Had the privelege of chatting to an ex-navy pilot today, at the Tiger Club. Flew everything from Sea Venoms to Buccaneers and Phantoms. His description of the deck approach in Phantoms sounds particularly hairy - "no cut, no flare". IIRC the approach was with 85% power at 136 kts, everything a-dangle. If you didn't get waved off at 200 yds you were commited. A tiny increase in alpha and she would drop, so you just had to stay put, in the attitude.
Balls of steel, or what!
Hats off to these guys.
Nowadays, aged 80, or so, he races vintage yachts........