This story is about something that happened back in probably 66 or 67. I was a
electronics tech aboard the USS AMERICA. We were anchored in Athens
Greece, one of the most beautiful
ports that we ever visited. Well some of the ship's officers
had rented a sailboat a real nice class
boat. Probably about a 50 footer. These goofoffs wanted to impress the ships crew I guess
so they decided to come out to where we were anchored and sail around the ship.........feel like something bad is about to happen....
well you are right. An aircraft carrier has hugh elevators to carry aircraft from the hangar
deck below up to the flight
deck.....
Well these goof balls (jr officers) tried to make a circle of the ship, (much too close also), and while their
mast was UP maybe 40 or 50 feet
, one of the elevators was DOWN
perfect setup right. Well they came around with all hands waving and having a good ole time, after everybody on board having a few beers, not noticing that the elevator was much lower than their
mast......
and KAZAM BAM BOOM WHACK etc etc.
Not sure what the outcome was after they limped back to the owner but they for sure had to get off some big bucks for the damage to the
boat not to mention their sailing skills or lack of same. Now I must say that as they started out to do, they did impress the rest of the crew that witnessed this fiasco.
Oh I might add, that there was no damage to the 1100 foot long 4.5 acre flight deck aircraft carrier. Glad I wasn't on board with them.