I was on the FDR (WW2 era flat top )-1976
we mooned a cruiser doing high speed passes
close to the carrier- AND mooned them-
must have been an unofficial NAVY WIDE greeting for
the Russki’s!
Times have sure changed in 40 years!
In today's world, there's no way I'd turn my back on someone, drop my pants and bend over.
It might have been an insult back in the day, but these days I think it would be understood as more like an offer and an invitation.
And that is NOT the message I'd want to send!
Heck, you and I might have been on there at the same time. I did two weeks on there as part of a detachment of my squadron down near Rosie Roads sometime in 1976 or 1977.
I must say I didn’t enjoy it...it was hot, and the ship wasn’t in great shape.