USS Ranger Tour #10

[@AlexEvansCustom]

Alex Evans, G-1 Flight deck ordnance 90-93. I'm a plankholder. God bless you and thanks so much for bringing this to video. Sincerest thanks.

[@dallasweaver852]

Served from 1959 to 1962. I was in Side Cleaner Division my entire tour. Loved it. BM striker. I ran the aft Paint Locker the last three years. I loved that ship. I still, at 79 years old, have dreams about Ranger.

[@Mark-le1kp]

Thank you petty officer first class John Adams for this walk through Memory Lane. I served on Top Gun in 1982. I was 18 much like you and we served on her at the same time. I was a ship serviceman. That soda and candy bar you purchased in the geedunk was probably stocked by me 😊 remember when they installed the new ATM machines and gave us all access to try them out using play money ? I'm so very thankful for this video tour that I can share with my family.

[@thebestisyettocome4114]

This is history. 5 April 2019 Sailor, it was a pleasure to view all the videos. Your knowledge and experience and insight is second to none. United States Navy Chaplain Corp 🇺🇸 Retired (1964-1994)

[@markbakovic4978]

Thank you John great job God Bless thanks for sharing

[@jmdriver2]

You are most welcome

[@kerrywagerle5327]

Thank You John Adams for the tour of the USS Ranger CVA 61 as I new her. I made two West Pac tours in 1970 and 1971 Gulf of Tonkin. She was a proud old girl and I was proud to have served on her. I was in V-1 Division Cat #2. Thank All Who Severed on Her. She will be missed.

[@walterquick8649]

9,128 views and 48 comments? iam so sad about all those Ships going to scrap.Thanks for the tour John, GREAT SERVICE! u provided so many with!!

[@barrykolsrud7161]

Served onboard Ranger 1968-1970, two cruises to Vietnam and Yankee Station. My favorite place onboard besides the chow hall and my rack was the weight room, a small cubicle on port side forward. When I was on the Ranger, it was homeported at either Alemeda or Hunters Point south of San Francisco. San Francisco was my hometown ever since that first time we steamed under the Golden Gate Bridge coming back from my first cruise to Vietnam. Never forget the night I got to meet Carol Doda at the Condor in North Beach. Still dream about her to this day.

[@bunberrier]

Hi Barry, my father was on the Ranger and said he met my mother in San Fran right around that time. Maybe you even knew him. Maybe not, given how many were said to be on the ship.

[@Kerry0101]

Very big fond memories of the Hanger Bay which is where I was in my former male life when I was 20 years old. V-3 department. That blacktop in the hanger bay I helped with applying it after we stripped the old stuff off. I also stood watch to make sure no one walked on it. In the later part of this video if you look into the hanger bay before he leaves or walks into it from the back end or stern of the ship..there is two windows lit up about two levels up..that was hanger deck control. I was able to work in that office and run the elevators. Now mind you it was my youth and back then I was witness in this hanger bay the first time I ever saw an F-14 Tomcat broke the number 3 wire and skidded off the end of the angled Deck. Where I was standing I was directly under the number 3 wire machinery room and hydraulic fluid came out a hole and I side stepped to the right or left and the fluid landed where I was standing next to a F-18 ready to go on the elevator when it would come down...Needless to say we moved them back. Three days later an A-6 Intruder came in and the tail hook broke and all hell broke loose. Pilot and Bombardier were ejected and one landed on the deck still in his seat, the other almost ran into the Island of the flight deck but the person on the flight deck who tells the pilot to cut power saw what was happening and ran away from the ship and jumped on the parachute. He saved the Pilot or Bombardier's life. The A-6 continued down the flight deck and ran into three F-18's on cat one, then taking out 6- 25 man life perservers attached to the catwalk and falling into the water. It was my first two weeks underway workups for our deployment for carrier quals. Now thats how I remember the Famous Term Danger Ranger. Fond memories. Now that she is gone. So amazing you got to do this tour.

[@arthurmegginson7993]

Thanks for the excellent tour of the USS Ranger Petty officer Adams. Ranger was my last ship in the Navy before I retired in October 1993. I worked in V-2 Division. Thanks again for the memories.

[@Kerry0101]

Served in V-3 just starting my career, my former self.

[@willfugate6934]

Thank you for your service and thank you for giving us this wonderful tour of this majestic ship.

[@gruffmusic]

My boat band "The Few and the Loud" played on that hangar deck on Christmas Eve 1987. Just before returning from WestPac.

