Original subtitles

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT’S ONE OF THE WORLD’S

MOST UNFORGIVING PLACES TO WORK.

\h\hMan: THIS IS ONE OF THE MORE INTENSE PLACES

I’VE EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE.

Narrator: 4.5 ACRES OF SOVEREIGN AND MOBILE AMERICAN TERRITORY.

Man: WHEN YOU MANAGE THE ONLY REAL ESTATE

FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES,

EVERYBODY WANTS SOMETHING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT TAKES OVER 5,000 PEOPLE

TO MAKE THIS WAR MACHINE RUN.

\h\h\hMan: WE ARE LIKE A CITY AT SEA, RIGHT?

\h\h\hNarrator: COME ABOARD THE U.S.S. GEORGE H.W. BUSH

TO DISCOVER THE GUTS...

Man: IT’S LIKE PLAYING DODGEBALL WITH 60,000-POUND JETS.

Narrator: AND THE GLORY...

Man: THIS RIGHT HERE IS SOME OF THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE

WITH YOUR FLIGHT SUIT ON.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: OF SOME OF THE U.S. NAVY’S TOUGHEST JOBS.

Man: WE ALL UNDERSTAND \hWHAT WE’RE HERE FOR.

AND THAT’S GETTING DOWN RANGE \hAND ANNIHILATING THE ENEMY.

♪

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

\h\hIT’S THE HARD SIDE OF AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.

\hA 100,000-TON HUNK OF FLOATING METAL...

CARRYING OVER $1 BILLION \hOF U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT.

\h\hTHIS MASSIVE STEEL BEAST EXISTS FOR JUST ONE REASON.

[ENGINES ROAR]

\h\hTO DELIVER U.S. AIR POWER TO TROUBLED SPOTS AROUND THE WORLD.

\h\h\hTHIS MISSION DRIVES ALL THE WORK ON THE SHIP.

THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT JOBS

ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

THE TOUGHEST JOB IS THE PILOT’S--

ESPECIALLY THE F-18 HORNETS \h\h\h\h\hAND SUPER-HORNETS.

\h\h\h\hSTRIKE FIGHTER PILOTS ARE THE FACE OF NAVAL AVIATION

\h\hAND THE CARRIER’S HIGHEST-PROFILE STARS.

Pilot: IT’S PURE FREEDOM,

IT’S ADRENALINE,

IT’S, UH, IT’S FUN.

\hWHEN IT GETS DOWN TO THE NITTY GRITTY,

SURE, IT’S WORK,

BUT IT BEATS SITTING \hAT A DESK ALL DAY.

THAT’S FOR SURE.

Narrator: FLYING INTO COMBAT \h\h\h\h\hDAY IN AND DAY OUT

IS A HIGH-PRESSURE, \h\hHIGH-STRESS JOB.

TRAPPED FOR HOURS IN A COCKPIT

\h\h\h\hNOT MUCH BIGGER THAN A FOLDING CHAIR...

\hAND TURNING WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO PUT PRESSURE ON THEIR BODIES

AT TEN TIMES THEIR WEIGHT...

\h\hEACH PILOT NEEDS TO KEEP A COOL HEAD

IN EVEN THE TOUGHEST MISSION.

THEY’RE ALL TOO AWARE

THAT THEY HAVE THE POWER \h\hTO DETERMINE LIFE...

OR DEATH.

[EXPLOSION]

\hBUT NOT EVERY JOB HAS TOP-GUN GLAMOUR.

\h\hLESS THAN 200 PEOPLE ON THE SHIP ARE PILOTS.

\h\h\hFOR EACH ONE THAT FLIES OFF ON A MISSION,

\h\h\h\hTHERE ARE HUNDREDS OF ENLISTED MEN AND WOMEN

\h\hWORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO MAKE THE U.S.S. BUSH RUN.

Man: 90 PERCENT OF THE JOBS \h\h\hON BOARD THIS CARRIER

IS FILLED BY ENLISTED SAILORS.

THAT IS THE BACKBONE \h\h\h\hOF THE NAVY.

THOSE ARE THE SAILORS \h\hTHAT DO EVERY JOB.

HEY, GUYS, HOW WE DOIN’?

\h\hNarrator: THE SAILOR WITH THE HIGHEST RANK--

COMMAND MASTER CHIEF \h\hHUBEN PHILLIPS.

Huben Phillips: NOW, THAT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF WASTED FOOD.

WHO EYES WAS BIGGER \hTHAN THEIR BELLY?

HEY, GUYS, HOW WE DOIN’?

HEY, HEY, WHAT’S HAPPENIN’?

\h\hNarrator: ALL 4,500 ENLISTED SAILORS ABOARD

ANSWER TO HIM.

Phillips: HEY, HEY, \hWHAT’S HAPPENIN’?

I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HEALTH,

DEVELOPMENT, CARE, AND FEEDING

OF ALL THOSE 4,500 SAILORS.

YOU DOIN’ ALRIGHT, SHIPMATE?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLIFE’S GOOD? Sailor: LIFE’S GREAT, CMC.

Narrator: THERE ARE 18 LEVELS \h\h\h\hBELOW THE FLIGHT DECK.

Phillips: YOU DRINKIN’ WATER?

Narrator: EVERY DAY, PHILLIPS \h\h\hCHECKS UP ON THE SAILORS

WHO WORK ON EACH ONE.

\h\h\h\h\hYOU’RE GOOD? HEY, WHAT’S GOIN’ ON?

WE HAVE THE MEN AND WOMEN \hWHO MAKE THE SHIP RUN...

Man: RIGHT 30 DEGREE RUDDER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWoman: RIGHT 30 DEGREE RUDDER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPhillips: MEN AND WOMEN WHO GIVES US

OUR WAR-FIGHTING CAPABILITY,

\h\h\h\h\hAND MEN AND WOMEN THAT DEALS WITH OUR MORALE.

IS THESE THERAPY BALLS?

Woman: THEY’RE STRESS BALLS.

Phillips: OH.

