F/A-18 Super Hornet Lost Overboard Off CVN In Mediterranean

[RAFEngO74to09]

"NAPLES, Italy -- On July 8, 2022, an F/A-18 Super Hornet assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, embarked aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), blew overboard due to unexpected heavy weather in the Mediterranean Sea.

The carrier was conducting a replenishment-at-sea, which was safely terminated through established procedures.

All personnel aboard the ship are accounted for.

One Sailor received minor injuries while conducting operations during the unexpected heavy weather. The Sailor is in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.

USS Harry S. Truman and embarked aircraft remain full mission capable.

Details and the cause of the incident are under investigation.

For questions related to this release, contact U.S. Naval Forces"

https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/3088326/fa-18-super-hornet-assigned-to-uss-harry-s-truman-blown-overboard-due-to-unexpe/

[etudiant]

"NAPLES, Italy -- On July 8, 2022, an F/A-18 Super Hornet assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, embarked aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), blew overboard due to unexpected heavy weather in the Mediterranean Sea.

The carrier was conducting a replenishment-at-sea, which was safely terminated through established procedures.

All personnel aboard the ship are accounted for.

One Sailor received minor injuries while conducting operations during the unexpected heavy weather. The Sailor is in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.

USS Harry S. Truman and embarked aircraft remain full mission capable.

Details and the cause of the incident are under investigation.

For questions related to this release, contact U.S. Naval Forces"

https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/3088326/fa-18-super-hornet-assigned-to-uss-harry-s-truman-blown-overboard-due-to-unexpe/

Thought that replenishment at sea was very much weather limited, so this is indeed a surprise.
The ships presumably have ongoing weather watch. Can someone help?

[zambonidriver]

I have admittedly no knowledge of carrier operations but muss have been quite some weather for such a thing to happen 🤔

[SpazSinbad]

Freak Rogue MOFOs WAVEs can come 'out of the blue' "unexpectedly" as per: Not only NOAH Knows but NO

What is a rogue wave? (noaa.gov) (https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/roguewaves.html)

[WB627]

Gulf of Lyon??

[etudiant]

Freak Rogue MOFOs WAVEs can come 'out of the blue' "unexpectedly" as per: Not only NOAH Knows but NO

What is a rogue wave? (noaa.gov) (https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/roguewaves.html)

In the Mediterranean? Guess every ocean has its surprises.

[SpazSinbad]

03 Mar 2010 Rogue Waves Kill Two On Mediterranean Cruise Ship : The Two-Way : NPR (https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/03/rogue_waves_kill_two_on_medite.html#:~:text=Frank%20James-,Unusually%20tall%20rogue%20waves%20smashed%20into%20a%20cru ise%20ship%20in,they%20broke%20some%20glass%20windshields.)

[etudiant]

03 Mar 2010 Rogue Waves Kill Two On Mediterranean Cruise Ship : The Two-Way : NPR (https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/03/rogue_waves_kill_two_on_medite.html#:~:text=Frank%20James-,Unusually%20tall%20rogue%20waves%20smashed%20into%20a%20cru ise%20ship%20in,they%20broke%20some%20glass%20windshields.)

Impressive! Clearly I misunderestimated that body of water.
Separately, would the aircraft on deck not be tied down during replenishment?

[SpazSinbad]

Flight ops occur during RAS evolutions. Many factors may determine this event for ships concerned. Any aircraft NOT BEING MOVED anywhere on the ship is always tied down. When being moved they are followed by deck crew with chocks. A classic case of a 'half-tied down A4G in the process of being moved by a flight deck tractor and aircraft handlers' went over the side in the big ditch between Oz & KiwiLand in 1979. There were other factors however the angry sea was part of the mix. Soon after the LARGE rotating RADAR on top of the island of MELBOURNE fell off, luckily over the stbd side and not onto the flight deck. The XO of a Brit Ship was lost in the raging storms during TASMINEX 79. The VF-805 Squadron 'brake man' ABATWL Krenn in the cockpit went over the side also - picked up by nearby destroyer rescue swimmer OK. He had a float coat. YAY!

