Hey, guys,

My grandfather was a career Air Force officer, and the last few years of his career (back in the 70's) he was stationed at Charleston, SC, where there's also a large Navy presence. One day at one of the military golf courses, two cars were in a small fender bender. The Air Force major who had actually caused the accident jumped out of his car, and said to the other driver "I'm Major _____, what's your rank?" The other guy replied "Captain." The Major said "Well, I guess we know whose fault this accident is then!" To which the other guy replied, "Captain, USN."

The Major said "It was my fault sir."

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hadn't thought of that in years, but just remembered my grandfather telling me that and laughing his a$$ off. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Liam

Yeah, It does get confusing at times!

I remember being fresh from boot camp and stationed at Treasure Island.(enlisted) I walked past a marine full-bird colonel without saluting. He jumped by azz to be sure, and when I told him that marines all looked alike to me, he just laughed! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I supposed he could have made my life miserable had he not been what I consider a "quality" officer! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> He did explain where to look and what to look for. I should have known, they covered that well in boot camp! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Did I mention the Colonel was BLACK!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thats TFF........... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

When I was in Hospital Corpsman School, in beautiful Great Lakes Illinois, I walked by a Female Lieutenant Commander Nurse. Being the nice fellow I was I said "Hi", waved, and continued walking. I had never seen a female Navy Officer in my life. She let me know real quick that I needed to salute her. I snapped to and did so saying "Good morning Maam. " I could never bring myself to call a Female Officer "Sir". It was going to be a rough tour for this Swabbie. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Oh yeah........the Officer turned out to be our Company Nurse. Geez...what luck huh? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Jim

+1 Our battle staff that flew on our airborne command post were joint service. We had squids, jarheads, grunts and airforce personal onboard. The airforce owned the airplanes. Kinda cool watching an airforce captian (aircraft commander) telling a navy captian how some things were gonna be done.

Then you have the commander/ lt. commander, jg this/jg that. Whats that all about ???? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The services do have there differences and I always enjoy this.

USN or USAF? by Bob Norris

Bob Norris is a former Naval aviator who also did a 3 year exchange tour flying the F-15 Eagle. He is now an accomplished author of entertaining books about US Naval Aviation including "Check Six" and "Fly-Off". Check out his web site at his web site. Click Here. In response to a letter from an aspiring fighter pilot on which military academy to attend, Bob replied with the following.

12 Feb 04

Young Man,

Congratulations on your selection to both the Naval and Air Force Academies. Your goal of becoming a fighter pilot is impressive and a fine way to serve your country. As you requested, I'd be happy to share some insight into which service would be the best choice. Each service has a distinctly different culture. You need to ask yourself "Which one am I more likely to thrive in?"

USAF Snapshot: The USAF is exceptionally well organized and well run. Their training programs are terrific. All pilots are groomed to meet high standards for knowledge and professionalism. Their aircraft are top-notch and extremely well maintained. Their facilities are excellent. Their enlisted personnel are the brightest and the best trained. The USAF is homogenous and macro. No matter where you go, you'll know what to expect, what is expected of you, and you'll be given the training & tools you need to meet those expectations. You will never be put in a situation over your head. Over a 20-year career, you will be home for most important family events. Your Mom would want you to be an Air Force pilot...so would your wife. Your Dad would want your sister to marry one.

Navy Snapshot: Aviators are part of the Navy, but so are Black shoes (surface warfare) and bubble heads (submariners). Furthermore, the Navy is split into two distinctly different Fleets (West and East Coast). The Navy is heterogeneous and micro. Your squadron is your home; it may be great, average, or awful. A squadron can go from one extreme to the other before you know it. You will spend months preparing for cruise and months on cruise. The quality of the aircraft varies directly with the availability of parts. Senior Navy enlisted are salt of the earth; you'll be proud if you earn their respect. Junior enlisted vary from terrific to the troubled kid the judge made join the service. You will be given the opportunity to lead these people during your career; you will be humbled and get your hands dirty. The quality of your training will vary and sometimes you will be over your head. You will miss many important family events. There will be long stretches of tedious duty aboard ship. You will fly in very bad weather and/or at night and you will be scared many times. You will fly with legends in the Navy and they will kick your ass until you become a lethal force. And some days - when the scheduling Gods have smiled upon you - your jet will catapult into a glorious morning over a far-away sea and you will be drop-jawed that someone would pay you to do it. The hottest girl in the bar wants to meet the Naval Aviator. That bar is in Singapore.

