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Getting the Big 'E

John Cayless reports on JMC 01-2 from
the deck of the USS Enterprise

One of my lifetime ambitions has been to

embark on a aircraft carrier on flying
operations - this is the report of the
fulfilment of that ambition!

Dateline Tuesday 29 May 2001: 10:00. The

editor at Air-Scene UK has given the go-
ahead. I take the bull by the horns and
telephone US Navy Europe in London. I
speak to one of the Public Affairs officers
who is under a lot of pressure about the
visit of the "Big E", the USS Enterprise, to
British waters. They have received over
1,000 e-mails and thousands of phone calls
about the visit - his advice is to send a
mail with as many details as I could as
soon as possible. Panic now sets in! 14:14: I manage to send the e-mail with just about everything crossed I
can think of.

Dateline Wednesday 30 May 2001: Nothing back yet.

Dateline Thursday 31 May 2001: Still nothing back yet. Panic rises.
Dateline Friday 1 June 2001: If nothing happens soon I will have
no hair or fingers left. I decide I have to phone them to see what is
happening. I manage to get the courage to do this by 11:00 - here
we go!! Oh heck! The officer I need to talk to answers the phone
(not prepared for that). I explain who I am and what I am
USS Enterprise - a history
A bottle of champagne shattered on the bow of the
awesome new warship, USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65),
breaking the silence of an anxious crowd at Newport
News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport
News, Virginia. It was Sunday morning, 24 September
1960, when Mrs. William B. Franke, wife of the former
Secretary of the Navy, christened the eighth USS
Enterprise, bringing to life the longest, tallest and
mightiest warship to ever sail the seas.

enquiring about. He is very understanding and helpful and would

At the
like to read my e-mail whilst I am on the line to give me an commissioning
answer. I had directed him to Richard Siudak's report on the USS of Enterprise,
Abraham Lincoln when it visited Australia - he thinks it is excellent the world's first
nuclear-
and wants to know what I wish to do in the way of a visit. The powered
offer of a visit to the 'Big E' whilst she is in Stokes Bay is given, but aircraft carrier,
(rather rashly) I said I really wanted to be on board her whilst she Secretary of
the Navy John
is underway and flying operations were taking place. Amazingly, he B. Connally,
agrees to my request and will add me to the list - this would take Jr., called it a
about fourteen days to finalise. I'm glad he doesn't hear me fall off worthy
successor to
my chair!! I need a stiff drink at this point, but have to phone the the highly
Ed and tell him the news. decorated
seventh USS
Enterprise of
For the next couple of weeks I wait for the e-mail to arrive. World War II.
"The Fighting
Gray Lady, as it was called, served in such well-known
Dateline Thursday 14 June 2001: 13:47. As Homer Simpson would battles as the raid on Tokyo and the Battle of Midway."
say, "The mail, the mail is here!" Secretary Connally went on to say, "The new Enterprise
will reign a long, long time as queen of the seas."