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x2000/a4g886overside1979_4c1cad0b8ebc110e8ba62e9bc313269a5b0ee47f. jpg

[etudiant]

Flight ops occur during RAS evolutions. Many factors may determine this event for ships concerned. Any aircraft NOT BEING MOVED anywhere on the ship is always tied down. When being moved they are followed by deck crew with chocks. A classic case of a 'half-tied down A4G in the process of being moved by a flight deck tractor and aircraft handlers' went over the side in the big ditch between Oz & KiwiLand in 1979. There were other factors however the angry sea was part of the mix. Soon after the LARGE rotating RADAR on top of the island of MELBOURNE fell off, luckily over the stbd side and not onto the flight deck. The XO of a Brit Ship was lost in the raging storms during TASMINEX 79. The VF-805 Squadron 'brake man' ABATWL Krenn in the cockpit went over the side also - picked up by nearby destroyer rescue swimmer OK. He had a float coat. YAY!

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1600x2000/a4g886overside1979_4c1cad0b8ebc110e8ba62e9bc313269a5b0ee47f. jpg
Very illuminating, thank you! It helps to have these unexpected hazards explained by someone who has been there.

[SpazSinbad]

I was not onboard MELBOURNE in 1979, however when onboard it was 'fun' to see inch tops of green Pacific swell wash down the catapult track whilst waiting for the GO! from the FDO. The Pacific Ocean is notorious for the long cycle swells. There is a classic section in a video about CVN flight ops with Hornets in the INDIAN OCEAN trying to accommodate these long cycle SWELLs, especially at night. A CVN deck is about 65 feet off the water while the MELBOURNE deck was about 37 feet (my approximations). There are photos of the tops of waves blowing down a CVN deck. Life on the bounding main. :}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNhCYIzOJ6g

[etudiant]

I was not onboard MELBOURNE in 1979, however when onboard it was 'fun' to see inch tops of green Pacific swell wash down the catapult track whilst waiting for the GO! from the FDO. The Pacific Ocean is notorious for the long cycle swells. There is a classic section in a video about CVN flight ops with Hornets in the Pacific trying to accommodate these SWELLs, especially at night. A CVN deck is about 65 feet off the water while the MELBOURNE deck was about 37 feet (my approximations). There are photos of the tops of waves blowing down a CVN deck. Life on the bounding main. :}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNhCYIzOJ6g

Sadly blocked here in the USA by PBS, which apparently has copyright on some of the content. Your description however paints a clear picture.

[SpazSinbad]

How 'bout this one and one: [They on the INDIAN OCEAN transiting from the Gulf to Perth Oz.] Above I had the impression the CVN was transiting the Pacific however it is clear they are somewhere on INDIAN Ocean. The two video halves below are the same as the full video apparently blocked above.

PBS Carrier - Landing on a Pitching Deck Pt. 1.mp4 - YouTube

PBS Carrier - Landing on a Pitching Deck Pt. 2.mp4 - YouTube

[etudiant]

Thank you for these, sobering to see the real live pictures..
Wonder whether the various auto land systems have reduced the stress in the last few years.
Would certainly expect the Chinese to be working hard to make carrier operations more accessible.

[SpazSinbad]

JPALS will have a limit for fully automatic landings, currently it is Sea State 5, plus there will be other weather conditions, how the carrier steers into wind to make any crosswind and other limits - also for the aircraft. Sea state - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_state) I did not make the title for this USS Kitty Hawk video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cWyHLup7FY

[zambonidriver]

03 Mar 2010 Rogue Waves Kill Two On Mediterranean Cruise Ship : The Two-Way : NPR (https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/03/rogue_waves_kill_two_on_medite.html#:~:text=Frank%20James-,Unusually%20tall%20rogue%20waves%20smashed%20into%20a%20cru ise%20ship%20in,they%20broke%20some%20glass%20windshields.)
Still, wasn't a Nimitz-class carrier (which has a waterline of 134 ft (40.8 m)). But clearly it can also happen in the Mediterrenean sea.

[SpazSinbad]

The last video above shows USS Kitty Hawk whilst Louise Majesty is now: MS Crown Iris - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Crown_Iris)

[911slf]

Still, wasn't a Nimitz-class carrier (which has a waterline of 134 ft (40.8 m)). But clearly it can also happen in the Mediterrenean sea.
Is the height of the deck above water not called "freeboard"? Wikipedia says the beam of this class is 134 feet.

[SpazSinbad]

"...Depending on its aircraft load, a carrier’s flight deck may sit as high as 60 feet above the waterline. Its hangar bay elevators lower swimmers to 30 feet from the waves—the equivalent of an Olympic diving platform—so leaping sailors risk a broken bone if not using good form. The USS Eisenhower issued instructions to prevent injuries by asking that the crew “practice to prevent injury from wrongful water entry.”..." Everyone in the Ocean! | Air & Space Magazine| Smithsonian Magazine (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/everyone-ocean-180961131/)

[Sailvi767]

North Pacific about 1984. Deck moving up and down 20 feet. ¼ mile vis in heavy snow. Single Phantom airborne after Bear intercept. First two passes waived off for deck out of phase. Third pass trick or treat with 800 lbs of fuel. Traps successfully but slow to throttle back in the wires. Air Boss comes up and says”602 throttle back, your not a rookie out there”. 602 replies, “Boss, do I bother you when your taking a ****?”

