Losing #3 aircraft elevator

[Trigger]

I've seen a lot of talk about the "roll", but do any of you older guys remember when we lost #3 aircraft elevator? It was early 64 and we were on a Westpac cruise. We were in heavy seas getting ready to launch aircraft when they lowered #3 as we were turning into the wind. A big wave came up under it and cocked it on it's tracks. The next wave dropped it into the sea. I think there was an A-4 on it. We all thought that we would have to go back to the states but, alas, they made temporary repairs in Yoko and we finished the cruise without it. At least that's how I remember it. Anyone else?
Trigger.....catapult crew 62-66.....one of the roof rats

[Eagle3]

Hey trigger, wellcome!

I have heard about the elevator, but I can't remember the details. Thanks for the post!

[WSS]

I've seen a lot of talk about the "roll", but do any of you older guys remember when we lost #3 aircraft elevator? It was early 64 and we were on a Westpac cruise. We were in heavy seas getting ready to launch aircraft when they lowered #3 as we were turning into the wind. A big wave came up under it and cocked it on it's tracks. The next wave dropped it into the sea. I think there was an A-4 on it. We all thought that we would have to go back to the states but, alas, they made temporary repairs in Yoko and we finished the cruise without it. At least that's how I remember it. Anyone else?
Trigger.....catapult crew 62-66.....one of the roof rats
Hello Trigger, I was there and remember it well. Yes what a bummer, I too thought we were going back to the States.

Bill, EN-2, A1 division

[nipon ginko]

Hello Trigger, I was there and remember it well. Yes what a bummer, I too thought we were going back to the States.

Bill, EN-2, A1 division



I could put info here about the loss but I gave the info to prince at midway sailor -so if any one wants to see what my rec. were just turn to the midway sailor.Its pretty close but in the third person rather than first.thanks.

[ttprince]

I could put info here about the loss but I gave the info to prince at midway sailor -so if any one wants to see what my rec. were just turn to the midway sailor.Its pretty close but in the third person rather than first.thanks.

This is an excerpt from Midway's History on MidwaySailor.com:

Midway made her fourteenth and sixth straight WESTPAC deployment in November 1963. Her most significant improvement was increased jet fighter capacity with the addition of Mach 2.2 F-4B Phantom IIs. She returned to Alameda in May 1964 to replace the number three elevator which had been destroyed and lost during extremely heavy seas. This incident happened while Midway was taking on supplies, using the elevator as the transfer point. A wave hit the elevator, lifting it and cocking it in the runners. The wave partially went over the elevator, nearly washing off the sailors who were moving supplies. A second wave hit the elevator, causing it to drop out the bottom of the runners, lifted it higher, and then dropped it, snapping the cables. The elevator fell behind the ship and eventually sunk.

This paragraph in the history is a combination of several accounts, including one from an eyewitness to the incident. There are several different versions of this incident floating around online, but after research and hearing stories of it, I feel this is the most accurate.

I've received emails from several guys about the elevator loss, but I'm not sure which one was from nipon ginko. Anyways, thanks for the email and helping add to the history. :thumbsup:

[nipon ginko]

This is an excerpt from Midway's History on MidwaySailor.com:



This paragraph in the history is a combination of several accounts, including one from an eyewitness to the incident. There are several different versions of this incident floating around online, but after research and hearing stories of it, I feel this is the most accurate.

I've received emails from several guys about the elevator loss, but I'm not sure which one was from nipon ginko. Anyways, thanks for the email and helping add to the history. :thumbsup:


Hi Troy lets see if I can refresh your memory as to who I am (obviously Nipon Ginko is a pen name so you would not know me as that) -------------------I sent you my version of the elevator loss(eye witness)----------------------I sent you an account of the Skyraider-Mig 17 shoot down an as told to me by the pilots involved.-----------------------------------------------------I responded to your request for information on the toilet bomb,if you remember I told you that I had nothing to do with the planing or building of said bomb but was involved with the actual loading of this fine porcelain CONG KILLER

[ttprince]

Hi Troy lets see if I can refresh your memory as to who I am (obviously Nipon Ginko is a pen name so you would not know me as that) -------------------I sent you my version of the elevator loss(eye witness)----------------------I sent you an account of the Skyraider-Mig 17 shoot down an as told to me by the pilots involved.-----------------------------------------------------I responded to your request for information on the toilet bomb,if you remember I told you that I had nothing to do with the planing or building of said bomb but was involved with the actual loading of this fine porcelain CONG KILLER

Ok, I have you placed now. I have received several accounts of the elevator loss, but only one response about the toilet bomb. I don't know if you noticed, but I did modify the account of the MiG-17 shoot down with the info you provided.

For those reading this and are not familiar with VA-25's toilet bomb, this is what we are referring to:

http://www.midwaysailor.com/midwayva25bomb/va25specbomb-005b.jpg

[Modell]

i was there, i thought we were going back to the states. as i remember, when we got to youosuka, they had the new one made and had it installed in about 3 weeks.

[Ojive]

VA-25's toilet bomb

That has got to be a A-1 Sky raider, Spad due to the amount of wing stations,
I like the nose fusing on the shitter bomb! Also look like 250 pounders as well. Sure couldn't get away with doing that in todays navy!

[Gary94]

I'm going to do some re-modeling in my bathroom. Maybe I could donate the old shitter to the Navy so they can drop it on some Iraqi insurgents.