Bush Shooters

Just another day at the office!

[@frankc.5430]

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!

[@steveyates1136]

VA squadron out of Lemoore?

[@jodistennes6044]

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!

[@LibCon1980]

Rob Zombie and carrier flight operations. Doesn’t get any better than that!

[@chrisbeard5794]

I prefer Kenny loggins Danger Zone.

[@kpakbigo4915]

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!

[@vladimirk2600]

Every single one is a Bad Ass. God Bless America.

[@martinezbhx]

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.

[@stanleyhatfield4902]

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.

[@sharonmuir2468]

❤

[@pointnozzleaway]

I can watch this stuff for HOURS ! Thanks for sharing

[@bmwnasher]

Im English these carriers amaze me, god bless the crews, including the toilet cleaners, thanks for making the world a bit safer.

[@davidsanders1991]

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.

[@richardszczepanski6615]

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.

[@miniflyboy]

+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........

[@antikoerper256]

Thanks for your service!

[@b.l.w.2136]

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

[@goose3303]

jacques dubois clearly he was ready to be topside...

[@Leoluvesadmira]

The green shirts are also the cat crews or the gear dogs as well

[@bigg4057]

The best dame air support in the world ....ass kickers

[@robertmeddellinrodriguez7498]

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

[@spiritblue9]

I could watch this all day!

[@deanjewell8170]

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!

[@venatorclass9334]

Named after a Former Pilot Who almost got eaten by cannibals For those of you who don't know history

[@duski1966]

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.

[@tinaballinger2903]

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

[@bigbob1699]

They do it day or night ,24/7 , 365 , when ever needed. Thank you men!!! Wish I could buy you a cold one!

[@xnavyro]

We once surfaced next to a carrier & watched flight ops, IMPRESSIVE!!!

[@harrypest]

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

[@miniflyboy]

+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"

[@deenasmusicbox]

Wow!! This video is straight crankin’ !!! Loved it!!

[@divedevil985]

There is a lot of trust on that deck!

[@mariebcfhs9491]

in CATOBAR we trust

[@pizzafrenzyman]

During WW2 carrier deck accidents and deaths were quite common. More personnel were killed or maimed in carrier mishaps than to the enemy.

[@lenny108]

the amazing thing is that the shooter is not blown away

[@juliabruhn1449]

@Honeysuckle Blossom 0000

[@lenny108]

the amazing thing is that the shooter is not blown away

[@jessicaeernisse958]

Thank you for your protection and for protecting our neighbors in need of protection!❤️

[@FifthAndAtlantic]

You'd think the Shooters would wreck their knees after a while.

[@bertramrottie4420]

More likely 2 wreckm in the bar

[@andrasbarkanyi7876]

Just like ballet dancers and ice skaters

[@blissfulone6749]

What's the shaking fingers? Hold?

[@SAdams-pl9ut]

@@blissfulone6749 Maybe full throttle to shoot?????

[@davidallen8503]

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.

[@glendahawkins9480]

Bad ass,,,,All of them! Thanks to everyone of them on that floating U.S.N. island! 💙🇱🇷❤️

[@jptrustno1]

bush shooter is the one in yellows, the ones in greens i belive are maintenance but obviously theyre more of a check inspector type.

[@JulianLilligG]

+jptrustno1 there just shooters. green and blue are ABH.

[@timshiflett4570]

Yellow shirts handle aircraft movement. A shooter has a yellow shirt and a green helmet. The shooters are also NFOs.

[@chrismaggio7879]

@@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).

[@karenhermon8926]

I like the vibe and the dancers.

[@sta7586]

Amazing ! Powerful Team work

[@cherylmatty3075]

I am obsessed with Shooters!! And I love the music ..

[@evilborg]

Shooters have the best job on the deck !

[@Gustsls858]

Great video.Thanks guys

[@jessicaeernisse958]

Thanks for getting the job you're assigned to accomplished!!!