USS ENTERPRISE BATTLE GROUP PARTICIPATES IN JOINT
MARITIME COURSE 01-2
* Members of the press are invited on a media embarkation from
RAF Kinloss to the USS Enterprise operating at sea off eastern
Scotland on Wednesday, 20 June.
* The embarkation will depart from RAF Kinloss at approx. 0700 on
the morning of the 20th. A carrier onboard delivery (COD) plane
will deliver the group to USS Enterprise where media will be given
a brief on JMC. There will be a number of opportunities for pictures
Enterprise made its maiden voyage under the command
of Captain Vincent P. DePoix on 12 January 1962.
Enterprise and other ships in the Second Fleet set up a
"strict quarantine of all offensive military equipment
under shipment to Cuba." The blockade was put in place
on 24 October, and the first Soviet ship was stopped the
next day. On 28 October, Khrushchev agreed to remove
the missiles and dismantle the missile bases in Cuba.
Enterprise made its second and third deployments to the
Mediterranean in 1963 and 1964. During the latter
deployment, on 13 May, the world's first nuclear-
powered task force was formed when USS LONG BEACH
once aboard. Flight ops are scheduled to commence mid
afternoon. The COD is scheduled to depart USS ENT at
approximately 1700 and deliver everyone back to RAF Kinloss.
* Option: If desired, there may be an opportunity for media to fly
from USS Enterprise to HMS Illustrious with follow-on
transportation via helicopter back to RAF Kinloss.
Wow - it's going to happen!!! 14.24: "I received your reply and will
let you know the status by COB Friday." The reply from Public
Affairs.
Dateline Friday 15 June 2001: Today's the day!! 15:57: E-mail
arrives. "Please forward me soonest information on how to contact
you in the next few days regarding USS Enterprise embark. I'd like
home, work and mobile phone numbers if possible." Oh!! Am I
going to have to wait all weekend? I explain to Public Affairs my
transport and accommodation plans are in place and can be
cancelled if need be and will phone them on Monday.
18:01: Another mail with details of the trip.
The proposed itinerary is as follows: Wednesday, 20 June: (all
times are local) 0630 Media representatives meet Public Affairs
Officer at the front gate of RAF Kinloss. 0730 Media
representatives depart RAF Kinloss en-route Enterprise. (Flight
time 1 hour). 0830 Arrive Enterprise. Tours/observe flight
Operations/interview opportunities. 1630 Depart Enterprise en-
route RAF Kinloss. (Flight Time 1.0 hour). 1730 Arrive RAF Kinloss.
Well, that's it then, I'm ready for the off, just a little matter of a
18th Birthday party in Yorkshire this evening to attend. The
weekend flies by and my plans for the 450+ mile drive have all
been organised.
Dateline Monday 18 June 2001: E-mail arrives confirming the
details of the visit. I cannot settle at all during the day and decide I
will travel part of the way Monday evening, leaving home at 19:00
I plan to get to at least Carlisle before I stop and get some sleep.
Dateline Tuesday 19 June 2001: 05:30. Wake up to a overcast sky
and it's time to hit the road. A friend has very kindly offered to put
me up in the caravan he is staying in near Lossiemouth. I arrive at
RAF Kinloss at 10:15, completely shattered after driving 480 miles,
but what a lovely part of Scotland this is. Not managed to see
anybody wearing a kilt yet! Terry meets me by the base and we
have a quick look around the area.
and USS BAINBRIDGE joined Enterprise. On 31 July the
ships were designated Task Force One and sent on
Operation SEA ORBIT, a historic 30,565-mile voyage
around the world accomplished without a single
refuelling or replenishment.
The Big E transferred to the Pacific's Seventh Fleet in
November 1965 and became the first nuclear-powered
ship to engage in combat when it launched bomb-laden
aircraft in a projection of power against the Viet Cong on
2 December 1965. Its hot decks launched 125 sorties on
the first day.
In all, Enterprise made six combat deployments to
Southeast Asia from 1965 to 1972. Between combat
tours, Enterprise returned to Newport News Shipbuilding
and Drydock Company in 1970 for an overhaul and
refitting.
When Enterprise made its seventh Western Pacific
(WESTPAC) deployment in September 1974, it became
the first carrier to deploy with the new Tomcat fighter
plane. During the deployment, in February 1975,
Enterprise was called on to help in the evacuation of
Saigon. During Operation FREQUENT WIND, Big E
aircraft flew 95 sorties.
The ship made its eighth and ninth WESTPACs in 1976
and 1978. It sailed to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in
January 1979 for a 30-month comprehensive overhaul.
Enterprise made its 10th, 11th and 12th WESTPAC
deployments in 1982, 1984 and 1986.
When Enterprise deployed in 1986, it became the first
nuclear powered aircraft carrier to transit the Suez
Canal. It then entered the Mediterranean Sea for the
first time in over 22 years.
In April 1988, Enterprise, on its 13th deployment, was
assigned to escort re-flagged Kuwaiti oil tankers in the
Persian Gulf. Enterprise began its 14th overseas
deployment in September 1989. In early December,
Enterprise participated in Operation CLASSIC RESOLVE,
President Bush's response to Philippine President
Corazon Aquino's request for support during the coup
attempt.
In March 1990, Enterprise completed its around-the-
world deployment by arriving in Norfolk, Virginia.
Enterprise had successfully and safely steamed more
than 43,000 miles from its long-time homeport of
Alameda, California. In October, Enterprise moved to
Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company for
refuelling and the Navy's largest complex overhaul ever
attempted.
Enterprise returned to sea on 27 September 1994, and
on 28 June 1996 began its 15th overseas deployment.
The Big E enforced no-fly zones in two of the world's
most critical areas, Bosnia-Herzegovina (Operation
JOINT ENDEAVOR) and Iraq (Operation SOUTHERN
WATCH).
Following a four-and-a-half month maintenance period
at Newport News Shipbuilding and a comprehensive
work-up cycle, the ship departed for its 16th deployment
in November 1998. From 16-20 December 1998, Big E
and Carrier Air Wing THREE participated in Operation
DESERT FOX, expending more than 725,000 pounds of
ordnance against military targets in Iraq.
The Battle Group also conducted operations in the
Adriatic Sea and prepared for possible NATO military
intervention in the Yugoslavian province of Kosovo. The
ship returned to Norfolk in May 1999 and completed a
six-month ESRA.
Enterprise and embarked Carrier Air Wing EIGHT
deployed in April 2001, marking its 17th overseas
deployment. Enterprise is current operating in the
Mediterranean Sea as part of the US Sixth Fleet.
Kinloss is hosting a multitude of aircraft for the JMC which include a Norwegian P-3, French Atlantic, Italian
Atlantic, Canadian CP-140s and FR Aviation Falcons. Also based here for the period are two C-2 Greyhounds
from the US Navy (VRC-40 Det. V) and a MH-53 from the US Navy (HC-4). These have been flying support
missions for the "Big E".