I’M FEELING LIKE THIS RIGHT NOW.

Narrator: HIS ROLE--

\h\h\h\h\hEQUAL PARTS GUIDANCE COUNSELOR...

Phillips: WHAT MAKES YOU GREAT? WHAT MAKES YOU GREAT TODAY?

Phillips: AND TASKMASTER.

Phillips: HEY, YOU GOT A FORK \h\h\h\hUNDER THERE, SHIPMATE.

\h\h\h\hGRAB THAT FORK FROM UNDER THAT TABLE.

Narrator: THE AVERAGE AGE OF HIS SAILORS IS JUST 24.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPhillips: HEY, GUYS, HOW WE DOIN’?

THE BEST PART THAT I LOVE ABOUT BEING A COMMAND MASTER CHIEF

IS THAT I CAME UP THROUGH THE RANKS,

SO I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND \h\h\h\hTHE DAY IN A LIFE

OF A SAILOR ON BOARD A WARSHIP.

\h\hBY A SHOW OF HANDS, WHO’S READY TO GO HOME?

AW, PUT YOUR HANDS DOWN. \hYOU AIN’T READY TO GO.

SOON ENOUGH, RIGHT?

HEY, GUYS, WHAT’S GOIN’ ON? \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHOW WE DOIN’?

Narrator: PHILLIPS TRIES TO INSTILL CAMARADERIE,

DISCIPLINE, AND PRIDE

\h\hIN SAILORS WHO WORK MORE THAN 12 HOURS A DAY

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND CAN GO WEEKS WITHOUT SEEING NATURAL LIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\hPhillips: LIFE AT SEA IS HARD.

BUT WE NEVER FORGET WHAT IT IS \h\hTHAT WE’RE OUT HERE TO DO.

WHETHER I’M A COOK,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWHETHER I’M AN INTELLIGENCE SPECIALIST,

WHETHER I’M AN OPERATIONS \h\h\h\h\h\hSPECIALIST...

\hWE ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT WE’RE HERE FOR.

AND THAT’S GETTING DOWN RANGE \hAND ANNIHILATING THE ENEMY.

Narrator: ON THE BUSH,

TAKING DOWN THE ENEMY

BEGINS AND ENDS WITH ONE THING--

THE AIRCRAFT.

PILOTS EXPECT AN AIRWORTHY PLANE

EVERY TIME THEY STEP \hINTO THE COCKPIT.

\h\hTHERE ARE 1,000 MAINTAINERS ON BOARD

TO MAKE SURE THAT’S THE CASE.

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER LISA CLARK IS THEIR BOSS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLisa Clark: HEY, PETTY OFFICER SEARS,

HOW’S IT GOING?

\h\h\h\hMY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT GET REPAIRED

IN ORDER TO MEET THE MISSION.

I OVERSEE THE MAINTENANCE

\hON ABOUT 75 AIRCRAFT THAT WE HAVE ON BOARD.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE BUSH LAUNCHES AND LANDS

AT LEAST 25 FLIGHTS PER DAY.

\hEACH ONE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO JOLT THE AIRFRAME OUT OF WHACK.

SALTY AIR AND WATER \h\hIS A CHALLENGE.

MAINTAINERS MUST WATCH \h\h\h\hFOR CORROSION

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT COULD DAMAGE A MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR AIRCRAFT

AND PUT A PILOT’S LIFE AT RISK.

Clark: WE TAKE IT TO HEART.

\h\h\h\hYOU ASK A MAINTAINER HIS OR HER WORST NIGHTMARE,

AND THAT’S ONE OF THESE PILOTS \h\h\hNOT COMING BACK SAFELY,

AND THAT BEING AN AIRCRAFT \h\h\hTHAT YOU WORKED ON.

Crew: ALRIGHT, GOOD.

Clark: THE PILOTS’ LIVES DEPEND ON US DOING OUR JOBS RIGHT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT’S NOT JUST THE PILOTS’ LIVES

THAT DEPEND ON MAINTAINERS--

\hAMERICA’S ALLIES RELY ON THEM, TOO.

MAINTAINERS MUST HAVE

\h\hAT LEAST 55 AIRCRAFT READY TO WORK EACH DAY,

OR THE SHIP MAY NOT BE ABLE \h\h\hTO TAKE ON A MISSION.

Clark: IT IS ABSOLUTELY \h\h\hA CHALLENGING JOB

TO KEEP THESE AIRCRAFT GOING.

SOMETIMES AIRCRAFT JUST BREAK,

AND IT’S NOT LIKE GOING DOWN TO JIFFY LUBE AND GETTING A PART.

\h\h\hTHERE’S PROBABLY AT LEAST 5,000 TO 7,000 REPAIRABLE PARTS

ON BOARD THIS SHIP.

[WHIRRING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: TO KEEP UP WITH REPAIRS,

\h\h\h\h\hMAINTAINERS COUNT ON WEEKLY VISITS

FROM A SUPPLY SHIP.

IT RESTOCKS THE AMMUNITION, \h\h\h\h\hFOOD, AND WEAPONS

THAT MAKE THE CARRIER RUN.

TODAY, THE SUPPLY SHIP DELIVERS NOT JUST PARTS FOR THE JETS,

BUT PARTS TO MAKE BOMBS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT FALLS TO MH-60S SEAHAWK PILOTS

TO SLING THE HEAVY LOADS.

\h\h\h\h\hLIEUTENANT COMMANDER ERIC GUSTAFSON IS ONE OF THEM.

\h\hEric Gustafson: SO, THIS RIGHT HERE

IS SOME OF THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE WITH YOUR FLIGHT SUIT ON.

\hTHIS IS TWO AIRCRAFT FROM HD-9 WORKING VERTICAL REPLENISHMENT.

Narrator: SEAHAWK PILOTS \h\h\hCALL IT A VERTREP.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S ONE OF THEIR PRIMARY MISSIONS.

Gustafson: THE DELIVERING SHIP

\h\hWILL STAGE EVERYTHING OUT ON THEIR FLIGHT DECK.

