MOST UNUSUAL

Perhaps my most unusual rescue while on the Valley Forge in 1952.

Chief Tierney was flying and we were aft of the starboard side on
recovery operations. On catching the wire an F9F's nose shot off the
aircraft and sort of milk-bottled down the deck at landing speed (turned
out it was a photo plane, no gun apertures, somebody had not locked in
the nose prior to take-off) chasing a guy in khakis down the deck first
one way then the other no matter how he turned. It was right behind the
guy with both headed for the catwalk ladder right behind the aft 5-inch
turret. Just as the guy jumped the nose hit him in flight and knocked
him over the side into the drink. Along with the nose he was bobbing
around and finally appeared in the swirling wake and he got into my sling.
He was pretty excited when we got him up and babbling on about not being
able to swim. Moreover he turned out to be Tierney's (my pilot's) cabin
mate in Chief's Quarters. I don't remember whether he was from ships'
company or from the CAG. They all counted for the "Winged S" rescue award.

Phil Cavanagh

The Navy records show :

"2 May 1952. TIERNAY , H. , ALC (AP). and crewman CAVANAUGH. P.P.

, AD3, of Unit TEN rescued SOGGE, D. J., ABC, when he was knocked over the

side of the U.S.S. VALLEY FORGE (CV-45) by a F9F nose section which tore

loose on landing."