I'm almost too worried to say...but, I was a USMC Air Traffic Controller (went to NAS Pensacola) and the one and ONLY time I ever thought I may have picked the wrong branch, was the first (and EVERY) time I saw USN Shooters in action! OOH-RAH!
Was an AE on Oriskany and Hancock; (1965-1969) had my turn 'working the Roof' in a A4 squadron. 50 years later, I STILL get a charge watching these videos. No other gig like it in the world!
Ehh... Biggest regret in my life. I wanted to be a jet fighter pilot, but never chased my dream. If I really knew how good it is, I would do everything, to be one of them. Salute to the elite of humanity.
I did! I was aboard the USS Eisenhower (CVN 69) in 1978 during her last shakedown cruise before she joined the fleet. I had nothing to do with flight ops but I spent every free moment I could in a place called 'vulture row' where I could observe. Could not get enough of this! Those guys on the flight deck are studs!
These carriers are amazing, true, only because every member of the crew does an excellent job. Including the cleaners of the heads, (the loo). They all believe that every job is important. I served on a carrier during the Viet Nam war and I am very fortunate to have had that experience. Thank you Mr. bmwnasher for your kind words.
+harrypest It was great to have her onboard. Really ties back to heritage, history, and gave you a feeling of pride......"I'm not the first to do this and certainly won't be the last.........but a part of it nonetheless"
The guys in the green shirts are maintenance, mechs, airframe, electronics, etc. The guys in white are final checkers. I was a mech in VF14 on board the Kennedy and wore a green shirt. After you gain some proficiency at your job you get to work the 'roof' as a final checker. If your shop Chief didn't think you were comfortable on the flight deck you wouldn't be forced to go, some folks just never got comfortable on the flight deck during flight ops particularly night ops. The three times I nearly commited fatal mistakes all happed at night, it could be disorienting at times. The biggest mistake I almost committed could have killed the flight crew. Almost always if the airplane made it to the catapult it would lanch, except once. I was on the port side of one of our Tomcats it was in full power, tension on the catapult the shooter was looking at me for the thumbs up. I had gotten so used to seeing the thumbs up from final checker on the starboard side that as soon as he moved I would look at the shooter and give the thumbs up. As the starboard final checker looked at me I started to give the thumbs. This time he closed his hands and frantically crossed his arms which I didn't expect that was the abort sginal. I stopped half way from giving the shooter the 'go' looked back at the starboard checker and gave him the abort sign to confim it, Again he frantically gave the abort sign, I looked at the shooter and gave him the abort sing. That automatically set in motion a series of precise events to power down the jet, release tension on the cat and get the jet out of the way and parked. What the other checker saw that I didn't was hydraulic fluid pouring down the side of the fuselage. The hydraulic actuator that moves the starbord stabilizer had developed a massive leak, he saw it I didnt. He did the right thing, I almost gave the ' ok to launch '. Lesson learned, no one hurt. That's the reason all the hand sginals seem exaggerated. I think we got an extra ten bucks a month, the flight deck was considered hazardous duty. That's the way the flight deck work. at least during the 1970s.
+Richard Szczepanski Hey Rich, your story brings back some close call memories. I don't think you can work on a flight deck of a US Carrier and not have a close call. I, much like you, thank my lucky stars and training that we didnt lose an aircrew member or a flight deck member with the optempo we had. Will say, sucked my Khakis straight up my rear a few times though........
Dan James, please read miniflyboy's comments below. Also, the guys behind the aircraft wings are squadron final checkers. They make sure the flight control surfaces move, no oil, hydraulic fluid leaks, all panels are closed and secured, etc. The Catapult Officer (Shooters), is the person responsible for the safe launch of aircraft. He/She is the person on the flight deck who points to all the others, making sure they all give a "thumbs up", ready for launch, and that the pilot salutes him, stating he is ready for launch. When there is bad weather, the Catapult Officer goes into the "bubble", and directs the launch from there. When he is in the "bubble", a Petty Officer will take his place on the flight deck. When not needed, the bubble is lowered and becomes another flat spot on the flight deck. It takes a lot of people to launch and recover aircraft from a aircraft carrier.
They have alot and I mean alot of responsibility. Everything has to be 💯. If not things can go very bad. Appreciate All The Military Personnel. Awesome
Did 2west-pac deployments aboard the Great USS Enterprise on 1976 n 1978. Was an brown shirt I was an plane captain I love it so much that I volunteer to go back top side cause air frame division was so boring I wanted to be in the action
I was a TSPO on the America, Forrestal & Saratoga from 80 to 84 humpin bridal pendants and holdback rigs on Phantoms for 18-20 hours a day. It aint the same now.
