8. Tomcat Ordnancemen

Aviation Ordnancemen, better known as “Ordies,” are the proud men and women who load the bombs, missiles, bullets, and other stores on naval #aircraft and none were more proud than those who used to do so on the #f14tomcat.
On this episode, former Ordies Randy Zeitler and Steve Folsom describe giving the Tomcat its claws and life in an F-14 squadron while working aboard the unforgiving flight deck.
0:00 INTRO
3:54 Randy Zeitler History
10:09 Steve Folsom History
13:07 Is there an Ordie standard?
14:26 Working on the Flight Deck
20:49 Flight Deck Team
28:01 Desert Storm
31:29 Did you work on the Flight Deck on your first launch?
35:04 Least favorite Ordnance
37:18 M-904 Fuse
41:34 War Stories
53:11 What did you like loading?
57:29 AIM-54 Belly to wing station
59:50 Hernia Bar
1:02:20 BOL CHAFF & BOL IR
1:07:50 What are you doing now?
1:26:35 OUTRO

[@scotthayne806]

Served with Randy in VF-102 ‘85-‘88. Loaded many missiles with him & Fincham & Opey. The iconic ordy, a perfect representation of what we all wanted to be as ordnancemen.

[@Gotav-uq4jr]

This is My favorite of all the Tomcast’s. Definitely better in video form, instead of. just podcast. Y’all did a great job of showing all the parts it took to keep the “Big Fighter” flying and combat ready.

[@elnach3240]

Even the Ordies on Tomcats were studs. It seems like just touching the Tomcat raised ones testosterone level.

[@kellywilson8440]

I was an Aviation Ordnanceman in f-18 squadrons most notably VFA-131 Wildcats out of then NAS Cecil Field fla 1985/1988 , Did one med-cruise 87/88 aboard the USS Coral Sea with CAG-13 airwing , It was a rough and tumble job but enjoyed every second of it mostly on the flight deck . Met some of the best guys and now call them my brothers , Sure miss it but our back and knees would tend to differ haa , Great video sir !

[@rodneyfincham4971]

I was the constant F14 order started with them on the wet coast in Vf 24 on 1977. Tours with Randy in 102 . Vf 101 and also 143. Then last tour in 102 in mid 90s. Yes I grew up when ordie were ordies a

[@milesbassin]

What a fantastic episode! I could listen to this all day long! Thank you for bringing this wealth of knowledge and experience. Straight talk and the realness. We need more channels like this.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Thank you 🙏

[@wayneroyal3137]

Again, watching this and the previous episodes again. These are fantastic! The ordinance guys are hilarious. Thanks again for reposting these!!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

You're welcome! ...and did you know? There is a difference between "ordinance" as you wrote and "ordnance" as applies here.

[@wayneroyal3137]

Ha!!! I was doing voice to text and did not proofread!!!!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@wayneroyal3137 that explains it! (but you would be surprised how few people actually know that)

[@wayneroyal3137]

Thank you again for posting these Tomcast series again! So fun to watch them again

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@wayneroyal3137 👍😎

[@mikesmith7249]

Love this series, and honestly, Ive heard from more F-14 flight crew than you can shake a stick at. Hearing from maintenance is a welcome reprieve. Id love to hear from the engine guys.

[@D5Pasadena]

This was a “you two characters” episode. I laughed so hard. This was the episode I didn’t know I needed. But, I needed it to lift my spirits. Thanks so much, guys!

[@mikejohnson280]

I knew this was going to be good, but WOW! Great stories!!

[@MylesErwin]

'Bout time there was a show featuring ordies! Thank you for highlighting this profession. Was an AO3 with VFA25 Fist of the Fleet from 96-00. Great memories! Hard and yet rewarding work! IYAOYAS gentleman! Edit additional- was CAG ARM/DEARM during sweatpac '98. Arming the Phoenix on the CAT was quite an adventure.

[@calneigbauer7542]

Amazing guest love his energy

[@markspence3295]

That was the most enjoyable conversation I’ve been party to for a very long while. Thanks guys.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🍻

[@coolhand3328]

i cannot state strongly enough how much i enjoyed this. priceless.

[@markspence3295]

Great chat and banter. Love how little prompts pop up when needed with the lesser know tech terms and abbreviations.

