Wild Carrier Landing Proves Why This LSO is the G.O.A.T. 

Navy son currently a squadron LSO and flies the Super Hornet very proud of him.

I have many great Bug memories. He was on the Ranger for Desert Storm when I was a first cruise squadron LSO under training. He wasn't CAG LSO, but he was always up there helping out with the new guys like me. One story: Bug had a fix for the notorious hook skipping older Tomcats; stack a few rolls of toilet paper under the 4 wire to raise it up about 8 inches! RIP Bug.

Name: Rand McNally Callsign: Atlas ...Outstanding

I was there that night and listened to Bug's soothing dulcet tones coax Atlas into the barricade live on the radio as it happened. I could tell I was listening to the best of the best and I sure was glad he was on our boat. Complete legend gone too soon.

When I watch episodes like this, I'm always reminded of that line, "Where do we find such men?"

ATC controller on Ranger here. I served 2 west pacs with CMD Roach. He had some of the best sea stories I have ever heard. So glad I got to control him. I still tell stories about him. A walking legend at the time. Those boots he wore....... we were so lucky to have him! We had Bug, Boomer, and Burner.....the absolute best. So honored to have worked with these men.

He also managed to project the ideal image of a military officer: incredible mustache, dashing yet out of regs hair and an absolutely monolithic military bearing. Also: night pitching deck with no ball on a PRC-90. How could you possibly make an approach any more difficult?

Hozier talked about black night in the Med. On my first deployment as a new aviator in VS-24 in the fall of 66, we were on a Med cruise on the USS Randolph (CVS-15). On night on a sonobuoy monitoring flight, as we stepped out of the hatch from the island onto the flight deck, it was black. I looked down and could not see the deck, couldn't see me own feet. We knew where the aircraft were spotted, so we cautiously walked forward (heading to the port side of the deck, to the first aircraft, checked the number, then feeling our way forward, found our aircraft and manned the S-2E. As a nugget I was in the right seat and my senior aviator a LCDR, went of full instruments on the cat. When he was ready, he had me give the salute, and we launched with no horizon. I have never experienced as black a night before or since. Love this series. Fly Navy

Bug's resume is jaw-dropping. What an absolute unit. If he was a character in fiction you'd think he was over-the-top.

The most dangerous work environment on earth, the flight deck of a carrier. Talk about unsung heroes.

Hozer is the Mr. ROGERS of carrier aviation

As a former Tomcat maintainer, of which I'll be proud of till the day I'm no longer on this earth, do you know what part of that pride stems from? The fact that naval aviators like Mooch, Hozer, Bug, and a host of others, whether I served alongside them or not, could do things with jets and other aircraft that no one else could do. Witness this video. Men being ice cold in a particularly hairy situation. Business as usual. I can only think of one of my favorite movies, The Bridges at Toko-Ri, when Beer Barrel, the LSO, was trying to bring in Lt. Brubaker who was critically low on fuel and Tilley was set up to protect the jets up forward because his CAG had crashed the barricade. With one or two exceptions, I was always treated fairly by men like these and it inspired me to always give 1000% no matter how tired or hurt I was. I would do it all again at the drop of a hat. Commander "Bug" Roach, Sir, May you always have full bags, and fair winds and following seas for a steady deck.

It's good to see Bug continuing to get the recognition he deserves. I first met him during carrier quals in the RF-8 out on the "Coral Maru" when I went to VFP-63 in 1978. The guys in that squadron were pretty epic in the eyes of this JO! Classic "fighter guy", like the Navy version of the "most interesting man in the world". I was in VFC-13 at the time of his accident after having been in VF-126 up until 1988. It was a sad day, for sure. Oh, and the RF-8 didn't have needles, so every IMC/night approach (thank the gods we only got 6 night landings to qual) were all CCA.

This video really took me back to my navy days. I was one of the AC's on duty at FACSFAC San Diego (Beaver Control) the day Bug passed. I remember the SAR ops and I then transcribed the radio transmissions between bug and his wingman. To hear those words again after so many years....

Great episode! I served with Lt. Roach in VF-24 aboard Hancock in 1975. He was probably the nicest guy I ever strapped into an F-8. He would drop by the line shack from time to time and shoot the shit. When a POD came out about maintaining grooming standards we asked him when he was going to trim up the moustache. I remember he laughed and said “ain’t going to happen boys”.

