The "Ike" Deployment
We had the opportunity to deploy with the USS Eisenhower on October 3rd, as they began their long voyage across the seas to parts unknown, or at least publishable. It was deployment day for the members of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group and their families. The saddest day. Over six thousand men and woman attached to the five ships and air wing were saying good-bye with the holidays right around the corner. They might be back by Spring.
The �Ike� was heading to replace the Enterprise in the Persian Gulf, and along for the ride were the Anzio, the Ramage, the Mason, and the Newport News, a very small and lethal fast-attack submarine. We had already been on all these ships. My knee was still swollen from all the ladder ways and wells, staircases, and scuttles. It�s no way of living carrying heavy gear up and down the innumerable stairs aboard naval vessles. It would be far, far worse on the Eisnehower. We climbed miles in our two days, and now, almost a week later, my knee is still swollen.
Our reason for finding ourselves on the Ike�s flight deck, as she passed by my backyard in Willoughby, making sail for the Atlantic, was for the Navy Christmas show we do every year at my station. It�s in its 21st year and is mostly for the family and friends left behind as the troops spend their holidays abroad. It�s a popular program among the vast military contingent in the area. I mean this is the hub of the armed forces on the east coast.
We spent the previous week aboard the other ships in the carrier strike group, documenting underway preparations and getting some holiday greetings for their families. The two-day excursion aboard the �Ike� would be the foundation of the show, as footage from sea and the flight deck during flight ops is far more impressive than an interview with a commanding officer, with his ship tied to the pier behind him. The at-sea footage was much needed.
(USS Dwight D. Eisenhower - CVN 69)
(Heading past Willoughby...in the upper right you can see Harrison Pier and my house is to the right. I'm somewhere on the flight deck.)
photo by 13News pilot Rodger Crawley
They manned the rails in their whites, covering the entire perimeter of the flight deck, and I moved around swiftly grabbing footage, helicopters surrounding us as we steamed across the Chesapeake Bay, past my backyard, past Cape Henry, into the Atlantic Ocean. It didn�t take long before we�d lost sight of land and it wouldn�t be long until flight quarters would begin.
(in flight gear with an F/A-18 Hornet from VFA-83's Rampagers )
(on the flight deck with a hornet from VFA-143's Pukin' Dogs)
I've been on a lot of Navy ships, but before today, had never stepped foot on a carrier, much less gone to sea on one. So with that, the idea of being out on the flight deck during flight ops was very exciting. I got decked out in my "cranial" helmet and flight vest and got the safety brief. These were the key points in case I might get blown off the side or incinerated by a jet engine. The advice, "stay calm."
It was loud when I hit the flight deck. Planes were coming in fast and landing, snatching one of the five arresting wires with their tail hooks. Crews would run out to them quickly, unhooking the wire, getting them parked, chain them down, and on to the next one landing. After a couple landed, they suspended flight quarters and I made my to the 08 level where there was a balcony, aptly named �vultures row,� near the bridge. I caught some more landing, but from 8-stories up in wasn�t near as exciting.
Later, we covered some operational stories and a few holiday greetings for �Navy Christmas,� and they called flight quarters again. This time I would be up forward on the catapults, the steam-driven mechanisms that launch the jets and planes off the deck. The Eisenhower had four.
The catapults thrust the ship�s aircraft across 300 feet of the flight deck and into the sky, accelerating from zero to 165 miles per hour in about two seconds. It was intense to watch. There was a safety line, not more than a few yards from the plane that we stood behind to shoot. I couldn�t believe how close we were allowed to be. It was nerve-racking, especially when the time to launch grew near and the jet�s engines would fire up. Your whole body started shaking and then BOOM�they were gone. Quite a rush, my friends.
I would go from the catapults to the landing strip, getting them taking off, landing, doing �touch and gos,� a combination of both. It seemed so chaotic and there was so much going on I didn�t know how they were pulling off so much at once. But I later saw how coordinated they were behind-the-scenes. The �Ike� can launch two aircraft and launch one every 37 seconds�and they�re launched by steam power. Military engineers are geniuses
I obviously didn't have time to take stills on the flight deck, as I was busy with the big camera but I'll try to still some from the footage. I can't wait to edit the video. I'll post some when I can.
I was later told this was a rare picture because I'm on the flight deck in shorts, which is strictly not allowed. I don't advise it to anyone. A friend later told me that was part of the beach bum in me. I had to borrow pants for the shoot as I didn't think to bring any on the trip. I mean, it's barely October. I had to borrow a pair to fly off as well. My sovenir is a used pair of navy blue flight deck pants...at least they fit.
Joe Flanagan
13 News Daybreak Feature Reporter and Master of Ceremonies.
yeah...still wearing shorts.
We got a lot done, were beaten up, packed and ready to go. My knee was swollen like a rock and I couldn�t wait to be on the beach with a beer in my hand. Our means back to the mainland would be from COD plane courtesy of the Rawhides. The only way off, Catapult No. 1 on the starboard side.
Like I said earlier, I forgot pants, so at the last minute they realized this and freaked. I thought I might get stuck on the Eisenhower. I wasn�t ready to be sworn in and luckily there was a second-class petty officer who offered up an old pair of flight deck pants. My souvenir from the trip.
Suited up again, we strap into the seat�s harness facing backwards on the plane. Another safety brief and they tell you to lean forward in the harness as the force will slam you forward hard. The engines start, the props spinning, it�s extremely loud, and the flight crew waves his hand yelling �GO! GO! GO!� The next second is quick and every ounce of energy is slammed forward hard and then you�re floating. Zero to 200mph in a half-second. I must say, flying off the flight deck of the Eisnehower was one of the most insane experiences I�ve had.
PHOTOS BY 13News Pilot Rodger Crawley
PHOTOS BY Richard MacDonald / New Media Systems, LLC
(there I am...I can tell because while everyone was in white, I was in dark colors)
The surface ships of the Eisnehower Carrier Strike Group.
We spent the previous week onboard these four vessels while they were in port making preparations for the deployment. It was cool to see these guys at sea with us when we left. More than 6000 people left that day.
Think about that.
(DDG-87)
USS RAMAGE
(DDG-61)
USS NEWPORT NEWS
(SSN-750)
I spent a couple of days on the USS Virginia before its commissioning, but I had never been on an older class of submarine. The Virginia was pretty spacious for what I thought a sub would be like. The Newport News is real tight. I don't know if I could spend six months at sea on that one. Every place you moved through was just extremely narrow and small and if you were claustrophobic you would go into seizures I think. I couldn�t get out of that one fast enough. Hats off to the crew that live aboard.
I wish the best for the members of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group. I hope they all make it home safe in a time that isn't safe. Hold fast and stay the course, shipmates, and thanks for allowing us the experience your lives, even if only for a few days.
Happy holidays.
(the wake)
Shout outs to everyone for being so helpful, especially Lt. Jodie, our public affairs officer, the crews of the Eisenhower, Mason, Ramage, Anzio, and Newport News. And of course, Carrier Air Wing 7, the Pukin' Dogs, the Patriots, the Jolly Rodgers, the Tigertails, the Wildcats, the Rampagers, and the Nightdippers, and of course our local guys with the Rawhides.
Be safe...
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