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Updated 3/9/18
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Carrier Flightdeck Operations
(6/16/24) The following link was provided by B. Stephens: Click to see a 1963 YouTube video discussing the role of Landing Signal Officers (LSO) assisting pilots landing on aircraft carriers. About six minutes into the video, a LSO is addressing pilots in the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) ready room. Lt. Datka appears in several scenes. Click this link to view the video: LSO critique to pilots
(1/13/14)EXTERNAL LINK: The video was made in 2010 while the Kingsville Squadron was at NAS North Island. "Hitting the Boat" --An excellent video of high quality that shows young aviators doing carquals.---Contributed: Jim Whalen
This is a 15 minute, color, expertly narrated video showing flightdeck operations.
USS Roosevelt (Rosy) I only did carrier qualifiers on CVA 42, of the 4 carriers I was on (#'s 42, 59 Med. Cruise, 65 Med. & world cruise, 66 qualifiers). It was the only one that had the forward elevator in the center and it had bunks 5 high in some compartments. Some good video, launch and recovery every one and half hours. Teamwork! Makes me wanna go back; where are my dog tags?? Sailors Till The End,-- Robert King
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This cruise was the 15th Mediterranean Cruise 1964. CDR Robert A Komoroff, operations Officer mentioned early in the first video where it was taken at Cecil Field, was killed while on a sortie (see two videos later) on this cruise. He listed as one of those eight listed in my cruisebook who died during the cruise.
No, I didn't see myself or anyone I knew in the videos though it sure brings back a lot of old memories and loud noises from the flighdeck.
The carrier was enroute to the Med on April 28 1964 and returned to Mayport on Dec 22, 1964. Lost a blade from screw no. 1 on Sept 28 and arrived in Bayonne New Jersey on Oct 13 where the screw and shaft were replaced. Enroute to Cannes 10 days later. ---Greg Engler
(Adobe .pdf format) Click for WW II Japanese: -Submarine Aircraft Carrier -Late WW II Japanese secret plan to attack the US & Panama Canal. -- Contributed by: Walt Quist
Rough Seas on the 90,000 ton USS Kitty Hawk- Video wmv file: Click here to see USS Kitty Hawk in a storm
The aircraft seen in the attached video is a helo from a deployed helicopter squadron (HS-14) based at the U..S. Naval Air Facility in Atsugi , Japan .... The carrier is the USS Kitty Hawk, based in Yokosuka , Japan . The 'Hawk' was underway for CQ (Airwing Carrier Qualifications) in the Sea of Japan during the week of March 22, 2008. The chopper seen on the ship's bow, tied down at helo Spot 2, is a Sikorsky SH-60F from HS-14.
The pilot had just landed on deck, and his helo was tied down on Spot 2 because the seas were too rough to move it to a safer place. Fortunately, it only suffered some minor damage (blade crutch support socket) and a lot of salt water intrusion from the sea. While viewing the video, please remember that the carrier's flight deck is approximately 60' above the ship's normal water line.
Navy photo (circa 2010) of "junk carriers" waiting their fate: USS Independence (CV 62), Kitty Hawk (CV 63), Constellation (CV 64) and Ranger (CV 61) tied up and waiting scrapping in Bremerton, Washington. "The idea of scrapping these ships will bring a tear to many old salts," Bruce Nason adds with this photo contribution.
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(6/16/24) The following link was provided by B. Stephens: Click to see a 1963 YouTube video discussing the role of Landing Signal Officers (LSO) assisting pilots landing on aircraft carriers. About six minutes into the video, a LSO is addressing pilots in the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) ready room. Lt. Datka appears in several scenes. Click this link to view the video: LSO critique to pilots 