[@stevenhobbs2183]

The fantail was my favorite spot on ship. Most of "the potheads" hung out there.

[@ajsquaredaway5343]

Yeah I know, I busted a lot of them out there when I was a Master at Arms.on Patrol Plus on top ot that. I was in charge of Ranger Brig's Cell Block 4 when I was there also..So I got them and coming and staying ...Ha Ha..

[@allchargedup1]

We had a vent shaft near my shop that was very popular.

[@Mark-le1kp]

@@allchargedup1 Thru the "bolted" cover with the bolts glued on ? me too...

[@jamesblankenship1781]

Made 82-83 Westpac with VA-165 Boomers on Ranger. Appreciate you taking time to make these videos. Brought back some memories.

[@guideup7554]

Hey James we served together..I was on that wespac..

[@glassor]

John...Great job. In 1960 I was just out of San Diego boot camp and was stationed at Alameda NAS and serving with VA-93 and scheduled for a tour on Ranger. I saw Ranger in port and at 19 years old I was anticipating the tour, but I was diagnosed diabetic and never set foot on her. This tour has somewhat made my 53 year old dream to serve on the Ranger come true. Thank you!!!

[@bluehawk777]

Thanks John for the great video, sure brought back a lot of memories. I was a GMG in G1-Div. 77-80. God Bless You shipmate.

[@kgee2111]

You and I were on at the same time. Remember when we collided with the Liberian oil tanker?

[@spitfire77mike]

John, absolutely a fantastic job on the tour and the videos. Thank you for this and thanks to the camera operator as well. I was on Independence CV-62 air wing so it was all similar enough. My berthing was on 3rd deck right below a chow line and my squadron Maintenance Control was on 2nd deck. Later I was on Saratoga CV-60, berthing on 03 between #3 & #4 wires and M.C. just forward of that. They should save one of these class but previous SECNAV didn't and current guy won't. Cheers!

[@Bat21bravo]

Great job Petty Officer Adams. RANGER was first thing i saw coming across Coronado Bay bridge. It was so big i thought it was part of the institution not a ship. Sure wish you were onboard CV-64 when i reported for duty March 1981. Hate to say it but alot [and i mean alot] of my "shipmates" weren't as helpful as you. It may have been CAPT. D. M. Brooks ship but it damn sure was Corporal Flannigan's U.S.M.C. Brig. God speed.

[@weswinn3033]

Thanks for videotaping" Top Gun". I served aboard 82-88. Brought back memories. Thanks again

[@olentangy74]

Great job John. I never served on the Ranger, my ship was the Enterprise, and I wish someone had done with her what you did with Ranger.I visited the Enterprise one more time before her deactivation in Dec. 2012. As I walked her passageways and my old spaces, I kept thinking of all the guys I served with, and all the memories that it brought back. I think it is true that the heart and soul of a ship is it's crew. Thanks for the tour, John!

[@jmdriver2]

Glad you enjoyed them!

[@jmdriver2]

Glad you enjoyed them! Thanks

[@rhymereason3449]

Thanks, FANTASTIC series that will help Ranger live on. My dad served on her on her first tour when she was brand spanking new in 60'... I was born while he was out to sea on her, so I suppose he got to be at the front of the line de-boarding back at Alameda. Reading the comments, amazing how many lives she touched.

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Thanks for the memories shippy. HT3 R-DIV 84-88.

[@williammfelmleebill1470]

Thanks, PO1! Brought back some memories. I was on Indy, Connie, Big E, Big John, and Rough Rider (TR) -- and toured Lexington when a training carrier, and also toured Ike, Harry (HST), Stennis, and Reagan, and exterior-only of Ford. The advancements in technology and creature comforts for enlisted and officer ranks have been monumental -- yet still fighting machines of thick steel and incredible speed! Saw JFK in Philadelphia shipyard (mothballed) last week (8/2021), alas... Fair winds, Shipmate -- and I really enjoyed watching your 10-part program on USS Ranger!

[@bunberrier]

Thank you Mr. Adams for the tour. My father served on the Ranger during the period of the Vietnam war. This gives me an idea of where he spent part of his life. All he said about it was he put bombs on planes so I can make some guesses watching this. Thanks again and thanks for your service. A bonus is all the comments from people who have stories about their time on this ship. Thanks to you all as well.

[@jamesmcintosh1521]

Thanks John! What a wonderful series of memories you have provided us! I served aboard Ranger from 18 October 1963 to 10 July 1966 in the Engineering Department (Repair Officer, “R” Division Officer and Assistant DCA). It was definitely a sad day when the Navy pulled the plug on Ranger becoming a museum on the Columbia River in Oregon.

