“Wally” Baker and Lieutenant Davy Leestma regarding VF-thirty two intercepted the original like overflight 400 nautical kilometers to the west of Ireland. An effective VFP-63 Vought RF-8G Crusader got pictures of the Happen in order to enjoy new celebration.
2 days afterwards, for the fourteen September 1976, VF-thirty two shed a good Tomcat specific 60 nautical miles north of Scotland whenever an enthusiastic F-fourteen educated “runaway motors” and you will started initially to skid over the trip deck. Lieutenant John L. “Lew” Kosich, the newest airplane pilot (CVW-1 staff), conscious of brand new prepare off flights saw send, alertly steered the newest Tomcat to the this new deck line. Before the fresh F-fourteen going-over the side into the 315 fathoms out-of h2o, Lieutenant (j.grams.) Louis Elizabeth. “Les” Seymour, brand new NFO, initiated command ejection, and you will both guys landed with the journey deck which have lesser injuries. About three mariners on trip paging Tomcat, but retrieved. Extreme strong-liquids salvage procedures recovered all F-14A therefore the missile they carried.
That exact same day at 2336, this lady dated consort Bordelon claimed shedding steering handle throughout the evening refueling operations while close to and veered into the John F. Kennedy. Nothing of the boys on board the fresh new carrier sustained injuries and you can the damage so you’re able to the woman hull try restricted. But not, Bordelon suffered thorough superstructure damage and you can wounds so you’re able to half a dozen guys. Luckily, no fires lead and you will Bordelon proceeded under her own power. Since it had complete inside the Belknap experience the last autumn, HS-11 travelled nights medical evacuation missions in support of the new relief operate on the wake of the collision.
Soviet need for new NATO exercises went on, once the Holds reconnoitered John F. Kennedy and her activity force into four alot more times. Badgers conducted surveillance flights to the 18 and 21 September 1976, once the supplier logged the nearby visibility of your own oceanographic search ships Arkhipelag and Pelorus because they achieved “tattletale functions,” and an effective Kresta II-category led missile cruiser.
They escorted new Incur because it made one to lower citation more new watercraft and you will adopted they until it was out of assortment
With the 21 September 1976, John F. Kennedy, operating 
in the Northern Atlantic seas regarding Norway, inserted the brand new Arctic Water. To commemorate this auspicious celebration, Boreas Rex, Ruler of the Northern Wind, bestowed to on-board John F. Kennedy the latest celebrated “Buy of your own Blue nose.” So you’re able to mirror this difference, new supplier later on stood for the Norfolk together bull nostrils decorated blue.
While in the Bonded Item, John F. Kennedy landed several French Vought F-8 Crusaders on-board within an exchange program, and on twenty-six October 1976, VF-thirty two flew mock engagements against its Gallic competitors. Once the one to squadron’s historian mirrored after, “this type of different flying considering valuable aircrew studies.”
John F. Kennedy began this lady return transit so you can Norfolk towards the 30 October 1976 and you will showed up with the nine November. After the woman get back, she underwent a check and you may survey out-of fifteen-19 November, then moored next to Pier several, in which she stayed for the remainder of 1976.
While in the Closed Gate, F-14As off CVW-step one intercepted a set of Sustain-Ds (“Incur Deltas”) southwestern off Gibraltar from the Gulf out of Cadiz to your 5 February and escorted them at the time these were doing work inside 100 nautical kilometers of one’s vessel
John F. Kennedy sailed towards Mediterranean on the elizabeth squadrons in which she had deployed the previous june and you will autumn) getting together with Rota for the twenty-six January and you can performing return methods having Nimitz (CVN-68). The next day, Rear admiral Carroll, ComCarGru dos, and Chief, TF sixty, moved their banner of Nimitz to John F. Kennedy. To the 30 January, the service provider changed working control from 2nd Collection to 6th Fleet.
John F. Kennedy up coming took part in NATO Exercise Closed Door 1977 (30 January – a dozen March 1977) that involved forty vessels from Canada, France, the fresh new Government Republic out-of Germany, the netherlands, Portugal, the united kingdom, and you may Spain. The fresh new progression, involving paired heavens, surface and subsurface functions, and all sorts of areas of electronic warfare, shown NATO’s take care of and you will capacity to look after control over the new Strait of Gibraltar and you will reject access to the fresh new Med so you can hostile pushes together with include allied countries along side rim of one’s North Atlantic.
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