Huh? What? REALLY???
02-19-2012 | 09:43 AM
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
The US Navy named a new warship after Gabrielle Giffords on Friday, honoring the former Arizona lawmaker who survived a gunman’s bullet to the head a year ago.
The USS Gabrielle Giffords represented a fitting tribute to a congresswoman who embodies the navy’s “unwavering courage,” Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said at a ceremony at the Pentagon.
“So it’s very appropriate that LCS 10 be named for someone who has become synonymous with courage, who has inspired the nation with remarkable resiliency and showed the possibilities of the human spirit,” said Mabus, as Giffords and her husband looked on.
Mabus also said the ship’s sponsor would be Roxanna Green, the mother of a nine-year-old girl — Christina Taylor-Green — who was killed in the same shooting spree that left Giffords seriously wounded.
Under naval tradition, a sponsor’s “spirit and presence guide the ship throughout its service life,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
Giffords was shot in the head a year ago while she met with constituents outside a grocery store in Tuscon.
Last month she resigned her seat in Congress to focus on her rehabilitation, having made stunning progress after fighting for her life in the hours after the attack on January 8, 2011.
The Arizona Democrat, who walks with difficulty and speaks haltingly, has vowed to return to public service when she is fully recovered.
The newly-named ship has yet to be built and the last two littoral combat ships — new, speedy vessels designed to operate near coastlines – were named after American cities, Montgomery and Little Rock.
02-19-2012 | 10:07 AM
#32
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,890
Likes: 0
From: 737A
I was flying the F-4 in Europe when the result of this incident's investigation went public. Here's what I remember from what was published in Air Force Times or Stars and Stripes:
The incident airplane was from Zweibrucken AB, Germany (not far from my base). They were tasked as Red Air to do a high-speed pass and get photos and skeedaddle. Their real purpose was to see how the battle group would react to a high-speed aircraft headed towards the flag ship. As I recall, it was a pretty big exercise; the Recce bird was just a small part of the "attack."
Dorsey was either an O-2 or O-3. He was still pretty new to the F-14. His RIO was an O-4 and fairly experienced. I believe an E-2C gave the call "Bandit, bandit" (or other "hostile" declaration). Dorsey was quoted as saying "Do they really want me to splash this guy?" The RIO was quoted as saying "Yeah, whatever."
Dorsey tried to fire a first Sidewinder that either failed to give a tracking tone or failed to launch. Incredibly, he stepped to a second AIM-9 (Lima, I think in 1987) which came off the rail and did what it was designed to do. Not sure why the more-experienced RIO didn't intercede and try to get him to stop.
The Recce crew stated they felt a bang, got a fire light, and then the jet pitched-down violently---they punched-out. They splashed down and were picked up by a Navy helo within about 15 minutes. Getting on-board the ship, they thanked the Navy repeatedly for saving them. Shortly thereafter, someone (probably the CAG) had to say "Uh, actually, we're sorry, it's our fault you are here!"
Quite a bit was made at the time of the fact that his Dad was an Admiral, and it was suspected he used his influence to prevent him from losing his wings. However, he was not allowed to fly again.
Incidentally, a similar thing happened at Elmendorf around 1992. Two F-15Cs were rotating from the alert base at King Salmon back to Elmendorf. One airplane carried a mix of live AIM-9s and a CATM. They were doing a heat-to-guns cine-track exercise while droning on a hum-drum IFR flight back to Elmendorf. Unfortunately, the incident airplane accidentally stepped to a live missile.
Better outcome: the airplane that got hit still made it back to Elmendorf. The right nozzle and right vertical fin were a mess, though.
(The Air Force banned the carry of mixed live and CATMs shortly after that).
The incident airplane was from Zweibrucken AB, Germany (not far from my base). They were tasked as Red Air to do a high-speed pass and get photos and skeedaddle. Their real purpose was to see how the battle group would react to a high-speed aircraft headed towards the flag ship. As I recall, it was a pretty big exercise; the Recce bird was just a small part of the "attack."
Dorsey was either an O-2 or O-3. He was still pretty new to the F-14. His RIO was an O-4 and fairly experienced. I believe an E-2C gave the call "Bandit, bandit" (or other "hostile" declaration). Dorsey was quoted as saying "Do they really want me to splash this guy?" The RIO was quoted as saying "Yeah, whatever."
Dorsey tried to fire a first Sidewinder that either failed to give a tracking tone or failed to launch. Incredibly, he stepped to a second AIM-9 (Lima, I think in 1987) which came off the rail and did what it was designed to do. Not sure why the more-experienced RIO didn't intercede and try to get him to stop.
The Recce crew stated they felt a bang, got a fire light, and then the jet pitched-down violently---they punched-out. They splashed down and were picked up by a Navy helo within about 15 minutes. Getting on-board the ship, they thanked the Navy repeatedly for saving them. Shortly thereafter, someone (probably the CAG) had to say "Uh, actually, we're sorry, it's our fault you are here!"
