My dad was a BT3 on the Ainsworth from 88-90. He always spoke fondly of his time aboard. He told me a story once of a time when they were shooting the deck gun at a tiny island for fun and it was hardly doing anything when all of a sudden a jet flew over at the speed of sound and dropped a bomb on the island and the explosion put their deck gun to shame.
I was on a Know for 4 years, that stuff was fun for about 30 minutes, then when it turned into a few days, It wasn't much fun. FC3 FF 1066 1988 till about decom in 92
Went through bad weather during 73-74 westpac on Marvin Shields DE/FF 1066. Remembered standing out on the stern, on the access hatch to the IVDS room under the missile launcher, waiting for a following wave/swell to fill up up the IVDS room and shoot water out through the hatch, launching us in the air, ah, to be young and immortal again!!!
Didn't the East coast LAMPS squadrons use a 3 digit aircraft numbering system? I was in West coast LAMPS (33, 35, and 37) and we used the 2 digit system.
I am a Plank Owner AFS-7, my "day job" was maintaining the gun directors, but most of my time when we were out on the line was either on an UNREP team or cargo handling on the flight deck. I was pretty good with a fork truck positioning pallets - even in the middle of the night - but I was always careful. Another guy in my division had been on AFS-1 doing the same job and his truck went over the edge! He managed to jump into the safety net but the truck sank very quickly...
Ah yes, the simple life. Back in the days when you had one job, and one job only. I can honestly say my time in a Navy helicopter squadron was not only the best, but easiest job I’ve ever had. As a federal employee with the Department of Navy, my responsibilities are 50 times greater, and I wear so many different hats, I literally work 8 days a week, and I’m still behind in my workload.
Thanks for sharing. I served on her from 81-84, after the hurricane bow was added forward. Was always amazed that you fly boys would launch during these types of conditions when needed.
FF-1077 USS Ouellett '77-'78 HSL-37 149766 FF-1067 USS Hammond '80-80 HSL-33 149761 FF-1086 USS Brewton '86-87 HSL-37 161655 FF-1057 USS Rathbun '88-88 HSL-37 150157 .....and a shitload of short cruises... 1,299 flights in SH-2D/F & close to 3,000 hours flight time. All that and $8.00 will buy me a great cup of coffee at Starbucks. God bless all y'all!! AW1 'Lucky' USN Ret.
HSL 33, and 1 tour HSL 35. Also had 1 tour as instructor for the SH2F. Being on frigates with shallow draft meant that we could go to exotic places. Tacloban City, Philippines, Pago Pago, and many other nice places to visit. Miss the ole bird.
I served aboard USS Ainsworth as an ET during late '81 to early '85. Did one deployment in 1983. Got the CIWS during our winter 1983-1984 refit in Charleston , SC. Overall, I enjoyed my time aboard her. Like to tell folks the Navy paid me for three years of Caribbean Cruises! I also acted as bridge phone talker between Captain/OOD and the Helo officer back aft. My station was that tiny box on the starboard side of the bridge. Helo officer is in a similar box on starboard side of the helo hanger.
Could you just light a fire and once it's going open the damper? I know some smoke will get in the house but once you got flames open the damper and they will fall into the fire.
Ainsworth crew member 87-91. We almost lost that King Post tying to set it up in heavy seas when Captain "Deranged" was in command. Ensign Evans finally gathered up his balls and told the bridge it was too rough when the King Post rolled halfway across the flight deck(it was on wheels remember) and nearly took half a dozen seamen over the side with it. Luckily, we were able to stop it from becoming a torpedo. Good times!
Sucking up liquid dishwashing detergent and water mixture will definitely kill them while their in the shopvac as well as clean the vacuum cleaner, job done.
SH-2 #52 was onboard USS Brewton FF-1086, WestPac/IO 1979 when my appendix blew. Many thanks to the Air Crew for the MediVac to Columbo, Sri Lanka. You guys saved my life! Was picked up and flown to Clark AFB, PI for emergency surgery by USAF AC-130. Would not be here today without these Cold War Heros.
I served on Sylvania from 69-71.Pulled in to Rota(If I remember correctly),to relieve the Concord & crashed into them,delaying their return to Norfolk.We screwed up a lot of guys leaves.
We almost lost the Hawkins, DD-873, in the storm. It wasn't the worse weather we encountered, but it was pretty bad. A storm in the Med later that year convinced me to find a better life. Served aboard her from Dec 75 until May 1978.
TM2 Hampton, I downloaded some Hawkins video shot during this cruise that somebody posted a few years ago on a different site. Shoot me your email address and I'll send you a copy. I'd send a link but it's been taken down and I can't find it again.
Chuck, Thanks for this wonderful clip---brought it all back to me in a hurry. I flew 232 as a Greenchecker in the early 1990s with Det 6, together with Ray Trygstad, Mike McCabe and Doug Keller. What a beautiful bird she was...and a great paint job. Thanks! Doug Pugliese
+hombresinombre, did you hear back from flyboy73? I was trying to get in touch with him for any other footage he has. Ron Pickett - FTG2 1977 Med cruise
I was also on the uss knox in jan 81 I remember the deck dept. tied together and breaking up the ice on the bow because it was 2 ft. thick and that is why the 5"foward gun was turned around backwards, in the mess deck equipment welds broke and made one heck of a mess. also the cooks were not allowed in the dry goods locker or in the freezers . stansions had broken and it was too dangerous to go in there. we fed the crew canned ravioli that day. and I also remember tying my belts together and lashing my self into my bunk (top one) you know its rough seas when you can walk over the top of a camel back ( fire hose rack) and not break a stride. as tin can sailors say "over one wave and thru the next one"
I remember you Tony Lupis! navyflyboy73 thanks for posting/sharing this! I remember the Airedale Charlie...he was a good guitar player...we used to jam a bit up there in the helo hangar.
I was on the Ainsworth from 76-80 as Yeoman in the ship's office. I remember this storm; it was my first cruise. Amazing the video is on RU-vid after all these years! I loved those days; little did I know at the time how much I would look back on them and miss them.
