View Full Version : Airmen Aguirre please muster!
ozzieman
10-03-03, 11:31 AM
Does anyone here who was onboard in 1986-87 remember the Airman Aguirre (sp?) incident? That one goes down as an all time classic.
Never heard of it. Happened after my time, but you can fill us in. ;)
ozzieman
10-03-03, 03:01 PM
Might be a little sketchy on the details but here goes:
After spending some time in subic bay we leave port heading to Hong Knog. Shortly after leaving port we have our customary man-overboard drill to ensure that everyone is on board. After about 20 minutes or so everyone is reported in and we secure from man-overboard.
Couple of nights later someone "hears" a splash and calls man-overboard. Every musters except one man Airman Agurrie. We wait and wait and wait. After about 30 minutes or so the XO comes on to say "Airmen Aguirre, if you hear my voice, run do not walk to the bridge to muster with me personally". Still no Airmen Aguirre. After about an hour, still not convinced that he actually went overboard, the Captain decides to sound General Quarters and has everyone on the boat do a compartment by compartment search. Still no Airmen Aguirre. Finally the decision is made that he did indeed go overbaord and since the rescue helicopter could not find a body he is considered lost at sea.
Several months go by before it is discovered that he was never on the ship when we left Subic, somehow he was incorretly mustered during the first man-overboard drill. Rumor has it that he was eventually made it back to the states where is mom turned him in because she was tired of him laying around the house.
Originally posted by ozzieman
Might be a little sketchy on the details but here goes:
...
Rumor has it that he was eventually made it back to the states where is mom turned him in because she was tired of him laying around the house.
LMAO!!! "But Ma!!!! I don't wanna go back to sea!".
We had one guy, Airman Cobb I think it was, that went AWOL on us. Too bad too because he was striking for AQ and was pretty sharp. He found him a sweet honeyko with a ton of yen in Tokyo that took care of him pretty well. IIRC he told us her Dad was a big shot at Mitsubishi. Anyways, one in port period he just stops showing up. No one knows where he is for the longest time (though we all suspected he was hiding out in Tokyo). I forgot how long he managed to evade detection, but we eventually got word he got caught or the girl turned him in. We also heard that the truth was her Dad wasn't a Mitsubishi big shot, but that her wealth came from being a hooker. I never saw Airman Cobb again, but I hope things got better for him.
ozzieman
10-06-03, 12:39 PM
That reminds me of this guy we had who was a total loser but he had no fear of rejection so he would simply walk up to women and ask them if they wanted to go to a hotel with him. Well one day he is at the shinagawa station waiting for a train when he sees this middle aged women standing by herself. He walks over and asks if she wants to go to a hotel with him. With her very limited english she agrees and as it turns out she just happens to already have a room at the shinagawa prince right across the street. Well he conitinues to see this women a few more times because she too seems to have a ton of money. After a few weeks this guy finds out that this women is married a member of the Yakuza and she was just out looking to get laid. Well he wisely found a way to break it off without pissing her off othewise im sure he would have eventually ended up fish food.
charger86
11-12-03, 10:20 PM
I remember that. CO Mixon came on the 1mc saying "Good Morning Midway. it appears we have lost a shipmate. I'm told he was very depressed and there was a bible found on his rack." etc. Then there was the burial-at-sea service for him on the hanger deck.
Mostly I remember my boss bitching up a storm. Seems we were at muster for so long waiting for Aquirre to be found, he'd missed pizza night in the chief's mess. He repeatedly let everyone within earshot know he hoped Aquirre was dead.
Reminds me of a guy I knew that missed a man overboard muster. After a thirty minute search they finally found his lazy ass asleep on the fantail. I'll never forget XO Nordeen's announcement over the 1mc after he reported in. "Airman Vanhook and his Division Officer are coordially invited up to my office for coffee and donuts this morning."
Originally posted by charger86
"Airman Vanhook and his Division Officer are coordially invited up to my office for coffee and donuts this morning."
LMAO! and Welcome charger86.
My last cruise was the 111 day IO in '84. Our first morning out we were doing FOD walkdown on the flightdeck and when this one guy got to the edge of the flight deck and damned if he just didn't keep walking right over the side. After a tin can picked him up he was helo'd back to Yoko and spent some considerable time in the brig. Rumour Mill said he'd told his buds there was no way he was going to do an IO cruise. :rolleyes: Whatever...
