Doug Goss gives us a walkaround tour of the C1-A Trader. This plane was at once the work horse for the carrier. Carrying everything from the Admiral to cargo.
Thanks Doug. This is a very special video for me as I was on the Indy in 76 and 77. Before that I was in VS-24 flying in S-2Gs as an Antisubmarine Warfare Operator. VS-24 was on the Intrepid and then the Saratoga. When they transitioned to the S-3, I got orders to several different duty stations and ended up on the Indy in the TSC. 6044 was the mail bird and I was always happy to see and hear the radial engines. What was really special is when you set her down in Davis's corn field just south of Roseville Illinois and only about 11 miles from my house. I heard on the local radio that a twin engine Navy plane had crash landed south of Roseville and when I went down to look the next morning, I could see the tail sticking up above the corn and knew instantly that it was a C-1 or an S-2. I was shocked to see an old friend 6044. When looking at the engines I also saw a very familiar sight. I was one of the test flight crewman for VS-24 and was on a test flight in July 1974 at Cecil Field Florida for an engine change. Right after lift off we got a chip light on the high time engine and started getting vibration. I was flying with 2 of the best pilots both LTCDRs. As we tried to climb and circle around to land, the new engine instantly came apart and locked up without being able to feather the prop. What was a right turn became a left turn and we hit the ground just short of the end of the runway we had just taken off from, with an F-4 coming right at us with his chute out. We did end up on the end of the runway needing some landing gear repairs and 2 new engines. We never got a scratch on us and I credit Grumman for building some of the most durable aircraft made for the Navy. It looked like a cylinder came apart for you as well and the S-2s and C-1s won't stay in the air very long with a prop that is not feathered. You made a nice short landing in the corn that day. I am glad to see that you were able to repair her and bring her back to life. By the way, I do have several pictures of old 6044 in the corn field from that day. Scott
I was stationed onboard the USS Independence from January 1969 to June 1971 as a Postal Clerk. Loaded and unloaded mail many times during that period. Flew off 1 time and trap landed 2 times in this plane. I have my honory Tail Hook membership card which brings back many fond memories. Great plane and great pilots.
I flew in the back seat of Mamie when she flew off of the IKE in 79. It was on emergency leave to fly home to burry my mom as a sailor. What memories of a C1.
Thanks a lot Doug. I was one of the crews that flew on that actual plane in VRC-40, 4 years and 4 months and over 400 flight hours. At that time as an Aircrew chief, I was able to fly right seats on long trips. I loved every minute of it. wish my wife could have handled my flying would have stayed for 20. It is great to see 044 still working. I loved starting those engines. I received my FAA mechanics License soon after that. Spent many years repairing and flying S2s and DC-3s and a few lodestars mixed in. 71 now and slowing down a little just have to get the horses trained?
I was assigned to the USS Independence (CVA-62), November, 1966; when she was on a Med deployment. I flew to Rota, Spain on TWA and the day after I landed in Rota I was flown to Barcelona, Spain to wait for transportation to the Indy. The ship's C-1A flew into Barcelona Airport and picked me and about 6 others and many mail bags for transportation to the ship. What a trip! I was on the USS America in 1970 when the C2's were grounded and we flew into Da Nang for a mission than flew back to the America on the same C1A. I had an interesting career in the Navy.
Hey, Bob Bob here too! I was one of the crews that flew on that actual plane in VRC-40 4 years and 4 months and over 400 flight hours. At that time as an Aircrew chief, I was able to fly right seats on long trips. I loved every minute of it. wish my wife could have handled my flying would have stayed for 20. It is great to see 044 still working. I can still since right where all the controls are as you sit in the seats. I loved starting those engines. I received my FAA mechanics License soon after that. Spent many years repairing and flying S2s and DC-3s and a few lodestars mixed in. 71 now and slowing down a little just have to get the horses trained?
In the way back I had the chance to ‘co-pilot’ a C-1. We (my Navy Commander Supply Officer boss & I) were to fly from Saigon to the delta for a meeting (in a now forgotten city). The C-1 was at that time considered a single pilot A/C. As a NFO (with a single engine ticket ... and I guess the pilot was board with flying with his ‘plane captain’) I was invited to the right seat. He made it clear that other than backing him up on holding the throttles on take-off I did not touch anything! Once airborne I had the controls … until landing. The only other recollection I have of those two flights was seeing B-52 bomb craters across defoliated ground and flying over a Bob Hope Christmas Show (closest I ever got).
I was one of the ship’s company PICs of Miss BELLE on Independence from ‘74 - ‘76. I consider it to have been a privilege. This truly is an aircraft that has to be flown thru all flight regimes and proves AND improves one’s piloting skills. A lot goes on and to care for especially in cold weather IFR. Must include BZs to the enlisted crewmen who maintained those cantankerous 1820s and vacuum tube avionics. One of the highlights of my aviation career.