Bottom line, son, if you gotta ask...pack warm & good luck in Colorado.

Banzai

PS Air Force pilots wear scarves and iron their flight suits.

You were DARNED lucky that guy had a sense 'o humor.. Must have been an officer that came up from the ranks instead of OCS..

In 23.5 years of USAF service I have never seen a USAF officer chew anyone out for not slauting him/her.

Nor have I ever seen the spit and polish USAF flying operation Bob Norris describes, though I would have liked to. In fact, his description of Navy units sounds much more like the various flying squadrons I have been in than his description of Air Force units. Then again, he was only in the USAF for three years, so what do you expect............................

My favorite Air Force/Navy story.

In the first days of the space program, NASA orbited [bleep] to see if space was safe for living creatures. Then the first manned flights of the Mercury program had Navy astronauts. When it seemed safe for humans, Air Force astronauts flew.

It's a little known fact that the first Gemini flightcrew was composed of a [bleep] and a Navy astronaut. Soon after liftoff, the [bleep] took off its helmet, looked inside then put it back on. Soon after they got to orbit, the [bleep] again took off its helmet, looked inside and put it back on.

One orbit later, the [bleep] took its helmet off yet again. By now both miffed and intrigued, the Navy astronaut took the [bleep]'s helmet away. Inside was taped a note: "Every four hours, feed the Navy guy."


Now my favorite (and true) story about rank. When I was an Air Force instructor pilot, one of my students had the first name of "General." (Honest, he carried a photocopy of his birth certificate to prove it.)

Before a cross country flight to an extremely busy and notoriously snooty base one time, I wanted to get a little arrival priority. I called Base Ops and said I'd be arriving at such and such a time and would like ramp parking and refueling priority.

"Your rank, sir?"

"I'm an Air Force captain."

"I'm sorry, sir. You hardly qualify for any priority at all."

"But I'm flying in with Lieutenant General Smith," I blithely said.

When we got there in our loud and very tiny T-37 trainer, we were greeted by a parade of blinking light vehicles, were parked directly in front of Base Operations, and so help me, they had a red carpet and the base commander waiting for us.

My student and I climbed out. The base commander was less than amused.

When my student produced his birth certificate, the bird colonel spluttered and turned red with rage. But he was flummoxed. I had NOT lied!

I was assigned to the USS Constellation after "peace" was declared in Viet Nam. I was sitting in our office space fairly late one evening, writing a letter home, when the phone rang. Being distracted, I just picked it up and said "Hello."

Right away, the caller said, in a very indignant manner, "Is that the proper Navy way to answer the phone? Do you know who this is? This is Ensign Owen!"

Just as indignantly, I responded, "Do YOU know who THIS is?"

The sheepish response was, "No, Sir, I don't."

My answer, "Then f--- you!"

Shortly after I left the office, I heard the sound of running feet but I never looked back.

Taiwan 1958, pitch black night. Chickenshitt 1st Lt. chewed me out for not saluting him. Hell, I could hardly see him let alone recognize his rank.

Paul

Good stuff guys.

I never chewed anyone out for not saluting, either.

But one time, I had an airman rather pointedly NOT salute me on a sidewalk. I stopped him and gently reminded him that a salute is required, and that some other officer might take it worse than I did to be ignored.

He groused that he had to salute officers at all.

I said, "Airman, think of it this way. You have to salute officers. I have to salute EVERYBODY."

He grinned when he realized the truth of it. Then he snapped me a crisp one and said, "Take that, sir!" I outcrisped him.

I was waiting for a MAC flight (space avail flight) out of Germany one time. Walking point A to point B, and carrying luggage off of each shouler and in my hands. Had this cute but bitchy little Air Force Lt. Approach from the other direction. Said "Mornin' Mam" but did not salute (as regs allow when not practical, i.e. hands full). She proceeded to throw a hissy about not getting her salute. I said, "Okay mam, sorry about that, but I'm within regs to not salute when my hands are full. But, if a salute is that important to you, I'll give you one, " and made production out of getting all the crap off me so I could render a proper salute, along with the best "you couldn't carry an Army Sgt's jock strap" look I could muster up.

Little wet behind the ears twit was beside herself over this insubordinate Army Sgt. Love it when you can put the officer chicks at a loss for words! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Zoomies. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Just something not quite right about a miltiary branch that lets guys walk around with umbrellas. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

You want to talk confusing though...when I was in Germany, I was part of a multi-national NATO unit. Commander was German, my First Sergeant was Belgian, guys on my shift were Dutch, German, American, and Belgian. Talk about needing a cheat sheet to figure out all the ranks! It was kind of nice though, because the Army could't do anything with us without first getting a "release from international duty" signed by the Dutch commander in Belgium. Translated to mean no organized PT or any other Army function. Kinda nice for a change.

[quote Taiwan 1958, pitch black night. Chickenshitt 1st Lt. chewed me out for not saluting him. Hell, I could hardly see him let alone recognize his rank.[/quote]

We had one guy who got his azz reamed, not for saluting the officer but for where his eyes were before the salute.. SHE was a darn fine lookin' ensign and HE was staring at her single gold bar on the sleeve while SHE thought HE was lookin' at her legs...

They were NICE legs.... As I recall (and NO it wasn't me but I did know the ensign)

Only time I got in a stew was about the first or second day I was on my new assignment; the USS Redfish, SS-395 in San Diego. Was ordered to go onto the sub tender (USS Sperry) and get some part. For some reason I forgot protocol when I got on the brow and forgot to salute the OOW and request permission to come aboard. HE was a 1st class Bos'n's mate and gave me the riot act.. I deserved it. Never forgot that ever again...

For those who might be interested in a true story; the Sperry was part of a Naval group detached to attend the Rose Festival in Portland OR. in '69.. On the way up the Columbia, the Sperry lost steerage, couldn't back off in time and took out a chunk of the adjoining highway, literally. The really weird part was the very next time the Sperry went down the river, she lost steerage AGAIN IN THE SAME SPOT.... But this time they got it stopped in time.

The crew was plenty jittery after that....

As a Spec4 I had to run an errand to the British compound in West Berlin, this was in 1974 when the city was still divided. Walked right by a British captain, how was I supposed to know what those pips on his collar meant?

He asked if the American Army was not in the habit of saluting officers, I apologized and said I didn't know British army insignia. He was veddy polite and veddy British, didn't chew me out at all but gave me a quick course on insignia to look for in case I ran into a less laid back officer. Even gave me directions to the office I was trying to find on the compound.

Always remember that and appreciated it. We had some good times training alongside the British in Southern Germany, did a lot of trading as young men are wont to do - we ended up with their wooly pully sweaters and they ended up with all of our American smokes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Navy friend of mine always told me anyone can be taught to land on dry land....

For folks that never played in the joint arena much of this is just in fun. I've always had a great time working with the other services even though it does give each other tremendous fodder for making fun of each other.

Last big multinational exercise I did they gave us a tab to wear on your pocket with your rank equivalent in all the other foreign services since no one knew what the heck a Singapore or Turkish Colonel rank looked and some people are real sensitive about it. Most Naval Aviators aren't

Happy Friday all

Have you ever seen a floating, bobbing postage stamp from the air? I have several times! (And no, I was not the pilot!) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Amen, Pugs.

Was watching the Military Channel last night and was reminded that the Japanese Army and Navy not only distrusted each other, but did everything possible short of outright treason to sabotage the other's activities.

It just might be that we won that one because we may jibe each other, but by damn, we do know how to work together and support each other!

For whatever reason, we had a group of Coast Guard laddies at Yokosuka, Japan. For those who don't know, at that time there was little differnce between the Coastie uniform and the swabbie uniform. The main difference was a small white sheild near the cuff on the left sleeve.

We used to delight telling the ladies at the local clip-joints that this sheild meant they had VD! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> These
were very lonely guys to be sure. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

#1
I was walk across a parking lot an passed this Airman basic, I say hi to him or some type of greeting. He stopped me and asked me were was his salute. My jaw droped when I saw the butter bars. I apologized and gave him a nice crisp salute. then I told him I'd never saw an officer in fatigues before! I don't know if he believed me or not But I can still hear him laughing.
#2
I had just retruned to base after being off site for 15 hours on an roll over involveing a truck carry nuke material. The only thing I wanted was some hot food and some shut eye. the chow hall was next door so that was first, About 1/2 way thur the line the Capt in front of me starting chewing me out because I hadn't shaved and my fatigues were all messed up.
I started to explain when a voice from farther back told the Capt. he was to knock it off.
The Wing Commander who had been on scene with me and did not look any better than I did was not in the mood for the Capt BS.