THE HELICOPTERS WILL LIFT,

AND THEY’LL START WORKING \h\hTHEIR VERTREP PATTERN.

SO, IT’S BASICALLY THE WAY \hWE CAN MOST EFFICIENTLY

MOVE THE CARGO BACK AND FORTH.

Narrator: IT’S A SHORT FLIGHT \h\h\hOVER TO THE SUPPLY SHIP.

THE PILOTS GET INTO POSITION

AND HOVER LOW OVER THE DECK--

JUST 15 FEET.

Crew: QUARTER X4, FORWARD 3,

FORWARD 2, FORWARD 1.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGustafson: SOME CREW FROM THE SHIP

\hWILL BASICALLY HOOK UP THE CARGO WITH A PENDANT

\h\h\hTO THE CARGO HOOK UNDERNEATH THE AIRCRAFT.

Crew: STEADY, STEADY.

SWING AND A MISS.

SWING AND A MISS.

HOOKING UP...

HOOKER MEN ARE CLEAR.

\hCOME BACK TWO, AND COME FORWARD ONE, FORWARD ONE.

AND STRAIGHT UP, STRAIGHT UP.

Narrator: PILOTS MUST TAKE \h\h\h\h\hEVERY PRECAUTION

\h\hAS THEY FERRY THE LOAD ACROSS TO THE BUSH’S DECK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGustafson: WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CONCERNS

WHILE WE’RE WORKING VERTREP.

FIRST AND FOREMOST IS WIND.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIF WE HAVE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF WIND,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE CAN SAFELY GET IN AND OUT OF THE SHIP DECK

AND MOVE EVERYTHING \h\hBACK AND FORTH.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: CATCHING A RIDE ON THE WIND

REDUCES THE ENGINE POWER NEEDED TO CONTROL THEIR HEAVY LOAD.

[RADIO CHATTER]

\h\h\h\h\h\hIN ALL WEATHER, IT’S THE CREW CHIEFS IN BACK

THAT GUIDE THE PILOTS \hINTO THE RIGHT SPOT

FOR A SAFE RELEASE.

Crew: 4, 3, 2, 1.

COMING DOWN...

WE GOT A HOOK, CLEAR, GO.

GO FOR IT.

\hGustafson: THAT’S WHY WE LOVE VERTREP SO MUCH.

IT’S THE WHOLE CREW WORKING \hTOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME.

Narrator: HOVER...

LIFT...

DROP...

AND REPEAT.

\hIT’S A FAMILIAR AND VITAL ROUTINE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGustafson: PRETTY MUCH ON A WEEKLY BASIS

\h\hWE HAVE TO REPLENISH THE AMMUNITION SUPPLIES

TO CONTINUE BRINGING \hTHE FIGHT TO ISIS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AFTER THE BOMB PARTS ARRIVE,

CREWS IMMEDIATELY \hTAKE THEM BELOW.

WAY BELOW.

\h\h\h\h\hSEVEN LEVELS UNDER THE FLIGHT DECK,

\h\h\h\hIN SOME OF THE MOST PROTECTED AREAS OF THE SHIP,

THESE BOMB PARTS ARE RECEIVED \hBY THE AVIATION ORDNANCEMEN,

OR AOs.

BRITA PICKENS IS ONE OF THEM.

\h\hBrita Pickens: WE ARE PRETTY MUCH

THE BOMB PEOPLE ON THE SHIP.

Narrator: EVERY SINGLE WEAPON \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE AIR WING

\h\h\h\hIS STORED HERE, IN THE BUSH’S MAGAZINES.

\hPickens: WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF BOMBS AND MISSILES AND ROCKETS.

Narrator: CREWS WHO WORK HERE \h\h\h\h\hARE CALLED MAG RATS.

\h\hTHEY’RE EASY TO SPOT BY THEIR COLORED SHIRTS.

Pickens: AOs ARE VERY, VERY MUCH ESSENTIAL TO THE MISSION

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBECAUSE, TO BE QUITE FRANK WITH YOU,

WITHOUT THE ORDNANCE,

\h\hTHERE’S NO REASON FOR US TO BE OUT HERE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE COLOR ISN’T A COINCIDENCE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hSAILORS IN RED ARE JUST ONE MISSTEP AWAY

FROM A HAZARDOUS SITUATION.

A BOMB DOESN’T COME \h\h\hPRE-ASSEMBLED.

IT COMES IN PARTS.

THE MOST DANGEROUS PART \h\h\hOF A MAG RAT’S JOB

IS THAT THEY’RE THE ONES \h\h\h\h\hWHO BUILD IT.

THE GEORGE H.W. BUSH \h\hAIRCRAFT CARRIER

SAILS DEEP WITHIN THE ARABIAN GULF.

\h\h\h\h\hSEVEN LEVELS BELOW THE FLIGHT DECK,

AVIATION ORDNANCEMEN \hARE HARD AT WORK.

THEY MUST BUILD BOMBS

FOR THE DAY’S STRIKE MISSION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAGAINST ISIS.

Pickens: ALL THE COMPONENTS \h\h\h\hWILL COME SEPARATELY

IN ORDER TO TAILOR-MAKE \h\hTHE DIFFERENT BOMBS

FOR THE DIFFERENT PILOTS

AND THE DIFFERENT NEEDS \h\h\h\hTHAT THEY HAVE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: BOMBS COME IN THREE SIZES

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT CAN LEVEL EVERYTHING FROM A SEDAN

TO AN UNDERGROUND BUNKER.

\h\h\hTHE SMALLEST ARE 500 POUNDS AND 7 FEET

WHEN FULLY ASSEMBLED.

THE BIGGEST ARE NEARLY 13 FEET

AND WEIGH ALMOST 2,000 POUNDS.

Pickens: IF THE BOAT ROCKS OR MOVES IN ANY KIND OF DIRECTION

AND YOU DON’T HAVE SOMETHING \h\h\h\hTIED DOWN PROPERLY,

IT COULD CRUSH SOMEONE.