That war dance move in the start 0:18 to 0:25 is so awesome! Like throwing a grenade and enjoying the explosion or something. What does that mean? Or is it just for on deck motivation to the rest of the flight deck crew? Whatever it is, it got ME charged up.
The Cat officers Are the ones who really make it all happen.the 2 fingers up in a circle are for the 2 forms of power brought up to full..not both engines
When I joined the Navy, my dream was to work on the flight deck. So what does the Navy do? They assigned me to an anti submarine squadron as a "Ground Pounder". Love those Carriers!!! 🇺🇸🇮🇱🐍⚓👍
What you don't realize, Richard, is that they polled ALL the flight deck crews and they all gave you a thumbs down. Sorry bud, but fortunately sub squadrons accept anyone. haha Rich, do the job the best you can, be proud you are part of the greatest Navy ever and never give your self a reason to be embarrassed nor ashamed of anything you do while in uniform. When you are old like me you want to look back at your service days as the greatest time in your life. I was a greenshirt on carriers and later on I was with a sub squadron... so I know of what I speak!
@@JulianLilligG Yellow is ABH, Green is ABE. Shooter wears yellow for the fact that he/she is the last person to direct the aircraft before it leaves the deck, so is in effect, a Handler (Yellow shirt).
I love this video! I watch it over and over. Quick question. In other videos I've seen sometimes where there are 2 shooters. The guy in back is copying everything the other is doing. Is he training/learning?
+Jason Wallace The shooter in front is "Under Instruction". He/She is working toward their final qualification to be able to launch planes independently. (Three weeks of classroom, anywhere from 4-8 months on the job. The crew is trained to follow the signals of the qualified officer.
My father was a Marine next in line I joined the army next in line my sister joined the Air Force next in line my youngest brother joined the Navy and I always told him he should have been a bush shooter 😆😆😆
KamekoBruns, correct. Checking wind is still good, catapult pressure is still good, deck is still clear, no one is landing at the same time of the launch............Robert Hodge, the right hand in the air indicates the pilot is one button push from being thrown from 0-145 knots in 3 seconds.........when that hand shoots up, they brace........ride of your life........unless you eject, then that would be the ride of your life I would imagine.
Anita smith he is checking to make sure all is ok. You see all with thumbs up. The shooter looks and points at all. He is looking for thumbs up. There are 2 guys on either side of the jet out of view on both sides....safety officers....who are on knees with one hand on deck and other in the air with a thumb up. He points to all before giving the shoot command then launch.
Bonjour Luc, votre Marine Nationale a aussi de tres bons pilotes naval et tout un equipage professionnel sur le porte-avion Charles de Gaulle. J'ai ete tres impressionne par vos equipages lors de nos exercises conjoints (US Navy et Marine Nationale). Remerciez vos compatriotes pour m'avoir traite comme un "roi" lors de mon sejour en France comme officier de liaison (US Navy) aupres de la Marine Nationale. Ciao, L (Maine, USA)
I'm almost too worried to say...but, I was a USMC Air Traffic Controller (went to NAS Pensacola) and the one and ONLY time I ever thought I may have picked the wrong branch, was the first (and EVERY) time I saw USN Shooters in action! OOH-RAH!
Was an AE on Oriskany and Hancock; (1965-1969) had my turn 'working the Roof' in a A4 squadron. 50 years later, I STILL get a charge watching these videos. No other gig like it in the world!
Rob Zombie and carrier flight operations. Doesn’t get any better than that!
I prefer Kenny loggins Danger Zone.
22 yrs in Army, but if I could , a shot on the flight deck it would be, teamwork primo, outstanding job to all that walked the walk!
Ehh... Biggest regret in my life. I wanted to be a jet fighter pilot, but never chased my dream. If I really knew how good it is, I would do everything, to be one of them. Salute to the elite of humanity.
worked as an ame troubleshooter in va 81 on the flight deck of the uss forrestal in the 70's. BEST damned job I ever had.
❤
I can watch this stuff for HOURS ! Thanks for sharing
Every single one is a Bad Ass. God Bless America.
I could watch this all day!
I did! I was aboard the USS Eisenhower (CVN 69) in 1978 during her last shakedown cruise before she joined the fleet. I had nothing to do with flight ops but I spent every free moment I could in a place called 'vulture row' where I could observe. Could not get enough of this! Those guys on the flight deck are studs!