[@jamesmcintosh1521]

Forgot to add that my stateroom was directly under the XO’s stateroom. When Ann-Margret and her group came aboard to entertain the crew, she used the XO’s stateroom for her dressing room! My roommate and I could only dream of having a periscope installed.

[@barbzamecnik5698]

Thank you. Sir.

[@allenknecht388]

John thanks for the video. I served on her from 1978 July till 1981 August V2 division, Catapults as an ABE. The catapult console room that you showed at the end of Ranger tour #3 was for cat 1. That was my work station for 21/2 years as a console operator, what memories of standing there and communicating with my other shipmates getting the catapult ready for the next aircraft to be launched. Steam and Hydraulics.

[@StevenSmith-gj1ok]

Brings back a lot of memories. Was station on her sister ship Independence (CV 62) from 72-75. Its a real shame they could not save them. Thanks

[@allchargedup1]

John, great job, thank you. I didn't know that we had a library.

[@Mark-le1kp]

I didn't know we had escalators !

[@tmauldin7771]

Thanks for sharing! 57 years ago I asked "Permission to come aboard, Sir". 17 years of age. I celebrated my 18th b'day in Yokosuka, Japan. The USS Ranger CVA-61 was based at NAS Alameda. Great memories Thanks

[@markwest4996]

I was USS Forrestal 84-87 AIMD Cal Lab. It was great to see the tour of a sister ship. Many thanks John. You did a great job. I'm glad they let you do it. My guess is that it may not have been easy to convince the Navy to let you do it.

[@kwaktak]

Thx for the tour. I served on her sister ship the Forrestal back in 88-90 on two Med/Norlant/IO cruises before going back to college to learn about what I saw. It brought back many memories even though I walked passages and spaces that were still eerily similar. I was an airdale in ship's company (V-3 Div/Air Dept) so I spent most of my time above the 2nd deck but got to see a lot of the ship from Pri Fly all the way down to DC central. It's hard to believe that these huge old flat tops are all being scrapped and that life in the Navy has changed so much.

[@jmdriver2]

Sad to see them go..........

[@jerrymiller3320]

Thank you John

[@williamchristian8389]

Best ship tour,ever!! Thanks John. I was an AG aboard USS MIDWAY CVA-41 home ported in Alameda from 1970 until 1972. We were home ported with Ranger. It is really great to see the old girl again. BTW John, Thanks again for the memories.

[@funkywagnalls]

Really enjoyed seeing this. I was in AIMD Shop 6, pretty sure you showed it without naming the shop. WestPac 1976 cruise.

[@jmdriver2]

Glad you enjoyed the tour

[@rolandadesrosiers-lewis744]

Thanks for the tour, John. I am a Ranger sailor from Ranger’s early days. I was an E-4 yellow shirt Tractor King on the flight deck in the early ‘60’s. We operated in Yankee and Dixie stations off Vietnam. We often worked very long hard dangerous hours supporting the troops “in country”. I enjoyed my time aboard Ranger chow was good and we had head of line privileges during flight ops. came very close to “shipping over”. Working the flight deck we seldom had the time to see the parts of our ship you showed us. Very interesting. Sadly, now that great ship is gone. Thanks again.

[@dbradley3]

Great Documentary. I worked USAF avionics 87-91. Good to see detail about how other branches served. I can picture just a bit what it might have been like to serve on board. We worked long hours on Air Force flightline but at the end of the day, went home and had a cold beer and a good night's sleep. Watching this series, I can't imagine what life would be like without individual solitude...just a break with some good piece and quiet. Thanks for taking the time to create this documentary, and thanks to All who served and sacrificed on The Ranger.

[@jmdriver2]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@themowk]

Thanks for the great tour...I served on CVA-62 (I think Ranger's sister ship ) in OA div in the late 60's. Great memories!

[@johnkenley4687]

Would love a tour like this on kitty hawk!

[@DavidWilliams-rl3bf]

Thanks for the tour, John. I served on the Coral Sea, David Williams EM3, in the power shop, from '61 thru '64, which you referred to as the Rewind Shop. My watch station and General Quarters station was in starboard after steering. Was nice to to see the same on the Ranger. I did get to go into the Ranger 'Rewind Shop' once when we birthed next to each other at NAS Alameda. Needed a certain gauge wire to rewind a large submersible pump motor out of Starboard Steering. Was lucky to come into port just a few days after that motor burned out and uou guys had the neefed wiring.

