WestPac Cruise
The aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ranger (CV-61) pulled away from her berth at Naval Air Station North Island, California in July 1987 to begin her Western Pacific cruise. Families, friends, and, curiously, a group of sailors who would ordinarily have been aboard, waved goodbye from the quay.
I was one of those fortunate sailors. We were given a stay, as it were, to enjoy a few more days in the U.S. and to cross the Pacific in a unique and memorable way. Because Ranger had taken on an older and significantly larger A-3 “Skywarrior” heavy attack jet for this cruise – for what purpose I never knew – two of our squadron’s ten S-3 “Viking” planes were squeezed out, and it was decided to fly them to bases near the operating area of the ship to be available to support the carrier mission. The aircrew flew the planes, while we the maintenance support staff followed in a Navy C-9.
Hawaii
The trans-Pacific tour took us from San Diego to Alameda (500 air miles), then to Barbers Point, Hawaii (2,400 miles) where we stayed for about twelve days. The S-3 was designed for anti-submarine warfare, but was also utilized for reconnaissance, search and rescue, supply and mail runs, and transportation. Memorably, a Ranger crewman died aboard ship, and his body was flown to Hawaii on one of our aircraft. We met the plane on the tarmac and were tasked with unloading our unfortunate shipmate from the narrow electronics bay, down the hatchway stairs, and onto an awaiting gurney. He was zipped into a body bag and we maneuvered him as reverently as we could through the confined area. Fluid inevitably sloshed around, some of which ended up splashing on my arms.
Midway Island
We next flew to Midway Island (1,300 miles), site of the decisive June 1942 U.S. naval victory that is considered the turning point of the war in the Pacific. It was in 1987 and remains today home to tens (and even hundreds) of thousands of Gooney birds, large albatrosses that spend multiple years at sea before returning to Midway to mate and nest. Their mating dances and awkward take-offs and landings are especially memorable. The ground crew at Midway has to clear a number of the clumsy birds from the runway before every aircraft arrival and departure.
Wake Island
Wake Island was our next destination (1,200 miles). Many years later, I remembered it as the most beautiful place I had ever visited, though later research about the horrors that once took place there has caused me to reconsider. We enjoyed a long afternoon swimming in a peaceful lagoon, grilling by the beach, playing volleyball, and relaxing. Most of us purchased colorful souvenir t-shirts to remember it by. Many of us wore those shirts for a commemorative photo near the end of our trip.
Guam and the Philippines
We next flew to Guam (1,500 miles), “Where America’s Day Begins” as the slogan says. A U.S. territory since 1898, Guam was under Japanese control from December 1941 until August 1944. Finally, we flew to Cubi Point, Philippines (1,650 miles), from which we supported the carrier mission for a number of days until Ranger pulled into port at Subic Bay. After an adventure of four weeks, six unique stops, 8,500 air miles, and countless memories, we reluctantly climbed the gangplank and resumed our place among the ship’s company.
No Comments