I’m a clerk in a store and today I met an old guy who served on this ship. We spent a while talking about the last of the gunfighters F8s and his job on the deck. If there is an old fellow you know chat with him. Cause them old guys love talking about it and love giving their history to younger generations.
I was on that cruise. I was the M-Division Officer, keeping the screws turning... I think we left SF in March-April and returned just before Christmas. The 73-74 Cruise was 13 months LONG. On the 73 Cruise, the TA-4s (2 seater) were used for the sighter that steered the laser guided bombs to the target. Great stuff!!!
Great video. I made the last WestPac cruise on the Hanna Maru in 1975 when we evacuated Cambodia and Saigon. I was the last Command Master Chief and presented Captain Fellowes with the commissioning pennant when we decommissioned the ship on January 30, 1976 at NAS Alameda.
@@joehgarcia3425 I was in CR Division. The ship's Chaplain married me and my wife at the NAS Alameda chapel in Nov '75. I retired from Mare Island 2 years later and still live in our home in SF.
@@art3030 retired down here at NAS Kingsville and moved to South Padre Brownsville, Tx. Seen the Constellation, Ranger, Independence, Forrestal, Saratoga scrapped. Served on Sara after decom Hancock with VFP 63 F8s. Sad sight to see them ...lots of history.
@@joehgarcia3425 I've often thought about moving to your part of the country. Many years ago when I was a teenager I won a vacation to Corpus Christi and San Antonio for a week. I really liked Padre Island and the surrounding area. I've only seen weather like that in one other place and that was San Diego. My wife passed on 12 years ago but I have some kids and grand kids nearby that stop by - usually for $$$. I have a 57 year old son living in Ft. Worth. If I were to move it would be to Texas and probably Ft. Worth. The triple digit temperatures for 90 days straight keep me here in SF.
My uncle was chief petty officer on the USS Hancock during Vietnam...he served in WW2 , Korea ,Nam... during WW2 he flew in a avenger torpedo plane.. I think he retired some time in the early 70s.. during the mid to late 60's he had a house on NAS Alameda...I was about 11 years old and I went to visit him on family vacation in 67'.( we lived in NYC).. I'd watch planes take off and land with binoculars in a field in his backyard...
Came on board via helo in late June 72 via Saratoga after one week stay on the Benewah in Subic Bay with ankle deep water on deck. Hanna big improvement! Over two years as SN did my stint filter cleaning & in the bake shop. As ET worked on 09 level helping keep UHF radios working - one per night for 24 radios. We always left port with all UHF radios working. Managed to make ETN3 when they allowed promotions from the fleet for ETs. Left June 74 before the last cruise. A salute to all who served on board Hancock!
From Naval Hospital, Guam I reported aboard Hancock in August 1974. Worked as an HM in Sick Bay throughout the 1975 cruise and evac ops Eagle Pull & Frequent Wind. Left the ship (and Navy) during the decommissioning ceremonies of 30 January 1975. Time spent aboard Hanna ranks up there as one of the most rewarding, personally & professionally, of my life, so far. Loved being at sea.
VA-164 AC 414 in 1972 was my bird to take care of. I can even see myself in this around the 13:40 mark. I even pulled out the old cruise book and showed it to my wife. Damn that was too long ago...Thanks for the memories.
I was in VA-164. I was the avionics flight deck troubleshooter. I arrived at the squadron late in 1968 and left the squadron in June of 1971. We might have served together.
I grew up right next door to the shipyard in Quincy, Mass. where she was built, the river and the foreriver bridge was like a playground for me and my friends, we'd jump the bridge which separated Quincy and Weymouth, we'd swim the under and around the bridge watching the process of the shops being built, kinda dangerous, but you had to be aware of your surroundings. Great memories, thank you. 🇺🇸
I was in VA-216 Black Diamonds squadron on board Fighting Hanna 61-62-63. WestPac cruises. We did our share in Nam. We lost 3 pilots not a good cruise. One was my old division officer. I was an ordanceman. We worked out behinds off. I left the squadron in Nov,64.