These walk around tours are so insightful.The love for the aircraft always comes through the people doing the talk and this gentleman’s a great example of this.Thanks for these uploads.👍
Was TDY on the Independence in mid-late '70's to re-certify catapult and arresting systems after maintenance. This may be the very bird that catapulted me back to NATC Pax River after we completed our work on a Saturday afternoon. Thanks for sharing some stuff I didn't know. Go Navy! AMS 3 W. E. Huff, 1975 -1979
Tom Lutz : I flew off FDR 46 yrs ago in a C-1 Trader, COD. I was in VA-42 & we finished a Carrier Qualifiacation for the training pilots. They ask for 2 volunteers to fly in the COD. My hand went up real quick. That Cat shot was a “rush”. After the G force of the Cat was gone, I thought we were going into the water, but the COD just floated into the sky away from boat. What A Thrill !!!! I was also heloed off 2 other carriers, one in a huey & one in a HC-46 with about 20 others from my squadron. Exciting times ! I was in the U S N from 10/18/71 to 8/15/75. Got an early out to go to school ! My classes started 8/25/75, so I got 10 days to get home & settled & then get to school. From Minnesota.
Thanks for the video. worked on the S2-E models while attached to VS-35 at North Island 1967-1970. We deployed on the USS Hornet CVS-12. AMS-3 R.M. Hampson 1966-1970
Great video! Brings back a lot of good memories. I flew C1's with DVR-21 during the mid 60's before I transitioned to the C-2's. I remember changing the hook points during night quals on the carriers. Kept one engine running while I torqued and safety wired the hook point and then back into the aircraft for more landings and takeoffs. Great times! Thanks for the video.
I flew as aircrew on the USS constellation COD 1973 to 1977 152553, on two westpacs. Deck launches and cat shots. When the ship was in the yards at Bremerton Washington. We flew out of the Kitsap County Airport. ADR2 Daniel Knopp
In 1967, 68 my old heavy squadron made a west pac cruise on the America . When ever Miss America was landing with mail they would play the “ here she comes Miss America “ song throughout the ship. Was always glad for that sound.
I flew these as a Crew Chief for VR-30 (the predecessor of VRC-30) out of NAS Alameda from 1975 for about 3 years and 500 hours. We supported all the west coast carriers with detachments on board or detachments at NAS North Island. Our North Island detachment became permanent, transitioned to C-2s and became VRC-30. The autopilots didn't work back then either and neither did the G-liitters. Great aircraft. I also crewchief'd the C-9s and Ct-39's for VR-30. But flying the C-1 was the best time and the best mission. We were tight crews and were scruffy and scrappy. Flying the 9's, we had to be pretty and polite; hated that. We COD crewman used to say, "Jets are for kids!"
In 1969 the Navy assigned me to VR-30. That should have never happened, I was an AO3 and the squadron had no billet for an AO. They stuck me on the third shift line crew washing airplanes. I hated it and put in a request chit for a transfer every day until they finally transferred me to the USS Oriskany CVA 34 after 9 months. I have no ill will toward the squadron, I served with some out standing men there, but I will always resent the Navy ever sending me there. It was a waste of 9 months of my life.
Hi Doug, good vid. Thanks. This is George Kendall. I visit from time to time if you remember. I see you have the port nose gear bearing cover painted red. Good job on that. Most miss that detail. You have the interior looking pretty good; a lot better than when I flew them. I can't tell if you stuck with the genuine hide of a Nauga. It looks like you did. I also see you have kept the fold up center console. Some remove them. Keep up the good work Doug.
USS Independence CV-62 7/78 to 11/81. I had a cat shot in this plane (or one just like it) in April 1980, off of The Bahamas. Recovered at NAS Jax enroute to NAS Norfolk.
I logged 1,216 hours and 203 traps in 136759..... All off of Saratoga. By the way, fuel capacity is 528 gallons, 518 usable..... If you want to know anything about the aircraft or operations, ask me....
Corey Jordan....How were noise levels in cockpit at cruise..Seems like the engine nacelles are so close to cockpit it would be tremendously loud..how was single engine performance...This is such a neat looking aircraft..thank you
I flew off the Oriskany CVA-34 to DaNang Vietnam several times in a C-1. Would have been 1971 and 72 time frame. I wasn't aircrew just being shuttled back and forth to work on broke A7's that were from our Airwing. There was one landing I seem to remember that we landed on marshall matting but I can't remember if that was DaNang or somewhere else.
I was a air crewman for 146052 off USS Forrestal CVA 59. I had a deck launch off the angle deck, Full load, the pilots over busted the engines, above 56.5 And one cat launch off #1 cat at anchor.
Erik - Hope you are still around to read this. I just found this RU-vid video and enjoyed it very much. I was one of the TAD enlisted aircrew (AW) that went to augment VRC-50 in Da Nang and I undoubtedly flew in this aircraft as crew. I was there from November 1972 until we bugged out in about March of 1973. If you get this message, I was wondering if your acquisition of the aircraft included any documentation from that era? Any flight records? I'm very interested because I have very little documentation of my time at Da Nang, and I am looking for anything at all that would put me there (for herbicide exposure VA claims). Thank you very much for the video - made this old man's day!!
My father was COD crew on USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) in the 1950s. They had several C-1As and a utility version of the A-1 I believe it was designated UA-1E that was used as a COD.
Apparently an American company is putting turboprops in several of these for the Brazilian Navy and calling them "KC-2 Turbo Trader". It will do refueling and COD work.
***** You really shouldn't, their are plenty of high wing aircraft with the controls mounted on a low pedestal between the seats, its just Grumman didn't do it.
