typing so ill continue tomorrow :)

Edited December 16, 2014 by army198527
wrong quote

[Scoggs]

Awesome stories man. Thanks! Hope to hear more!