USS Shangri La Flight Ops 1969

Landing Ops 1969 Mediterranean.
Note the A-4 Skyhawk landing with deployed hose from "Buddy Store".
VF-62 and 13; VA-172, 72, and 12.

[@heavensentme5]

What was that A-4 dragging behind it as it trapped? Looks dangerous for the flight deck crew (to say nothing of the pilot!)

[@johnbenet5394]

I spent the most miserable 3 years of my life on that rust bucket

[@carlmills100]

I served aboard the Shang-in 1970--last cruise west-pac--I was in M division-Evap gang--found one of my old shipmates about 2 years ago-on Buddy search.com-if your looking for some you served with check it out.I'am still looking for more of the evap gang-so if your out there please respond--

[@joebondo3965]

on her in 67-68 med Cruise with va 95

[@carlmills100]

We were in japan for dry dock no Hong Kong--

[@exenrontexas]

@TalksWithDirt I served on the USS Bon Homme Richard in 69\70 WestPac and I have photos of a similar wake which was caused by a target skid towed by the ship used for bombing and staffing practice. Since I did not see any destroyers back there in this video then I assume that it was a shakedown cruise off the coast of California which we used for practice. I have a sequence of photos of a F-8 driver ejecting when he flamed out on recovery from the Shang.

[@Talonap]

I served on board when this was being filmed. Worked in Sick Bay before going on to Hospital Corps School.

[@jimzarcone8923]

Was on board 66-69

[@outill3]

My brother was on this carrier in the late 60s I saw it on its return to Jacksonville Fla and was amazed. I later saw it in the Phila navy yard with no towers etc... it was sad.

[@paratrooper629]

Would have been nice to see it recommissonded in the 1980s along with Shangri la and Bonnie dick. F 18s. Yes I know the cost and politics of the time but still...

[@allgood6760]

Cool vid! .. we used to operate Skyhawks with our RNZAF... Thanks from NZ✈️👍🇳🇿

[@michaelw366]

My dad was aboard with VA-106 in 65. That was the Med cruise when she collided with the destroyer. Then in 67 aboard Forrestal (cruise with the tragic fire) wish he were around to see a lot of these videos that have surfaced. There’s some great stuff here.

[@peterjohnson4413]

I was on that cruise as an AO3 with VA-72. mess cook, plane captain, then finally to the shop. After that we transitioned to the A7 and deployed on the JFK.

[@jackkennerly3321]

I was a nugget pilot on that cruise in VA-12. Later on aboard Intrepid I did an inadvertent refueling drogue out landing. They painted a buddy store on my aircraft

[@Nghilifa]

Isn't it possible to just jettison that buddy refuel store? That would have made the landing a lot more safe, since the store itself could be damaged, and leak fuel, or the hose and basket could hit the deck crew.. Anyway, great video, thanks for uploading it!

[@carlmills100]

Probably before 69--

[@pramboy09]

@exenrontexas I always thought the F-8 should never been retired and the super crusader should have got the navy contract ahead of the phantom, as an allround fighter it was suited for vietnam and may have saved more navy pilots, than the gunless phantom when it was put into service, what do you think?

[@Whitebear329]

Anybody notice what appears to be a periscope about 100 yards behind the carrier and directly centered in the wake? Good place to hide a sub if thats what you have in mind.

[@caterpillarmarch]

Nice shots of Crusaders and Skyhawks trapping. That scooter jockey landing with the buddy store hanging out his ass didn't impress the crew! Guess it must have got stuck?

[@TalksWithDirt]

Hey Check out 0:11, 0:22, 0:32,0:43, and others. There's another small wake within the wake of the carrier. Is that something being towed by the ship, or maybe a sub snorkel or periscope? Any insights from the vets out there?

[@pramboy09]

@exenrontexas I have heard of the phantom been refered as a flying brick and it looks like the designers had to work around a bad design to get it to fly right especially looking at the tail section. I have heard of ww2 bombers having a stuck bomb in the bay but have not heard of the same having to a F-4.

[@exenrontexas]

@pramboy09 I worked with a Phantom pilot as a civilian and he said that the Phantom proved the theory that if you put enough power on a brick you could make it fly. He said when he was coming in for a landing in DaNang that he got a frantic call from the tower that he had a bomb hanging on his plane (don't ask me how. It might have been a sea story) and they made him go out to sea and do some hi-G moves to shake it loose. ALL fighters should have guns.

[@bellyholder]

Hi @carlmills100, I had the opportunity to visit her while she was in La Spezia harbour (italy). Can't remember if it was in '69, ''70 or later, can you tell? Thanks

[@SK65Pilot]

Mike7 Yes I know the guy, he was an airdale in VF-62, not with ships company. Regards Steve

[@SK65Pilot]

That was a stuck "buddy store". They knew it was coming aboard and were prepared for it.

[@exenrontexas]

It must have been scuttlebutt. Thanks for the correction. Glad you made it back.

[@exenrontexas]

The shitty Shang lost a screw on a WestPac in 1970 and spent a month in HK for repairs and we had to take her place on the line. THREE MONTHS of attack flight ops was a lot without a port call.

[@johngwozdz8456]

Wewo: It was Yokosuka, Japan. I was there aboard the Shangri-La.

[@mig25pd]

Very interesting footage. Thanks

[@bobvehorn]

Great video, thanks! My Dad made the '69 Med cruise as Strike Ops (I think). I have the cruise book. :)

[@jamesgallagher4726]

I made one on it in 1965 when it had a collision off of Naples.