Rand "Atlas" McNally who is the pilot of this A-6 later became a Navy A-6 pilot. "Atlas" later died doing FCLP's at NAS Alameda, CA while preparing for CQ's on the USS Constellation in the spring of 1994. My A-6 squadron had a bunch of former Marine A-6 pilots and BN's as when the Marines transitioned from the A-6E to the F/A-18D, lots of senior crew where told the Marines no longer needed them and to go home or join the Navy. They joined the Navy. They were some awesome low level pilots, but absolutely dreaded going to the boat. Because we had these Marine pilots and BN's, in late 1993 VA-304 was the first Navy squadron to carry and drop napalm since 1977 doing close air support with grunts on the ground at MCAS Yuma, AZ. Atlas was one of the pilots doing the napalm drops in 1993. I have a friend who was in VF-126 when "Bug" had his fatal ejection out of his A-4.

Wasn’t expecting the epilogue. You gotta love a realist. “What a lousy day…” RIP gentlemen. 😢

Was a PR in the Marine Corps (6060 flight equipment Marine) and worked with the seat mechs. The loss of CDR Roach is our worst nightmare as parachute packers and seat mechs.

How you communicate is everything! I have been a firefighter for 35 years. How you speak on the radio and to your crew really helps success. When stuff is going really shitty, speak calmly. I deliberately spoke calmly an "dull" when giving a report on conditions when shit was hitting the fan. I believe it sent a message to the receivers, stuff is bad, but we got this.

Same thing happened aboard USS Midway (without the barricade) on the night of September 25, 1972 in the Gulf of Tonkin. One of those rare pitching deck recoveries in the Gulf. VA-115 A-6 approaching the ramp, coming down, flight deck coming up. Hard landing. Right main wheel sheered off with the main mount remaining in place. Aircraft caught a wire. As the airplane began to pivot on the right main, the tailhook spit the wire and the aircraft careened up into the pack. Wing of a parked aircraft sliced through the upper right canopy causing the ejection of the BN. Lost at sea. Two aircraft parked on Cat-2 went over the port side, two others were destroyed on deck. Four fatalities of deck personnel. It was truly amazing how fast the fire crew reacted and extinguished a small fire on deck. A sad night indeed.

Roach strikes me as the type of Man who could park his Trans Am in the Admirals spot not get towed. And actually get it washed by his staff.

Mooch, if I may address you by your call sign, this is easily one of your best RU-vid episodes. You and Hozer nailed it. Great stuff! Thank you.

Thanks for this. I am a 5 year stroke survivor ( lived.) this whole story has been a lesson in patience and tenacity.

Emotional viewing! Every Naval Aviator and crewman should watch this entire video . . . even those of us who went to sea flying choppers. Respect for those who flew complex, heavy jet aircraft on dark nights with rolling seas and needed to get everyone safely back aboard. Thank you, Ward & Hozer.

Thank you very much for your commentary. From an aviation perspective, you both brought enlightenment to the LSO perspective on how dangerous a barricade landing can be. Bug’s innate ability and way of talking a pilot down would be extremely hard to duplicate today. The limitations and restrictions that keep our aviators and their planes safe at present did not exist during Bug’s long and colorful career. LSO’s today often balk at some of Bug’s more colorful calls on the platform. Although his record of safe and expeditious landings may never be repeated, his style and deep understanding of carrier landing may still teach our current LSO’s a thing or two. One of his biggest superpowers was his innate understanding of every pilot he landed. It was as if he climbed up in the cockpit with the pilot and sat next to him, feeling his fear and exhilaration while simultaneously feeding him the exact information he needed to get back onboard. He also had the biggest heart imaginable. If you watch the PLAT tape to the end you will see both “Atlas” McNally and his bombardier/navigator “Tank” Wolcott climb out of the A-6 and walk shakily away to sit on a tow truck. Then, if you look even more carefully, you will see Bug walk from the LSO platform, around the barricade and the stricken aircraft to make a beeline directly toward the two marines. When he reaches them, he wraps them both in a huge bear hug and then slaps them on their backs as if to say “well done!” Yet, more than this, the prologue and epilogue of this story is immense and extremely noteworthy. Atlas was not known to be a great night flyer. He’d previously had a similar incident and there was talk aboard Ranger of having the two Marines eject instead of attempting the barricade. With swells approaching 60 feet and no ambient light whatsoever, the chances of their survival would have been extremely low. Bug was heard arguing with the Air Boss to rig the barricade instead and won. After the success of this barricade landing, Bug wrote a report explaining the incident in detail including his personal struggle of staying upright during the whole process. He had to hold on to the MOVLAS to stay onboard during the massive pitch and roll that Ranger was notorious for. I challenge any LSO to have as steady and calm a voice in such trying conditions. In the following years, “Tank” Wolcott would keep a bottle of whiskey in his truck to give to Bug whenever he saw him again. Each time he gave him the bottle and his thanks, he would replace it for the next time he saw the man who he is quoted to say; “Saved my life.” Bug’s career was no straight line of an officer’s stripes. He struggled with being passed over multiple times because he wanted to stay doing what he was gifted at. He was often ridiculed but continued on with a boyish spirit and love of flying. Anyway, thanks again. Bug was one of a kind, never to be duplicated. He lived and breathed his last breath doing what he loved and saved hundreds of naval aviators over his many years of service.