[@carolynsparks3164]

I love These's guy's.. Awesome job..

[@The0311gruntUSMC]

American POWER right there brothers and sisters

[@Castillos-hinchablesOrg]

Another great day in the Navy....

[@MeMakeSparks]

Friggin STUDS!!! I'd cream my shorts every time. I don't see how that could ever get old

[@12949golface]

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!!! 🇺🇸🇮🇱🐍⚓👍

[@chrismaggio7879]

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!

[@Lesloi6227]

amazing to watch - thanks for posting

[@rd468magnum]

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

[@S1D3W1ND3R015]

My dad was a yellow shirt in the Navy! :D

[@susannebemis3311]

my son CPO Keith Bemis used to do this! he loved it

[@flipper-b8588]

They got a dangerous but fun job.

[@user-vd5si9rr6i]

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。

[@narehabako]

God Bless the United States of America

[@sonstwasmichael8245]

who protects the world from the us?

[@angelcirruto7313]

Sonstwas michael - Good Question

[@HazeGreyAndUnderway]

The US is a godless land.

[@johnwick1374]

Killing for ol is family Business

[@honorladone8682]

Amen !!! Philadelphia USA

[@mrdarklight]

It's a whole music video experience.

[@laughingalien]

Great information, minifly. Thank you.

[@jeffwissner4330]

GREAT VIDEO SO LET IT PLAY 😊😊▶️😊 HOOAH ALL DAMN DAY!

[@akdb6017]

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.

[@albertandrews130]

Best job on the deck.

[@edwardfrench475]

XO, Turn her into the wind. Yes Captain.

[@LaurieValdez-zk3dy]

August 2024 GOD BLESS EVERYONE ALWAYS Philadelphia USA 🇺🇸 Nostrovia ❤❤❤🏥🌎⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@oshtoolman]

Watching some of the videos I still cant believe that at age 22 I was a final check checker for an RA5C Vigilante Squadron.

[@TOhara-eb2lp]

I felt the same about being a blue shirt at 19 and pushing those jets all over the deck.

[@k1ross]

THAT was a serious sex machine. Drop. Dead. Gorgeous.

[@BIOSHOCKFOXX]

I can't figure what's cooler, and yellow shirt instructing pilots, or pilots themselves :D

[@mytwocents7527]

On a Navy ship, where do folks do their laundry? In Air Force tech school they had mini laundry mats all over in the dormitory areas. Of, if you could afford it, I imagine you could take you fatigues to the base laundry.

[@dakotahred747]

these guys are awesome!!

[@whysosyria1]

one of the most dangerous jobs in the military.

[@youngassassin14]

Thats why its so cool!

[@sietxD]

each second on an active flight deck can kill you

[@Shoboki]

The "Grapes" are the worse because 1 thing Fuel

[@jamesducey2685]

Pros know how to take care of business. Excellent.

[@michaelsarkins4554]

it wasn't like that in 1975 to 1982 but it looks good guys help USS Enterprise but you guys are badass

[@jessicaeernisse958]

Much love sent to you from Mount Vernon Georgia! We love our military and our blessed President and true American Patriot Donald Trump!

[@valiindustires5470]

So cool!! Love it

[@philliplapkovitch311]

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 😆😆😆

[@rudihartanto2456]

@phillip lapkovitch..............😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂...........

[@claudiaholmes9086]

This. Is. AWESOME! Shooter is a bit frightening... ROFLMBO

[@lucfrank5064]

🤘 vous êtes les meilleurs cool men cool 🇨🇵

[@lancelot1953]

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)

[@geeseylynn]

LOCKHEED MARTIN! I DEMAND YOU BRING ME HOME! I DID WORK FOR YOU! YOU BROUGHT RICK HOME! NOW BRING ME HOME!

[@KeganRitchie]

EF yeah guys! great job

[@franka7691]

Thanks for sharing, shipmates :)

[@richardcupp454]

Too bad they don't show the badass the Tomcat launching ATB

[@M4xBD]

awesome footage !!!!

