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‘I thought the jet was going to explode when it crashed back onto the deck, the blast killing us or sending us flying over the edge of the deck,’ Robbie Emberson, former Yellow Shirt aboard USS Ronald Reagan

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is the ninth Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and is named in honor of the 40th president of the US.

As the US’ only forward deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan is the cornerstone of Carrier Strike Group 5. Together with Carrier Air Wing 5, the ship-air wing team forms one the most lethal fighting forces in the world.

Modern US Navy aircraft carrier air operations include the operation of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft on and around an aircraft carrier for performance of combat or noncombat missions.

On an aircraft carrier flight deck, specialised crew are employed for the different roles utilised in managing air operations. The different flight deck crews wear colored jerseys to visually distinguish their functions:

• Yellow: Aircraft handling officer
• Green: Catapult and arresting gear crew
• Red: Ordnance handler
• Purple: Aviation fuel handler
• Blue: Trainee plane handler
• Brown: Air wing plane captain
• White: Quality Assurance

‘The flight deck is an exciting place to work,’ says Robbie Emberson, former Flight Deck Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) (ABH) aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on Quora. ‘During flight ops turning propellers can cut you thinner than sliced bread, jet intakes and exhaust can burn you crispier than well-done steak, or one wrong step can send you plunging 134ft down into the frigid water below. But none of these things happened to me.

‘The flight deck is separated into three work centers for V-1 (flight deck ABHs), FLY 1 is responsible for the bow, FLY 2 is responsible for the middle, and FLY 3 is responsible for the fantail.

‘This is a basic sketch of how the FLY’s are separated but there are a number of exceptions. For example, a FLY 3 yellow shirt will stand up in FLY 1 during recovery to “catch” birds when they land. Meaning, he will signal to the pilot to let off the brakes after the wires stop the plane’s forward momentum, when the wire has separated from his aircraft, to raise his tail hook, and direct him out of the landing area.’

Emberson continues:

‘One of the scariest things that happened to me on an aircraft carrier was when I was a U.I. [Under Instruction] yellow shirt in FLY 3. During recovery, FLY 3 sees little action because no aircraft can be sent back there while birds are landing, so most FLY 3 yellow shirts go down in the fly hole and listen to the flight deck radio, have a snack or whatever, and wait. Tonight, however, a friend and I were standing by the arresting gear shooting the s**t enjoying the night.

‘As we were standing there, an F-18 is coming in to land. What seemed like 10 feet away from the wires the aircraft’s nose rapidly swings up. The bird had been waved off; something had fouled the landing area and the green light signaling a clear landing area had turned red.

‘This is approximately where we were standing and the bird was probably that close to landing when it had been waved off.

‘The aircraft was nearly perpendicular to the flight deck trying to climb back into the night sky but, unbeknownst to the pilot, the tail hook had caught a wire and he was attached to the deck.

‘So, here we are. My buddy and I standing there in FLY 3 by the arresting gear, an F-18 on full power, roaring, trying to gain altitude, streams of fire coming out of the exhaust, and the thick cables of the arresting gear not letting go, pulling the jet back towards the deck. We did what anyone would do, we ran.

‘I thought the jet was going to explode when it crashed back onto the deck, the blast killing us or sending us flying over the edge of the deck. But, it didn’t. The jet did smash back on the deck causing damage to the aircraft and a lot of sparks, but no fire started. The pilot was bloodied up when he eventually got out of the plane but he walked away. Flight ops continued after a FOD walk-down.’

Emberson concludes:

‘I thought I was going to be caught in the middle of a flight deck fire that night. It was pretty scary.’

Photo by US Navy

If the Navy chooses to accept it, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) could get its big screen debut in Tom Cruise’s next “Mission Impossible” movie

Top Gun: Maverick producer and star Tom Cruise, writer and producer Christopher McQuarrie, and editor Eddie Hamilton, along with Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham departed the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) after completing a visit, on Mar. 3, 2023.

The team led a Top Gun: Maverick viewing in the ship’s hangar bay and took time to visit with Sailors aboard the ship during their visit. The ship and its crew have been deployed since departing Naval Station Norfolk on Aug. 10, 2022.

Last week, entertainment trade publication Variety quoted the head of the Apulia Film Commission Antonio Parente that Cruise was aboard the carrier filming scenes for “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part Two.”