:( well, it's good to hear that An Aguirre was not dead. That son of a b.... caused us alot of pain and heartache. Not to mention the man over board drills and g.q. 's. If he wanted to get out why didn't he just act like a total incompetent fool....oh, wait! He was... I knew him and regretted losing him .... until now. i regret losing any shipmate, unless they are a complete and total fuckwad. and he is the only one that i know of.
I apologize for being so rude and uncaring. it just pisses me off that a person would put their shipmates and family through such a thing as that. and i consider you all as family.
Bill Lowers
11-28-03, 02:54 PM
This doesn't have anything to do with Airman Aquirre, but when we were fast transiting the Pacific to get to Vietnam waters in 1972, the Marines were permitting a brig prisoner to exercise on the hanger deck, and the prisoner saw a break and jumped overboard.
Man overboard GQ and a 17 mile turnaround of the ship, dead stop at sea. They locate the prisoner and bring him back aboard, and we get underway again after about an hour.
A couple of days later, a sailor is walking around the flight deck and leaps off at the fantail right into the wash from the screws. Again, we go to man overboard, and once again they fish the guy out of the water after a 17 mile turnaround and full stop at sea.
After this one, Captain Harris gets on the squak box and says, boys, we have to get over to Vietnam waters to fight a war. Every time he has to turn the ship around and go to full stop in the middle of the ocean, it messes with the schedule, and puts the ship at risk. He then said that the next time someone jumps off the ship, they may not be able to stop and pick him up. He said a helo would be launched and other ships in the battle group will look for a while, but no guarantees. No one jumped overboard after that.
I have no idea what happened to either jumper, but I do not think it was a good thing.
bigfoot77388
01-07-04, 05:17 PM
Yes I remember Aguirre I was on on board when that happened I was with 151 at the time and believe me after all the crap we went through with all the musters I would've cratered his head with a ball bat. Your story was right on the money except to the part where he went home I had heard it wasn't he went home to stay with his mom. He had married a fillipina in a civie marrage and he went AWOL to be with her. The in laws turned him for the reward money. The guy wasn't the shapest tack in the box. I had forgot about that story.
Samurai Films
05-10-04, 05:34 PM
Hahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I remember that incident. I was on board from 87-89'. I, up to this day, thought he was dead. I guess I wasn't really concerned. I do remember like it was yesterday.
Samurai Films
05-10-04, 05:43 PM
One sad story. Does anyone remember, in 88', when one of our shipmate was killed in a scuffle with a Blue Ridge sailor? The scuffle, if I remember correctly, occured in the Honch, outside the gate in Yokosuka. He was from my division, V-4. He was just onboard two months and the poor guy had a wife and baby back home. A fresh 18 year old kid.
Many of us were ordered not to make contact with any Blue Ridge people. There was alot of tension, especially in my division. They were afraid that full out rumbles were going to break out between the Midway and Blue Ridge sailors. At least those that were affected by that incident.
One sad story.....
Many of us were ordered not to make contact with any Blue Ridge people. There was alot of tension, especially in my division. They were afraid that full out rumbles were going to break out between the Midway and Blue Ridge sailors. At least those that were affected by that incident.
That was after my time, but what was the friction about? I hadn't heard about it.
Samurai Films
05-11-04, 11:55 AM
That was after my time, but what was the friction about? I hadn't heard about it.
I wasn't at the scene but I was told that it was just a Blue Ridge sailor who was just walking around with a chip on his shoulder. He began to talk crap to our guy and... well... they began to fight. Remember those corn-dogs on a stick that were sold alot in the honch? Well, our guy was stabbed with it in the chest. He died on the street. That was the story that was told to us by our shipmates that were there. They said the whole thing happened very quickly. The last I heard was that the guy was serving time in Lebansworth (spelling?).
mimbari
02-26-05, 02:03 PM
Does anyone here who was onboard in 1986-87 remember the Airman Aguirre (sp?) incident? That one goes down as an all time classic.
Seeing this thread brought back a ot of unresolved feelings for me. I lived in the same corner of lower B as Aguire and while we werent buds or anything, we talked. For days before the incident he was talking about how he had made a mistake by joining the navy and the devil was following him around the ship, trying to steal his soul. I dont know if he is alive or not, I truly hope so, but the things I heard him say lead me to believe he is not. If he is, I hope he rots in hell, cause for a lot of years I felt that if I had said something, to Lt Gonzales, the skipper, the chaplain, anybody, he might be alive. Till today I felt like I had committed the cardinal sin of naval service, I had let down a ship mate.
