I have about 3200 hours in S-2's from VR(F)-31 to VS-23, FASOLANT, VS-38 and VS-21 as an AT, AX and AW (one of the originals of course) and spent many an hour on maintenance at both O and I level. Always made darn sure
"my" bird was the best avionics wise and did a very thorough pre-flight each time.
Only had one "major" incident; CDR Don Eliott was the pilot and we lost #2 engine (swallowed a valve, common for that batch through Pensacola NARF) about 300 miles away from the ship, real exciting hour and a half or so.
If memory serves a short bio is:
- 5/59 enlisted and through Glakes until 8/59
- 8/59 to 7/60 NATTC MFS AT"A" school
- 7/60 to 8/62 VR(F)-31 as communications and ferry crew.
- 9/62 to 10/ 62 NATTC MFS again for aAT"B" but dropped
- 11/62 to 7/ 64 VF-213 and cross to AX
- 7/64 to 3/66 VS-23 as maintenance and aircrew in S-2E 3/4 posit
- 3/66 to 3/69 FAETULANT as instructor in ASW and ECM crossed to AW and made AWC.
- 3/69 to 3/72 VS-38 Aircrew Div. Chief & Communications Officer
- 3/72 to 7/73 NAVSTA Treasure Island stashed for S-3A initial cadre
- 7/73 to 9/73 VS-21 for S-3A but grounded because of hearing problems
- 9/73 to 12/77 NAS North Island AIMD crossed back to AXC and HS-6 retiring as AXC.
Hopefully this adds some light! I lost track of most of the folks from FAETULANT and the early squadrons. As an aside, I was also one of the first "promoted" to AWC based on the AX exam.