If the Navy chooses to accept it, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) could get its big screen debut in Tom Cruise’s next “Mission Impossible” movie.

“We are proud that [the] Apulia [region] has been chosen as the operational base for this rather complex shoot,” Parente told the paper.

According to USNI News, it is unclear what brings Cruise’s character Ethan Hunt to an aircraft carrier in the film, which is expected to be the last in the “Mission Impossible” series. In the most recent Mission Impossible film, Cruise’s Hunt stopped an organization of rogue spies and ex-government agents from harming a major water supply.

“Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning” is being split into two parts with the first going to theaters in July. The trailer for the action film shows scenes of Cruise in Italy, including Venice, which may be connected to George H.W. Bush’s appearance in the second film. It is unclear if “Mission Impossible” will call the aircraft by a different name or have it in a different location in the film.

McQuarrie announced Waddingham was joining the cast via an Instagram post from the carrier that featured her on the flight deck of Bush wearing a Carrier Strike Group 10 ball cap.

It’s unclear the time between the two films as Cruise’s hair in Navy-released photos from his time aboard the aircraft carrier is longer than in the trailer for the first Dead Reckoning film.

Throughout its deployment, the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (CSG) has worked alongside NATO allies and partners to increase interchangeability and increased capacity for the Alliance.

“I know our Sailors will never forget that night in the hangar bay, and I am equally as certain that neither will Mr. Cruise,” said Rear Adm. Dennis Velez, commander, CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG, in a US Navy news release. “The Sailors of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group represent what is best about America. Their commitment and courage is on display every day, and I know Tom and his entire team left with a fuller appreciation of the capabilities and power of U.S. Navy’s carrier strike groups — and the dedication and grit of our Sailors that make it all possible.”

Velez was not the only leader aboard the ship who recognized the impact the visit had on everyone aboard.

“While Top Gun will always be an American and Navy classic, Tom, Chris, Eddie, and their team outdid themselves with Top Gun: Maverick!” said Capt. Dave Pollard, the aircraft carrier’s commanding officer, himself a Top Gun graduate and instructor. “Every minute they spent with the crew of our mighty warship paid dividends toward our crew’s morale from the top-down. It buoys my spirits to know that the leading entertainers and filmmakers of our day not only conceptually know what we do, but they can relate to what our nation’s warriors do on a daily basis through their personal experiences aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77).”

Paramount Pictures’ Top Gun: Maverick earned nominations for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Original Song, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound at the 95th Oscars on Mar. 12 (The motion picture won the Best Sound Oscar).

“This is my first deployment, and it’s difficult sometimes to be gone from home and family for such long time,” said Aviation Support Equipment Technician 3rd Class Olivia Morton, the ship’s Blue Jacket of the Year who was promoted meritoriously during the visit. “Spending time with my friends at the hangar bay event and getting a photo with all of the guests – especially Tom Cruise – was the highlight of a memorable deployment.”

George H.W. Bush is the flagship of CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG. CSG-10 is comprised of George H.W. Bush, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Information Warfare Commander, and USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55).

The ships of DESRON-26 within CSG-10 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119).

The squadrons of CVW-7 embarked aboard the George H.W. Bush are the “Sidewinders” of VFA-86, the “Jolly Rogers” of VFA-103, the “Knighthawks” of VFA-136, the “Pukin’ Dogs” of VFA-143, the “Bluetails” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, the “Patriots” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140, the “Nightdippers” of HSC-5, and the “Grandmasters” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46.

For over 80 years, US Naval Forces Europe – US Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the US European Command (USEUCOM) and US Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. US Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

The George H.W. Bush CSG is on a scheduled deployment in the NAVEUR area of operations as part of the US response to the Russo-Ukraine War, employed by US Sixth Fleet to defend US, allied, and partner interests.

Photo by U.S. Navy and Paramount Pictures

‘Memories: my “Best Perks” of being deployed on an Aircraft Carrier are made in retrospect, after the passage of several decades,’ Steve Solbakken, former US Navy sailor

Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s Naval forces – the most adaptable and survivable airfields in the world. On any given day, Sailors aboard an aircraft carrier and its air wing come to the fight trained and equipped across a full range of missions. They are ready to control the sea, conduct strikes, and maneuver across the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace. No other naval force fields a commensurate range and depth of combat capabilities.

But what are the best perks of being deployed on a US Navy aircraft carrier?

