Oh, man! A-7’s and H-3’s. My favorite! I joined the Navy in 1990 right when these beauties were being phased out. Also, I enjoy seeing the F-14’s, A-6’s, EA-6B’s, and S-3’s. That was the golden era for naval aviation.
I was never on the Kennedy, but I remember loading up on the Independence sitting right next to her in 1983 at Naval base Norfolk. I was with VA-176 and later with VA-85. This video brings back some damn good memories. To all of you who served abroad these massive ships, God Bless. Fair winds and following seas! AQ2 Alan Yancey.
Brings back memories! I was in VA-72 from 1981-83. Worked as an AT Troubleshooter/Final Checker. I recall that distinctive RF-energy buzz (heard in this video) in my cranial helmet, which was equipped with a headset. The audio in these older videos seems so much more realistic than what you find in the more recent videos taken with GoPros and what not. Thanks for sharing!
A couple people seem confused about A7's and JFK. In 83-84 CVW3 opted to take 2 A6 squadrons. VA-85 had just returned from deployment on Forrestal and all its A/C had the new DRS sets and B/Ns were up to speed. VA-75 was the other A-6 SQ scheduled also. I was told by Johnny Miller the Grumman Tech REp the Navy felt the DRS systems were important and two Medium Attack squadrons could work well in Multi National Peace keeping forces. A7's were still very much part of the CVW-17 and CVW-3 long after that cruise. You can go look at the cruise books online. A7's of va-66 were on the next JFK cruise of 1986 etc...etc.... The F-14's at that time were using pretty new TARPS pods and that with A6's DRS Infra red camera were used a lot on that deployment. Deemed important at the time. And yes, we all know Intruder was the prettiest A/C ever deployed. No slight intended to the SLUF....it is what it is.
Dunno if you guys gives a damn but if you are bored like me atm you can watch all the new movies on Instaflixxer. Been streaming with my brother these days =)
I worked on the A-7 avionics - as an engineer. Glad to see all the systems worked well. A-7 was one of the first to be designed so the avionics could be serviced by crewmen standing on the deck, not on ladders or workstands. Most boxes could be changed out quickly with few tools. Testing from the deck was also a new design, made for quick turnaround. Thanks for the video.
Just a matter of fact - Big John flew more sorties, and dropped more ordinance during desert storm than any other bird farm the navy had. It was the first carrier to have the F14’s on it during a deployment. It was also the first carrier to have over 10 thousand arresting gear landings in a six month deployment. It was also the last conventional powered carrier built and when everyone was worried about the y2k bug and the nukes were parked she was steaming. Now this ship that means so much to so many thousand that called it home and has served this country so well was sold as scrap for a penny and will be cut up and probably end up in some junk yard rusting away as old washing machines or car bodies. I hope our politicians are proud of themselves.
I was out years before DS but the flight deck always brings back good memories. Plank Owner VA-34 Apr 1970. An old ordie. Did the 70-71 Med cruise on the JFK.
My dad was on the JFK for these OPS in VA-72. CWO-2 (maybe 3) Williams. This was his last deployment in the Navy, since he retired directly after. Does anyone have any stories or remember anything about him? Does anyone know anything about him from previous deployments? Photos? Videos? Anything to share of my dad's history in the Navy would be awesome. I was just an 8 or 9 year old at the height of this. I remember putting yellow bows on a tree to commemorate his absence. This is all hodge podge, but he just got out of the hospital. I just want some good things to share with him when I see him next. Thank you for all the help.
This really brings back memories. I was in VA-46 during this deployment and still remember it very well. Particularly the first night of desert storm. We launched a lot of aircraft in record time and sent our A-7’s with HARM missiles to take out the Iraqi SAM sites. Thanks for posting this and I enjoyed watching it.
Vf-14 tophatters airframe troubleshooter/ final checker in white vest with checkerboard. Near the twin flames, 1 hand low with thumb up, other hand with thumb up rising higher with each of the 5 engine stages during the cat shots. Only difference is that I was a tophatter during 82-84 on the Indy(cv-62 ). Boring bagel station off Lebanon as part of MNP Force,op urgent fury in Grenada, nato war games in arctic circle, dets to Sigonella and Rota was fun. But the adrenaline rush during flight ops on flight deck, 40 years later, nothing in life compares to it. I can still remember our company commander in boot camp claiming that flight deck ops is 2nd only navy seals as to most dangerous and hazardous job environment in navy. I had my doubts and still do. Yeah, flight deck kind of dangerous, especially at night but nothing compared to EOD,UDT and deep sea diving,
all those flight deck crew - working long hours i remember reading the words on my orders.... "unusually arduous sea duty" and thinking... what the hell am i getting myself in to?? #BoysWillBeBoys eh??