Quite a bit was made at the time of the fact that his Dad was an Admiral, and it was suspected he used his influence to prevent him from losing his wings. However, he was not allowed to fly again.
Incidentally, a similar thing happened at Elmendorf around 1992. Two F-15Cs were rotating from the alert base at King Salmon back to Elmendorf. One airplane carried a mix of live AIM-9s and a CATM. They were doing a heat-to-guns cine-track exercise while droning on a hum-drum IFR flight back to Elmendorf. Unfortunately, the incident airplane accidentally stepped to a live missile.
Better outcome: the airplane that got hit still made it back to Elmendorf. The right nozzle and right vertical fin were a mess, though.
(The Air Force banned the carry of mixed live and CATMs shortly after that).
I think there is little doubt this idiot would have been run out of the Navy if his father wasn't an admiral. Of course, I've heard the same thing about John McCain, based on his pre-vietnam antics.
02-19-2012 | 11:24 AM
#33
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 694
Likes: 0
From: Walmart Greeter
The LCS class of ships minus the first 2 ships, were originally meant to be named after cities. Historically if you look at the names of US war ships, they have held true to their original naming conventions with a few exceptions (USS Murtha, USS John C Stennis). I think the majority of the pushback for this particular naming is the knee jerk or 'politically correct' reaction to Giffords being honored with the ship's namesake. I don't take away anything from what she has gone through and her fight and courage are remarkable. IMHO however, it does not warrant naming a United States war ship. I think the families of some of our nations best warriors who have given thier lives for the very freedom we have today throughout our nations history are far more deserving of such an honor rather than the congresswoman from Arizona.
02-19-2012 | 11:26 AM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,244
Likes: 2
From: Baja Vermont
There was a time a government building, ship, monument, whatever couldn't be named after a politician, hero, whatever until said person was DEAD. Now, we have the Stevens airport (PANC, named whis Ted was among the living), the USS Jimmy Carter, the USS George HW Bush, why not the USS Giffords. I think we should go back to them being actually dead.
Oh, I forgot, thus all started when the Republican Congress named KDCA, Reagan National Airport. Patience, politicians, please
GF
Oh, I forgot, thus all started when the Republican Congress named KDCA, Reagan National Airport. Patience, politicians, please
GF
02-19-2012 | 03:37 PM
#35
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,064
Likes: 37
From: 767 Captain
Incidentally, a similar thing happened at Elmendorf around 1992. Two F-15Cs were rotating from the alert base at King Salmon back to Elmendorf. One airplane carried a mix of live AIM-9s and a CATM. They were doing a heat-to-guns cine-track exercise while droning on a hum-drum IFR flight back to Elmendorf. Unfortunately, the incident airplane accidentally stepped to a live missile.
Better outcome: the airplane that got hit still made it back to Elmendorf. The right nozzle and right vertical fin were a mess, though.
(The Air Force banned the carry of mixed live and CATMs shortly after that).
Better outcome: the airplane that got hit still made it back to Elmendorf. The right nozzle and right vertical fin were a mess, though.
(The Air Force banned the carry of mixed live and CATMs shortly after that).
The Eagle pilot had no idea he was carrying a live missile and had no intent to really employ his weapon. He should have known he had a real missile (he did do an inspection of it prior to flying), but that's another discussion.
It sounds like the Tomcat driver knew he was carrying live weapons and knew he was launching one on an RF-4. Pretty big difference, IMO.
02-19-2012 | 07:02 PM
#37
Line Holder
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 704
Likes: 8
From: 757/767 Capt
I finished my First year of Law school and I graduated from UPT, there was no comparison in my mind, Pilot Training was the most challenging and difficult program I ever attempted. Comparing the two is like comparing a shuffleboard game to the Super Bowl! What a Knob!
02-20-2012 | 08:18 AM
#38
Straight Outta Map School
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
Murtha was man enough to go to Vietnam, I would serve on that ship. Instead of living/dead criteria, I think there should be no consideration for draft evaders, or those that did not fulfill their commitments, when naming ships after folks. that includes Clinton, Newt, Rush, W Bush, Romney, Ted Nugent, Trump...
02-20-2012 | 09:26 AM
#39
China Visa Applicant
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 16
From: Midfield downwind
Incidentally, a similar thing happened at Elmendorf around 1992. Two F-15Cs were rotating from the alert base at King Salmon back to Elmendorf. One airplane carried a mix of live AIM-9s and a CATM. They were doing a heat-to-guns cine-track exercise while droning on a hum-drum IFR flight back to Elmendorf. Unfortunately, the incident airplane accidentally stepped to a live missile.
Better outcome: the airplane that got hit still made it back to Elmendorf. The right nozzle and right vertical fin were a mess, though.
Better outcome: the airplane that got hit still made it back to Elmendorf. The right nozzle and right vertical fin were a mess, though.
Looks like the left stab and right vertical to me. Love that frag pattern.
02-20-2012 | 09:54 AM
#40
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 694
Likes: 0
From: Walmart Greeter
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