It's always inspiring to see the kind of comradery you have with so many very high quality people. The mutual respect and friendship you have is such a positive reassurance of the good that exists in mankind. Thanks again Ward.

I really had to bear down to hold in a tear at "Stay with it, stay with it, stay with it". I'm not a pilot and never served, but i can say if there's nothing but one man's voice between me and the worst or last day of my life, I'd want it to be that one. My stomach lost touch with gravity watching that plane start to roll on the deck.

These are the episodes that set you apart. Great story and sad to hear how Bug met his end.

That was a hair raising recovery. All us maintenance guys were glued to video feed as this occurred. To this day I consider my tour on the Ranger with VMA(AW)-121 one of the most memorable of my career. I don't think people give the Navy folks enough credit for what they do.

Hozer and I were roommates in Meridian. Lost track after that as I was a Marine fighter pilot and Hozer went off to fly A-7’s. But I remember our time together fondly!

The barricade stanchion covering the ball is something that had never occurred to me. It must have been nerve-wracking.

Mooch and Hoser, thanks for an excellent presention. It is your best that I have seen. It gave a real great appreciation of trying to land on a carrier. I am a former B-52 Bomb-Nav and have had several hairy landings, including one night landing where an LSO would have been a great help.

More than ever, we need to celebrate, and have those who are up-and-coming pattern themselves after, those who become the absolute masters of their craft. These are the people who show the way and who lead when the chips are down ... and, no matter how good things get, it's only a matter of time before the chips are down again. RIP Bug, RIP Atlas.

I was the approach controller on Nimitz when the whale crashed. Very tragic! Like Hoser says...when the subject comes up, it really hurts...takes you back to the numbness and shock. The thing I remember most is the LSO screaming cut cut cut cut.

You know a guy is a legend when pretty much everyone on base knows about him. It was a regular site to see him tooling his scooter past the Paraloft where I worked, headed to work every morning. I remember that day. I only ever met him in passing, but I remember his friendly disposition and the respect he got from all hands. I had never heard about when he recovered aircraft with only a PRC-90. Man, that must have been something.

Ward, I’m a veteran ship’s company PO1 1968-77, with three carrier Westpac’s under my belt prior to separating. This video is the best one I’ve ever watched or heard describing the minute to minute or should I say second to second job of the deployed squadron’s LSOs’ . I witnessed first-hand dozens of day and night landings, but never had the opportunity to hear the aviator/LSO close conversation. Especially surprised at the calm informal way the LSO is on that comm with the approaching aircraft. Thank you….

My father was the LPO in CATCC aboard Ranger during her 1964, 1966 and 1968 cruises. I was aboard, different division, on the '68 cruise. I was allowed to be in CATCC when we were not doing combat ops. I watched many traps called from CATCC. I had learned a couple years earlier that I wouldn't make a good AC. Between '66 and '68 he was stationed at Alameda. Every 3rd Saturday, I'd get to go down with him. It was really cool to be in the trailer and, as the AC said the plane was over the thresh hold, I'd duck outside and watch the plane go flashing past us. They'd let me take handoffs, but it quickly became apparent that I couldn't pick the plane out of all the ground clutter. This was in the days of green returns all over a black screen. Yes, there was a qualified AC listening to the call.

