USN Photo of the Day: BUFF Intercepted by "Don't Mess With The Navy" Hornets During Rigging Maneuver

ChamorroBible.org ^ | 1st week in May 2008 | United States Navy

[EnjoyingLife]

1st week in May 2008, Western Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Guam, USA -- Two USN F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets intercept the low flying USAF B-52 Stratofortress heavy bomber as it performs a rigging maneuver to identify the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
Large, medium, and the above smaller photo via http://ChamorroBible.org/gpw/gpw-20050822.htm (photo 5).

The Story
Navy, Air Force train together to showcase capabilities
By Staff Sgt. Stephen Teel, 36th Wing Public Affairs, Andersen AFB, Guam, USA
http://www.GuamPDN.com/guampublishing/pacificedge/data/EkEkEFulppeoOcKtLi.htm

[pabianice]

Only the USAF would be stupid enough to not recognize a USN carrier.

[pabianice]

Click here

[DesScorp]

Kinda looks like a simulated “escort the Bear out of the area” sortie.

[Oztrich Boy]

You mean that is easier than the big "68" number painted on the tower...?

Back in the day, the Soviets had the habit of repainting their ships with any old number whenever the whim took them

[Professional Engineer]

Negative Ghostrider, the pattern is full.

[Professional Engineer]

GMTA

[tanknetter]

I can hear that US pilot now “Permission to fire! permission to fire! LOL

Back in the late 1940s, during the USN-USAF carrier vs. bomber spat that led to the "Revolt of the Admirals" the USAF was going around claiming that the B-36 flew so high that it couldn't be shot down.

There was some Navy fighter jock (F9F Panther pilot, iirc) who made a VERY public offer to go up and blow one out of the sky, just to prove that it could be done. IIRC the USN did run a couple of intercepts and the USAF generals were decidedly unamused that their precious "magnesium overcast" was getting bounced.

[alfa6]

Thanks for the ping P.E.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[dcwusmc]

Did you ever serve? Offhand, I would say “Not,” or you’d understand that under peacetime ROE, the Navy CANNOT shoot down ANY aircraft overflying its ships. At BEST they have armed fighters ESCORTING the other craft, who WILL shoot it down if, and ONLY if, the other aircraft shows tangible hostile intent... like it carries missiles externally and one is seen to be ready to launch, or a bomb-bay door opens while on a demonstrable bombing path to the U.S. ship. Your posturing is just that, ignorant posturing.

Further, since we reserve the right to overfly any- and everyone ELSE’S ships, naval or otherwise, we’d be doing nothing but putting our own aircraft and crews at grave risk were we to follow your misguided advice.

[onedoug]

Yes, I served in the 1/1 Armored Cavalry, Americal Division, Republic of Vietnam, I CORPS, 1968-69.

I would still say: DO NOT COME NEAR OUR SHIPS OR RISK BEING SHOT DOWN.

What part of RISK is unclear to you?

[Non-Sequitur]

What part of RISK is unclear to you?

Let me repeat. It is in international waters and international airspace. They have every legal right to be there. What part of that do you have problems understanding?

[KC Burke]

When the terrain hugging radar and low flight manuveurs were developed back in the 70s they gave some of us driving out in the Flint Hills of Kansas some startled moments.

I was driving a lonely back country highway in that era when a B-52 suddenly appeared with a BOOM right on top of me and was gone in an instant.

I almost drove off the highway from the shock and I know I felt a displacement shockwave from its passing. I felt it wasn’t but 50 feet above me but I know it must have been somewhat higher.

[dcwusmc]

To shoot down an aircraft NOT engaged in a hostile act IS AN ACT OF WAR. Period, end of discussion. Under the Rules of Engagement our Navy must follow in peace time (and all other times when NOT in an active combat zone), SHIP'S CAPTAINS (OR BATTLE GROUP COMMANDERS) ARE NOT ALLOWED TO START WARS. Sorry to be the one to break that news to you, you being another Vietnam Vet and all. But you do need to study the rules of war before you make statements like that.

[tet68]

You mean that is easier than the big “68” number painted on the tower...?

Careful, that could be a trick.

[onedoug]

Period, end of discussion.

Yet, you go on....

[Enchante]

Doolittle Raid redux? Now someone wants to launch B-52s from a carrier flight deck? :^)

Might be a bit hard on the wing that hits the control tower??

[Kozak]

Or as we used to say “why not Minot?”

[DuncanWaring]

I remember that.

Or, after someone had gotten an assignment to Minot, and didn’t want to do something, they could decline, saying “What are they going to do, send me to Minot?”.

[dcwusmc]

Indeed. That it’s an act of war is the end of THAT discussion, but I thought you might like to know WHY that’s so. Excuse me if I was wrong.

[RichInOC]

“Mustang, this is Air Force Broncbuster 01, requesting flyby.”
“Negative, Broncbuster, the pattern is full.”

[BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!]

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAWWWWWWW!!!”

“Damn that guy.”