[@robertboyes2505]

I reported aboard the Ranger in December of 1980, when she was on station in the Arabian Sea, about a month after my 21st birthday.

[@ricksadler797]

Thank you for the awesome video ❤

[@gustavoarieltombion3823]

Señor Jhon: muchisimas gracias por llevarme a recorrer el uss ranger nuca tuve la posibilidad de subirme a un portaviones, soy de Argentina y mi pais tuvo 2 ; el 1° era el ara independencia que fué comprado a ustds (eeuu) y el 2° que era el ara 25 de mayo que fué comprado a holanda cuando yo era muy chico; en el año 1999 se lo dió d baja y nunca mas tuvimos otro ; le agradesco de todo corazon que me haya enseñado como es un portaviones de esa clase por dentro; desde mi pais un fuerte abrazo !!! 🙅👌👍👏👏👏👏🍻

[@jerrymiller3320]

Always wondered what it would be like living and working on a US Naval ship. Thanks Mr. Adam's for an informative tour. Much appreciated

[@jmdriver2]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@propanegasman6426]

Watched the entire 10 episodes EXCELLENT , I would like to see in depth videos of all ships that are taken out of service but, that will only be a dream.

[@thesteamer7759]

Thanks John for the tour of our ship. She was my home from Dec. 1968 to June 1970 two Westpac cruises to Yankee station where I worked in hanger bay #1 as a blue shirt in V-3.

[@jmdriver2]

+TheSteamer775 Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheRedhawke]

Thanks for making this video John, it brought back a lot of memories.

[@lauragallardo6629]

this makes me sad. i wanted to see where my father worked in person. he was on the USS Ranger CV-61 between 1984- 1987.

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

I was there same time what was your dads rate?

[@tommytfaa]

Thanks you very much I was an FC on NATO mount 2 for rangers last ride. My first ship in the Navy. I remember we painted the Simpson Characters n the lol. Thanks so much for your time and service.

[@danielbegen1421]

I used the go there on that fantail and smoke and watch some very big armed marines from Mardet hand firing their M-60 from the hip . I was an Ordie in VA-25. Thanks for making these.

[@CaesarInVa]

The hanger deck, when empty, looks absolutely cavernous, but with the air wing embarked, you couldn't walk ten feet in any direction without having to work your way through a web of tie-down chains, ducking under the wings of aircraft, etc.

[@kevinbailey3535]

Thanks so much! Fantastic tour....brought back a lot of memories!! She was a grand old ship! (Disbursing Officer 1987-89...noticed they didn't bother removing the safe!!!)

[@daveeberhart3784]

Ensign Bailey...a blast from the past. Fellow DISBO Ensign Eberhart sends his warm regards

[@ualboeing777]

@@daveeberhart3784 HA!...Greetings. It's definitely been a long time (another lifetime, I think). Hope you're doing well.

[@daveeberhart3784]

@@ualboeing777 All is well...I keep in semi contact with Tony Asaro since Ranger. Ended up in Connecticut...hope all is well with you shipmate. Anybody confuse you with me after I left? Lol

[@ualboeing777]

@@daveeberhart3784 Nah...You'd been in S-6 long enough, I suppose. I did 2 yrs on Ranger then cross decked to Elliot (DD). Got out, got a job as a civilian with the Coast Guard in No. VA. Two kids and a divorce later, I've been with USCG for 28 yrs, and looking to retire in a few years! Tony visited us in the mid 90's once...heard he got married and settled back in Brick. Man, that time went by so fast!

[@drguffey]

Enjoyed the tour. Thanks so much !!!

[@angiemaher7103]

Thank you John. DC3 1986-1990 2 Westpac/ 2 Northpac.

[@erichipp1737]

So close.... I worked in A-7 Division, LOX and Liquid Nitrogen plant. Both were on the hangar deck, one aft and port right off of the sponson and the other was up forward hangar bay port side. I was hoping John was going to show them. Great video and lots of hard work. Thanks John.

[@johnborio4470]

As a side note - in the last few seconds (06:21) of this video... Ranger's anchors and anchor chains are missing - Ranger's anchor and chains are serving on the USS Ronald Reagan.

[@jamesmanuel9938]

John great video. I was a AD on board her from 1976-1980. Worked AIMD Jet Shop all four years. Walked and gave alot of blood and sweat back in that shop. I still see one of the rooms we built is still there. My name should be there some place. We also had some pictures on the shop office doors. Very sad the Navy will not let us save her. The last time I talked to the the deckboss there was still a couple of changes but does not look good. Just to scrap her for a $1 like the Forrestal. I would like to know who the scrap yard is I would pay for a few peices of her.