Perfect! Subtle yet devastating <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I like the Navy/Marine Corps dynamic. They provide the brawn and we provide the brains! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I was in the USAF (medic) for 15 years; for two of those years, I was on Guam, and used to hang out with some Navy guys. Man, talk about some vicious Marine jokes!

BB,

The two funniest military things I remember were:

1. Watching Marine Corp pilots trying to qualify at
carrier landings.(Almost better than a demolition derby)


2. The bad azz whuppin a buddy got when he was stupid enough to verbally assult a Navy hospital corpsman (wearing a marine uniform) in a place filled with Jarheads! A medic, in the corps it seems, is worth his weight in gold!

A few years ago I had a retired Marine Officer working for me. He had spent a portion of his career as an aircraft mechanic on Phantoms during Nam. (Crewcheif?) He enlisted as a high school drop out from the slums of NYC and pulled himself up by the bootstraps. By the time I met him he was about 60 and had earned two college degrees, a very impressive individual.

If it matters, he was a transplanted Puerto Rican of Black ancestry and one heck of an American.

Knowing he had spent a portion of his career aboard carriers, I asked him about living shipboard and the Navy in general.

He responded "I absolutely hate the Navy. They always took me someplace I really did not want to go to. Then they would kick me off the boat and leave me there."

I always get a kick out of that response. The man was honest!

Once, when I had CQ duty, we were in the midst of a snowstorm. Part of CQ was making sure the sidewalks remained open. The runner had just come in from doing the front walk, and I took the shovel out to do the rear, leaving him to watch the phone and warm up.

So here I am, really into it. Scooping up shovels full of snow, and chucking it over my shoulder without looking. All of a sudden I heard Woompff, followed by some underbreath expletives. Turned around as a Captain (also a Chaplain <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />) spitting snow and cleaning snow outta his collar. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I immediately apologized, for shoveling snow in his face, as did he for his whispered remark. Guess were all human afterall. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
7mm

His color and background matters not to me, except as an example of what hard work and determination can do for anyone.

I salute this gentleman, and his accomplishments!
A true American to be sure! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Damn, his report of being left off is classic! I salute the marine corps! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I read about an army captain who was an expert in some field. He was giving a class on it to some high brass. The lowest rank there was a Lt Col. and there were a number of generals. The captain stood up in front of the class and said "There are two dozen men in the army who know more about this subject than I do. However, none of them are here today, so let's get on with it."

Exactly, Chaplains are people too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ballsy! Confident! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> My kind of officer! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Anyone see the movie, Annapolis? What do you think?

Well Jim. Most vets here know that there is not supposed to be any fraternization between officers and enlisted.

I was about 19 years old and pretty fit at that time. My
skipper sent me to procure some movies to be shown in the ready room that evening. We were in a Japanese port.

While on my way into the place that had the films, I met and saluted a female Navy captain. Now she was a little old for a 19 year old kid, but this gal was a looker! And
built like a brick crap house!

She dressed me down for looking at her like a woman, rather than a Naval Officer. While she did this she wrote stuff on a piece of paper. It was an address and a time. Now I
wasn't the brightest kid on the block, but I thought I got
the gist of the message.

Got an all-night pass from my Skipper and took a taxi to the address. I was met by a little Japanese gal who directed me to a nice cozy room on the 2nd floor.

When I entered the room, I was greeted by another little Japanese gal who said she would be right back, then left.
A short time later the Captain appeared, she went into the bathroom with a ditty bag of sorts and returned fully dressed for night duty.

She may have been a Navy Captain anywhere else, but in bed she was a MINK! Taught me plenty! Some might say I pulled an all-nighter?

Never knew her name. Never knew her assignment. Never saw her again. Never told anyone for fear of Captain's mast.

Thank you Captain wherever you are! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That reminds me of something we tried three or four times - a bunch of us would be walking down the main street of the compound and see a lieutenant approaching. We'd string out with 10 or 15 yards between us so he'd have to salute each of us individually in rapid succession.

Good morning, sir!
Good morning, private.
Good morning sir,
Good morning, Specialist.
Good morning sir.
Good morning, private.

etc. etc.

We knew better than to do this to any of the officers in our own company or anyone above a lieutenant in rank.