[uxb99]

Fleet Air Arm Museum carrier experience used to show a parked Buccaneer going over the side of the Ark Royal.

[Mogwi]

Fleet Air Arm Museum carrier experience used to show a parked Buccaneer going over the side of the Ark Royal.

This was done for the flight safety film but we did lose a SHAR overboard from Invincible during the Falklands. The captain was invited to the wardroom that evening and accosted by a SHAR pilot who accused him of driving his ship like an effin speed boat! Cue early bed time.

Mog

[SpazSinbad]

“Buccaneer XN954. Deliberately dropped into the English Channel off HMS Ark Royal during the making of a Royal Navy safety film about the accidental loss of XT269 (031/R) from Ark Royal 15/2/1972. The safety training film re-staged the accident, and showed what to do to prevent it happening again.” http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=157090 Last JPG: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/512214157618381088/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBfqiKukVps
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1163x1050/buckoffark_bf6a69629246d1ff9ebe25b4506b1331ee799595.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1626x1013/buckoggin_d783309fb7fe1bf1e9e029dcb24c64cc0ce63d2b.jpg

[etudiant]

“Buccaneer XN954. Deliberately dropped into the English Channel off HMS Ark Royal during the making of a Royal Navy safety film about the accidental loss of XT269 (031/R) from Ark Royal 15/2/1972. The safety training film re-staged the accident, and showed what to do to prevent it happening again.” http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=157090 Last JPG: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/512214157618381088/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBfqiKukVps
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1163x1050/buckoffark_bf6a69629246d1ff9ebe25b4506b1331ee799595.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1626x1013/buckoggin_d783309fb7fe1bf1e9e029dcb24c64cc0ce63d2b.jpg
Can't fault this training for lack of realism.

[MPN11]

Spaz ... thanks for those videos. Thirteen airborne and nobody is trapping a wire? Deffo not my scene.

[sandiego89]

Is the height of the deck above water not called "freeboard"? Wikipedia says the beam of this class is 134 feet.

I believe "flight deck height" would be a better term to use than "freeboard" when referring to an aircraft carriers flight deck. Happy to be corrected. Freeboard could be lower, as in the hangar deck. Some aircraft carriers such as the Midway's and some WWII era carriers had notoriously low freeboards, and were known as wet ships.

I imagine recovery will be a priority. US Navy SUP Salvage has had some interesting recent recoveries.

[WB627]

On 3 March 2010, three rogue waves hit Louis Majesty, killing two passengers. This accident happened in an area of the Mediterranean called the Gulf of Leon, which is known for big waves when storms hit.

https://abc7news.com/archive/7312146/

https://youtu.be/Z_ulTU2jQ18

On 26th September 2010 we were sailing out of Monte Carlo on our first cruise, bound for Barcelona on the P&O Oceana. That evening the captain advised us that they were expecting it to get a bit rough, Force 8; during the night the wind and the waves crashing against the ship woke us up, I said to my wife that is never a Force 8 more like a10. In the morning the captain admitted that it was worse than they had expected :O and was in fact a Force 10. The crew were out early in the morning repairing the broken bits, mostly handrails and deck tiling.

[Lonewolf_50]

I believe "flight deck height" would be a better term to use than "freeboard" when referring to an aircraft carriers flight deck. Happy to be corrected.

Some aircraft carriers such as the Midway's and some WWII era carriers had notoriously low freeboards, and were known as wet ships. That matches my memory.

[Sue Vêtements]

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1163x1050/buckoffark_bf6a69629246d1ff9ebe25b4506b1331ee799595.jpg


Wasn't that in the Caption Competition a couple of years ago?

