The Aviation Boatswains Mates, launch and recovery
specialists comprise V2 Division. It is their expertise
and vigilance that keep the INDY's four steam
powered catapults and four arresting gear
engines in a condition of peak readiness.
These 130 green shirt experts serve as aircraft hook-up
men on the catapults, aircraft weight checkers and
jet blast deflector operators.
Below the hub-bub of the flight deck these busy green
shirts watch and maintain a myriad of machinery to
operate the catapults and retract them for another
100+ mile per hour launch.
Back in the arresting gear, the deafening roar and
screech of miles of heavy cable is the only
companion to a man standing watch over
the airplane catching machinery.
V-2, another important link in the
Air Department and Independence team!
************* ENLISTED *************
| Name |
Rate |
Photo |
Comments |
Earnest Beasley AN
Jul 1968 - Jan 1970 |
 |
 |
Came aboard Instabul, Turkey |
Steven Blaisdell AN
Dec 1966 - Jun 1969 |
|
|
* |
Frank Frizzell AN
"Lefty"
1965 - 1968 |
|
|
Waist Cats
Cat 3 |
Dennis McCutcheon AN
1967 - 1971
  |
|
|
Waist Cats |
Andy Petakowski AN
1968 - 1970 |
|
|
* |
Richard Savarino AN
"Ritchie"
1966 - 1970 |
|
|
Waist Cats |
John "Jack" Stanier AN
Jun 1969 - Dec 1972 |
|
|
Waist Cats |
Dennis R. Bartlett ABE3
1968 - 1972 |
 |
|
* |
Steven Blaisdell AQB3
Dec 1966 - Jun 1969 |
 |
|
* |
James W. Dustin AB3
1968 - 1971 |
|
|
Catapult #3 |
Bill Hassanos ABE3
1968 - 1973 |
|
|
Waist Catapults #4
These were great years spent with even
greater people that I will never forget. |
Jim Hee AB3
Feb 1968 - Jun 1970 |
|
|
Worked Holdback, Hook Up, Spotter
(the bridle days), R&T Operator,
Chronograph, and Water Brakes.
also had a stint as Hook Runner
in the gear. It was an experience.
The best was head of the line privies
in the chow lline while underway
and on C.A.P. standby.
Willing to trade sea stories
with former mates. |
Fred Hoffstaetter ABE3
1966 - 1970 |
|
 |
Waist Cats
Memorial |
Terry G. Kilgo ABE3
1964 - 1968 |
|
|
* |
Larry W. Rogers AMH3
Apr 1968 - May 1970 |
 |
|
Transfeered to brother duty in
Albany, Ga., RVAH-5, where I
completed 4 years with an
honorable discharge in Jan 1972.
Completed 2 additional WestPac
tours onboard the USS Ranger
and the USS Enterprise. |
Bob Waldron ABE3
04 Jan 1967 - Aug 1970 |
|
|
Waist Cats
Have often wondered what had become of
some of my former shipmates and friends. |
Bernie J. Dusch ABE2
1967 - 1971 |
 |
|
* |
Michael Handel ABE2
1969 - 1973 |
|
|
In desperate need of a good
photo (preferably a 35mm negative)
to make a large poster for my office.
Would like one of the Indy
underway during flight ops |
Gunn A. Harrover AB2
1965 - 1968 |
|
|
* |
Roger Holmes ABE2
|
|
|
Cat Captain on Cat#-3 |
Patrick Little ABE2
1967 - 1971
  
  
 
   |
|
|
OX Division
1984 - 1985
Was discharged from the Navy in 1971
Returned to active duty in 1977.
Was subsequently Commissioned as an
LDO Ensign, ASW Aviation Operations,
and assigned as INDY's OX Division
Officer, Operations Department.
LCDR, USN (RET) |
Phillip M. Mauldin ABE2
1966 - 1970 |
|
|
| * | |
Pete Rico ABE2
1965 - 1968 |
|
|
| * | |
David (nmn) Woofter ABE2
1968 - 1971 |
|
|
I was a bridal hook up man,console
operator, and Deck edge operator
on Cat-3. The last few months I
was aboard I was the Cat Captain
on Cat#-4 and my good friend and
shipmate Roger Holmes ABE-2 was
Cat Captain on Cat#-3. Loved the
Big I and the waist cat crew. |