[@maurbighley1964]

Great tour shipmate.

[@allenwhite6946]

when I was on board, you had the gym up there over looking the hanger deck, I remember it was aft, a hop, skip and a jump from the 03 level

[@marcjanos3991]

Hey John great to see her again on her 72 to 74 did they ever do a memorial to my buds shot down in July 74? in knew them and was on the flight deck saw the whole incident as they called it I was the guy who had to close out their service records. PN3 JANOS. hardest thing I ever did on the Ranger boat anyone out their see it to? met a guy at the post office where I worked he told me they put up a memorial be served on Ranger 95to ,97. is it on one of your tours? like to see it thanks. not all memories are good but most were

[@Musicmanzer]

Great Job....Used to work in the photo lab below Medical. We had a full rock band down there, drums, bass, guitars with PA lol. We would get kind of loud and the guys in Medical would bang on the deck (our overhead) to complain. We did actually play twice on the hanger deck. One for the Stand down off the coast of Iran when they had our hostages and another time for the "Gonzo Follies". Made two West Pacs..1979 and 1981.

[@jmdriver2]

+Musicmanzer Thanks was a pleasure to make!

[@Maxid1]

I was on from '77-'80 E-Div and EVERYTHING went off the fantail(even a couple guys that couldn't pay their bills). When they redid our birthing (right under the fantail on 2 deck) they tossed all that aluminum over board. It had to have been a couple tons. I think it was 1980 when they got rid of the c-rats and began the first of the MRE's. We ate all the c-rats we wanted and shot up all the 20year old ammo off the fantail. 50mm and 80mm. I remember shooting garbage bags tossed overboard. We'd let them drift out and then fire on them. The tracer rounds leading us right to them. All that brass on the deck? Yep, swept right into the ocean. The only thing we observed about the environment was the cease fire called while there were dolphins in the line of fire.

[@jimwjohnq.public]

You would be amazed what went over the side on a Med cruise or WestPac, especially on the way back to the states. Pretty much if it wasn't bolted down, or didn't move, over the side it went.

[@walterquick8649]

INDY did the same, got some nice new tools before they sent them over board to the deep blue. Because they wouid order more when it was time to re order? made no practical thinking except, thats how they get more.

[@panstantzos3013]

very good job..thank you Sir !!!

[@jmdriver2]

We have not given up the ship just yet!

[@Kerry0101]

Sad to see her go. Could you tell us how you were able to get a video tour of the ship. Amazing that she was so well preserved. How can we reach out to you. I see no email.

[@jmdriver2]

@@Kerry0101 [e-mail] I was on the board to save her. Was very involved in museum ship world for about 10 years

[@Kerry0101]

I just saw the reply after watching this segment again. You were in my space V-3 on her last ride my first ship for me in my former life. AN Johnson V-3, 91-93. I miss her.

[@lucienleja4468]

Outstanding

[@imanutnur7]

I was a signalman off of the Saratpga and really enjoyed the tour BUT wanted to see the signalbridge

[@CaesarInVa]

John, great videos! Any chance of going aboard the old girl one last time?

[@robertcarter4649]

It is a shame to see a great warship not turned into a floating museum

[@jeffcoffman]

Nice work. A little disappointed not to see my signalbridge, though.

[@guideup7554]

I served Mar 82-84 ....MARDET

[@henrycole8705]

kittyhawk had the best art in the ship bar none

[@allenwhite6946]

wish i could have been able to do a tour on the old girl one more time, that would have been neat.

[@braddblk]

You mentioned a DVD at the end. Is that available?

[@drguffey]

How can I get a DVD ??

[@rcasper4700]

What no boiler room for the Snipes you forgot the heart of the ship with out no boilers no propulsion or no launching of aircraft no hot water nothing period . Oh there where 8 1500 psi Babcock Wilcox boilers on board of her

[@jmdriver2]

1200 psi. They have a quarantine below 2and deck. On my KZbin page there is the Dirty Tour. You will find main space in that series. Thanks for watching

[@jmdriver2]

We have not given up the ship just yet!

[@kellymartin8090]

You did an awesome job, John! Thanks so much...as that was a lot of work. I have downloaded all 10 videos and they are now archived for posterity. Although, I was on an essex class (Ticonderoga CVA 14) 68-70, your vids brought back some great memories. Sad to see these magnificent ships go to scrap.Peace...my new found friend.