[Buddha]

I had to shed a tear or two today. Explosives sent Oriskany to the bottom as a fish haven, or whatever they call it. I never served aboard her myself, but I sure spent my share of time alongside her in the Gulf duriing UnReps when I was on the Mars. Not to mention swilling San Miguel with her crewmembers in Subic. Maybe it's overly maudlin on my part, but I haven't felt emotions like this since I saw the Oklahoma City come through Pearl on her way to be decomissioned. At least I can go down to the Broadway pier here in SD and still see my old ship, not to mention showing her to my 20 year old daughter, who wasn't even born during my tour aboard. Oriskany was a proud and capable ship, and I don't think I'll get any argument if I salute her.

Buddha

[Cartoon]

[A6BSTARM]

Don't forget the star of screen and tube. She was featured in movies, "Tora, Tora, Tora", "Midway", "Bridges of Toko-Ri", and "Men of the fighting Lady."

[JClark]

As a guy that has worked on ships most of his life, building them, converting them, repairing them, it really tears me up to see a grand old ship like that scuttled. I'd rather see them used in a SinkEx, going down hard, fighting like the warship they were.

Boats

[Buddha]

JClark, on May 18 2006, 02:41 PM, said:

As a guy that has worked on ships most of his life, building them, converting them, repairing them, it really tears me up to see a grand old ship like that scuttled. I'd rather see them used in a SinkEx, going down hard, fighting like the warship they were.

Boats

Seldom wrong and right again, Boats. With all the whining from congress about budgets, wasting the opportunity to test weapons systems against a real carrier that they want sunk anyway seems fairly brainless. Not to mention that Tomahawks, Harpoons, MK-48's or whatever seem at least a fairly honorable way to go. And DC training would certainly be possible as well, if adequate safety precautions could be in place (more your area of expertise than mine). This scuttleing business is like coming home as a Vet and being killed by a carjacker.

Buddha

[Harpooner]

IMHO Better this than been towed to India m dragged up on a beach and butchered like a whale.

Not if this is case but at least divers and fish will still get some use out of her.

[Buddha]

A6BSTARM, on May 18 2006, 12:41 PM, said:

Don't forget the star of screen and tube. She was featured in movies, "Tora, Tora, Tora", "Midway", "Bridges of Toko-Ri", and "Men of the fighting Lady."

I hadn't seen "Men of the Fighting Lady" for years, so when TCM aired it today, I had to watch it again. Then I remembered this thread. I'd never noticed before, but they used Oriskany and Coral Sea both for the carrier scenes. I guess they figured most viewers wouldn't notice the difference between 34 and 43.

Buddha

[A6BSTARM]

I use to have "Men of the Fighting Lady" on VCR tape but my gosh darn VCR ate it.

Looking through some photos I have came up with these and just thought I would share.


An F-8J capping a Soviet TU-95D over the Oriskany on her last cruise in 1975


An overhead shot from an RF-8G of the Oriskany on her last cruise. If you look closely you will also notice that this is also a complete LTV air-wing. The only exception is the lone WF-1 or E-1 Tracer up next to the island. There isn't even an A-3 onboard.

[Buddha]

A6BSTARM, on Aug 24 2006, 04:08 AM, said:

I use to have "Men of the Fighting Lady" on VCR tape but my gosh darn VCR ate it.

Looking through some photos I have came up with these and just thought I would share.


An F-8J capping a Soviet TU-95D over the Oriskany on her last cruise in 1975


An overhead shot from an RF-8G of the Oriskany on her last cruise. If you look closely you will also notice that this is also a complete LTV air-wing. The only exception is the lone WF-1 or E-1 Tracer up next to the island. There isn't even an A-3 onboard.

Yeah, I've got 2 VCR's that seem to need to be fed on a regular basis. Watching DVD's now, it's hard to believe that VHS was state-of-the-art at one time, not to mention Beta.

Buddha