Yeah, I have seen pictures on the internet that the streets are paved now. Gravel when I was there in "70 and they picked up kids out at night and put them in a dog catcher like cage truck truck
Met an old Senior Chief at the gas station a month or so ago, a machinists mate. He was engineering. USS Hancock. Back in early mid 50s! He was with his daughter who helped him give me an email so we could talk. I bet he's got great sea stories. But great video.
My Dad was abord the Hancock in about 61 to 63, he did 2 westpac cruses. He took me on a independent day cruse. I saw a F11 fury eat it and ditch right off the cat. Saw the whole helicopter rescue. Dad said it was something not many people will ever see live. He was called a whether guesser. His office was under the number 19 on the island.
Your dad was always there, making things happen. Everyone respected him for his dedication and skills. All the pilots understood we were the lucky ones who got to man the machines. Nothing could have happened without Paul and all the other men who made things work.
As I recall, the Navy was a little short on bombs at that point. Have seen A-4s going on Alfa strikes loaded with a 2000# bomb on the center line, a 1000# on each inboard wing station and a 250# bomb on the outer wing stations for a total 4500# of bombs.
I’m a clerk in a store and today I met an old guy who served on this ship. We spent a while talking about the last of the gunfighters F8s and his job on the deck. If there is an old fellow you know chat with him. Cause them old guys love talking about it and love giving their history to younger generations.
I was on that cruise. I was the M-Division Officer, keeping the screws turning... I think we left SF in March-April and returned just before Christmas. The 73-74 Cruise was 13 months LONG. On the 73 Cruise, the TA-4s (2 seater) were used for the sighter that steered the laser guided bombs to the target. Great stuff!!!
Actually that was on the 72 cruise. I had 2 rides with the laser designator in the back seat of the TA-4F
Great video. I made the last WestPac cruise on the Hanna Maru in 1975 when we evacuated Cambodia and Saigon. I was the last Command Master Chief and presented Captain Fellowes with the commissioning pennant when we decommissioned the ship on January 30, 1976 at NAS Alameda.
I was on there...one of the last ones...PN X Division transfering personnel..
@@joehgarcia3425 I was in CR Division. The ship's Chaplain married me and my wife at the NAS Alameda chapel in Nov '75. I retired from Mare Island 2 years later and still live in our home in SF.
@@art3030 retired down here at NAS Kingsville and moved to South Padre Brownsville, Tx. Seen the Constellation, Ranger, Independence, Forrestal, Saratoga scrapped. Served on Sara after decom Hancock with VFP 63 F8s. Sad sight to see them ...lots of history.
@@joehgarcia3425 I've often thought about moving to your part of the country. Many years ago when I was a teenager I won a vacation to Corpus Christi and San Antonio for a week. I really liked Padre Island and the surrounding area. I've only seen weather like that in one other place and that was San Diego. My wife passed on 12 years ago but I have some kids and grand kids nearby that stop by - usually for $$$. I have a 57 year old son living in Ft. Worth. If I were to move it would be to Texas and probably Ft. Worth. The triple digit temperatures for 90 days straight keep me here in SF.
My uncle was chief petty officer on the USS Hancock during Vietnam...he served in WW2 , Korea ,Nam... during WW2 he flew in a avenger torpedo plane.. I think he retired some time in the early 70s.. during the mid to late 60's he had a house on NAS Alameda...I was about 11 years old and I went to visit him on family vacation in 67'.( we lived in NYC).. I'd watch planes take off and land with binoculars in a field in his backyard...
Came on board via helo in late June 72 via Saratoga after one week stay on the Benewah in Subic Bay with ankle deep water on deck. Hanna big improvement! Over two years as SN did my stint filter cleaning & in the bake shop. As ET worked on 09 level helping keep UHF radios working - one per night for 24 radios. We always left port with all UHF radios working. Managed to make ETN3 when they allowed promotions from the fleet for ETs. Left June 74 before the last cruise. A salute to all who served on board Hancock!
From Naval Hospital, Guam I reported aboard Hancock in August 1974. Worked as an HM in Sick Bay throughout the 1975 cruise and evac ops Eagle Pull & Frequent Wind. Left the ship (and Navy) during the decommissioning ceremonies of 30 January 1975. Time spent aboard Hanna ranks up there as one of the most rewarding, personally & professionally, of my life, so far. Loved being at sea.
Hey,shipmate. Fancy meeting you here.