That’s one hell of a story. Thank you for sharing this man’s legacy 🫡🇺🇸

I was below decks, AIMD Material Control when this event happened, I was stationed at Kingsville Texas when Cdr Roach was stationed there, outstanding Officer, Passed way before his time. Outstanding Tour on Ranger, CV61 scrapped way before her time.

Another spectacular collaboration with Hozer! I am truly in awe of the skill and commitment required of pilots, lsos and deck crew to make naval aviation a reality. No one ever asked me to park an M88 on a pitching, dark motor pool lot as an ordinary end of mission routine! Thank you Ward and Hozer!

When someone who has been there and done the real shit speaks highly of someone who is in their field, I listen! Mooch, I love your channel! Thank you for your service, and thank you for bringing these great stories to us!

Awesome story about how the leadership and mentorship of a single person can make such an impact.

The coordination with multiple ships, tanker, aircraft and mission specialists assisting bug is absolutely incredible to me. I have no military experience but i sure do appreciate how incredible you all are. Well done!

Fun fact: Capt Erik Brown of the Royal Navy. Holder of many records including the most carrier landings and most aircraft types flown, (who coincidentally taught himself to fly a helicopter by reading the manual over lunch and then flying it back to their base after a couple laps in the pattern!). He fly out to a RN carrier for testing. Upon arrival, no one was on deck much less any LSO. He landed, walked below decks to find the surprised crew preparing for his arrival and subsequent testing.

4 minutes in'sh. ll say it again, Mr. Miller, being able to get back up on the plat' and call jets back to the boat has got to be an ultimate lifetime highlight. Congratulations, I bet it was sweet trip. Back to the vid.

Gents, I very much appreciate the breakdown and explanation of this video. So much to unpack and you both did great. I could have used a little more explanation and maybe a visual of his wave off correction but I know Ward has explained several times before. I’ve seen this particular video many times before and was always left in awe of the pilot, the flight deck crew, and of course Bugs performance. His statement of “if I say your good, your good you got to trust me,” and the way he eases corrections is superb. Thank you both.

I was the CATCC Final Controller that night, CAG was quite a character and great shipmate....that was the best cruise of my career....Very sorry to hear of the loss of these two shipmates.....

Damn I don't know what I expected this episode to be, but I know I didn't expect it to be that intense. Damn. What you guys do always blows me away.

You guys (and Bug) are awesome! The reason carriers are so massive is to carry the huge steel balls being deployed! Carrier aviation always reminds me of a documentary where a pilot is describing carrier landings: "In the daytime, imagine laying a postage stamp upside down in the middle of your living room. Now back up several steps, run and jump through the air and try and lick the stamp. At night, do the same thing, but turn the lights off!".

Great presentation of a outstandingly capable LSO and a stunning loss with his early demise!

Very important that he told pilot that wave off will likely be because the deck is whacky and not the fault of the pilot. Keeps him from eating himself after a wave off. He won't be second guessing himself and getting too worked up.

More of this, please. I love hearing Mooch and Hozer talk shop.

Thank-you, gentlemen, for another gripping story of naval aviator heroes. May they rest in peace, their sworn duty done.

Ward, for the few years I've been following your channel, you've made a lot of great videos. This one is one of the best. Thanks so much for bringing such great info to those of us that are curious about carrier aviation.

Other than flying the F-4 itself, LSO was the best job I ever had in the Navy, and the Bug Roach/Atlas barricade pass video is where I always send people who ask me what an LSO does. And regarding the LSO’s tone of voice: the calmer the LSO’s voice, the hairier you knew the situation would be. There’s a world of difference between a matter-of-fact “the deck’s pretty steady” and a slowly-drawled “the deck’s moving juuusst a little bit.” If you heard that second call, you knew you were in trouble.

I was on the Ranger during the A-6 incident your were talking about. That would have been when we went to Japan and Korea.

Thankyou both for your service.

Mooch, I was on board the "USS RANGER" as a Grumman Rep. for the F14 Tomcat when that happened. It was like a miracle just happened when the deck leveled & flattened-out seconds before that A6 hit the deck. I have video of the plat when that happened. I'll never forget that night when that pilot expertly landed that aircraft into the barricade. Thanks for the memories Mooch!!!

