Sea Stories
Seven thousand feet of eighth inch cable slipped throught the blue Cuban skies with a VU-10 tow plane on one end and a sleeve target on the other. Gunners on the carrier far below in the Caribbean sea were blazing away at the sleeve in practice fire.
Closer and closer the bursts crept to the tow plane. Finally one of the shell burst so near that shrapnel pierced the aircraft. The pilot picked up his mic. and radioed the ship: "I wish to remind you, I am
pulling the target, not pushing it !"

Then there was the time when the days towing operations had been completed and the plane turned to make the eighty mile return trip to McCalla field. Work done, the seasoned Towman sat back for the ride home. Suddenly the ICS came alive with, "Pilot to afterstation, this is a test, we are at 4000 feet and about to ditch," "What is the first thing that you do?" The Towman replied, "Release the life raft ."....... Some people just can't take a joke.

While flying a pilotless drone for a certain flattop, it was noted that the ship was having considerable difficulties in finding the range on the drone and requested the pilot to fly the craft closer to the carrier.
Still the firing missed its target.
After repeatedly sending the drone closer and closer, The pilot came out with the radio message that is the gem of all utility squadron squelches: "Hold your fire and clear the flight deck ! I will now land the drone aboard your ship so you can beat it to death with swabs
!"

          
Aviation Photographer Mate George Messmer Writes;

As a photographers mate I was stationed in Gitmo from March of 1953 to Feb, 1955. I was attached to the Atlantic Fleet Camera Party and part of the Atlantic Fleet training command. During this time I had the privlege to fly in one of your aircraft, the JD-1. My Chief Petty Officer, Skinner, knew someone in your squadron and arranged for me to get a hop.
I received some quick instrustions on how to bail out. (Was told I would have to go first so the Pilot and Mechanic could follow) and thats about all.
I put on a harness (Not sure if there was a parachute on the other end ) and flew between the pilot and mechanic on the Jump Seat?? We had a two hour rendezvous with a submarine south of Gitmo. I was told about the shark infested waters and that there would be little chance of survival in those waters.
During the flight, one of the engines started to skip, but was soon running smoothly. (Carb. Ice I was told).
The Fleet Camera Party did photographic coverage for ships coming into Gitmo for Gunnery exercises. I rember mounting  35mm Mitchell cameras on top of a destroyers 5" gun mount and photographing aerial gunnery with the target being one of your planes with target in tow.
I understood at the time, the fire got too close to the plane and the aircraft departed.
Many good memories of Gitmo, but , in those days I was glad to leave.
gmessmer@adelphia.net


JD Crash.
As Recalled by Jim Garnsey.            jgarnse1@twcny.rr.com

As I remember the crash I witnessed at NAS Agana, The JD was returning from Okinawa after towing targets for the fleet. They arrived over Guam at about 1300 and entered the landing pattern. When the pilot, an Ensign, as I remember, lowered the landing gear, the nose wheel came down but would not turn. After many attempts to correct the situation, the tower instructed them to burn off their remaining fuel and prepare to crash land. The plane continued to circle the Island for about two hours, all the time gathering a large crowd on the ramp.

Around 1600 they came in with all wheels up along side the runway, skidded for several hundred yards, kicking up sod and dirt and finally stopping. The canopies popped open and the crew made tracks to get away from the aircraft. No fire occurred and other than 2 ruined engines, damage was quite minimal and the plane was back flying within a month or two.

I think this was in 1951 and after almost 50 years my recollection may be a bit inaccurate. It would be interesting if some other visitor to your site witnessed the same crash and could add to the story.