Enlisted men gotta fight back somehow. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

280don when were you at TI. I was there Sept-Oct 78 for damage control/NBC warfare. Then went to San Diego for Ship fitters I was an HT

Early 1963 for Electronics Technician school. Then went to an air squadron as a designated submariner. I became an aircraft electrician, with additional training in flight control systems, fire control systems, navigational computers, all attitude systems and a nuclear weapons specialist. We were reasponsible for everything electro-mechanical and electronic on our squadron's aircraft with the exception of radio and radar. My very short time on active duty was freakish! Worked from 1969 until 1972 as a civilan employee of the DOD. 1963, I told you I'm an old bastid! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I loved TI. The fishing and crabbing in the bay almost made me fail NBC. I remember the second day I was there. I got smashed in the EM club and kind of got lost. I was following all those pipes around when a security man in a truck pulled up next to me. He asked me where I was going and I told him back to the barracks. He said if I walked another 50ft I'd be in the bay. I Had walked out on the fueling pier and didn't even know it.

Yep, sand sharks were the greatest! I lived for the basketball court. Was state-of-the-art then, glass backboards and all.

I really liked the mess hall. This ole hillbilly had never had orange juice or grape juice in those quantities before!
Unlimited chocolate milk too! These were treats for my poor
appalachian family!

In 1959 I went through Special Weapons "A" School in New Mexico and we had personnel in the school as students and instructors from all of the Services. We had this one Army Captain who liked to find out if there were any Texans in the class he was teaching and then he would give the Texans pure hell as they became the brunt of all of his jokes.

We had this one Sailor in the class from Texas and he got tired of being in the barrel and the brunt of all the Texas Jokes, so he got up in class and told the following story.

It was about a kid on an Army Base who was sitting on a curb near the base stable playing with pile of Horse [bleep], when an Army Captain walked by and asked the kid what he was doing and the kid replied that he was building a Sargent out of the Horse [bleep]. The captain told him that that wasn't nice and that should be doing something more constructive. The kid came back with the reply that he would but there wasn't enough Horse [bleep] in the world to build a Captain.

You know that Army Captain's face turned Beet Red and we never heard another Texas Joke for the duration of the rest of the Class. And top it off the Sailor was a Seaman Duce and we also had flag officers in that class also.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Heh, glad I could start a thread filled with such great fun! I came from a military family. The grandfather who told me the original story was a B17 pilot in WWII, and flew in the Berlin Airlift. My dad joined the army and did three tours in Vietnam, and eventually retired as a bird Colonel. I enlisted in the army when I was 20 ... first day of basic was my 21st birthday!! Thought I'd see if I might want a career, but decided to get out after 4 years. Spent a lot of that at joint service places, where there was a lot of the good natured ribbing between the services like we've all been talking about.

One of my favorites was when a sgt in my unit went up to the desk of the marine gunny sgt who was the lead analyst at an intel shop we were working in, slammed a jar of sand down on the desk and said "Hit the beach, Gunny!!" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Those two were great friends and sparring partners, by the way (both of them boxed).

Another of my favorite stories though, and one that makes me a bit proud of my dad, was this ...

My dad was conducting some NBC (nuclear-biological-chemical) training for the officers at his reserve unit after he left active duty. A major started grumbling about having to wear all the gear and "run around like some PFC in basic." My dad (who is 6'6" and about 250) stared at him for about 30 seconds, then said "Major, as an officer you are to lead by example. If you can't perform these skills as good as or preferably BETTER than any enlisted man in your command, not only will you not survive in combat, but you're a d$#n sorry excuse for a leader, and you as a man do not in any way deserve the respect that they give that hardware on your collar."

My dad also held the belief that officers should first be required to serve two years as enlisted, so that they truly understood what it's like.

I wish I had known more officers like my dad while I was serving.

All the best,
Liam

Sounds like a wise man and a great officer, Liam. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

No doubt. I often felt the same way.

Most of the Warrants we had were pretty good guys, although we had one who was a real walking one eye.

The lieutenants were, for the most part, just clueless.

I was in a 3rd shop maint. unit. We had one shop officer who honestly didn't know a 5 ton axle from a deuce&1/2 tranny. One of use had to go out and help him inventory parts. He had no clue what was what.

Another wanted me written up. We'd changed out an engine in an M880 ambulance. (Dodge w/ a 318) When we went to start her up, a bad carb dumped a bunch of raw fuel in the intake. I rescued the carb off the old motor, and we fired her up. Of course with the sputtering and black smoke, LT was convinced that we'd screwed up the motor by the part swap, and started giving us hell.

