Plane guard

Abaft USS Coral Sea as plane guard. Bill McDonald photo

On 7 November 1969, Biddle began her last period on the line. We were plane guard for USS Coral Sea (CV-43) for the next six days. 

The job, according to shipmate James Treadway, in his Hard Charger! The Story of the USS Biddle (DLG-34), “required Biddle to maintain a position approximately 1,000 yards astern when planes were launched or recovered.”

“After completing their sorties over North Vietnam, landing planes used Biddle’s position as a marker when turning base leg to final approach. The plane’s near-90-degree bank directly over Biddle allowed shipboard observers to peek inside the cockpit. When in this position at reduced throttle, a Phantom’s intake compressor makes a distinctive eerie moan that sent shivers down my spine. Occasionally, I could see flak damage, fluids leaking from holes in the wing, or smoke escaping from inside the fuselage.

“When the plane leveled off, the final approach and landing could be followed with large binoculars on the bridge wings. The symphony of thunder and light as the plane slammed into the heaving deck and the violence of the landing was truly remarkable.”

Here is video (1:06; soundtrack in the original) from the film shot by GMG2 Boyles and GMG2 Kuczmarski that shows some of what Treadway described.

Another facet of plane guarding was coming up to speed with the Coral Sea. Carriers launching or recovering planes headed into the wind and went fast. Biddle had to maintain position, at full, if not flank, speed.

CAPT Olsen may have been personally acquainted with the CO of the Coral Sea. Perhaps they were Annapolis classmates. In any case, in response to a “welcome” message from the Coral Sea, CAPT Olsen sent the following response. Note the “Hope we can get together” and sign-off “Al.”

Indeed, the hope was realized. According to my journal, the Coral Sea CO came to Biddle for lunch on 12 November. He had been preceded the previous day in the Biddle wardroom by Commander Task Group 77.5, also onboard Coral Sea.

My intelligence job in the role of plane guard was pretty simple — break down the Coral Sea flight plan and share with Ops. I wasn’t the only one to notice that my responsibilities had diminished. My journal for 9 November reported: “Had talk with XO today. Seems he doesn’t want ensigns going around looking (?) like they’re doing nothing. So, he’s going to be assigning projects to me.” For 10 November: “More from XO — he kind of wants me on the watch bill.” Ouch.