Wow!! This video is straight crankin’ !!! Loved it!!
Im English these carriers amaze me, god bless the crews, including the toilet cleaners, thanks for making the world a bit safer.
These carriers are amazing, true, only because every member of the crew does an excellent job. Including the cleaners of the heads, (the loo). They all believe that every job is important. I served on a carrier during the Viet Nam war and I am very fortunate to have had that experience. Thank you Mr. bmwnasher for your kind words.
Great video.Thanks guys
Nice to see the Retro CV-12 Hornet-Hornet in fleet service at 7:22. Actually looks good in the 1943-44 Tri-Color Sporting Hornet #8 Geometrics
+harrypest It was great to have her onboard. Really ties back to heritage, history, and gave you a feeling of pride......"I'm not the first to do this and certainly won't be the last.........but a part of it nonetheless"
The guys in the green shirts are maintenance, mechs, airframe, electronics, etc.
The guys in white are final checkers.
I was a mech in VF14 on board the Kennedy and wore a green shirt.
After you gain some proficiency at your job you get to work the 'roof' as a final checker.
If your shop Chief didn't think you were comfortable on the flight deck you wouldn't be forced to go, some folks just never got comfortable on the flight deck during flight ops particularly night ops. The three
times I nearly commited fatal mistakes all happed at night, it could be disorienting at times.
The biggest mistake I almost committed could have killed the flight crew.
Almost always if the airplane made it to the catapult it would lanch, except once.
I was on the port side of one of our Tomcats it was in full power, tension on the catapult the shooter was looking at me for the thumbs up.
I had gotten so used to seeing the thumbs up from final checker on the starboard side that as soon as he moved I would look at the shooter and give the thumbs up. As the starboard final checker looked at me I started to give the thumbs.
This time he closed his hands and frantically crossed his arms which I didn't expect that was the abort sginal. I stopped half way from giving the shooter the 'go' looked back at the starboard checker and gave him the abort sign to confim it, Again he frantically gave the abort sign, I looked at the shooter and gave him the abort sing. That automatically set in motion a series of precise events to power down the jet, release tension on the cat and get the jet out of the way and parked.
What the other checker saw that I didn't was hydraulic fluid pouring down the side of the fuselage. The hydraulic actuator that moves the starbord stabilizer had developed a massive leak, he saw it I didnt. He did the right thing, I almost gave the ' ok to launch '. Lesson learned, no one hurt. That's the reason all the hand sginals seem exaggerated.
I think we got an extra ten bucks a month, the flight deck was considered hazardous duty.
That's the way the flight deck work. at least during the 1970s.
+Richard Szczepanski Hey Rich, your story brings back some close call memories. I don't think you can work on a flight deck of a US Carrier and not have a close call. I, much like you, thank my lucky stars and training that we didnt lose an aircrew member or a flight deck member with the optempo we had. Will say, sucked my Khakis straight up my rear a few times though........
Thanks for your service!
what an amazingly crazy story how one signal can set a horrible accident in place. thank you for your story and for your service. god bless
jacques dubois clearly he was ready to be topside...
The green shirts are also the cat crews or the gear dogs as well
We once surfaced next to a carrier & watched flight ops, IMPRESSIVE!!!
Dan James, please read miniflyboy's comments below. Also, the guys behind the aircraft wings are squadron final checkers. They make sure the flight control surfaces move, no oil, hydraulic fluid leaks, all panels are closed and secured, etc. The Catapult Officer (Shooters), is the person responsible for the safe launch of aircraft. He/She is the person on the flight deck who points to all the others, making sure they all give a "thumbs up", ready for launch, and that the pilot salutes him, stating he is ready for launch. When there is bad weather, the Catapult Officer goes into the "bubble", and directs the launch from there. When he is in the "bubble", a Petty Officer will take his place on the flight deck. When not needed, the bubble is lowered and becomes another flat spot on the flight deck. It takes a lot of people to launch and recover aircraft from a aircraft carrier.
They have alot and I mean alot of responsibility. Everything has to be 💯. If not things can go very bad. Appreciate All The Military Personnel. Awesome
Did 2west-pac deployments aboard the Great USS Enterprise on 1976 n 1978. Was an brown shirt I was an plane captain I love it so much that I volunteer to go back top side cause air frame division was so boring I wanted to be in the action
They do it day or night ,24/7 , 365 , when ever needed. Thank you men!!! Wish I could buy you a cold one!
