There have been many instances of Naval aviators landing on the wrong carrier, known as "catching a live one". The carrier involved would sometimes let the errant aircraft land to pile embarrassment on the crew. Before the suitably redecorated aircraft was allowed to launch and recover to the correct carrier, a case of the captains favourite tipple was normally offered as compensation.
Along the lines of "how could they possibly miss that"; a long time ago I read in a Naval Aviation magazine safety collumn that the Nayv had launched every type of folding wing (as in make space on deck, not variable geometry) aircraft they own at least once with the wings still folded!
Totally amazing is that some did -not- end up in the water but managed to open the wings after launch.