My stepfather was stationed on her during enduring freedom. He rebuilt bombs and missiles after transportation. She was a big beautiful girl and will always be missed
How did you do that? I’d love to wander the O3 level to see my old berthing quarters and the airframe shop. Was with VAW 126 and did two cruises in the early 80’s.
@@davidmarvez9790 I worked as a contractor. It's dirty, rusty, moldy, asbestos and lots of lead. The one place I wanted to visit was the brig but couldn't find it.
I was a AE with VA 34 A6 intruders. on the JFK between 1975 and 1976. Never thought the A6 would be used in combat again after Vietnam I was lucky to be in when there wasn't much going on at the time. Thanks to all the piilots and Navy personnel that were on the JFK and took part of the conflicts after I got out.
The new Hornets (and the now coming on line F-35s) are obviously better planes than all of these. But theres still an obvious romance factor here. The "good old days" of specialized aircraft, with loud logos and identities. Great era for airplane nerds like me
i was there 72-75...hard to believe this was in 1991..i thought the a-6 & a-7 were phased out long before that......but the a-7 was retired right after desert storm...the a-6 was retired in 97...the f-14 was retired in 2006,although its still in use in iran,its hard to believe it served for 32 years
I was TAD to the ships Fire Department for the first part of the war. Repair locker 07b there on the flight deck. We watched the first strike leave from my locker. After that I went back to the Calibration lab.
Main locker 7B. Remember it well. I first started out on the de-smoking team and after a year or so ended up as a phone talker and communicated with DC Central. The night of 22 Nov 1975 didn't matter what your job was had to take a turn on the hoses fighting fires from the collision with the belnap.
I was an plane captain aboard USS Enterprise 1976-1980 the A7E was my aircraft we had Tomcats aboard I would stay top side just to see them take off they were awesome I sure miss the flight deck that's where all the action was at : no regrets joining the U.S. NAVY *****
Now I was on the USS MIDWAY CVA-41 R-Division Pipe Shop 1974-1975. It was Beautiful to see F-4 Phantom's fully loaded with Ordinance take off ( Whole Air Wing ) go and Take off. Now if China wants to take on the 7th Fleet well China rice will be Cooked for them Free of charge. Mark V. Gutierrez. 😀😀😀😀.
72 and 46 were the last 2 A7 squadrons, called back into action as Desert Shield was starting up. As far as 72 is concerned (my dad was CO) a lot of the squadron had to be recalled/reconstituted as they were already transitioning to F/A-18 - after the war both 72 and 46 were decommissioned instead of transitioning to hornets.
@@keithherzberg9948 we were a bit busy in CIC for snapshots. All bullshit aside, I appreciate your vid & service... and how dangerous that flight deck is. Just poking a lil fun, from the Radio Shack.
I don't know if you're a Dad , but I share vids like yours in hopes of inspiring my 17yo (87 on his ASVAB) so he'll see better horizons in the USN/USAF. But he's stuck on a USMC enlistment.... It's a tough conversation.
@@isaigonzalez154 nice to know, thought I've been shaving with it. Still remember working on those belly pans were the tail hook would hit. Or puting tire in box 4 testing. Sleeped in compartment below mess decks.
Sorry guys but all of this footage can't be Desert Storm because we din't fly A7s in the Gulf some footage probably is Desert Storm but not all. Still a good video. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah sorry Gary but A-7 were there both last active A7 outfits VA-46 and VA-72 flew in Desert Storm and I should know I was in 72 No slack in light attack
You are going to disappoint a lot of guys in VA-46 and VA-72. We were the last 2 A-7 squadrons and deployed on Big John for Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
The video is actual and taken aboard big John and about 30 pilots and 240 maintenance people from VA-46 and VA-72 were actually there in 1991 taking out targets with skipper missiles in Irag. I supported the squadrons. Geez!
@@keithland7620 wow, my bad. I was on the America and never even saw an A7 from 89 to 91. I didn't know the JFK deployed different equipment. I should have not commented on the JFK. I assumed and you know what happens when you do that!
The A7 was not on JFK at this time. I reported on board in July of '82, that plane was gone from our ship by the end of that year. The Tomcat and Hornet took over then. The Corsair was pushing up daisies at the boneyard by the time Desert Storm rolled around.
Google “Navy a-7 Desert Storm.” I was on staff of COMCVW-3 from 1987-1991. VA-46 & VA-72 were in process of transitioning when we got our 4 or 5 day notice to deploy. They brought their Corsairs to the ship, made the last A-7 deployment ever, and did a great job!
No need to be, I still no my gen orders, have my boo sockets and salute better then some of these current sailors, and I said some, no response needed, I will delete it quick
@@thomascochran8669 no, you don't no your general orders. If you knew them, you'd obey and follow them. Captain's mast for those that no their general orders 😆