[Shaft109]

Here are a few interesting things about rogue waves
https://youtu.be/mC8bHxgdHH4

https://youtu.be/l_8hOai9hGQ


https://youtu.be/uK_4V3zqAvg

[MightyGem]

In the Mediterranean? Guess every ocean has its surprises.
Obviously not seen the 1970s disaster movie "The Poseidon Adventure". :)

[SpazSinbad]

....I imagine recovery will be a priority. US Navy SUP Salvage has had some interesting recent recoveries.
Here ya go: Navy Weighing Recovery of Super Hornet Lost in Mediterranean Sea - USNI News (https://news.usni.org/2022/07/11/navy-weighing-recovery-of-super-hornet-lost-in-mediterranean-sea)

P'raps this is a new submarine SupaHorneto wersion? "...According to a source, the Super Hornet was a two-seat F/A-81F[sic] and was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 211, based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia Beach, Virginia...." https://seapowermagazine.org/f-a-18-super-hornet-blown-overboard-from-uss-harry-s-truman/

[911slf]

I believe "flight deck height" would be a better term to use than "freeboard" when referring to an aircraft carriers flight deck. Happy to be corrected. Freeboard could be lower, as in the hangar deck. Some aircraft carriers such as the Midway's and some WWII era carriers had notoriously low freeboards, and were known as wet ships.

I imagine recovery will be a priority. US Navy SUP Salvage has had some interesting recent recoveries.
Yes, agreed. On further enquiry freeboard is the height above the sea up to which there needs to be watertight bulkheads and watertight doors. I can imagine hangars, and even more so the load decks of car ferries are pretty low - as we recall from the Herald of Free Enterprise.

[megan]

The oil tanker Kirki had the bow fall off in rough seas, aided by a forepeak ballast tank full of water when it was supposed to be dry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0SmpQ5o_3g

A comedians take.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m5qxZm_JqM

[Lookleft]

I was on the "Australis" in 1974 and we were supposed to dock at Cherbourg after sailing from Southampton. There was a gale in the Bay of Biscay and a wave broke several windows on the Promenade deck! We never did get to Cherbourg and sailed on to the next port which was Las Palmas. It was the only time that I have been sea sick on a ship. It didn't help that I had just had lunch in the restaurant.

[tartare]

Here are a few interesting things about rogue waves
https://youtu.be/mC8bHxgdHH4

https://youtu.be/l_8hOai9hGQ


https://youtu.be/uK_4V3zqAvg

I'd highly recommend that Rogue Wave doco - it terrified Mrs T. when we watched it years ago.
Astonishing how something as basic as wave theory was found lacking after the Draupner Wave incident - which showed that hundreds of years of mariners' tales about freak waves emerging from nowhere - were likely true.
And the bit where they used a satellite to look for rogue waves globally, and found them all over the place - chilling.

[Lonewolf_50]

And the bit where they used a satellite to look for rogue waves globally, and found them all over the place - chilling. Might be why certain nautical charts had zones marked "here be dragons" back in the day. :}

[SpazSinbad]

Naval Aviation News May 1968 "...[USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14)] En route to WestPac, Tico encountered 35-foot waves and high winds gusting up to 90 miles per hour about 400 miles east of Japan...." https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/Naval%20Aviation%20News/1960/pdf/may68.pdf
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1552x1393/tico_cat_wave_nan_buaero_may68_prnbw_fb0e98558da3f109cd779db 6057ed00cccaefea4.jpg

[uxb99]

Have there ever been any successful underwater ejections?

[SpazSinbad]

The Ejection Site: Underwater Ejection (https://www.ejectionsite.com/eunderh2o.htm) VERY DRAMATIC VERY DETAILED telling of the tale from a Corsair II pilot going over the side during his arrested landing that had some shortcomings. Then a WHY VERN!
66 years ago today a pilot ejected from an aeroplane trapped underwater! | Hush-Kit (hushkit.net) (https://hushkit.net/2020/10/13/66-years-ago-today-a-pilot-ejected-from-an-aeroplane-trapped-underwater/)
This site is damn near impossible to use - you may have some joy: Approach - Google Books (https://books.google.com.au/books?id=egQijqkaeWIC&pg=PP15&lpg=PP15&dq=Underwater+Ejections&source=bl&ots=HAelkEZrY6&sig=ACfU3U3aRgjObBe1aEwyZg08u4B9rHgMGg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjRudin7fb4AhWszjgGHRfwCmsQ6AF6BAgwEAM#v=onepage&q=Underwater%20Ejections&f=false)
Spend yur mony here folk: Underwater ejection | Journal of The Royal Naval Medical Service (bmj.com) (https://jrnms.bmj.com/content/49/2/97)
Google: Underwater Ejections - Google Search (https://www.google.com/search?q=Underwater+Ejections&sxsrf=ALiCzsaBbnzxVtepb_hVbsmYCC9wZXNARg:1657749280011&ei=ID_PYtEprJ3j4Q-X4KvYBg&start=10&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwjRudin7fb4AhWszjgGHRfwCmsQ8tMDegQIARA5&biw=1120&bih=557&dpr=1.5)