"Sir" says I, "With all due respect, I was a mechanic before I joined the Army. Any fool would know that this thing's flooded. It'll straighten up in a minute". This didn't improve his mood at all. (Guess we all get testy being at work at 23:00)

The Shop NCOIC smoothed it over by telling him I was absolutely correct,and I was among the top mechanics in the shop. But, my name was mud until the LT left.
7mm

'An air squadron as a designated submariner'??? When/where did you get the dolphins? I got mine by qualifying over 6 months on the USS Redfish and got pinned by my Capt. in Hawaii..

That Jap port wasn't Yokosuka, by any chance??? Very fun place to be back then. Sasebo was a close second..

Depends on what you mean by "designated". I was officially
inducted into the Navy under the Polaris program. I was
obligated to spend six years under this program and should have been sent to sub school, then sent to qualify for my dolphins. No one knows why I was sent to an air wing? If
nothing else, someone somewhere should have known I was "regular" Navy.

Bare with me, here, it's been forty years since I served.
Please forgive any misuse of terminology as I didn't have a good grasp on it then either! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

The Skipper of the air squadron I was sent to called me a submariner? And what the heck did I know, I was barely 18!

My service jacket indicated I was "???" for submarine service. If not designated, what?

It's OK. My misuse of jargon also led others to believe I was a pilot! Hopefully, I've explained what I did while in the Navy?

Been to Yokosuka and Sasebo many times. Damn, man, it's been 40 years! Give me a PM if you need more of the freakish story. I'm not trying to hide anything. It's just my military service was very unusual to say the least!

Spent time in Alongapo (sp), Philipines too. We anchored off
Hong Kong several times too. Needed to take the liberty launch to town. I liked Hong Kong very much. Had a suit made while there. No, I didn't wait on it! Picked it up next time we were in port!

"..."Sir" says I, "With all due respect, I was a mechanic before I joined the Army. Any fool would know that this thing's flooded. It'll straighten up in a minute". This didn't improve his mood at all."

I think it was the "any fool" part of that which may have caused a reaction. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> But, the "with all due respect" thing shoulda balanced it out.

Ahh- sea stories.

I served my entire time purple - that is joint. My most favorite thing to do when walking with an airman - and seeing a Navy chief was to move my hand smartly to my forhead (like a salute) the zoomie would salute immediately but I would simply adjust my cover. Got them every time.

I also worked with some Brits (army and RAF) I knew there was only 1 Brit officer on post so I always saluted him. Later when he left - big ceremony etc - he told about how this one swabbie was the ONLY one to consistantly salute him. Made me feel good.

Worst I ever saw - its cold - I am in whites, pea coat and dixie cup - Army pv2 saluted me.

I have chewed out enlisted for not saluting a Marine Capt I was walking with. frat. aside - he was a good guy - former enlisted and VMI grad.

My fav non american forces were Brit Army - funny, top notch people.

I think 2nd. lieutenants were created as toys for NCOs. Butter bars, banana bars, what ever <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I fondly remember one Lt. Loop (God rest his sole, he was killed in a motorcycle accident) that was assigned as Tanker Branch OIC. Lt. never really gave me any chit about being an officer, he'd glare at me with an evil eye when he figured out I was playing with his mind. We nicknamed him Lt.Fruit Loop.


I always felt I had a good working relationship with the officers I dealt with..................................................

One of the flight crews I was assigned to and I flew to Tinker AFB Oklahoma to pick up my airplane from the Boeing Depot. It had some work done on it and a new paint job. When we flew the airplane out of Tinker I noticed one engine was running really hot (EGT- exhaust gas temprature) on takeoff but cooled when the pilot reset the thrust for climb speed. I told the pilot it looked warm on takeoff, he continued the flight which was uneventfull. We spent the night at Pease AFB in NH, departed for our base in England the next evening. Same thing again, the engine ran hot on takeoff.

We do a Phase Inspection on aircraft returning from depot maintenance as part of an acceptance inspection. One of the areas looked at are the "hot sections" of the engines. When engine repair inspected the engines on the airplane they found one engine that was near catistropic failure. It was the same engine I had noted for running hot (it never did reach red line but it was close). The next time I flew with the flight crew that I made the return trip with the pilot shook my hand, told me he wouldn't ever doubt my judgement again. Somehow he heard about the report on the bad engine. I was told he went out of his way to take a look at the engine himself, which I didn't know about until after the fact.