‘Like many first term enlistees in the early 70’s, I never considered there to be “perks” while doing my enlistment,’ Steve Solbakken, former US Navy sailor, says on Quora.

‘I did request carrier duty on my “Dream Sheet” and got it because I was just graduating from training for a critical rate that needed bodies all over the fleet. Once I joined the ship’s company, I was too busy adapting to the experience of being a sailor at sea to look for perks and then I was too preoccupied with making it to the end of my enlistment to look for special benefits. My “Best Perks” are made in retrospect, after the passage of several decades.

‘One benefit I did appreciate right away (and a big reason I requested carrier duty) was the day to day stability of an aircraft carrier when it’s underway. Smaller ships were regularly bobbing and bouncing about, even in calm seas. However, an aircraft carrier is quite large and needs to be more stable in order for jets to land. The ship’s pitch and roll movements are still there, but they’re more gradual and much less noticeable than what a destroyer or other smaller vessel experiences. I only recall becoming nauseous once in over 3 years – and we were on the edge of a hurricane and the seas were quite violent that day.

‘Another cool thing was getting to see, hear, feel and smell flight ops from Vulture’s Row. Not having to actually WORK on the flight deck, but to stand 4 levels above it and watch the dance below. The flight deck is full of men (just men back then, now men and women) in yellow, blue, purple, red, green and white jerseys, all moving as if finely tuned machine parts – each one with a specific function. All functions are necessary and constantly being done in an atmosphere filled with opportunities for disaster, yet being done incredibly well and safely, over and over, hundreds of times daily. The teamwork necessary for everything to work right is a wonderful sight to watch in action. The pure sensory overload is an amazing, almost indescribable experience. There aren’t many sounds like the roar of a fighter jet engine at full power. You feel it as much as you hear it. The heat off the black asphalt like flight deck surface in the summer sun can be intense. Throw in jet afterburners and you can almost feel your eyebrows singing – even though you’re a couple hundred feet back and 4 levels up in the observation area (Vulture’s Row). You never forget the smell of jet fuel and if you happen to get a whiff at an airport, your mind flashes back to watching launches and recoveries out in the bright sunlight. Unfortunately, when you live with it day in and day out, you tend to take it for granted and don’t take advantage as much as you could to savor the experience. You don’t miss it – until it’s a memory. But what a memory it is! You simply cannot get that experience serving on any other ship in the US Navy.’

He continues;

‘There’s a lot of jobs on the ship where you never get to get outside. My day to day tasks were below decks, working in rooms lit only by red lights, staring at a radar screen 12 hours a day. I could go days and not see the sun because you could literally make the journey from bow to stern entirely inside, below decks. At best you could walk through the hangar deck and look out the bay doors. But, where there’s a will, there’s a way. A carrier has steel wire nets in certain spots around the flight deck and catwalks for safety reasons. On my ship, there was one right up off the front edge of the flight deck at the bow. During times when we weren’t flying, you could crawl (sneak) out onto those nets and sit suspended 60 plus feet over the ocean and look straight down and watch the bow cut through the water. There was always a school of dolphins racing with us, jumping gracefully in and out of the water, matching our speed, never tiring and never stopping. Other times, you could go out on the catwalks or out to the fantail and watch the sun rise or set at sea – always a beautiful sight. I enjoyed those times because it reminded me of how insignificant we really are. I knew how far away the nearest land was and what would happen if I somehow ended up in the water. I learned a new level of respect and awe for nature that I look forward to experiencing even now. When we pulled into our anchorage in ports like Athens, Naples, Barcelona and other spots it was always just before dawn and we were out at our lookout posts. Mine was atop the island, so I could see for up to 15 miles on a clear day. We could see the lights of the cities from a good distance and watch them getting closer and closer, then the lights of dozens of fishing boats bobbing up and down, just a couple miles off shore. Then the fishing boat lights would fade out as they were overcome by the natural light of the rising sun, in all its glory and brilliance. I wish I’d savored those moments more.’

Solbakken concludes;

‘They told us that we would better appreciate our experiences when able to view them with the perspective you get with time and age. They were right. For me, those are memories that I now see as perks, but didn’t have the years or wisdom to appreciate 45 years ago.’

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Scott, MC3 Christopher Lindahl and Mass Communication Specialist 3rd class Mark Sashegyi / U.S. Navy