Dateline Wednesday 20 June 2001. The day has arrived! I'm up bright and early at 05:30. Gill Howie from
Squadron Prints is going to pick me up to go to Kinloss. We get there at 06:30 and are the only people there
apart from the RAF Police in the Guard Room. We book in and are told to wait in the car park where somebody
will arrive shortly to pick us up. After a short time a few other people on the trip start arriving and tell us the
itinerary has been changed and we are going to HMS Illustrious first - What!!! That means we will be flying out
by helicopter and miss the 'Trap' on the 'Big E'! Oh, how I wanted to be a
member of the Tailhook Association! I can't complain really - two Aircraft
Carriers in one day can't be bad!

We get taken to the Visiting

Aircraft Section and have to get
kitted out in full immersion suits
which are bright orange and do
wonders for your figure. We are
told we will have a flight of about twenty minutes to HMS
Illustrious via a Royal Navy Sea King helicopter.

We arrive at Illustrious at 08:15 with the sun trying to break

through and good visibility. At last we can get out of the suits,I
now know how it feels to be Tangoed!!

Embarked on HMS Illustrious for JMC are the following assets:

801 Naval Air Squadron with Sea Harrier FA2s, 820 Naval Air Squadron with Sea King HAS Mk.6s and 849
Naval Air Squadron with Sea King AEW Mk.2s. We are welcomed aboard by Captain Charles Style and given a
briefing on JMC 01-2 by Commander Mike Whittaker. At the present time HMS Illustrious is the "On-call" Royal
Navy carrier which means she has to be ready to deploy to any trouble spot anywhere in the world at short
notice.

Fifty-one naval units are involved in JMC 01-2 which includes 15 submarines,
14,000 military personnel and 100 aircraft. Nations
involved include the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway,
United states, Sweden, Belgium, Spain and Italy.

The basis of the exercise is that there has been a

attempted coup in the Federation of Independent
Sovereign States by the thirteen men of Calanish who
have taken over one of the islands and are trying to
dislodge the elected Government. The Illustrious is there
to wave the flag in support of the Government and will
react accordingly. Also involved from the US Navy are
the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise and four Enterprise
Battle Group ships, including USS Philippine Sea (CG-
58), USS Arctic (AOE-8), USS Hampton (SSN-767), USS
McFaul (DDG-74) and maritime patrol aircraft.

We spend a pleasant time on the platform above the main deck watching the launch of
some of the Sea Harriers, but I can't wait to get to the 'Big E'. It's back to the hangar
deck and back into the suits, I hope they have been washed, but can't be sure what I am climbing into!
So it's back to the Sea King and try to make ourselves comfortable. After flying for about twenty minutes
(which seems a lot longer) the loadmaster holds up a map which says another forty minutes! Looking around at
some of the people on the trip this does not go down at all well - I hope something doesn't come up as well
looking at some of the pale faces.