Narrator: ONE INFAMOUS DISASTER

\h\h\h\hREMINDS EVERYONE WORKING IN THE MAG ROOMS

\h\hJUST HOW DEADLY A WRONG MOVE CAN BE.

OCTOBER 26, 1966.

GULF OF TONKIN.

\h\hSAILORS ON BOARD THE U.S.S. ORISKANY

GEAR UP FOR FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE VIETNAM WAR.

[EXPLOSION]

\h\h\hBELOW DECK, A SAILOR ACCIDENTALLY DROPS A FLARE

IN A WEAPONS STORAGE ROOM.

THE FLARE’S SAFETY IS OFF,

\h\h\h\h\hAND THE FALL CAUSES IT TO EXPLODE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIGNITING ALL THE ORDNANCE INSIDE.

\hIT TAKES NEARLY 10 HOURS TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES.

THE DAMAGE IS DEVASTATING.

THREE PLANES DESTROYED...

44 MEN KILLED...

AND ANOTHER 38 INJURED.

IT’S THE DEADLIEST CARRIER FIRE SINCE WORLD WAR II.

[PLAYING TAPS]

FIFTY YEARS LATER,

EVERY ORDNANCEMAN ON THE BUSH \h\hKNOWS THE ORISKANY STORY.

Pickens: ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTIONS THAT WE USE DOWN IN THE MAGAZINE

HAS BEEN WRITTEN IN BLOOD.

\h\h\hMan: ALRIGHT, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING

THAT YOU WANT TO YELL STOP AT

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, \hYOU FEEL UNSAFE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGO AHEAD, FEEL FREE TO YELL STOP.

SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE.

ALRIGHT, LET’S GO AHEAD \h\h\h\hAND GET STARTED.

WHATEVER TOOLS YOU NEED,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGO AHEAD AND LET THE TOOL P.O. KNOW.

\hNarrator: IT TAKES AT LEAST TEN SAILORS

TO ASSEMBLE ONE BOMB.

Man: HELP ME GET ON CELL TWO. \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMan: ROGER.

\h\h\h\h\h\hPickens: RIGHT NOW WE’RE BUILDING UP THE GBU-54.

THIS IS TYPICALLY USED \hFOR A MOBILE TARGET.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR INSTANCE, IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE IN A CAR

THAT YOU’RE TRYING TO DEFEAT,

YOU’LL NORMALLY USE \hTHIS KIND OF BOMB.

Narrator: THE GBU-54

IS A TYPE OF BOMB \h\hCALLED A JDAM.

THAT STANDS FOR JOINT DIRECT \h\h\h\h\h\hATTACK MUNITION,

MEANING IT’S GUIDED BY A GPS

OR A LASER LOCK ONTO A TARGET.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPickens: SO, IT’S A DUAL MODE.

\h\hIT’S KIND OF LIKE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS WITH THIS BOMB.

Narrator: FIRST UP,

\hTHE ORDNANCE TEAM ASSEMBLES THE NOSE.

IT CONTAINS THE LASER SEEKER

THAT ALLOWS THE BOMB TO TRACK ITS TARGET

AFTER IT’S LEFT THE PLANE.

Pickens: THIS IS THE DSU-38.

SO, THIS IS THE LASER PART \h\h\h\h\hOF THE GUIDANCE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: NEXT, THEY INSERT THE FUSE

AND INSTALL THE SAFETY SWITCH.

THESE KEEP THE BOMB \h\hSAFE ON THE JET

\h\h\h\h\hAND ENABLE IT TO DETONATE UPON IMPACT.

WITHOUT THESE,

\h\h\h\h\hA JDAM IS JUST A $20,000 HUNK OF METAL.

THERE IS ONE FINAL INGREDIENT

\h\hTO AN AO’S RECIPE FOR EXPLOSIVE SUCCESS.

THE TAIL KIT--

A NECESSARY FEATURE THAT STEERS THE BOMB TO ITS TARGET.

PICKENS AND HER TEAM KNOW \hTHAT WITHOUT THEIR WORK,

THE FIGHT AGAINST ISIS \hIS A HOPELESS CAUSE.

Pickens: IT IS MY JOB TO ENSURE

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT I’M SENDING UP A QUALITY PRODUCT TO THE PILOT.

I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT PRODUCT IS GOING TO GO BOOM

WHEN HE TELLS IT TO GO BOOM.

Narrator: IN JUST A FEW HOURS,

THE TEAM CHURNS OUT TEN JDAMs \h\hFOR THE STRIKE MISSION...

AND SENDS THE LIVE BOMBS \h\h\hTO THE FLIGHT DECK

\h\hON ONE OF FOUR WEAPONS ELEVATORS.

A SECOND TEAM OF ORDNANCEMEN \h\h\h\h\h\h\hWORKS TOPSIDE.

THEY LOAD THOUSANDS OF POUNDS \h\h\h\hOF BOMBS AND MISSILES

ONTO THE WAITING JETS.

\h\hTHE PRESSURE IS HIGH DURING A LIVE BOMB LOAD.

ONE MISTAKE COULD BLOW \hTHE ENTIRE MISSION.

30 MINUTES TO TAKEOFF.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE JETS ARE READY FOR THE PILOTS TO MAKE THEIR DEBUT.

\h\h\h\h\hTHE F-18s ARE ALMOST READY TO LAUNCH.

BUT PILOTS CAN’T JUST TAKE OFF \h\h\h\h\h\hAT THEIR LEISURE.

\h\hEVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE 4.5-ACRE FLIGHT DECK

IS PRECIOUS REAL ESTATE.

DURING FLIGHT OPERATIONS,

MORE THAN 30 AIRCRAFT \hAND UP TO 300 PEOPLE

SHARE THE SPACE AT ANY ONE TIME.

PILOTS DON’T MOVE AN INCH

WITHOUT A SIGNAL

FROM ONE OF THE SHIP’S 15 AIRCRAFT DIRECTORS.

PETTY OFFICER SCOTT HUDDLESTON \h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS ONE OF THEM.