Zoomie? Never heard that one. We always called them bus drivers. I think we envied their uniform. Bell bottoms and dixie cups. [bleep], I hated wearing that damned ugly-azz thing! Whites, blues, dungerees? Only decent thing we had were flight deck boots.

Haven't seen a swabbie in uniform for a very, very long time. They still wearing that same old crap, or have they
modernized?

When I got out they ruined it - going to more of a class b Marine uni for the utilities.

I liked the crackerjack -- ladies did too all except the 13 buttons.

I uesed to stop and ask my zoomie friends for peanuts and a pillow when they walked down the aisle at work - pizzed them off to no end to be treated like a stewardess but was all in good fun.

To me the worst Officers in the Navy were the Ensigns, or Second Lieutenants for the other Services, that came straight out of ROTC not the ones out of one of Military Academies or the others who cam up through OCS and the Ranks.

Some of those old Mustangs were pretty "Salty Ole Dogs" no matter which branch of service they were in as in most cases they had already been there and done that and they pretty much with the program, Salt of the Earth People!!!!!!!

Scariest airplanes ever are the ones coming out of major maintenance. Closest I ever came to stepping outside was one that had a bleed air duct come loose. Landed at Oceana with an Aft Equipment bay fire, right engine fire light in a single engine no flap/no slat/stab shift failure field arrestment (IIRC about 163 knot final approach speed). We got it on deck maybe two minutes after the light came on yet the AIMD folks that looked at it said maybe 60 seconds more and one of the LOX bottles would have gone off and blown the tail off the jet.

In May of 1959 I received notification from the Red Cross that my dad was dieing of Cancer and I needed to go home. At the time I was stationed at NAS Norfolk going to "C" School and my Commanding Officer made arrangements for military hop to the West Coast on an old R6D into Lockeed Airport in LA. The R6D turned out to be the Personal Plane of the Admiral at NAS Pensacola and it was being ferried out to rework facility in Los Angles. I later found out that the rework facility was the last place they took an Aircraft for refurbishing before it fell out of the sky. The pilot was a Salty old CPO, his co-pilot was a LTCMDR and the flight engineer was a First Class PO, both the Pilot and Flight Engineer were both Silver Eagles and were qualified to fly anything the Navy had in it's Inventory at the time.

I was told that there was only about twelve or thirteen of the old Enlisted Silver Eagles left in the Navy at that time and I consider it an honor to have flown with them as they were a Dying Breed in the Navy at that time in Naval History.

Never liked fire warning lights...........................................

We were scheduled for an 8 hour wire mission. Must have had a 165,000 pound fuel load onboard. I was in the IP seat for takeoff. Just as we rotated an engine fire warning light came on. I waited for a few seconds (felt like minutes) for someone else to call the light, cleared my throat and announced the warning over the intercom. I jumped up and headed to the boom pod while the boom operator ran to the wing scanning windows to look for flames. Once we confirmed we weren't on fire the pilot headed out over the English Channel where we dumped fuel down to 35,000 pounds. RTB back to Mildenhall for landing. Never did find what caused the warning light, no bleed air leaks, loose wires or bad sensors. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Ya should have seen the look on the battle staffs faces as I ran through their compartment.

Great thread guys. Brings back a ton of memories from a lifetime ago.

Jim

Don,

They tried the modernization thing back in the mid 70's. I hated the new garb. It wasn't Navy at all. I got out before it became mandatory so I never wore it. I think they went back to the traditional bell bottoms and dixie cup.

Jim

Yea - we had bell bottoms and the Dixie as late as July of 06.

Don,

My LCDR was older than my Mother and had had a very hard life up to that point. She had just returned from her 2nd tour in RSVN. She was all Officer. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I did run into several female officers that were rather enticing but never struck up any extracurricular activities with them. However, the locals were a different matter. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Jim

Right before I got out of the Navy(in 1993), a 2nd class Signalman and I, were walking down the pier to get something from another ship. We were just walking and talking when I heard "HEY! Don't you salute Officers?"....We were both 2nd class petty officers that had both been to the Persian Gulf as well as many other countries and cruises...I looked at him and he had this big grin on his face....
I told the young Ensign to "F#ck Off little boy" and we walked away laughing.... He just stood there with his mouth open....
As soon as we got out of sight we hauled ass to the duty van and sped away....Didn't hear about it or see him again but the look on his face was priceless....