Might be a little sketchy on the details but here goes:
After spending some time in subic bay we leave port heading to Hong Knog. Shortly after leaving port we have our customary man-overboard drill to ensure that everyone is on board. After about 20 minutes or so everyone is reported in and we secure from man-overboard.
Couple of nights later someone "hears" a splash and calls man-overboard. Every musters except one man Airman Agurrie. We wait and wait and wait. After about 30 minutes or so the XO comes on to say "Airmen Aguirre, if you hear my voice, run do not walk to the bridge to muster with me personally". Still no Airmen Aguirre. After about an hour, still not convinced that he actually went overboard, the Captain decides to sound General Quarters and has everyone on the boat do a compartment by compartment search. Still no Airmen Aguirre. Finally the decision is made that he did indeed go overbaord and since the rescue helicopter could not find a body he is considered lost at sea.
Several months go by before it is discovered that he was never on the ship when we left Subic, somehow he was incorretly mustered during the first man-overboard drill. Rumor has it that he was eventually made it back to the states where is mom turned him in because she was tired of him laying around the house.
That wouldn't have been Nordeen(sp) for the XO of the ship in the late 80's? maybe 88-89 time frame? I think I remember that, I worked NX so no big deal, but some ass was dropping strope lights over the side every night at about 2 am, that was when we'd finsh our work for the evening and the TV was finished, so we'd grab a little shut eye and they'd sound off the man over board drill, so the chief couldn't sleep so he'd hang in the shop instead of watching porn in the berthing...so we'd have to disappear until early chow.
Chaff Dog
05-30-05, 08:06 PM
I remember, at the end of the cruise, that the most memorable (and brutal) airplan cartoon ever created was published:
Both Speargun 610's from HS-12 (I have the PLAT video of the first if anyone is interested.)
The E-2C (2 aviators were lost) (I have the PLAT video if anyone is interested.)
The A-6 (2 aviators were lost)
The A-7
Lots of crap that fell of airplanes
All of this is piled on top of each other on the bottom of the ocean, with a fence surrounding it. At the gate, a sailor is leaning on a sign. The sign:
"Honest Aguires Used Airplane Parts"
The sailors name tag: You guessed it.... Aguire!!
That cartoon took balls!!!
PS: I spent 5.5 hours flying in my wetsuit, still hung over thankd to that turd!!!!
A squid's sense of humor never ceases to amaze me. :sure:
Case in point... phantom shitter.
Hey Chaff,
I, for one, would like to see the vids of those incidents. I remember all of them very well. I was in my bird on El-1 for the E-2, and in the starboard catwalk behind El-1 for the helo that had the chip-flight(sp). I was one of the first ones on the end of a hose for both. Do you remember the F-4 that dropped the, fully fuelled, centerline drop tank while loading ordanance? I was there for that one, also. Just came out of the port catwalk to fuel my bird when it happened. Grabbed the nearest AFFF hose and ran like hell to get there. PM me with the vids if you get a chance.
Catman
By the way, it wasn't an A-6 it was an EA-6B (Ironclaw 606). We never lost a bird while I was onboard (85-89). Only skipped one off of the deck in Atsugi and one off of the water. (same pilot in both incidents) The next was in the P.I. when the fire happened at the fuel pits. That one was after I had transferred.
Catman
Billntwrk
06-02-05, 03:29 PM
I remember, at the end of the cruise, that the most memorable (and brutal) airplan cartoon ever created was published:
Both Speargun 610's from HS-12 (I have the PLAT video of the first if anyone is interested.)
The E-2C (2 aviators were lost) (I have the PLAT video if anyone is interested.)
The A-6 (2 aviators were lost)
The A-7
Lots of crap that fell of airplanes
All of this is piled on top of each other on the bottom of the ocean, with a fence surrounding it. At the gate, a sailor is leaning on a sign. The sign:
"Honest Aguires Used Airplane Parts"
The sailors name tag: You guessed it.... Aguire!!
That cartoon took balls!!!
PS: I spent 5.5 hours flying in my wetsuit, still hung over thankd to that turd!!!!