The SEA HAWK 'girdle' off - VIKRANT catapult: Navy’s first underwater ejection- The New Indian Express (https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2009/sep/04/navys-first-underwater-ejection-83180.html)

Safe underwater ejection from a downed fighter jet. HD Stock Footage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfVKUdA433Q (https://www.google.com/search?q=Underwater+Ejections&sxsrf=ALiCzsaBbnzxVtepb_hVbsmYCC9wZXNARg:1657749280011&ei=ID_PYtEprJ3j4Q-X4KvYBg&start=10&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwjRudin7fb4AhWszjgGHRfwCmsQ8tMDegQIARA5&biw=1120&bih=557&dpr=1.5)

[SpazSinbad]

Youse'll have to zoom in to this GIF to read the text: https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=egQijqkaeWIC&pg=GBS.PP88&hl=en [text now next page]
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1369x892/mudtrapapproach16col_d9b3a72a78845326c823e9bc5c14f9678cb38d2 7.gif

[SpazSinbad]

FULL text of above MUDDINESS. MUD TRAP! - APPROACH Aug 1964
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=egQijqkaeWIC&pg=GBS.PP88&hl=en
After touchdown an A-4B overran the runway, entered a 3-foot-deep pond with power on and buried itself in the mud bottom. The pilot was uninjured. After a sudden rush of mud and water into the cockpit floor area, the apertures sealed slowing the flow to a trickle. Because of the complete darkness the pilot knew he was submerged. He could judge the aircraft's attitude by the level of the mud and water. With his oxygen equipment performing satisfactorily, he had no trouble breathing.

The pilot's first reaction was to jettison the canopy by pulling the emergency canopy jettison. When this didn't work, he unlocked the canopy manually. Standing on the seat, he tried to force it open with his back and shoulders. He had to take his oxygen mask off because the hose was too short for him to stand with the mask on. He soon began to hyperventilate. Every few minutes he stopped and breathed from his mask. Mud had fouled the inhalation valve preventing normal exhalation through the mask.

At some point during his attempts to open the canopy, he tried to jettison it by pulling the face curtain down to the first notch. He states he was careful not to pull the curtain to its full length lest he fire the seat. There was an explosion but no apparent effect on the canopy. (Note: The face curtain is not, repeat, is not an alternate canopy release handle. A fatal inadvertent zero-zero ejection has occurred in this aircraft because a pilot attempted to jettison his canopy by using the face curtain.--Ed.) Finally, fatigued and aware there was nothing he could do, he quietly awaited rescue. Once in a while he moved the stick so that movement of the elevators would show he was still alive. The rescue party rapped on the canopy to indicate work was underway but he did not hear them. He stated later that if he had had a survival knife he probably would have attempted to hack his way out.

"Escape from a cockpit buried in mud presents problems not encountered with the usual accident involving an underwater situation." the investigating flight surgeon states. "The following areas concerning this situation seem to warrant some thought and investigation:

"While it is known that most oxygen regulators used in high performance aircraft have underwater capabilities, the question arises as to what their performance would be even if properly utilized in an 'under mud' situation. The importance of keeping the face seal intact under such circumstances is well demonstrated by the manner in which the pilot allowed his inhalation valve to become fouled.

"The wisdom of opening the canopy under such circumstances is questioned, bearing in mind:
- Entry of mud into the cockpit.
- Possible failure of oxygen equipment secondary to mud damage.
- Difficulty of maneuvering to surface through mud.
- Drag produced by bulky clothing and attached gear.
- Limited oxygen supply available once the pilot switched to bailout bottle. This has been estimated as approximately three minutes under pressure such as present in this aircraft accident.
- Possibility of imminent rescue from outside help.
- Probability that as long as the aircraft's oxygen supply was available the pilot could safely utilize it, thus allowing time for rescue work to be accomplished.
- Fact that a small hole in the canopy such as could be made with a survival knife will not equalize internal and external cockpit pressures as in an underwater situation."

Rescue operations were hindered in this accident by both the crash crew's lack of knowledge of the location of the A-4B's external emergency canopy jettison handles and by the lack of equipment. A crane was not immediately available because there was no driver assigned; all the qualified drivers were at the accident scene. A driver was dispatched to bring the crane. In the meantime, two men familiar with the jettison handle positions obtained a shovel and together dug the mud away from the left side. They activated the left handle, then the right handle with no results.

When the crane arrived, the aircraft was raised and the canopy was opened by means of the canopy access handle which was partially activated. The pilot was then free.

