Posted on 09/20/2013 9:55:12 AM PDT by Hulka
Last Thursday night someone stole the tail hook that was attached to USMC Lt. Col. XXXXXXX mailbox at XXXXXXXXX. As a Naval Aviator, it was one of his prized possessions. I wrote the following memo for inclusion in The XXXXXXXX but the publication deadline has passed for the next issue. Please “put your ear” to the ground and perhaps collectively we can identify this petty thief. Please contact me if you have any leads.
Memo To A Thief: To whomever took the tail hook that was attached to the mailbox at XXXXXXXXX… wow, you must really be some kind of a stud. Since you probably don’t even realize what it was that you stole, let me enlighten you. That’s the arresting hook from a Chance Vought F-8 Crusader (nick named “The Steel Dart”) because of the extreme speed at which it comes aboard the carrier. Try if you can to imagine yourself on an ink black night and low on fuel, with the stick and throttle of an F-8 in your hands, attempting to trap on a wildly pitching deck. Rest assured, you could never do it… but the man from whom you stole that treasure damn well could and did. He is my neighbor and friend. If you have any shred of honor you’ll sneak back and return it. If not, I hope your girlfriend realizes that she’s dating a pussy.
Goodness. I say again, goodness.
The tailhook had been welded in place for the past 25-yrs and no problem. Til now.
Post 18 sand Post 6.
And the tailhook had been welded in place for 25-yrs and never before vandalized.
So, what do you think of what the thieves had done? The thieves themselves?
Of course the thieves are scumbags, that goes without saying. However, we live in a world full of thieves, so it’s just not wise to leave things of value out in the open where they can see them and decide to try and take them. Just because people are pointing that out doesn’t mean anyone excuses the thieves.
Of course, but as my posts mentioned previously, it is not something that is in any way easy to remove and the odds of a theft was minuscule (unmolested for 25-yrs).
At some point common sense must intrude and ask, “Is it reasonable to assume this massively heavy chunk of iron, welded into place will likely be stolen?”
Answer, “Not bloody likely due to its weight and the fact it was welded in place as well as the fact it was unmolested for the past 25-yrs in a gated, safe rural community with no real history of crime.”
It would have been easier to break into a home and steal.
“At some point common sense must intrude and ask, “Is it reasonable to assume this massively heavy chunk of iron, welded into place will likely be stolen?””
I think the mistake you make is thinking it has anything to do with “reasonable”. Thieves aren’t necessarily reasonable. So, if you don’t want to lose it, don’t leave it out where they can see it and start coveting it.
Does the navy sell used or surplus tailhooks? How do these end up in civilian hands?
Fire a few airburst shells.
Guarantee the pilfering will slow.
No worries, but they did do night carrier ops.
http://mofak.com/night_carrier_quals_crusader.htm
http://warships1discussionboards.yuku.com/topic/22102#.Uj2rA9co5KA (second reply)
Cheers
Many times items such as this are presented to a pilot when he retires or leaves a unit. The items are not new or serviceable, they usually have structural failures or have reached the end of their service-life. Many aircraft parts are replaced before failure. . . and rightly so, IMHO.
Some excess or end-of-life parts are sold to certified scrap bidders, museums and other such people or organizations. Some parts may be purchased by individuals. If interested, I suggest contacting AMARC (http://amarcexperience.com/Default.asp), as they are the “COSTCO” of used military aviation parts. AMARC in Tucson is known as “The Boneyard” to military pilots..
Better hide the Liberty Bell.
;-)
They’ve got security guards watching that.
Gotcha.
Hide everything.
I live in the city and someone stole the welcome mat off my pourch
When I lived in Lauderdale the Amish were going through our cars at night stealing stuff.
I put one of those glass vile things for “coke” in my glove box but put Comet in it.
A few days went by and it was gone one AM...Some AH sure got a snoot full..Too bad!!
Thanks for the info.
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