\h\h\h\hScott Huddleston: IT’S A LITTLE BIT HECTIC.

UH...REAL RUSH,

THRILL A MINUTE, YOU KNOW?

THERE’S ALWAYS JETS RUNNING AROUND YOU.

YOU’VE GOT TO DUCK, \h\h\h\hRUN AROUND,

DUCK SOME MORE.

Narrator: AN ACTIVE FLIGHT DECK IS FILLED WITH DANGER--

JET BLASTS...

\h\h\hFAST-SPINNING PROPS AND ROTORS...

AND ENGINES THAT CAN SUCK YOU IN BEFORE YOU CAN BLINK.

500 MILES OFF THE COAST OF IRAQ,

THE U.S.S. GEORGE H.W. BUSH \h\h\h\h\h\hAIRCRAFT CARRIER

\h\h\h\h\h\hPREPARES TO LAUNCH TWO E-2C HAWKEYES INTO COMBAT.

\hTHESE TWO ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT

\h\hWILL ASSIST A STRIKE GROUP OF F-18s AGAINST ISIS TARGETS.

ON THE FLIGHT DECK,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hUP TO 300 PEOPLE AND 30 PLANES AND HELICOPTERS

\h\hTRY TO KEEP OUT OF EACH OTHER’S WAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHuddleston: STANDING NEXT TO THIS AIRCRAFT

AND FEELING ITS RAW POWER,

IT’S ONE OF THE HARDER THINGS \h\h\h\hI’VE DONE IN MY LIFE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: SUPERVISING THEM ALL--

THE AIR BOSS.

Man: ALRIGHT, GREEN BEACON.

I’LL HAVE TO TAKE ’EM AFTER.

Narrator: ON THE BUSH,

THE JOB FALLS TO COMMANDER \hPRZEMYSLAW KACZYNSKI...

\hPrzemyslaw Kaczynski: WRAP AT TWELVE AND SIX.

A.G.O., I’VE GOT YOU GREEN AFT.

Narrator: NICKNAMED "KAZ."

KACZYNSKI AND HIS TEAM \hWORK IN A SMALL ROOM

\h\h\hON THE TOP LEVEL OF THE SHIP’S ISLAND.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S CALLED THE PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL,

\hBUT THOSE ON BOARD CALL IT THE PRI-FLY,

OR SIMPLY THE TOWER.

IT’S THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hKaczynski: WE’VE GOT A GREAT VIEW

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF BOTH AFT, TOWARDS THE MIDDLE SECTION,

\h\h\h\hAND ALSO FORWARD OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AT KACZYNSKI’S SERVICE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h550 SAILORS IN THE AIR DEPARTMENT--

THE LARGEST ON BOARD.

THEY’RE RESPONSIBLE \h\hFOR EVERY PHASE

OF TODAY’S FLIGHT OPERATIONS.

SOME WORK IN THE HANGAR,

PREPARING THE AIRCRAFT \h\h\h\h\hFOR BATTLE.

\h\h\h\h\hMORE THAN HALF WORK ON THE FLIGHT DECK.

\hKaczynski: HEY, DO WE HAVE ALL FOUR MEOWS ON THIS ONE?

\h\hNarrator: RIGHT NOW, THEIR MOST IMPORTANT JOB

IS GETTING JETS OFF THE SHIP.

\h\h\h\h\hKaczynski: DO WE HAVE ALL THE AIRCRAFT ACCOUNTED FOR?

Man: YES, SIR.

\h\h\hKaczynski: OK, ALRIGHT, ALL THE SIDE NUMBERS MATCH UP?

Man: YES.

Narrator: IT’S UP TO KACZYNSKI

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO MAKE SURE THE ENTIRE MASSIVE TEAM

WORKS LIKE A SINGLE \h\hFINE-TUNED UNIT.

THE AIR BOSS AND HIS TEAM \h\h\h\hPRE-PLAN THE MOVES

OF EVERY SINGLE AIRCRAFT \h\hBEFORE THEY LAUNCH.

Kaczynski: IS 200 BROKEN DOWN?

DO WE HAVE A YELLOW SHIRT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON 200 YET?

Man: UH, YES.

Kaczynski: WE DO. ALRIGHT.

Narrator: THIS IS CALLED \h\h\hSPOTTING THE DECK.

IT’S A GAME THAT NEVER ENDS.

Kaczynski: THE SCHEDULE CHANGES,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMOVEMENTS OF THE AIRCRAFT CHANGE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE ALSO HAVE REASSIGNMENTS OF AIRCRAFT

AT THE LAST MINUTE.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: KACZYNSKI AND HIS TEAM

\hCAN’T COACH EVERY MOVE FROM HIGH IN THE TOWER.

\h\h\h\h\hTHREE LEVELS BELOW IS THE FLIGHT DECK CONTROL,

LOCATED ON THE LOWEST LEVEL \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE ISLAND.

THE TEAM HERE HELPS THE AIR BOSS KEEP TRACK

OF EVERY SINGLE AIRCRAFT \h\h\h\h\h\hON THE SHIP.

LEADING THE CHARGE--

THE AIRCRAFT HANDLER.

ON THE BUSH,

\h\h\h\hHE’S A SAILOR WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE--

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER \h\h\hTRACEY MACKEY.

\h\h\hTracey Mackey: I MANAGE THE PUZZLE

THAT IS THE FLIGHT DECK \h\hAND THE HANGAR BAY,

MAKING SURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT

\h\h\h\hGET REPAIRED, REFUELED, AND RE-ARMED

TO EXECUTE THAT MISSION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS,

THE HANGAR AND THE FLIGHT DECK

ARE THE BUSIEST PLACES \h\h\h\h\hON THE SHIP.

Mackey: WHEN YOU MANAGE THE ONLY TWO BIG PIECES OF REAL ESTATE

FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES,

EVERYBODY WANTS SOMETHING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: MACKEY AND HIS TEAM CHOREOGRAPH

\h\h\hOVER 200 TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS EVERY DAY.

EACH ONE MUST BE PERFECT.