VA-164 AC 414 in 1972 was my bird to take care of. I can even see myself in this around the 13:40 mark. I even pulled out the old cruise book and showed it to my wife. Damn that was too long ago...Thanks for the memories.
I was in VA-164. I was the avionics flight deck troubleshooter. I arrived at the squadron late in 1968 and left the squadron in June of 1971. We might have served together.
Good for you. You will be in history.
My old ship 1968-70. Good times at Olongapo! Oh baby
After the war it was never the same.
I grew up right next door to the shipyard in Quincy, Mass. where she was built, the river and the foreriver bridge was like a playground for me and my friends, we'd jump the bridge which separated Quincy and Weymouth, we'd swim the under and around the bridge watching the process of the shops being built, kinda dangerous, but you had to be aware of your surroundings. Great memories, thank you. 🇺🇸
I was in HC-1 Det 1 on the 1975 WESTPAC. Your footage is spot on. Thanks very much.
I was in VA-216 Black Diamonds squadron on board Fighting Hanna 61-62-63. WestPac cruises. We did our share in Nam. We lost 3 pilots not a good cruise. One was my old division officer. I was an ordanceman. We worked out behinds off. I left the squadron in Nov,64.
Great footage, thanks for posting it on here.
Yeah, I have seen pictures on the internet that the streets are paved now. Gravel when I was there in "70 and they picked up kids out at night and put them in a dog catcher like cage truck
truck
Met an old Senior Chief at the gas station a month or so ago, a machinists mate. He was engineering. USS Hancock. Back in early mid 50s! He was with his daughter who helped him give me an email so we could talk. I bet he's got great sea stories. But great video.
I was there for the 1972 & 75 cruise! I remember the trips to India ocean and the ship becoming a Hilo pad for the Marine’s! I was an EM2
Awesome... we had Skyhawks with our RNZAF 👍🇳🇿
Unbelievably great film. Love the PLAT scenes...Me Love PLAT. I was a blue shirt back in the day when Australia flew A-4's off HMAS Melbourne.
My uncle served on the Hancock.
I was on the handcock from 1973 to 1976 then i went to the Enterprise damage control that was along time ago
My Dad was abord the Hancock in about 61 to 63, he did 2 westpac cruses. He took me on a independent day cruse. I saw a F11 fury eat it and ditch right off the cat. Saw the whole helicopter rescue. Dad said it was something not many people will ever see live. He was called a whether guesser. His office was under the number 19 on the island.
Ask him if he was there whenever Admiral McCudden shot down the weather balloon.
Served in A3 133 onboard the USS Handcock 72 to 74 2 Westpack Cruises out of the Alameda Naval Air Base
That was our 11 month cruise. Needed a couple more RF-8 shots. No A-3s?
VA-164 A-4Fs have optical equipement fitted in the nose. Is it for laser bomb aiming?
Yes
That JBD!
I walked on the Hancock that year at her homeport (NAS Alameda.) Dad was a Ghostrider stationed at Lemoore. A-4s and Lady J. all the way!
Paul was a great squadron mate. Sorry i never connected with him at Cecil.
Your dad was always there, making things happen. Everyone respected him for his dedication and skills. All the pilots understood we were the lucky ones who got to man the machines. Nothing could have happened without Paul and all the other men who made things work.
My Dad's squadron. His is in the video. He has asked if he could contact the person who had the footage. Please reach out to me if you get this.
Two 250s and two 500 pounders on an A-4F?What kind of sissy load is that?!
Sincerely,
World Famous Golden Dragons
As I recall, the Navy was a little short on bombs at that point. Have seen A-4s going on Alfa strikes loaded with a 2000# bomb on the center line, a 1000# on each inboard wing station and a 250# bomb on the outer wing stations for a total 4500# of bombs.
I was the last west pac in 75 in v-1 division
@55:42 Nose-mounted Laser Spot Tracker modification
One cruise to Tonkin Gulf 1970/1971 cruise.
AIMD Division.
It was enough.
I retired from the USAF😆
VA -164 70' -'71 Yankee Station, Tonkin Gulf, South China Sea
@@antoniomik100 👋😆I heard they paved the streets on Olongapo
On Hancock 63-65 S6 div
28:00. weird helmet.....