 ) USS Midway CV-41 04 November 1981Marine Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 3 Commanding Officer Major Joe G. Thomas By GySgt. Charles Deuel / Updated Dec. 2025 The Walrus ( Major Joe Thomas) was in the back seat screaming in a very high pitched voice "ATTITUDE!! ATTITUDE!! ATTITUDE!!" I was the NCOIC of that Det until Gy Cheatham picked up 1stSgt. By Dave "madman" Allison / Updated Dec. 2025 The vertical cat launch was in the Fall of '81. When the RF came out from Okinawa it took about 6 passes before he got aboard, all interesting (Rumor had it that the last traps and cats he had was flying Cutlasses). We kept a copy of the Plat tape in Ready 6 of the cat shot. The plane had empty drops and it was supposed to be only a basic engine cat shot. Half way down the deck, the burners came on and then the series of over rotations to pointing towards the water, to over rotations etc (at least he continued to climb overall). Rupe Owens was the Midway CO and he immediately radio'ed them that The pilot was not welcome back, if he was doing the driving.I asked Walrus at the O'club later why he stuck with the airplane, his reply - "Well I've been in one WORSE" By Maj Bruce "Banzai" Akiyama / Updated Dec. 2025 As noted, this "verticle cat launch" occured during then Maj Walrus Thomas' Det Charlie carrier quals on the USS Midway. I was in pri-fly as the det rep when this aircraft taxied to the cat. In the back seat was Walrus, mostly because none of us lieutenants wanted to fly aboard the carrier with the pilot, Col Geiger, who was the Group CO. He hadn't had a trap since flight school, and had some really ugly FCLPs during CQ workup. The day prior to this launch, the Col had two harrowing bolters, and a hard landing when he had been waved off. The Air Boss was rightfully concerned. The aircraft was fueled internal only, and was to be a military shot. Just as the nose lurched down with the cat shot, the burners began to light, but the elephant ears stayed full aft. The picture is the net result. I think everybody expected to see the canopies fly off to be followed by two seats and parachutes tangled in the ship's superstructure. Instead, the aircraft fell of on its left wing, and recovered. Maj Boot Hill was the next plane off, and when he rendezvoused with Walrus, Walrus said the INS dumped. He then flew to the beach, and Col Geiger never bothered to fly with us again. 
Alright, you glorious Rat Phixers and Phlyers, if we ever survived a TAD, a Det, or a BOHICA, who haven't, and you didn’t think I was the biggest gaff off in the squadron. Got a sea story, or some grainy photos your ex didn’t set on fire, and they’re only slightly illegal? Send ‘em by email, snail mail, or safety wire it to a carrier pigeon. I collect ‘em all, just nothing that would incriminate me. 80svmfp3@gmail.com Return To The Home Page  |
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