IF JUST ONE AIRCRAFT \h\hIS OUT OF PLACE,

\h\h\hTHE JETS WON’T REACH THEIR ISIS TARGET ON TIME.

THIS IS NO SIMPLE TASK.

FROM MACKEY’S TIGHT QUARTERS, \h\hHE CAN BARELY SEE OUTSIDE.

Mackey: I DON’T GET TO SEE MUCH,

BUT I’VE GOT WINDOWS TO LOOK OUTSIDE ONTO THE FLIGHT DECK

\h\h\h\hAND KIND OF SEE WHAT’S GOING ON OUTSIDE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: MACKEY AND THE OTHER SAILORS

\h\hKEEP TRACK OF THE JETS USING A LOW-TECH SOLUTION

\hTHAT’S BEEN AROUND SINCE WORLD WAR II.

Mackey: THIS UP HERE IS THE OUIJA BOARD.

IT’S A SCALE REPLICA OF THE FLIGHT DECK.

THIS IS HOW WE TRACK EVERYTHING

FOR AN ENTIRE AIR WING ON A DEPLOYED CARRIER.

\hNarrator: TINY MODELS REPRESENT EVERY AIRCRAFT

ON THE FLIGHT DECK AND HANGAR.

MACKEY’S TEAM USES NUTS, BOLTS, AND COLORED PINS

TO TRACK WHAT THE PLANES NEED \h\h\h\h\hIN ORDER TO LAUNCH.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMackey: ALL THE AIRCRAFT TEMPLATES

ARE TO SCALE,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THE SIDE NUMBERS AS YOU SEE THEM ON THE AIRCRAFT

ARE WHERE THAT AIRCRAFT

IS ACTUALLY POSITIONED \hON THE FLIGHT DECK.

\h\h\hAND WE CAN LOOK AND SEE, WHAT REQUIREMENTS DOES HE NEED

AS FAR AS FUEL, ARMAMENT, \h\h\h\h\h\hTHOSE THINGS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: IT’S A MANPOWERED RELIC

IN A DIGITAL AGE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIF THE COMPUTERS IN THE FLIGHT CONTROL ROOM FAIL,

THE OUIJA BOARD WILL NOT.

\h\h\hMackey: WE DO HAVE A NEWER VERSION, ADMAX,

AN ELECTRONIC VERSION.

BUT THIS IS WHAT THE NAVY \h\hHAS USED FOR DECADES.

AND IT STILL WORKS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FIFTEEN MINUTES TO LAUNCH.

MACKEY GETS A RADIO CALL \h\h\hFROM THE AIR BOSS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S TIME TO GET THE STRIKE FORCE QUEUED UP.

Mackey: ROGER, WE’LL GET A QUICK WALK DOWN ON THE FANTAIL,

\h\h\h\hAND WE’LL SEE ABOUT STARTING TO MOVE AIRPLANES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: JETS MOVE ON MACKEY’S ORDERS.

BUT IT’S THE CREW ON THE FLIGHT DECK

THAT DOES THE HEAVY LIFTING.

THESE JOBS DEMAND STRENGTH...

AND NERVES OF STEEL.

IN 1991,

A SAILOR WAS HOOKING \h\h\hAN A6 INTRUDER

TO ONE OF THE CARRIER’S \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCATAPULTS.

\h\h\hHE WALKED IN FRONT OF THE JET’S AIR INTAKES

AND GOT SUCKED INSIDE.

\h\h\hMIRACULOUSLY, THE SAILOR GOT STUCK

\h\h\hBEFORE HE COULD BE KILLED BY THE ENGINE’S SPINNING BLADES.

\h\h\h\h\h\hHE ESCAPED WITH MINIMAL INJURIES.

\hWORKING ANYWHERE ON THE FLIGHT DECK

CAN BE DANGEROUS.

IN 1989,

\hA T-2 BUCKEYE PILOT MISJUDGED A LANDING...

\h\h\h\hKILLING HIMSELF AND FOUR OTHER SAILORS.

17 MORE WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

IN JUST 12 SECONDS,

THE CRASH AND SALVAGE TEAM \h\hHAD WATER ON THE FIRE.

\h\h\h\hWITHIN TWO MINUTES, THE BLAZE WAS UNDER CONTROL.

\h\hAS THEY PREPARE FOR TODAY’S LAUNCH,

\h\h\h\h\hTHE BUSH’S DECK CREW THINKS ABOUT THESE ACCIDENTS,

AND MORE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHuddleston: IT’S LIKE PLAYING DODGEBALL

WITH 60,000-POUND JETS.

\h\hDECK CREWS ALSO FACE A CONSTANT CHALLENGE...

[ENGINES ROARING]

EAR-SPLITTING NOISE.

[ENGINES ROARING]

Narrator: THE CREW MUST USE \h\hA LANGUAGE ALL THEIR OWN

TO GUIDE THE AIRCRAFT \h\h\hAROUND THE DECK.

Huddleston: BECAUSE IT’S SO LOUD OUT HERE ON THE FLIGHT DECK,

WE HAVE TO USE HAND SIGNALS \h\h\h\hTO CONVEY MESSAGES.

♪

♪

Narrator: NOW AIRCRAFT DIRECTORS SIGNAL THE FIRST JET

TO MOVE TOWARD THE CATAPULT.

SWEEPING THE ARMS

GIVES THE PILOT PERMISSION \h\h\h\hTO BEGIN TAXIING.

\h\h\h\hTHE AIRCRAFT DIRECTOR THEN PASSES CONTROL OF THE JET

TO ANOTHER YELLOW SHIRT--

AN OFFICER WITH ONE OF THE MOST VITAL JOBS ON THE FLIGHT DECK...

THE SHOOTER.

\h\hSean Kearney: OUR OFFICIAL TERM

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS CATAPULT AND ARRESTING GEAR OFFICERS.

\h\h\hWE’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFE LAUNCH AND RECOVERY

OF AIRCRAFT ON BOARD THE SHIP.

