Stories from Vets

Jim Lerch

It was 1960 and I was stationed with VAW 11, radar sub hunters out of North Island Naval Air Base, San Diego, CA. We were deployed to the USS Oriskany CVA 34 an aircraft carrier with 4,500 to 5,000 men on board. Our squadron was there for pilot qualification of launch and recovery. Pilot qualifications consist of 10 day time and 10 night time (five deck and five catapult) launches and recoveries each. As plane captain it was my job to keep the aircraft in good operating order by checking engine, air frame and hydraulics. Before launch we’d turn the aircraft over to the pilot, who trusted us completely for the maintenance of his plane. One night on launch and recovery we were on deck with our aircraft. There was a lot of noise and wind as a carrier does 40 knots trying for wind of at least 40 knots across the bow to successfully launch the planes. When the carrier doesn’t reach 40 knots then catapult launches are used. That night around 1900 hours we were at the tail end of launch and recovery. The night launches are very dangerous on a carrier. There was a lot of activity, but everyone on station knew their job. On this particular night a good friend and shipmate, Joe, also a plane captain was to my left and forward of me. He slipped and slid reaching out for and barely grabbing hold of another aircraft’s landing gear. What a scare as he was able to stop himself, otherwise he’d have gone over the side and been lost. When we finished our ops Joe said, “I’m sure glad you couldn’t see me because I was probably as white as you.” My friend, Joe, is black. We had a good laugh, but were thankful for his quick thinking.