GB, Jr., a former Tomcat RIO has lots of stories. He tells about a "nugget" (FNG) on his first approach to a carrier in an F-14. His RIO was senior, as BigDon will attest, junior pilots fly with senior RIOs ans vice versa. At altitude over the boat, the pilot said, "I can't do this". The LCDR, in back, said "but they're expecting us on the deck". He managed to talk the pilot into a landing, they hooked them up to the catapult, and shot them off. They landed back at Oceana (Virginia Beach) and the pilot turned in his wings. Two years, and two million dollars of the taxpayers money down the drain.
On a more serious note, I got an e-mail that ended "every time I grt shot off the pointy end of the boat, i realize I have the best job in the world." The next day, I got one that started "This is the worst day of my life." At that time, although the F-14 could carry four 2000 lb. bombs, it had no laser guided capability. They came up with the solution of using an F/A 18 to guide the bombs. They launched the two planes almost simultaneously (BigDon wil know how close together) and Jr looked over at the Hornet, back into the cockpit , back at the Hornet as it rolled inverted and went into the water. The pilot was a friend, and had his fiancee and both sets of parents waiting in Mallorca for their wedding. I ain't all fun and games!

__________________
"I want to write about people I love, and put them into a fictional world spun out of my own mind, not the world we actually have, because the world we actually have does not meet my standards." Philip K. Dick
No matter how strong, or brave, or pure of heart you may be; sometimes the dragon wins!