The investigating flight surgeon estimates that the delay in obtaining the services of the crane added 10 to 15 minutes to the rescue time. Under other circumstances this interval might have been crucial."

[SpazSinbad]

AVIATION MEDECINE http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/Content/sites/FAAOA/pages/164/FN100_ISSUE_5.PDF
"It is perhaps not surprising that from the earliest exploits of the Royal Naval Air Service, interest in survival at sea attracted the attention of a unique breed of doctors – Medical Officers with a specialist knowledge of Aviation Medicine....

...Sir John Rawlins was the Navy’s first Specialist in Aviation Medicine at Farnborough and is highly respected for his work in the field of naval aviation safety. In 1950 he was awarded the MBE for his work on protective helmets, the early bone domes and in 1960 he was advanced to OBE for his experiments to develop a method of enabling aircrew to eject from an aircraft that had submerged under water. Months of meticulous trials were carried out during which Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Sandy Davidson RN (later Surg Captain OBE) bravely conducted a live test ejection underwater...."

[Ascend Charlie]

Medical Officers with a specialist knowledge of Aviation Medicine....

RAAF pilot course 83 had Surgeon Leut Marty Samuels, and 84 course had Surgeon Leut Michael Flynn, who rose to be Commodore and head of the Naval Medical services.

[SpazSinbad]

Sadly Marty died some time back. Mick [olden daze phot] goes well enough. Would you have a JPG/ graphic of No84 Pilot Course BADGE please? TAH. I have the course photos from the RAAF website etc.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1350x1203/mick_flynn_a4g_img014_ed_forum_adb94aaa90062f7336969afffa0a6 f3223c52c71.jpg

[SpazSinbad]

Then SurgLeut Sandy Davidson testing a wet seat JPG from 'AvMed' PDF story above.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1339x976/rndocejectunderwatertest_d92b68f3c283898a0f1bd293b60454b8abe 724cb.jpg

[lefty loose]

It would be interesting to read the final report into this aircraft misadventure, luckily no loss of life. I can only presume that part of well-defined procedure was omitted in order for such a calamity to occur.

My recollection is relating to XT269 departing from HMS Ark Royal 15/2/1972 (and I don’t believe the procedures have changed that much).

XT269 was being moved from the lower deck hangar ‘post maintenance’ very early on a mild calm morning around 05:30. The handling team positioned the aircraft on the starboard side aft of the island. The plane captain applied the brakes (only effective if the accumulator is sufficiently charged) and then started to affix the mandatory 6 lashing chains. As he was fitting the first chain (which would have stopped the aircraft rolling forward), the pin connecting the aircraft tug to the towing arm was removed. Unfortunately the main wheel chocks had not been inserted and the ship gently rolled to starboard; the aircraft still attached to the towing arm very slowly rolled backwards and departed the flight deck tearing out some safety rails/nets. It sank very quickly and left behind a radome to indicate X marks the spot.

I understand the ‘storm’ mentioned at the time was not weather related but possibly commenced around the same time XT269 touched down on the sea bed! Some time later the Killick aircraft handler was fined £20.00 and a loss of 2 weeks shore leave on Captains defaulters.

The filming of a subsequent aircraft XN954 completing a similar flight profile was used as a safety training aid to show ‘what to do correctly’ to prevent it happening again. The film posted seems to show that chocks were not fitted, a lashing chain was connected but sheared and the aircraft departed over the round-down without a towing arm attached; there is no actual information as to what was done incorrectly.

As previously posted, aircraft are fully secured at all times unless being positioned and there are well defined procedures for these events, as there are for replenishment at sea which to my knowledge rarely takes place in adverse weather or the possibility of adverse weather, neither is a RAS normally undertaken between launching and recovering of fixed wing aircraft.

I understand ‘shear pins’ may be installed on aircraft tow equipment to protect aircraft structure in extreme events, such as being blown overboard. If this is indeed what happened, the tug driver and aircraft brakeman were exceedingly lucky.

[SpazSinbad]

This is the evolution photo I had in mind [sadly have lost details] - JPG sent by a former A4G pilot gone to SHARs. I'll look for more photos/details....
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1576x1050/rasharriercarrierskijumpvlsametime_5357a2e417c6e3261ad2502aa 09992c7d3588a8c.jpg

[SpazSinbad]

In JPG note the F-35B 'humping it' on the left side of the photo.