Outstanding video. My father and seven of my uncles served in the Air Force and Army. I worked at General Dynamics in San Diego during the 80's and 90's and drove past NAS Miramar every day. Today I lived close to NAS Pensacola and the Navy Air Museum. I've come to love naval aviation and your videos are always a treat. Thank you Ward.

This is one of those “Once Upon a Time vs. This is a no $**+er” stories. But, from what I have heard of Bug Roach, I believe it. One of my former COs in the Reserves had a great story about Bug during Desert Storm. This (now retired Navy Reserve CAPT) individual was a RIO and flew with Bug during one of the first nights of Desert Storm. Bug apparently didn’t cage his RMI (or something like that) and was flying 180 degrees out from his intended course for rendezvous with the strike package. This RIO was a very junior LTjg and he had to tell the very senior pilot Bug “You’re going the wrong way.” After correcting the problem, they had a successful mission and safe recovery. Bug invited the young RIO to his stateroom for a (against regulations) beverage. Apparently, Bug had a frozen margarita machine hidden in his stateroom.

When I was a student and then instructor at VT-21 in NAS Kingsville in ‘83-‘84, Bug was the Asst Base Ops. He came by all the time to the Ready Room to bag some hops. He drove up in his ‘50’s small bed truck, black with side pipes and flames painted on the hood. I mean what else would he drive. He would tell us stories all day and never repeat any of them. He was the coolest pilot I ever met and so cool he just didn’t care about making rank or getting command. And if anyone should have had command it was Bug. His prayer at the Tomcat Ball, which is still on the Hook website, brought tears to my eyes. He is still missed. Throw a nickel on the grass…

It’s a sad indictment of the Navy today that a man who was the absolute best at what he did and who has awards and schools named in his honor could never happen again because his career doesn’t fit the proper mold.

I've loved this PLAT tape with "BUG" for a long time. It's like listening to a fireman talk a kitten down from a tree. I play it for my radio communications classes I conduct for international military pilots. Thanks so much. Former EA-3B crewman.

I’ve seen this viddy numerous times and every time I see it, I am honestly awed by the skill, courage, and ‘fighter pilot cool’, as Tom Wolfe called it, of the aircrew and LSO - like it’s all just a minor embuggerance, no sweat, hurry up so we can go get a slider and some autodog. I have the utmost respect and, yes, reverence, for Naval Aviators because I couldn’t possibly do that job; I get shaky knees if I hit a pot hole. Kudos, deep admiration, and utmost thanks to the finest navy on the planet. 🤗🤙🏼

THIS content is why I’m a subscriber to this channel! 4 star episode……..as usual.

Proud fixer: F-4S, SH-2F, FA-18C, FA-18F. AE by trade. 8300 30 and out. 85-15. CAPT, thank you. This has been among your best in my time here with you.

My old man had “Bug” as a sponsor for one of his cruises as a middy. He told me stories of sitting out at the LSO shack observing FCLP with him. Of course at the time he had no idea who “Bug” was. Only later once he became a fleet NFO would he realize that he had been in the presence of such a legend.

I follow Ward because of my fathers service as an aviator from '59-'64 flying WF-2/E-1B's. I find this mans name an interesting coincidence. Dad name was John Roach Griffin. 😊

Outstanding episode, Ward. You both work very well together in order to give us a complete interpretation of the event.

You did an excellent job laying out this episode!

I remember this incident. I was working on the E2 next to the island there. I helped position the net and stretch it out and get it ready for hoisting. Yep, that was an exciting time!

Cool "like an FM DJ playin' deep cuts at 2 am," 😂 so good. This is the cool naval aviation stuff I tune in for. Love it! Fascinating!

This is just great Ward. Thanks for the time you put into this. Superb edits, quality.

Great story telling and a wonderful tribute, Ward and Hozer, many thanks. So sad to lose Bug.

I think you forgot the most important item on his resume is that legendary fighter pilot mustache

Great look at an aspect of carrier operations most civilians don't give much thought.

I almost passed out holding my breath. What stellar professionals, all.

Sometimes, the appellation “Legend” is conferred too quickly upon the talented among us. That does not seem to be the case with this man. Thanks Mooch and Hozer for the introduction to the man and an example that serves as a capstone to his story.

Served with Bug while we were at NAS Kingsville. Neat guy!