I was a TSPO on the America, Forrestal & Saratoga from 80 to 84 humpin bridal pendants and holdback rigs on Phantoms for 18-20 hours a day. It aint the same now.
I like the vibe and the dancers.
Bad ass,,,,All of them! Thanks to everyone of them on that floating U.S.N. island! 💙🇱🇷❤️
Shooters have the best job on the deck !
Amazing !
Powerful
Team work
It's a whole music video experience.
My dad was a yellow shirt in the Navy! :D
That war dance move in the start 0:18 to 0:25 is so awesome! Like throwing a grenade and enjoying the explosion or something. What does that mean? Or is it just for on deck motivation to the rest of the flight deck crew? Whatever it is, it got ME charged up.
They got a dangerous but fun job.
Friggin STUDS!!! I'd cream my shorts every time. I don't see how that could ever get old
The Cat officers Are the ones who really make it all happen.the 2 fingers up in a circle are for the 2 forms of power brought up to full..not both engines
Great information, minifly. Thank you.
There is a lot of trust on that deck!
in CATOBAR we trust
During WW2 carrier deck accidents and deaths were quite common. More personnel were killed or maimed in carrier mishaps than to the enemy.
the amazing thing is that the shooter is not blown away
@Honeysuckle Blossom 0000
When I joined the Navy, my dream was to work on the flight deck. So what does the Navy do? They assigned me to an anti submarine squadron as a "Ground Pounder". Love those Carriers!!! 🇺🇸🇮🇱🐍⚓👍
What you don't realize, Richard, is that they polled ALL the flight deck crews and they all gave you a thumbs down. Sorry bud, but fortunately sub squadrons accept anyone. haha Rich, do the job the best you can, be proud you are part of the greatest Navy ever and never give your self a reason to be embarrassed nor ashamed of anything you do while in uniform. When you are old like me you want to look back at your service days as the greatest time in your life. I was a greenshirt on carriers and later on I was with a sub squadron... so I know of what I speak!
You'd think the Shooters would wreck their knees after a while.
More likely 2 wreckm in the bar
Just like ballet dancers and ice skaters
What's the shaking fingers? Hold?
@@blissfulone6749 Maybe full throttle to shoot?????
bush shooter is the one in yellows, the ones in greens i belive are maintenance but obviously theyre more of a check inspector type.
+jptrustno1 there just shooters. green and blue are ABH.
Yellow shirts handle aircraft movement. A shooter has a yellow shirt and a green helmet. The shooters are also NFOs.
@@JulianLilligG Yellow is ABH, Green is ABE. Shooter wears yellow for the fact that he/she is the last person to direct the aircraft before it leaves the deck, so is in effect, a Handler (Yellow shirt).
Thanks for getting the job you're assigned to accomplished!!!
amazing to watch - thanks for posting
I love These's guy's.. Awesome job..
I can't figure what's cooler, and yellow shirt instructing pilots, or pilots themselves :D
The best dame air support in the world ....ass kickers
my son CPO Keith Bemis used to do this! he loved it
Named after a Former Pilot
Who almost got eaten by cannibals
For those of you who don't know history
these guys are awesome!!
Thank you for your protection and for protecting our neighbors in need of protection!❤️
The guys in the hole are setting up the aircraft launch weights for the catapult operators below deck. AQF2 Forrestal 1971.
Best job on the deck.
the amazing thing is that the shooter is not blown away
XO, Turn her into the wind.
Yes Captain.
awesome footage !!!!
イエロージャケットのパフォーマンスは、格好良過ぎの一言に、尽きる。実戦の実績に裏打ちされた本物の凄さを、感じる。
it wasn't like that in 1975 to 1982 but it looks good guys help USS Enterprise but you guys are badass
Watching some of the videos I still cant believe that at age 22 I was a final check checker for an RA5C Vigilante Squadron.
I felt the same about being a blue shirt at 19 and pushing those jets all over the deck.
THAT was a serious sex machine. Drop. Dead. Gorgeous.
Another great day in the Navy....
Thanks for sharing, shipmates :)
Great video. Thanks! \m/
God Bless the United States of America
who protects the world from the us?
Sonstwas michael - Good Question
The US is a godless land.
Killing for ol is family Business
Amen !!! Philadelphia USA
GREAT VIDEO SO LET IT PLAY 😊😊▶️😊 HOOAH ALL DAMN DAY!
This. Is. AWESOME!