Striking back - Dec 2021 Richard Scott - Flight International December 2021 [4 page PDF attached]
...Units and air wings undertook both day and night flying; a number of anti-submarine/anti-surface warfare activities were completed; and flight operations were conducted from Queen Elizabeth concurrent with replenishment at sea operations.

“We were flying fixed-wing almost continuously through the 24-hour period, which is something the US doesn’t do – they surge for 15-hour, maybe 18- hour periods, whereas we were able to keep flying over 24 hours, fixed and rotary-wing,” says Moorhouse. “It really allowed us to show the unique flexibility and agility of Queen Elizabeth-class aviation.

“For example, flying fixed-wing while replenishing is really quite straightforward for us once you’ve got everyone trained and good to go. And we don’t need much wind [over the deck] to launch the jets, even at full weights in hot conditions.

“We are clearly different to an American CVN [nuclear-powered carrier],” he adds. “We don’t have catapults and arrestor gear, we’re not in the same scale in terms of air wing size, and the F-35B does not have the same legs.

“But [Queen Elizabeth] offers something completely different in its agility to get aircraft up and off. A CVN is incredibly impressive, but it is operated very differently and simply does not have the same flexibility.”..."

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/710x444/qedoublereplenishmentf_35blaunch_61b186c78288c14f076bd8eb59f 547c8423c0ff0.jpg

[SpazSinbad]

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/08/royal-navys-csg-passed-for-the-first-time-through-the-strait-of-malacca/ "An F-35B Jet from VMFA-211 lands back on HMS Queen Elizabeth whilst she conducts a double replenishment with RFA Tidespring and HNLMS Evertsen. Royal Navy picture." https://www.navalnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/HMS-Queen-Elizabeth-passed-trhough-the-Strait-of-Malacca.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/710x439/qesunsetusmcvlf_35bjul2021_59c2045392c1960b1bf6478976c2fe659 7aeaa51.jpg

[SpazSinbad]

How to TIE YOUR KANGAROO DOWN SPORT on CVN PDF attached: http://info.publicintelligence.net/USNavy-CVN-FlightDeck.pdf
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1438x622/tiedownsuperhornetcvn_fff288cb1a4da1b75544ce82a7b960762db888 b9.gif

[SpazSinbad]

HOW to TIE DOWN LIGHTNING: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5732/30637145872_23e8ec6166_o_d.jpg (3.6Mb)
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1800x1164/f_35bs_tied_down_30637145872_23e8ec6166_o_forum_e643c29fde4f d418c3b94b52a99a42e9ec6c723f.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1625x1050/f_35bs_tied_down_30637145872_23e8ec6166_o_forumzoom_d542ab50 3fd9ee1eef019a27beb4d3322f3ce4f8.jpg

[Ascend Charlie]

For Sinbad:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/526x564/screen_shot_2022_07_17_at_3_22_27_pm_0d9b219447f35dfaf661266 2f4cb6e187aac4fd2.png

[Fly3]

In 1978 two sailors were washed overboard from the forward port catwalk around the flight deck of HMS Ark Royal by a freak wave during a RAS. IIRC the flight deck was approximately 55 feet above sea level. Luckily they passed between the carrier and the fleet auxiliary and were rescued thanks to the prompt action of the SAR crew on standby for just such an event.

[SpazSinbad]

Many thanks 'Ascend Charlie'. Ripper badge - YOSEMITE SAM - speakin' PIRATE? :}
"In Captain Hareblower, Yosemite Sam is a pirate captain who is able to intimidate and scare sailors and other pirates. Captain Sam encounters a trading ship led by Bugs Bunny and decides to take it for himself." Yosemite Sam - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yosemite_Sam#:~:text=In%20Captain%20Hareblower%2C%20Yosemite %20Sam,to%20take%20it%20for%20himself.) & Pirate Speak Translator ― LingoJam (https://lingojam.com/PirateSpeak)

[SpazSinbad]

Another version: 66 years ago today a pilot ejected from an aeroplane trapped underwater! | Hush-Kit (hushkit.net) (https://hushkit.net/2020/10/13/66-years-ago-today-a-pilot-ejected-from-an-aeroplane-trapped-underwater/)

Have there ever been any successful underwater ejections?
UNDERWATER ESCAPE from a WYVERN - Naval Aviation News Mar 1955 :} https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/Naval%20Aviation%20News/1950/pdf/mar55.pdf

"...A reviewing Naval officer said, "It is important to note that the air bubble created by the closed canopy undoubtedly saved the pilot from the extremely harmful compressibility effects of the ejection seat cartridge explosion." MacFarlane's [Wyvern Pilot] comment after recovery was a masterful understatement: "I was in a highly nervous state, for catapulting is a very startling experience." :ouch:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/770x1050/wyvern_eject_underwater_ok_nan_buaero_mar55_text_tif_04252ed 8768d5f468a2e9195f4d5db11922b90e7.gif