[@jbelden36]

Give 'em hell boys!

[@anthonyjones5699]

American heros all elite best of the best

[@dr_gimpy]

Great video. I can watch it for hours. Id prefer to hear the music of flight deck music.

[@mwmcbroom]

RIP 41.

[@underground_miami_9753]

Great video. Thanks! \m/

[@helenaustin9733]

Love these men.

[@KnawedOne]

And women.

[@lottnio8207]

Many people shoot guns, few people shoot airplanes.

[@user-mk7gh9kg5e]

God!3:00 that's the mighty EA-18G.

[@vincentflores6178]

I am all proud of all of you.

[@servaisnadine2076]

Merci à tous et à toutes, et chapeau parce qu'il faut le faire ! Entre nous, merci, bedanc, mais rien n'est fait, courage à tous ! 👍

[@lancelot1953]

Bonjour/bonsoir Nadine - en passant, nous (US Navy) avons eu des pilotes Francais qui se sont entraines avec nous et nous avons "echanges" avec la Marine Nationale. Salutations des Etats-Unis, Ciao, L

[@goldenpen3164]

They have cool moves

[@jwally0423]

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?

[@miniflyboy]

+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.

[@mojojim6458]

+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.

[@josephvillarreal1001]

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

[@miniflyboy]

Oh how true this is.........

[@stankozlowitz3626]

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.

[@davidclark442]

Was a Greenie on USS JFK locked planes in catapult. Crazy normal but during combat wild

[@lindaross783]

My cousin let me sit in an A6...serious claustrophobia with my feet, lol

[@scottutah5788]

It just doesn't matter the President. Don't tread On America!!!!

[@geeseylynn]

Thanks LM - you kept my writings

[@jessieblanton9875]

Good landing

[@xbeast133]

I wanna wear that yellow jacket!

[@geeseylynn]

I'll show you "sexy" when I'm allowed to shoot an RPG

[@petebuck9889]

The opening sentence is enough to wind any non American up. Musics rubbish too

[@jacksonsink8776]

How come some guys have different colored shirts/helmets than their vests?

[@timshiflett4570]

It's color coded for what job/role they perform. Google "navy rainbow wardrobe" if you want a more in-depth answer.

[@jacksonsink8776]

thanks

[@ladyhonor822]

Yeah you can always Google it.

[@jlrice571]

How come some of the hand signals are different when for the same type of plane?

[@captainchaos3667]

Who triggers the catapult, the pilot or someone on deck?

[@sietxD]

someone on the side of the dec, if you look good you might see him

[@geeseylynn]

I WANT TO GO HOME! MAKE THE PEOPLE GET OFF ME

[@anitasmith4559]

Question: Why does the shooter check out the person in the green sitting on the deck before he gives the okay?

[@smokinC5]

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.

[@herbielacy5641]

Remember all day every day 34/7. This looks cool but it takes a toll.

[@cbgfgjfhfy7639]

I love human on Bush carrier happy new year.

[@motorcopjoe]

My son serves on the Abraham Lincoln…God bless the US Navy!

[@chrismaggio7879]

Tell your son Thank you. Also tell him to take care of my ship! I'm a Plankowner on that monster (Green shirt, Air Dept, V2 Div) and she is a damned fine ship!

[@diegoh8164]

protege del aire o del frio?

[@paul9972]

I farkin love this shit!!! (Not shit shit, awesome shit!!)

[@notcforcyanide]

May I know what is the meaning of the shooter to point at different directions before the fighter shoots off the Carrier?

[@roberthodge7171]

+KamekoBruns Negative, it is to alert both the pilot and the flight crew that there is an imminent launch.

[@miniflyboy]

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.

[@hardebil]

Flight deck , ho hum , liberty call hmmmm , return from liberty call , OH Yea ! ;)

[@jeremywarren2397]

God bless these men and women they are true American bad asses alot of responsibility for such young men and women