I'd love to see the Plat video of these incidents.
I'd love to see the Plat video of these incidents.
Keep checking the "What's New" (http://cv41.org/new.html) page. ;)
Billntwrk
06-05-05, 04:41 PM
Keep checking the "What's New" (http://cv41.org/new.html) page. ;)
I did. Thansk for the cool videos! Thank your source as well!
Chaff Dog
06-07-05, 12:15 PM
"By the way, it wasn't an A-6 it was an EA-6B (Ironclaw 606). We never lost a bird while I was onboard (85-89). Only skipped one off of the deck in Atsugi and one off of the water. (same pilot in both incidents) The next was in the P.I. when the fire happened at the fuel pits. That one was after I had transferred.
Catman"
Hey Catman, where were you!! LOL
During your time we lost several birds. In November, 1985 we lost the first Speargun 610. Three months later (February 12, 1986) I went swimming in the second Speargun 610. Also in 1986 we lost the E-2C Hawkeye off the angle during a bolter, and an a-6 that flew into the mountain in Korea during team spirit (or was that 1985...), as well as the EA-6B that crashed off of Japan. And in 1989 we had a F-18 cold cat. If you referring to your squadron, then you are right. I at first typed this from an airwing perspective!!!!
When you mention an aircraft bouncing off the water, I do remember a A-6 that flew into the water (very gradual glide slope) and was bounced back into the air when the centerline fuel tank exploded. One lucky dude. It was later determined to have been caused by hitting the water when the damage was inspected (especially leading edges), and salt water was found throughout! He bingo'd to Cubi if I recall correctly.
I have between 10-15 PLAT videos of Midway mishaps (I have about 200 PLAT videos all told from several carriers, various era's). I am sending them to Buzz to post on the vc41.org website. Keep checking back. I have sent Buzz around 10 or so. He is putting them up slowly to teese everyone!! The E-2C PLAT video is very lengthy, as it also shows the plane floating in the water as the ship passes it, and the survivors escaping. I will have to some how edit it to make it a manageable file.
Gary
Sorry man, I meant that VA-115 never lost a bird while I was there... My bad. Like I said, I was in the aft finger of el-1 for the Helo and in my bird (501) on el-1 for the E-2. Sorry, if I mis-stated myself. :OOPS:
And, you are right about the pilot flying into the water. We found out later that he didn't set his altimeter correctly (pilot eror) and was doing a low-level attack simulation when he skipped off the waves. He bingoed to Cubi and was grounded for a few months after that. He, later, was the pilot of the A-6 that ran off of the runway at Atsugi and sheared the port main-mount when he stomped the brakes (during take-off) after getting a hydraulic warning light. The bird slid to a stop at the end of the fence, taking out an antenna, shearing the port main-mount, coming to rest on it's port side... he then, did an emergency eject on the canopy, climbed down off of the wing while his B/N jumped off of the starboard side... and broke his ankle. As far as I know, he rode a desk for the rest of his so-called career.
Chaff Dog
06-10-05, 08:39 AM
We were flying plane guard when he bounced off the ocean. Some other plane reports seeing an explosion, so we are vectored out to where he saw it. Of course we find nothing. Several other aircraft also reported seeing the explosion, but we could not find a damned thing. Very frustrating.
It was not intil 2-3 days later we found out what the explosion was. It is a good thing that his fuel tank exploded and put him back in the air. I did not like swimming after body parts!!
CHAFF DOG
Chaff Dog
06-10-05, 08:46 AM
Be patient!!
I have sent Buzz around 10 or so videos (give or take a few), but still have another 5-10 to send of Midway incidents.
It takes time to capture, crop, adjust and enhance (where possible), and then shrink into a small file size to send to Buzz. These will also have the radio transmissions for the A-7 and F-4 ramp strikes.
Soon, I am going to mail Buzz a DVD that has the actual files, so he can then put up nicer copies. He is stuck with small files right now due to e-mail constraints.
Also, as I have mentioned, I have well over 200 PLAT videos of mishaps. From end of WWII all the way to modern times. Several different types of aircraft. Some are not aircraft crashing, but of deck crewman getting killed.
If anyone out there has PLAT (or other video of Naval Aviation) and would like to share, trade, sell, whatever, shoot me an e-mail.
CHAFF DOG
Plat_Collector@verizon.net
PS: Sorry for the commercial!!
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