Shooter is a bit frightening... ROFLMBO
Too bad they don't show the badass the Tomcat launching ATB
EF yeah guys! great job
So cool!! Love it
Give 'em hell boys!
Awesome video!
one of the most dangerous jobs in the military.
Thats why its so cool!
each second on an active flight deck can kill you
The "Grapes" are the worse because 1 thing Fuel
What's the deal with the dark paint job on some of the F-18s?
RIP 41.
American POWER right there brothers and sisters
Flight deck , ho hum , liberty call hmmmm , return from liberty call , OH Yea ! ;)
what is the job title for the guy at 3:22? ive seen a few different ones and i wana do that sooo bad!
They have cool moves
God!3:00 that's the mighty EA-18G.
LOCKHEED MARTIN! I DEMAND YOU BRING ME HOME! I DID WORK FOR YOU! YOU BROUGHT RICK HOME! NOW BRING ME HOME!
I love this video! I watch it over and over. Quick question. In other videos I've seen sometimes where there are 2 shooters. The guy in back is copying everything the other is doing. Is he training/learning?
+Jason Wallace The shooter in front is "Under Instruction". He/She is working toward their final qualification to be able to launch planes independently. (Three weeks of classroom, anywhere from 4-8 months on the job. The crew is trained to follow the signals of the qualified officer.
+minifly Nah, nah, nah. That's not it at all. The guy in back in there in case the primary messes up his dance moves.
Jason Wallace the reply to this makes sense but I also realized when there are two pilots in one aircraft there seems to be two shooters also
Oh how true this is.........
There is only one pilot in a plane. The one in back is a RIO, or recon information officer. They handle fire control and tracking missiles/planes.
Good landing
My father was a Marine next in line I joined the army next in line my sister joined the Air Force next in line my youngest brother joined the Navy and I always told him he should have been a bush shooter 😆😆😆
@phillip lapkovitch..............😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂...........
Love these men.
And women.
Great video. I can watch it for hours. Id prefer to hear the music of flight deck music.
Профи!💯
American heros all elite best of the best
Much love sent to you from Mount Vernon Georgia! We love our military and our blessed President and true American Patriot Donald Trump!
Awesome!
สุดๆเลยลูกพี่
May I know what is the meaning of the shooter to point at different directions before the fighter shoots off the Carrier?
+KamekoBruns Negative, it is to alert both the pilot and the flight crew that there is an imminent launch.
KamekoBruns, correct. Checking wind is still good, catapult pressure is still good, deck is still clear, no one is landing at the same time of the launch............Robert Hodge, the right hand in the air indicates the pilot is one button push from being thrown from 0-145 knots in 3 seconds.........when that hand shoots up, they brace........ride of your life........unless you eject, then that would be the ride of your life I would imagine.
Lol! Dance, dance, dance!
very good fighter video....
My cousin let me sit in an A6...serious claustrophobia with my feet, lol
excellent video...thanks for sharing it. Question...is the guy at 1.45 and the one at 4.13 same guy?
Was a Greenie on USS JFK locked planes in catapult. Crazy normal but during combat wild
Could you tell me the title of the song starting at 5:11 and the name of the artist?
I am all proud of all of you.
5:11から始まる曲のタイトルとアーティスト名を教えていただけませんか?
Question: Why does the shooter check out the person in the green sitting on the deck before he gives the okay?
Anita smith he is checking to make sure all is ok. You see all with thumbs up. The shooter looks and points at all. He is looking for thumbs up. There are 2 guys on either side of the jet out of view on both sides....safety officers....who are on knees with one hand on deck and other in the air with a thumb up. He points to all before giving the shoot command then launch.
🤘 vous êtes les meilleurs cool men cool 🇨🇵
Bonjour Luc, votre Marine Nationale a aussi de tres bons pilotes naval et tout un equipage professionnel sur le porte-avion Charles de Gaulle. J'ai ete tres impressionne par vos equipages lors de nos exercises conjoints (US Navy et Marine Nationale). Remerciez vos compatriotes pour m'avoir traite comme un "roi" lors de mon sejour en France comme officier de liaison (US Navy) aupres de la Marine Nationale. Ciao, L (Maine, USA)
I noticed that too
I farkin love this shit!!! (Not shit shit, awesome shit!!)
Thanks LM - you kept my writings
What is that at 5:03 ? Protoculture ?
Awesome guys
Many people shoot guns, few people shoot airplanes.
Who triggers the catapult, the pilot or someone on deck?
someone on the side of the dec, if you look good you might see him
I love human on Bush carrier happy new year.