BB STACKERS

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

That's what we call Ordnancemen in the Navy. Aboard a carrier, during wartime, Aviation Ordnancemen are some of the hardest working hands aboard ship. During Vietnam, line periods typically lasted 30 days. Then 2-4 days off if you were lucky, then back to the routine again for another 30 days of 12- 18 hour days.

Aboard the USS America in the Tonkin Gulf in 1970, the 1st class mess was all the way forward on the mess deck. The next forward compartment was the missile assembly compartment. If you were eating in the mess at any time, day or night, you could expect AOs to roll carts loaded with Sidewinders thru the mess. The next compartment aft on the mess deck contained bomb elevators for hauling bombs and rockets to the flight deck. The place was always a beehive of activity.

At sea, I liked to get on the flight deck before first light. Something about seeing the sun rise over an open sea to start the whole day off right, even if you'd been up all night. The AOs would have worked all night long, hauling bombs and rockets to the flight deck in preparations for the day's missions. The entire deck forward of the island would be covered in bombs. The procedure would go on all day or night as the flight ops would dictate.

Everything had to be hauled and loaded by hand. Nothing high tech, just pure muscle. Tons of bombs, hour after hour.

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

The photos are self explanatory.

 

[fordson]

Master Chief -Thanks for posting. These photos bring back lots of memories: water hours, THE "click" prior to a 1MC announcement, mid-rats and sliders, Case I, II or III launch and recovery, that d*** air duct 6 inches from my nose in the upper bunk. The Rainbow of Shirts on the flight deck: Red, Green, Pruple, Yellow, White and some I can't remember anymore. All hard working professionals without who we wouldn't launch the first aircraft. Thanks again for sharing, Shipmate.

 

[vonn]

Military was never slow to use plain old manpower when possible. Makes humpin small arms ammo look easy!

 

[Onomea]

One helluva forearm on the guy in the second photo in post 2.

 

[Rustyt1953]

The A-7, another interservice pit bull:

 

[Badger Matt]

Sweet! Best friend in BMT became a BB-Stacker while I became a Muzzle-F***er (gunner on AC-130a's then a weapons mechanic on A-7d's). Huge respect for the guys doing 6-months, or more, at a whack on ships.

 

[dubtap21]

Awesome story!! I served on the USS America '92-'96

Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk

 

[Frank46]

See what looks like a skyhawk with the AE on the tail. probably my carrier the USS Franklin D Roosevelt CVA42. Ate many a mid rat up on the mess decks loaded with missiles and bombs. used to scribble some words of wit on the bombs with magic marker. Great for the first month or so but after awhile became old hat. @0330 engineroom messenger wakes you up for the 0400-0800 watch, then turn and burn for 8 hrs in the engineroom and then stand the 1600 to 2000 watch, by the time you lay your head down the messenger is back at it again. Frank

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

See what looks like a skyhawk with the AE on the tail. probably my carrier the USS Franklin D Roosevelt CVA42. Ate many a mid rat up on the mess decks loaded with missiles and bombs. used to scribble some words of wit on the bombs with magic marker. Great for the first month or so but after awhile became old hat. @0330 engineroom messenger wakes you up for the 0400-0800 watch, then turn and burn for 8 hrs in the engineroom and then stand the 1600 to 2000 watch, by the time you lay your head down the messenger is back at it again. Frank

From the enclosed photo, if you look closely you can see both the AE tail designation and the USS America name on adjacent A/C. These birds were not from the Roosevelt.

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Another more definitive photo.

 

[Jessie]

I realize that there was no opposition airforce threatening the carriers, but after what happened to the Japanese at Midway, I would be very nervous with all that lying around topside.

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

I realize that there was no opposition airforce threatening the carriers, but after what happened to the Japanese at Midway, I would be very nervous with all that lying around topside.

It doesn't take an opposition air force to wreck havoc, ie the USS Forrestal. July 29, 1967.

Our carriers are well protected by an air umbrella, the ready cat, anti-submarine warfare capability, underwater protection and the accompanying armada of destroyers and cruisers. We even have anti-missile capability. Carriers are not just a big floating target like many think.

 

[caduceus]

Brings many memories back. Odor of jet fuel for one. Our bombs etc were on skids surrounding the super structure. Several naps on top of 500 pounders when u had down time. Master Chief knows one thing goes wrong such as the ship he mentioned is a bad day in a hurry. My ship USS Oriskany CVA 34 suffered a horrible fire from a magazine flare. Many lives lost. After several incidents Navy said all sailors will be firefighters. Enjoyed that training until they stuck us in a OBA, oxygen breathing apparatus, in a mocked up ships compartment, fire, heavy black smoke, dogged down the hatches . Couldn't see your shipmates. I knew then what the chicken felt like when being slid into The oven!!

 

[snowman]

In wartime, how much time would the ordnance crew be given to fully re-arm an aircraft returning from a mission?

Andy

 

[Rustyt1953]

In wartime, how much time would the ordnance crew be given to fully re-arm an aircraft returning from a mission?

Andy

At DaNang, I saw various fighter/attack planes refueled, re-loxed and rearmed in under an hour. I'm quite sure the carrier's Air Boss could have it done as fast, if not faster.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Brings many memories back. Odor of jet fuel for one.

I am guilty of liking the smell of AV/GAS. Every trip to the "fillin station" is a trip back to the flight line.

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

In wartime, how much time would the ordnance crew be given to fully re-arm an aircraft returning from a mission?

Andy

Typically, flight deck maintenance crews had a 45 minute turn around from the time the bird landed, was spotted (parked), and shut down until it had to launch again. That's the most time available to arm, fuel, fix any mechanical or electronics problems, align inertial navigation system and change out flight crews. A plane was literally mobbed by maintenance people, AOs and plane captains. Any delay in any activity and it didn't make the next mission. Failure to make a mission for any reason was serious. Birds were dependent upon each other for countermeasure protection, radar jamming, recon and fighter protection. It all had to work together, the whole was the sum of its parts.

At the peak of activity during Vietnam, flight crews exchanged places while the A/C was still turning and burning. Planes were hot refueled and armed without ever shutting down or being tied down. Really dangerous for maintenance personnel. Intakes are sucking up volumes of air, jet blast will knock you down and blow you or equipment over the side. Fuel can spill on the deck and catch fire from a passing huffer ( jet starter). Bombs can be inadvertently dropped, ordnance can be accidently fired. I've seen it all at one time or another. Mix all that up with A/C moving under jet power and prop planes turning, noise level so high that you can't hear a warning shout and A/C moving to the cats to launch.

A seriously dangerous place to work.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Do you Navy guys know what's loaded on that A-7?

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Do you Navy guys know what's loaded on that A-7?

Looks like a Sidewinder missile inboard, AIM rocket outboard and the AOs are in the process of loading 500 pound general purpose iron bombs.