Sturtz

My Feedback: (20)

(I changed the he** to heck just in case the server censor blocked this.)

The result of MacNamara's ordnance shortage in 'Nam..... .we "gave them everything we had..... EVERYTHING!" A true story from VA-25.
Just as this AD was being shot off, we got a 1MC message from the bridge, "What the (censored) heck was on 572's right wing?"


For those too young to remember, during the Vietnam conflict, carriers were so woefully short of ordinance that missions were often launched with only a half load just to keep the sortie rate up so that the REMF's in DC would not send out blistering messages about failure to support the war effort, etc.

Given that the loss rate approached, and sometime exceeded, one aircraft a day, all will understand that there was a degree of reticence to launch with less than a full load -- if I must dance with the elephant at least let's make it worth while. Nevertheless, the indomitable spirit of the carrier aviators, and their squadron-mates, prevailed in some rather perverse way.

I have every hope that today's successors to the mantel left at the Cubi "O" Club bar persevere as well. Kick the tires, light the fires, bolt for the blue and brief on guard -- last one up is lead. Back in 'Nam', if you weren't on USS MIDWAY in Oct 1965, I thought you'd get a kick out of one squadron's ingenuity. Yes, this really happened. Once again history is stranger then fiction, and a lot funnier:

The USS Midway VA-25's Toilet Bomb.

In October 1965, CDR Clarence J. Stoddard, Executive Officer of VA-25 "Fist of the Fleet", flying an A-1H Skyraider, NE/572 "Paper Tiger II" from Carrier Air Wing Two aboard USS Midway carried a special bomb to the North Vietnamese in commemoration of the 6-millionth pound of ordnance dropped. This bomb was unique because of the type... it was a toilet!

The following is an account of this event, courtesy of Clint Johnson, Captain, USNR Ret. Captain Johnson was one of the two VA-25 A-1 Skyraider pilots credited with shooting down a MiG-17 on June 20, 1965. Clint Johnson was also a classmate and Company-mate of mine at the Naval Academy.

572 was flown by CDR C. W. "Bill" Stoddard. His wingman in 577 was LCDR Robin Bacon, who had a wing station mounted movie camera (the only one remaining in the fleet from WWII).

The flight was a Dixie Station strike (off South Vietnam) going to the Delta. When they arrived in the target area and CDR Stoddard was reading the ordnance list to the FAC, he ended with "and one code name Sani-flush".

The FAC couldn't believe it and joined up to see it. It was dropped in a dive with LCDR Bacon flying tight wing position to film the drop. When it came off, it turned hole to the wind and almost struck his airplane.

It made a great ready room movie. The FAC said that it whistled all the way down. The toilet was a damaged toilet, which was going to be thrown overboard.

One of our plane captains rescued it and the ordnance crew made a rack, tailfins and nose fuse for it. The squadron flight deck checkers maintained a position to block the view of the Captain and Air Boss while the aircraft was taxiing onto the catapult. Just as it was being shot off we got a 1MC message from the bridge, "What the heck was on 572's right wing?"

jmohn

Was it loaded? Great story!


Thanks

TEBerg

My Feedback: (1)

Thanks for the story.. My dad was on that cruise.. He was electronics repair for VA-25.. I have his two cruise books and have heard the story before..

The other one I remember was about an "Irish" pilot - Just because I can't remember I'll call him 'Finnigan'.. You guys were out in one hell of a blow and the ship was rocking up to 20 degrees each side.. Finnigan was in the ready room "jumping" and letting himself "fall" across the room between swells.. Well, I understand that the Squadron CO was none too happy when he came in the passage door and Finnigan landed right on top of him!!!

Sorry if this is an "old Sea Story".. But I seem to remember my dad laughing a lot about that..

I'm currently doing more research to get my A-1 project in the air.. I have the kit and the engine.. Looking for what retracts now.. I'll have a local guy print up the VA-25 graphics for the plane..

Regards,

Tom

mugenkidd

My Feedback: (94)

great story Kurt, thanks for sharing.. nice pics also

BankYank

My Feedback: (63)

Great stories. Maybe there are some others out there someone might share???
Pat

lane279

Hey TEburg! Are you going to put the toilet on it! That would be awesome!!




Layne...

Sturtz

My Feedback: (20)

I liked the report from the forward air controller that "It whistled all the way down." "and one code name Sani-flush".

LOL !!!!

Now if any of you guys missed a post in here about getting yourself over to Flight Journal Magazine and signing up you need to do so. Budd Davisson has recorded the best post-op Podcasts I've ever listened to. From the B25 to the P38 he's flown 'em. And yup,,,
even the Skyraider. I've never met him but my cousin (stunt pilot Burt Thomsen aka Doc) flew up to met him and take a 5 hour course on (How to land the Pitts Biplane) I believe he still teaches the course.
You can download the podcasts by right clicking then (Save Target As). I take them with me on visits to my pilot buddies and everyone enjoys listening to Budd describe the differant flight habits of a warbird or a FAC plane while we down a few brewskees.
[link=http://www.flightjournal.com/Me2/Default.asp]Flight Journal Magazine[/link]
Remember to sign up so you can receive updates on new podcasts.

ENJOY !!!!!!

TEBerg

My Feedback: (1)

Yep.. I have a scale model of 577 that had the Mig kill.. But, decided it would just be more fitting to go with 572 AND INCLUDE the Toilet.. With luck it will be a droppable piece ..

Also, there is a good account of the VA-25 Mig Kill on Cable TV.. Pretty sure it was one of the "Mig Killers" specials on the History Channel.. But I have it recorded and can check the program name and channel..

CAPT John

My Feedback: (15)

TEBerg,

In case you would like to re-visit the Cubi O'Club Bar, it was preserved during the closure of NAS Cubi Pt., and is back in operation at the Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola. Visiting the museum and sitting at the bar brought back some great memories for me (although I was not there during the Nam years).

John

TEBerg

My Feedback: (1)

John,

Thanks for the thought.. My father was with VA-25 on the Midway I was born on Lemoore NAS in 1967.. However, if I get a chance to travel back to Florida (I was there while I was in the Coast Guard), I'll definitely try to make that a stop..

Also, I added a link in another thread.. But did you guys see that there is a Global Skyraider Kit on E-Bay right now..: http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-Global-Qual...QQcmdZViewItem

This is the same Kit I making into a Sport Scale plane (that has been on the shelf since the 1980's). I have the fiberglass cowl on the way and making my list of "stuff" for the project.

Fleet

In the AF, we had alternate mission packages during times when ammo was low: