Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum - View Single Post

CalandLinda · 06-16-2020, 04:45 PM

Early in 1964 I checked-in to VF-41 from the F-4 Maintenance Training Center. It was my very first assignment to a “tail-hook” squadron and for he next 24 years I would do all of my sea duty assignment with the tail-hookers, ending my career in 1988 as the Maintenance Chief for VFA-132, F/A-18 aircraft.

VF-41 was in the process of a transition period, changing from the F3H Demon to the new - from the factory - F4-B Phantom II. I was first assigned to the Check Crew (XC) where periodic squadron aircraft inspections were conducted. During the transitioning period we also performed aircraft acceptance inspections. It’s a work assignment where a very lot is learned in a short period of time.

From there I was assigned to the Airframes Workcenter where my primary job assignments were working in my rating (AMH); which consisted of all hydraulic and pneumatic systems, sub systems and emergency systems. Landing gear and primary/secondary flight control systems were within my rating along with brakes, wheels & tires.

From there I went to the line division as a squadron airframes flight deck troubleshooter. In early 1965 the squadron was deployed with the USS Independence (CV-62) to Southeast Asia from Norfolk, VA. I worked the flight deck assignment for that entire cruise and returned to Norfolk 7 months later as a fully qualified airframes flight deck troubleshooter for the F4B aircraft. A few months later I was transferred to the LTV aircraft factory at Dallas, TX where the USN A7A aircraft was being built. Another tail hook aircraft I would become very familiar with.

This first picture is a signature photo of a VF-41 aircraft in full burner during a launch from a waste cat on the Indy. The others were also taken while being assigned to the Indy.

06-16-2020, 04:45 PM	#14
CalandLinda Montana Master Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Taylors Posts: 562 M.O.C. #15948	Navy Fighter Squadron 41 Early in 1964 I checked-in to VF-41 from the F-4 Maintenance Training Center. It was my very first assignment to a “tail-hook” squadron and for he next 24 years I would do all of my sea duty assignment with the tail-hookers, ending my career in 1988 as the Maintenance Chief for VFA-132, F/A-18 aircraft. VF-41 was in the process of a transition period, changing from the F3H Demon to the new - from the factory - F4-B Phantom II. I was first assigned to the Check Crew (XC) where periodic squadron aircraft inspections were conducted. During the transitioning period we also performed aircraft acceptance inspections. It’s a work assignment where a very lot is learned in a short period of time. From there I was assigned to the Airframes Workcenter where my primary job assignments were working in my rating (AMH); which consisted of all hydraulic and pneumatic systems, sub systems and emergency systems. Landing gear and primary/secondary flight control systems were within my rating along with brakes, wheels & tires. From there I went to the line division as a squadron airframes flight deck troubleshooter. In early 1965 the squadron was deployed with the USS Independence (CV-62) to Southeast Asia from Norfolk, VA. I worked the flight deck assignment for that entire cruise and returned to Norfolk 7 months later as a fully qualified airframes flight deck troubleshooter for the F4B aircraft. A few months later I was transferred to the LTV aircraft factory at Dallas, TX where the USN A7A aircraft was being built. Another tail hook aircraft I would become very familiar with. This first picture is a signature photo of a VF-41 aircraft in full burner during a launch from a waste cat on the Indy. The others were also taken while being assigned to the Indy.