Like a time machine, this footage of Carrier Air Wing ONE (CVW-1) operating from the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D Roosevelt (CVA-42) during the carrier’s 1964 Mediterranean Sea deployment takes anyone who has ever served on a carrier deck back to the days of Phantoms, Crusaders, Scooters, Stoofs with Roofs, and Whales. The film is called “Flight Deck” and is split into three parts. The films are narrated and real world events take place. An F-4B blows a tire after recovering. Catapults are temperamental. The first clip is the deployment preparation portion of the Roosevelt’s Med Cruise. If you were in a similar situation this will certainly take you back!
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The second clip is the launch portion of the ship’s cyclic operations. Watch for those ABMs (Aviation Boatswain’s Mates) who are shown in constant action.
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The third clip is the recovery. This is definitely period stuff. Note the outfit the Landing Signals Officer (LSO) is wearing- it fairly screams 1964! Arresting gear procedures are described in detail along with some excellent shots of the recovery process.
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During this deployment on board the Swanky Franky, CVW-1 consisted of VF-14 Tophatters flying the McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom II, VF-11 Red Rippers flying the Vought F-8E Crusader, VA-172 Blue Bolts flying the Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, VA-12 Flying Ubangis flying the A-4E variant of the Skyhawk, VA-15 Valions flying the Douglas A-1H Skyraider, VAH-11 Checkerboards flying the Douglas A-3B Skywarrior, a detachment from VAW-12 Bats flying the Grumman E-1B Tracer, a detachment from VFP-62 Fighting Photos flying the Vought RF-8A Crusader, and a detachment from HU-2 Fleet Angels flying the Kaman UH-2A Seasprite. These films were all uploaded to YouTube by CriticalPast.