As someone who is not a pilot and has never even served at sea, I'm always fascinated with the work that LSOs do, especially under duress. I would love to hear many more mishap stories from the LSO perspective! If you haven't covered it already, I would love to hear the story of Lt. Keith Gallagher's partial ejection trap, as well as the mishap I read about in Approach! magazine many years ago where a Hornet ingested rubber that was still on the flight deck into both engines at launch and the pilot successfully landed despite having almost no power on both engines.

The best conference room in OPNAV at the Pentagon is named after Bug.

Thanks. This was one of the best and most informative videos you have done. So much of the landing experience seems to be sidelined, so it was fascinating to see it covered in such depth, and with so much drama. Well done.

Fascinating story and talk through.. .Thanks Mooch & Hozer

What a rewarding use of the superb talents of both of you to illustrate this hero. Thanks immensely for this one.

I'm an Australian Infantryman and I'm so impressed with this man, I was so upset to hear he died before his time!! What a freaking legend!!

Slow and calm voice, like an FM disc jockey at 2am. 😊 Kudos for thar one Ward. I don't think you can find a show like that anymore. Too cool.

My wife's late grandfather, who served on the WW2 USS Portland, and my brother-in-law, who deployed on the USS Kittyhawk, both said the fight deck of an aircraft carrier is the most dangerous piece of real-estate on the planet earth.

I'm so thankful to be able to hear these stories from legends like you guys. It's going to be a very sad day when we've lost all of you to time...

Very interesting to see how much the deck pitches up and down at the stern. Good point out on the destroyer’s mast lights for reference.

My favorite part of the full video is when someone asks Bug if he needs a backup. Bug, cool as the other side of the pillow, replies, “Uh negative, we’re all set.” The GOAT doesn’t need a backup.

Ward, great vid shedding light on what makes a good paddles. Great seeing you and Terry on the Truman.

What a great episode!!!. Wow... Carrier landings are NO joke... Lots of practice, guidance and courage...

Small world ! I retired from VA-304 Alameda, a few months before the crash incident. As CSC I met with the Ward Room every month for a briefing on certain matters. I knew both aviators on 155694. It was areal shock to us all. VA-304 was a very professional, well led, active Reserve Squadron. Again great video, Ward !

Outstanding cast - thanks for highlighting Commander Bug Roach, quite the aviator

I am a SWO. Bug is a Brown Shoe sailor I respect!

You guys are in a class of your own! Thank you for your awesome service! No man buns in this group! 👍

Awesome story and of course fantastic breakdown. I have several friends that are former naval aviators, during that era. I am always amazed at the “all in a days work”attitude. Today, they fly civilian personal aircraft and continue the professional and camaraderie. I am honored to be their friend. Thank you guys for your service!

Super great epi.! Fascinating job to do the LSO role! Love seeing real footage!

Randy McNally and I were in flight school together in Beeville, Texas at the now closed NAS Chase Field (1983-1985). We also were on Ranger together during the 1987 cruise. Bug was our CAG LSO-. I was in VS-38…callsign Coach.. I still have pictures of Bug with us in the baby pool we were in during [Steel Beach Day]. I was flying this recovery that night. I was the last aircraft aboard that night [before] they erected the barricades for Randy. The deck was really pitching that night. I still remember Bug saying….99 listen up, all you guys are adding just a little to much power at the ramp-so easy with the power. Many bolter’s that night. After I trapped, I went as fast I could, flight gear still on-up the island so I could watch Randy’s barricade. I will never forget it. I actually have the full video of that night. Unfortunately, years later while Randy were flying for the airlines, Randy was still in the A-6 Reserves. While flying a landing pattern at NAS Alameda, Randy aircraft had a mishap and crashed into SF Bay. Randy was a great friend in flight school, shipmate, Marine Corps Officer and a very smart and intelligent individual. Man, this video by Mooch really brings back the memories, and the memories of that night.

Great vid, really enjoyed it!. My uncle was a F-8 instructor at VF-124 in 1968 when Bug went thru the school and may have run into each other. They certainly knew each other as a couple years later in 1971 they deployed together as squadron mates with VF-191 aboard Oriskany. I'm sure it's possible they ran into one another at Miramar from time to time thru out the 70s and 80s as both of their careers continued. BZ, keep it up Ward!