Sometimes friends drop in when you least expect them. But when a friend drops in when he least expects it, there is going to be some heavy hazing.

Such is the story of LT Mike Ruth, an A-7 pilot from the USS KITTY HAWK. Returning from his first mission since he finished training at Lemoore, California, Ruth saw a number of planes in a holding pattern above a carrier. He just naturally circled into the pattern, came in hook down, and landed smoothly.

But what is all the whooping and hollering by the flight deck crew? Why are the Landing Safety Officers doubled over in convulsions? This is the KITTY HAWK, isn't it? And then a glance at the big "43" on the stacks. Oh, no.

"Welcome aboard, Chippy 404; you've just landed on WESTPAC's Finest," stated Captain Harris over the flight deck announcing system. LT Ruth had mistaken the relatively small deck of the CORAL SEA for that of the KITTY HAWK.

The flight deck crews sprang immediately into action. But instead of grease guns, they held cans of spray paint in their hands. In a matter of seconds, the KITTY HAWK / VA-195 plane was branded with "CORAL SEA" and the names of every squadron on board.

After a quick tour of the ship and a true servicing of the plane, LT Ruth departed for the HAWK. The finest ship and the finest air wing in the Pacific were proud to be of assistance.

Back it up! - David Stair - 1969 WestPac
Our skipper on USS Coral Sea during the 68-69 cruise was Captain James Ferris, an absolutely top notch CO. One day while launching and recovering aircraft in the Tonkin Gulf he did something totally not in the book. Flight operations in the Gulf consisted of going in circles, turn into the wind, launch aircraft, etc. In between launch and recovery a friend of mine on garbage duty came walking down the hanger deck, soaked and covered with garbage. He was using the garbage chute on the fantail when water came up the chute. We were backing up! Shortly after Captain Ferris announced that we weren' t crazy we were backing up. He said he was tried of going in circles. We only backed up once but that was enough.

A Piece of Cake - James Waldron - 1967-70 WestPacs
I am sure that you heard of the large cake sent to the Prime Minister or Australia in appreciation for letting U.S. troops take R&R there.
Well a large cake was baked by the Coral Sea and sent via COD to the PI. From Cubi Point NAS is was flown to Manilia International and put on an Australian airliner to Australia. The cake was flown from the ship and was in a wooden crate 3ft X 3ft x 10". When I saw the carte, I took out my survival knife and priyed open the lid. Inside was the cake with the Australian flag. The cake was big. It had to be 8-9 inches tall with 2 inches of frosting. I took my knife and cut out a large corner piece. Scrapped off the frosting and had some cake. I was with Mike Wexsler ADJ2. He was on temporary duty with the C1A crew. Now I had a large hole to deal with. I took out a sheet of paper and wrote" The phantom strikes again, HA, HA. Put the note where the cake was taken from and closed the crate. The cake went on its route to Australia. A few days later I went back to the ship and was called to the Captains quarters. When I went in, to my right, on a small table were news clippings from around the world telling the story of the cake and the phantom. The captain asked me about the incident and I assured him that a cake could not interest me when I could go to Alonapo and have a drink or two. Since the note was printed, I did not print anything for 4 years. Well, I thought that things were calming down and it would blow over. The Captain was not happy because he was waiting for his star and did not like the notetriety.
A couple of weeks later Martha Raye- the commedian, came to the ship for an appearance. She flew out by helicopter and did not land but was lowered to the deck by wench. Of course the Captain was was there to greet her. Well Ms Raye had on fatigues and a name plate, which read" The Phantom". She handed the Captain a cup cake and said it was to replace the missing piece of cake.

Good stuff!

We are dumb but we can take a hint. 8 has been pestering me to get the Coral Sea set out also. We started grinding away on the details yesterday.

Ha ha No pun intended just sharing some story's from The Operational Queen of the Seventh Fleet

Welcome aboard - Joe Policastro
After graduating boot camp and a train ride to N.O.B. Norfolk, Virginia I arrived at the pier where she was tied up to. I just stood there completely awed at the sight of the size of this big beautiful ship. I could not believe that something this big and made of steel could actually float. I can still remember the pride I felt that I a young kid from a small jerk water town in up state New York was about serve as part of ships company on this mighty ship. I reported aboard thinking oh boy ships company no more living out of a sea bag, wrong !! it seems that all new boots go to R division for a two week quarantine period. Well, it finally passed and I was to report to the 7th deck division, after a brief indoctrination by the first-class boatswain mate we were taken to the birthing compartment given bunks and 3ft by 3ft locker, at last no more sea bag. by the way our compartment was located on the 02 level which put us just under the aft section of the flight deck. We had a little free time so I decided I would do some exploring I descended the ladder that led to the hanger deck. I was so taken by the sight of it I started walking foreword I was so proud and happy I started whistling, it was then I heard "hey boot stand fast" as a chief master of arms came up to me.He said square that rig in other words square your hat and button up that shirt. I said yes sir, he came right back with the correct reply is aye aye and do not call me sir this is not boot camp call me chief. By the way there are only two people who whistle in the navy one is a boatswain mate and the other is a dam fool and I know you are not a boatswain mate carry on and be more aware of proper navy regs.That was my welcome aboard and to ships company.