Narrator: TODAY,

LIEUTENANT SEAN KEARNEY AND THREE OTHER SAILORS

FILL THIS TRIGGER-HAPPY ROLE.

THREE OF THE SHOOTERS \h\h\h\hWORK ON DECK.

\h\hKEARNEY DOES HIS JOB FROM THE CATAPULT CONTROL STATION,

CALLED "THE BUBBLE."

\hTHE BUBBLE IS A SMALL ROOM BUILT INTO THE FLIGHT DECK.

IT GIVES THE LEAD SHOOTER

A SAFE GROUND-LEVEL \h\h\hVANTAGE POINT

TO MANAGE THE REST OF THE CREW.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hKearney: STANDING BY FOR CHECKERS.

Narrator: ON LAND,

JETS HAVE 4,000 TO 6,000 FEET \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO TAKE OFF.

\h\h\h\h\hON A CARRIER, THEY HAVE LESS THAN 400.

[ENGINES ROAR]

\h\hTO TAKE OFF ON SUCH A SHORT DECK,

THE AIRCRAFT NEEDS A WAY TO GENERATE EXTRA SPEED.

THE SOLUTION--A CATAPULT.

\hWHEN THE AIRCRAFT IS READY TO LAUNCH,

IT ROLLS UP TO THE CATAPULT.

\h\h\hTHE DECK CREW ATTACHES THE SHUTTLE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO A TOW BAR ON THE PLANE’S FRONT WHEELS,

SECURING THE AIRCRAFT IN PLACE.

Kearney: THE SHUTTLE \h\hIS WHAT WE CALL

THE PORTION OF THE CATAPULT

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAT ACTUALLY CONNECTS TO THE AIRCRAFT.

YOU’LL SEE THAT.

THAT’S THE ONLY PORTION THAT \hYOU’LL SEE ABOVE THE DECK.

TWO SIX ON THE WIND, TWO SIX ON THE WIND.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: WITH THE AIRCRAFT LOCKED IN,

KEARNEY GETS TO WORK.

Kearney: TAKING TENSION.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: HIS FIRST MOVE IS CALLED

TAKING TENSION ON THE CATAPULT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hKearney: WHEN WE ACTUALLY TAKE TENSION,

\h\h\h\h\h\hWHAT WE’RE DOING IS APPLYING ELECTRICAL POWER

TO THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM

HOLDING THE AIRCRAFT IN PLACE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hBEFORE WE FIRE.

\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AS KEARNEY PREPS THE CAT FROM THE BUBBLE,

\h\h\h\h\hCREWS ON THE DECK RAISE A LIFE-SAVING FEATURE

AT THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT--

JET BLAST DEFLECTORS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE PANELS THAT DIVERT FLAMING EXHAUST

AWAY FROM SAILORS ON DECK.

Kearney: THESE AIRCRAFT \h\h\hARE VERY POWERFUL.

\h\h\hTHEY’RE PUTTING A LOT OF HOT EXHAUST,

MOVING AT A REALLY HIGH SPEED \h\h\h\hOVER THE FLIGHT DECK.

Narrator: SECONDS LATER,

THE PILOT IN THE LEAD JET \h\hDOES HIS FINAL CHECKS,

MAKING SURE HIS PLANE \h\hIS READY TO GO...

\h\hAND PUNCHES THE THROTTLE TO 100% FULL MILITARY POWER.

\h\h\hTHIS IS AS HIGH AS THE ENGINE WILL GO

WITHOUT USING THE AFTERBURNERS.

Kearney: THUMBS UP, \h\hSAFETY’S GOT IT,

MILITARY POWER,

WINDS ARE PLUS ONE, CROSSWINDS \h\h\h\hARE GOOD, NO INTERVAL.

Narrator: ONE FINAL SALUTE FROM THE PILOT TO THE DECK CREW

TELLS KEARNEY THE JET IS READY.

Kearney: SALUTE, CROUCH, \h\h\h\h\h\hFINAL READY.

\h\h\h\h\h\hCLEAR FORWARD, LIGHTS, LIGHTS, NO LIGHTS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWINDS PLUS TWO, CROSSWINDS GOOD, NO INTERVAL,

THUMBS IN THE BACK, THUMBS IN THE FRONT,

\h\h\hTHUMBS IN THE FRONT, HEAD STEADY, DECK STEADY,

FIRING.

SHOT’S ON, DIAL OFF.

Narrator: THE F-18 GOES FROM \h0 TO 180 MILES PER HOUR...

IN THREE SECONDS FLAT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNOW THE CREW MOVES FAST AND FURIOUS,

SENDING ALL THE FIGHTERS \h\h\h\h\h\hOFF TO WAR.

Kearney: WHEN WE HAVE FOUR CATAPULTS GOING,

WE’RE LAUNCHING AN AIRCRAFT \h\h\hEVERY 30 TO 45 SECONDS

OFF THE FLIGHT DECK.

WORKING ON THE FLIGHT DECK IS ONE OF THE MORE INTENSE PLACES

I’VE EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE.

THE FIRST TIME I WAS UP HERE

\h\h\hIT SEEMS LIKE IT’S ABSOLUTE CHAOS.

THE MORE TIME YOU SPEND UP HERE, YOU START TO GET A FEEL FOR IT.

IT’S PERFECT HARMONY

ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND \h\hWHAT’S GOING ON.

Narrator: IN UNDER TEN MINUTES,

\h\h\hALL TEN F-18s ARE OFF THE SHIP...

AND ON THEIR WAY INTO SYRIA.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hKearney: WATCHING THIS ALL COME TOGETHER

IS AN AMAZING THING.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: EVEN AFTER A SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH,

THE CREW DOESN’T STOP WORRYING

ABOUT THE SAFETY \hOF THE PILOTS.

THEY STILL HAVE TO \hBRING THEM HOME.

Kearney: ONCE WE FINISH \h\h\h\hA LAUNCH CYCLE,

\hWE IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO PREPARE THE FLIGHT DECK

TO START RECOVERING AIRCRAFT.

