Posted on 10/06/2008 1:21:38 PM PDT by jessduntno
Mishaps mark John McCain's record as naval aviator
By Ralph Vartabedian and Richard A. Serrano, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers October 6, 2008
The 23-year-old junior lieutenant wasn't paying attention and erred in using "a power setting too low to maintain level flight in a turn," investigators concluded.
As a presidential candidate, McCain has cited his military service -- particularly his 5 1/2 years as a POW. But he has been less forthcoming about his mistakes in the cockpit.
The Times interviewed men who served with McCain and located once-confidential 1960s-era accident reports and formerly classified evaluations of his squadrons during the Vietnam War. This examination of his record revealed a pilot who early in his career was cocky, occasionally cavalier and prone to testing limits.
In today's military, a lapse in judgment that causes a crash can end a pilot's career. Though standards were looser and crashes more frequent in the 1960s, McCain's record stands out.
"Three mishaps are unusual," said Michael L. Barr, a former Air Force pilot with 137 combat missions in Vietnam and an internationally known aviation safety expert who teaches in USC's Aviation Safety and Security Program. "After the third accident, you would say: Is there a trend here in terms of his flying skills and his judgment?"
Jeremiah Pearson, a Navy officer who flew 400 missions over Vietnam without a mishap and later became the head of human spaceflight at NASA, said: "That's a lot. You don't want any. Maybe he was just unlucky."
Navy veterans who flew with McCain called him a good pilot.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
All God asks of any of us is to do our best. McCain did his best, and Obama has done nothing of service to this country.
God Bless our Troops and Veterans and screw the jerks who badmouth them! If the left is so brainwashed they don’t see who fought for are freedom and who is trying to give it away, I don’t think there is anything we can do for them short of pray for God to open their hearts and eyes and ears.
So, let’s take a look at Obama’s service record. Sure would like to know what his classification was. I don’t think it was ever mentioned.
ping
“Former President George H. W. Bush flew a prop-driven light bomber in combat (jets having then not been invented). The MSM hated him, too.”
John McCain and GHW Bush were combat pilots. Both men have displayed courage and dedication deserving the highest level of respect.
While I respect GW Bush, his record should not be compared with the other 2 men.
Thirty years later somewhere in Chicago:
The 23-year-old junior community organizer was nodding off and spilled the nasty bong water all over Bill Ayres' first edition copy of Das Kapital.
I thought they were talking about John Wayne.
Post of the day.
What was the state of jet-era combat training and operations in the 1960s?
Was that reasonable back then because it was a new emerging science, or was jet combat already a mature science?
-PJ
Hey LA Times hack- nice try. As an old USAF jet instructor and test-pilot instructor, McCain’s record is - honestly typical. We military types are hard on our folks. We demand and expect perfection.
That’s probably why I never taught any lieutenants that were journalism majors. Most just don’t have the cojones or coordination. You are in that group.
Any questions as to manhood and professional accomplishments?
My hero was Big Frank Valesh of the 100th bombgroup in WW2.He lost 7 b-17s and continued till he finished his tour.Yes,its true he wrecked one on take off one night from his field with a couple of redcross girls on board.Still a hellofa man in my book.So McCain washed out some birds.Big harry deal.He is still the luckiest man in the Navy surviving the fire on the carrier.Just watch the video.It would seem he used up most of his luck before his trips north.You cant take anything away from him on that.And I still have issues with McCain on certain current events.
The liberal news media marches on, oblivious to all outside opinions.
That’s one of the things that I like MOST about Navy Pilots.
“Mustang, this is Ghostrider, requesting flyby.”
Where is that picture from of Obama riding his bike?
Yeah, something about pucker factor and seat cushions from what I've heard.
Obama’s birth was a mistake from the beginning.
Obama’s birth was a mistake from the beginning.
Obama’s birth was a mistake from the beginning.
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