Showing the aftermath of a crash involving a Grumman EA-6B Prowler (BuNo 159910) on May 26,1981. The Prowler, from USMC VMAQ-2 was landing aboard Nimitz and suddenly veered into parked aircraft, killing all three crewmen (Lt. Steve E. White, Capt. Elwood Armstrong,Jr. and 1st Lt. Lawrence D. Cragun). The resulting fire set off ammunition and fuel, killing 11 deck crewmen, injuring 45 more and causing $100 million in damage. Two of the three F-14 Tomcats that were hit were damaged beyond repair. They were: AJ107 a Grumman F-14A-95-GR Tomcat (BuNo 160385) from VF-41 "Black Aces". AJ211 a Grumman F-14A-110-GR (BuNo 161138) Tomcat from VF-84 "Jolly Rogers". From Naval History and Heritage Command: During work ups off the eastern Florida coast Aircraft No. CY 610, an EA-6B (BuNo 159910), 1st LT Steve E. White, USMC, CAPT Elwood M. Armstrong, Jr., USMC, and 1st LT Lawrence D. Cragun, USMC (Marine Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron (VMAQ)-2 Det Y), crashed on the flight deck, starboard side. A moderate breeze touched the night, and the ship steered 160? at five knots, reaching 30?29’3”N, 080?22’0”W, during the second dog watch on Tuesday the 26th. A particularly dark night with thin clouds above, no visible horizon, heavy haze at lower altitude and thunderstorms moving toward Nimitz produced problems for aircrew in the landing cycle. Suddenly, the landing signal officer shouted, “Power! Power!” as 610 dropped too low while landing at 2351. The Prowler hit the ship and its impact sheared off the top of the aircraft. The EA-6B slammed into three Corsair IIs spotted forward and then hurtled into a nearby Tomcat, pushing it into two adjacent F-14As. The EA-6B exploded near aircraft loaded with live ordnance, killing the crew and sending a “fireball” rolling across the flight deck and cooking off 20 mm ammunition, which spewed fragments into the men on deck. Sailors bravely plied hoses onto the inferno as CAPT Batzler ordered left 30? rudder and brought the ship about 90? to come out of the wind, forcing smoke away from the hose teams. A secondary explosion erupted at 0021 near catapult No. 2, probably caused by an AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile. The fire blazed into the mid watch and at one point caused the ship to lose steerageway, though her crew regained control of Nimitz, battling the flames until 0219. The fire fouled the flight deck and forced about a dozen aircraft aloft to emergency divert ashore to Charleston, S.C., before they ran out of fuel. Destroyer Moosbrugger (DD-980) manned her pilot rescue detail, and her helo joined two from Nimitz to search throughout the night for survivors, although they only recovered some aircraft wreckage. Moosbrugger also refueled one of the carrier’s helos during the ordeal, and all three helo aircrew “performed superbly,” including at least one that landed on Nimitz’s fantail at the edge of the wind envelope during the height of the fire, a dangerous maneuver which observers said could not be done under the circumstances–until sailors persevered to aid their shipmates. Nimitz passed through several rainstorms through the nightmare, however, the merits of avoiding increased wind over the deck offset difficulties imposed by the rain and the captain chose to keep way to reduce wind interference. Initial reports, which proved to be erroneous, indicated that some men were blown over the side. In addition to the three marines on board 610, ABH3 Robert W. Iser, FN Dennis R. Driscoll, AA Thomas E. Barnhart, AA Frank J. Swider, Jr., AR Peter R. Iannetti and AR Jackie L. Gothard from the ship’s company, together with AO3 Lewis J. McLaurin (VF-41), AN Alberto Colon (VF-84), AN Arthuro Hinojosa, Jr. (VF-84), and AN Patrick D. Louis and AEAN Ronald L. Wildermuth (VF-41) died. The tragedy injured a further 48 sailors and marines. The ship’s medical department treated casualties, evacuating 21 of the more critically hurt to the Navy Regional Medical Center at Jacksonville, Fla., which issued a “total recall” of all staff to respond to the emergency. Four of the most severely burned men went on to the burn unit at Brooke Army Medical Center at San Antonio, Texas. The fire destroyed three Tomcats and 610, and damaged two Tomcats, nine Corsair IIs, one Intruder, three Vikings and one Sea King. The Naval Air Rework Facility at Jacksonville assisted with repairing eight A-7Es damaged by the fire, one of which was so badly damaged that it needed to be taken to the facility. The Navy determined that a combination of “environmental, mechanical and human factors” caused 610’s loss, and recommended a zealous anti drug program that became known as “zero tolerance.” Nimitz returned to Pier 12 at Norfolk during the afternoon watch on the 28th to repair damaged catapults, getting underway for additional training two days later.

Poor Penny was distraught over the loss of her pink bunny, so she has a new hedgehog (warthog) stuffie to play with. Hopefully the hedgehog (warthog) will prove to be made of sturdier material than the pink bunny, or the white dog that preceded it. Penny is also in need of a good grooming in this photo. After she played a bit with Mr. Hedgehog (warthog), I got out the furminator, thinning shears, and coat king and gave her a little trim-up - she was NOT pleased. But the birds will be happy with all that nice, soft, black nesting material floating around the yard. :)