[@hughscot]

Never in the military but I am a pilot and really enjoyed this conversation. Thanks so much for your service.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

💪

[@johnb7490]

Great job gentlemen, enjoyed it very much

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🙏

[@richardwl5773]

"What's a Super-Hornet ? " really cracked me up. Great episode. Great series.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

😅

[@99AudiMan09]

Randy is my Spirit Animal

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🧸

[@chrism9976]

Former ordie...VF-102 (93-97) VF-101 (97-00) and VFA-94 (03-07) I've spit a lot of dip in many padeyes while on America, Enterprise, Kennedy and Nimintz. Work hard, play hard. IYAOYAS! Worst ordnance to load? 20mm Favorite ordnance...Dry Aim-54. The M904 fuze has nine arming delays, which you can set for 2 to 18 seconds in 2-second increments

[@roydegenstein4293]

Another great episode my friends. Love it every time they come out. Love how Z-Man would bring up how Civilians don't understand. Many times my brothers and sisters in arms get together and tell stories over beers. Using words that only they would know. You see that Civilian a table over, head tilt, eyes wide trying to figure out what they are hearing. Good times.

[@SAINTCR33P]

I didn't realise there was a Tomcat beer! 😆 Another fantastic episode, I really enjoyed this one.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🙏

[@vspecnurr34]

Bloody brilliant episode, teamwork is everything, and you're all an exceptional team 💪👌🙏

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🎯

[@thecatdaddy1974]

This is some great tales and entertaining

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

🤙

[@AdamButner]

Hell yea! 2 groin hernia's here! CVN-71, The Big Stick. 2 Med cruises 2000-2004 GWOT, 159 consecutive days at sea. Our Shock and Awe campaign is the King of all Ordie campaigns! The bomb farm was all 3 hangar bays forward to aft, port to starboard. Unheard of!

[@Chri5c38]

I love this series, it’s a great listen to while I’m at work. Still patiently waiting for the Demo episode, and hopefully a good segment on Snodgrass

[@mike28003]

Oh Jesus I missed hooking up with you guys by about 2 months I was in vfa 22 in cag 11 but got out in Oct of 98

[@Jawazplebs]

Great podcast guys... really enjoy it

[@blackpowder13]

Tomcat Ordie and CAG ARM/DEARM... best jobs I ever had! VF-302 Ord, 1987-1988 VF-14 Ord, 1989-1992 IYAOYAS

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

💪

[@mohawksniper79]

Nice one 👍🏽😎

[@davelew86]

In 90 aboard the FID, the Phoenix was the only ordnance that we were allowed to use motorized yellow gear due to weight.

[@davelew86]

AO VF-11 F-14s '90-'91 USS FORESTALL CV-59. I had been recalled for shield which became storm after a month

[@Arkaine_]

I have a question about the loading procedure.... Do the ordnancemen load the jet up while its still cold and parked on the deck ? Or is the cold jet towed only to a specific part of the deck and then loaded ? Or is the jet started, taxied to a specific spot and then loaded hot ?

[@indy500tabasco8]

😊😊😊good job😊😊😊

[@jackknick2178]

Desert Fox CVN 65 and CVN 70/CVW 11/VF 213, I was on DDG 62 launching TLAMs

[@jackknick2178]

I served with Crunch on IKE he was the Air Boss, I was the CSO. He is class. Love this podcast and also the mothership Fighter Pilot Podcast!

[@bmwr9tracer668]

I know what I'm watching tonight!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Hope you enjoy. 😎

[@dtrain1634]

Beard envy now 😮 Great podcast :)

[@nexpro6118]

Love the podcast!!!! My ONLY nitpick is that you guys step on each other (talk over each other) about 30% of the stories/conversations. When that happens, it's almost impossible to be able to hear what anyone is saying and I think it causes people (does for me) to maybe have missed a good section/part of a story.

[@RedShirt230]

07-2015. All QASOs in the CAG were all E5s. IYAOYAS

[@fr6885]

"Don't you Sir me!"

[@slider292]

Were those HARMs at 7:02?

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Sorta look like it but probably Sparrows (unless they were experimenting with HARM...?)

[@slider292]

Could be wrong, but the rear fins look a little more square than a sparrow(?)@@FighterPilotPodcast

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@slider292 🤷🏻‍♂

[@merrittorius]

IYAOYAS!!!

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

So if you are an ordie then…?

[@merrittorius]

@@FighterPilotPodcast We yell slogans, load bombs, and steal moms brotha. Haven't thought about it much deeper.

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

@@merrittorius Oh, I get it, I've been the benefactor of y'all's hard work! I just think it's a funny slogan. 😎

[@SkyhawkFlyer]

Great show! I loved hearing the stories of the flight deck. Though, we ATs never pissed in the padeyes! ;-)

[@FighterPilotPodcast]

Your episode is coming up.