We arrive at the 'Big E' and circle around a

couple of times for Sky News to get some video
footage and give nobody else the opportunity
to get into the doorway to take some pictures.
 The weather is absolutely awful, about a 1,000
ft cloud-base and less than a mile visibility. It
looks absolutely awesome from where I am
sitting and I must admit I have a lump in my
throat - "here comes one of my ambitions" I
think to myself. We land safely and I cannot wait to get out of the
helicopter, come on people, hurry up! I climb out of the Sea King and
put my feet down with a big smile on my face. Wow, I am speechless as I look around as we are guided off the
deck to meet the Big E's Public Affairs Officers and get out of the 'Tango Suits'. Lieutenant Christopher
Lounderman and his assistant JOC[SW] Mark Piggott give us a quick brief about our visit and explain what we
will be doing during the course of our stay. We start off with lunch, Chilli Mince, Fries
and Chilli Dogs. It's off to Vultures Row we go and quite a climb it is as well, more than
a couple of people are puffing as we climb the steps (good tip, if you ever get chance to
go, take as little as possible with you!) and eventually we arrive at the 'Row'. What a
view - from up here we look down on Tomcats, Hornets,
Prowlers, Vikings, Hawkeyes and Seahawks. The 'Big E'
has Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) embarked for this
cruise comprising of VF-41 with the F-14A (the Squadron's last cruise with the
F-14, but they are going to convert to the Super Hornet, so all is not lost), VF-
14 also with the F-14A, VFA-15 and VFA-87 with the F/A-18C, VAQ-141 with the
EA-6B, VAW-124 with the E-2C, VS-24 with the S-3B and HS-3 with SH-60Fs
and HH-60Hs.

We spend some three-quarters of an hour on Vultures Row and are told we now
have to go and get kitted out with safety equipment to go down on deck. This
comprises of a Cranial, which is like a safety helmet with built in ear defenders, blast goggles and a safety vest.
After a very good brief by the safety team we are led out onto the deck, our first port of call being between
Catapults 1 & 2 which is called the "Crutch Possie". Having to be on one knee for a Tomcat to take off is
something that will be burnt into my memory - if you don't kneel down you will lose your head as the wing
passes over you! Awesome!!

As one aircraft departs from in front of you another winds up behind. Today, they are
also using a third catapult to launch - which way do I turn? They seem to be going off
all over the place, kicking up dirt and steam. A EA-6B is put into position and starts to
wind up. It's off. Where
has it gone? I can't see for
all the steam, what a
beast! It is without doubt
the most powerful aircraft on board, VAQ-141 you
are awesome!!. I wish at this point I could send a
postcard, the only problem is I wouldn't know
what to say, words cannot describe the feelings I
have at this moment.

It's time to move. I have seen Tomcats, Hornets,

Vikings and the awesome Prowler launch and now
it's time for some landings. We move to what is known as the arrestor wire turn buckle, by number 4. First we
watch the arrival of some Hornets, they are all recovered before the Tomcats, as the tension is different for the
weight of each aircraft. Vikings and Prowlers are also recovered during our stay on deck. I enjoy watching the
recoveries but to be honest the launches are.....I just don't know how to put it into words!!! Back to Public
Affairs and time to exchange some dollars for baseball hats.

Some vital statistics about the Big

E - she has around 3,500 souls on
board, has 4 and a half acres of
flight deck, power of some
280,000 horsepower from eight
nuclear reactors and can reach a
speed of thirty knots. Incredible to
think of the technology employed
some forty years ago when she was built - she is
older than most of her complement of crew.
Time has flown and it's time to go. Now the fun
reaches a crescendo as we are to be launched form the 'BIG E' in a C-2 Greyhound to return to Kinloss. A clean
Cranial and Blast Goggles along with a Life Jacket are donned, the safety brief is very through and to the point.
I'm not sure what I want to do, stay and take some more pictures or get the launch of a lifetime, but in the end
I have no choice - I am going. We get strapped in and the crew come and check everything - we are moving
into position. The brief was to put your feet up onto the seat in front of you, cross your arms, hold onto the
straps at shoulder height and put your chin into your chest. All done, ready to go! The engines wind up and
BANG, we are airborne, zero to very fast in about three seconds! I can't say what I said as it happened, I just
leave it to your imagination. Some half an hour later we are back on dry land, having spent a wonderful day at
sea. On leaving the C-2A we are asked if we would like to by some patches - silly question really, as VRC-40
Det. V has just become my favourite airline in the world!

Later, it takes me eight cups of coffee before I feel relaxed. I have a text message on my phone asking "How
did it go?" My answer is "Aaawwesome!! DDazed !!" I think that is probably the understatement of the year...If
you ever get the chance, Just Do It!!!

I would Like to thank the following for making this dream come true...Public Affairs, US Navy Europe; The
Officers and Crew of the USS Enterprise; Public Affairs Officers, USS Enterprise; Safety Team USS Enterprise;
VRC-40 Det. V (my favourite airline); The Officers and crew of HMS Illustrious; Gary Parsons of Air-Scene UK
(your turn will come); Gill Howie from Squadron Prints (for being there); Terry Senior for putting up with me
for four days; My wife Sandra, children Emma, Ian & Laura for leaving them for four days.

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