[SpazSinbad]

Another tall tale but true from the legendary past about operating in HORRIBLE conditions. PDF attached has full story.
F-14 Tomcat: Tales from the cockpit-50th Anniversary [Tomcat] Edition
“Kevin Sullivan is an F-14 pilot who chased North Korean MiG-21s, served as a TOPGUN instructor and flew Mirage IIIO(A)s with the Royal Australian Air Force…. ...Some days, the ship took green water over the bow, a sure indication of 60ft plus seas. It was extreme weather with 50 knots of wind. Kevin said flight operations continued in quite significant sea states, but flight ops would cease when the ship was taking water over the bow. In heavy sea states, the catapuIt officer visually gauged the deck going up and down. He shot an aircraft off as the deck was going down so the jet shot off the end as the bow came back up. Kevin said: “As you’re going down the catapult stroke, the bow is pointing at the ocean. There’s ocean right in front of you. No matter how many times you experienced it, it never became routine!’..."

[TheWestCoast]

Another tall tale but true from the legendary past about operating in HORRIBLE conditions. PDF attached has full story.
F-14 Tomcat: Tales from the cockpit-50th Anniversary [Tomcat] Edition
“Kevin Sullivan is an F-14 pilot who chased North Korean MiG-21s, served as a TOPGUN instructor and flew Mirage IIIO(A)s with the Royal Australian Air Force…. ...Some days, the ship took green water over the bow, a sure indication of 60ft plus seas. It was extreme weather with 50 knots of wind. Kevin said flight operations continued in quite significant sea states, but flight ops would cease when the ship was taking water over the bow. In heavy sea states, the catapuIt officer visually gauged the deck going up and down. He shot an aircraft off as the deck was going down so the jet shot off the end as the bow came back up. Kevin said: “As you’re going down the catapult stroke, the bow is pointing at the ocean. There’s ocean right in front of you. No matter how many times you experienced it, it never became routine!’..."

Straying off topic a little - Kevin Sullivan was the captain of QF72 - the A330 uncommanded pitchdown incident a number of years ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qantas_Flight_72

[megan]

Kevin Sullivan was the captain of QF72 - the A330 uncommanded pitchdown incident a number of years agoThe QF event he rode through and brought home safe and sound showed it's not just combat or FJ flying that can tax ones sensibilities, not a good way to end a superlative career, feel sorry for him and wish him the very best.

[SpazSinbad]

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/08/u-s-navy-recovers-f-a-18e-from-mediterranean-sea/ 08 Aug 2022 "The aircraft was recovered from a depth of approximately 9,500 feet by a team from Task Force (CTF) 68, Naval Sea Systems Command’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), Harry S. Truman, Naval Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic, and U.S. Sixth Fleet embarked on the multi-purpose construction vessel (MPV) Everest.... The aircraft was recovered using a CURV-21 remotely operated vehicle to attach specialized rigging and lift lines to the aircraft. A lifting hook was attached to the rigging to raise the aircraft to the surface and hoist it aboard Everest...."

[sandiego89]

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/08/u-s-navy-recovers-f-a-18e-from-mediterranean-sea/ 08 Aug 2022 "The aircraft was recovered from a depth of approximately 9,500 feet by a team from Task Force (CTF) 68, Naval Sea Systems Command’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), Harry S. Truman, Naval Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic, and U.S. Sixth Fleet embarked on the multi-purpose construction vessel (MPV) Everest.... The aircraft was recovered using a CURV-21 remotely operated vehicle to attach specialized rigging and lift lines to the aircraft. A lifting hook was attached to the rigging to raise the aircraft to the surface and hoist it aboard Everest...."

SUPSALV and their ROV seem to be getting quite proficient at locating and recovering these stray airframes. Much progress from say the F-14 rolling of the deck off the carrier off Scotland and recoveries using hook and grapple.

[SpazSinbad]

https://youtu.be/hvi6Go8jg4c?t=85

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1680x1050/curvcontrol_976cd068c77dff9bdaf4488b4a442d934f865a48.jpg

[SpazSinbad]

Did somebody say 'FREEBOARD'?! USS Ranger in the 1950s.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1223x1231/uss_ranger_heavy_seas_1950s_img_7825_65a106389e3649b0bdc9728 7f2c70727ef88deb2.jpg