AD-5W landing
aboard USS Randolph, summer 1956, Aegean Sea |
LTJG George
Ormond (VA-176) climbing out of ditched AD-6
as USS Randolph sails
by making a sharp turn to port to avoid him. He was launched
on a deck run carrying 7000 pounds of ordnance on a hot day with
no wind and a plane that didn't develop full power. He got the
wheels retracted and jigged
right, but never salvoed the load in the few seconds between
the deck edge and the drink. Unhurt, you may see him saluting
the King and Queen of Greece who were aboard for an airshow before
the Angel comes to get him. |
Ens. Neil Atkinson,
(VAAW-33) caught the barrier knee high
on USS Leyte Gulf off Block Island. R.I November 1955. Car
Qual cruise.
He exited through the crew hatch on the right side of the cockpit
with his
socks on fire. The pilot's compartment was crushed. His only
complaint was that "they damned near drowned me with foam."
He had no crew with him on
that day. |