THE WORK NEVER STOPS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AMERICAN NAVY STRIKE PLANES

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLAUNCH FROM THE U.S.S. GEORGE H.W. BUSH

AND OVER THE ARABIAN GULF.

AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER,

\h\h\h\h\hEVERY SAILOR IN THE AIR DEPARTMENT

HAS JUST ONE THING ON HIS MIND.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hKaczynski: SEE ANYBODY OVERHEAD YET?

Narrator: GETTING THEM \hBACK ON DECK SAFELY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLANDING AIRCRAFT ON A CROWDED, FLOATING RUNWAY

ISN’T EASY.

Man: THERE’S TWO FIGHTERS.

Kaczynski: YEAH, I SEE ONE \h\h\hRIGHT UP THERE, TOO.

I SEE ANOTHER ONE UP AT LIKE \h\h\hANGEL’S 3, ANGEL’S 4.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AIR BOSS KAZ KACZYNSKI

\h\h\h\h\hCONTROLS ALL AIR SPACE FIVE MILES OUT FROM THE CARRIER.

\h\h\hHE RADIOS THE PILOTS TO ASSIGN A LANDING ORDER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hKaczynski: GOT YOU LOUD AND CLEAR, PILOTS.

\h\h\hNarrator: TEN HORNET AND SUPER-HORNET STRIKERS

CIRCLE ABOVE,

WAITING TO GET BACK ON THE SHIP.

KEEPING TRACK OF THEM ALL

IS AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK \h\h\hFOR ONE PERSON,

\h\h\h\h\hSO KACZYNSKI HAS A RIGHT-HAND MAN.

Man: 2207. THEY SAID THEY’RE...

Narrator: THE MINI-BOSS--

COMMANDER MARK SAND.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hKaczynski: WE DE-CONFLICT AIRCRAFT

THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE,

ABOUT 180 DEGREES WORTH OF AIR SPACE

\h\h\h\h\hTHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU HERE.

Narrator: SAND KEEPS AN EYE \hON THE FRONT OF THE SHIP.

KACZYNSKI WATCHES THE BACK.

BOTH KACZYNSKI AND HIS MINI BOSS KNOW JUST HOW HARD IT IS

\h\h\h\h\hTO GET A PLANE BACK ONTO A FLIGHT DECK.

THEY’RE ALSO PILOTS.

\h\h\hKaczynski: WHAT KIND OF FIGHTER YOU GOT THERE?

Man: IT’S A RHINO, SIR.

\h\h\h\h\h\hKaczynski: I STAND ON THIS SIDE,

MAKE SURE THAT THOSE AIRCRAFT \h\hFROM THIS END OF THE SHIP

ALL THE WAY TOWARDS THE BACK

ARE SEQUENCED IN APPROPRIATELY

\h\h\h\hFOR A VERY SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL LANDING.

99, STAY CLEAR OF THE L.A., \h\hNOW RECOVERING AIRCRAFT,

FIRST AIRCRAFT ARE FIGHTERS IN THE OVERHEAD, STAY CLEAR.

Narrator: KACZYNSKI GIVES THE DECK ONE LAST LOOK...

OKAYS THE FIRST F-18 TO LAND...

Kaczynski: COPY, WRAP WITH 12 AND 6, A.G.O.,

YOU’RE GREEN AFT.

\h\hNarrator: AND TURNS HIM OVER TO A SPECIALIZED GROUP ON DECK--

THE LANDING SIGNAL OFFICERS,

OR LSOs.

\h\h\h\hTODAY THEY’RE LED BY LIEUTENANT JON BAUMAN.

\h\h\h\h\hFROM THE LAST THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE

ALL THE WAY TO TOUCHDOWN,

\h\h\h\h\hTHE F-18 PILOTS ARE UNDER THE LSO’S CARE.

Jon Bauman: WE’RE EMPLOYED \h\h\h\h\hBY THE AIR WING

TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AIRPLANES ARE IN A SAFE CONDITION

TO COME DOWN AND LAND \hON THE FLIGHT DECK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: THE FLIGHT DECK OF A CARRIER

\h\h\hDOESN’T OFFER MUCH ROOM FOR ERROR.

PILOTS HAVE JUST 300 FEET \h\h\hOF DO-OR-DIE SPACE.

\h\h\h\hBauman: PROBABLY THE MOST DANGEROUS THING

ABOUT BEING OUT HERE

\h\h\h\h\hIS PROBABLY JUST THE SHORT AMOUNT OF RUNWAY

WE’RE GOING TO LAND \hTHESE AIRCRAFT IN.

[ENGINES ROARING]

Narrator: OVERHEAD, F-18 PILOTS DROP THEIR TAIL HOOKS--

A MUST FOR EVERY PLANE \h\hIN NAVAL AVIATION.

TAIL HOOKS EXIST TO CATCH ONE OF THREE STEEL ARRESTING WIRES

STRUNG ACROSS THE FLIGHT DECK.

GUIDING THE PILOT IN \h\hTO CATCH A WIRE

IS WHAT THE LSO’S JOB \h\h\h\hIS ALL ABOUT.

IT’S A JOB SO IMPORTANT

\h\hTHAT IT’S ALMOST AS OLD AS CARRIER AVIATION ITSELF.

1922.

THE U.S.S. LANGLEY USHERS IN A NEW ERA OF MILITARY POWER.

IT’S THE UNITED STATES’ FIRST AIRCRAFT CARRIER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNAVAL AVIATION IS JUST GETTING ITS BEARINGS.

♪

\h\hTO LAND, PILOTS GLIDE TOWARD THE WOOD PLANK DECK

AND ATTEMPT TO CATCH ONE OF THE LANGLEY’S

15 ARRESTING WIRES.

THEY HAVE ONLY THEIR EYES \h\h\h\hAND A LOT OF LUCK

TO GET THEM SAFELY ON BOARD.

OFFICERS ON THE FLIGHT DECK

QUICKLY SEE THE NEED FOR A BETTER SYSTEM.

DURING ONE LANDING,

A QUICK-THINKING CREWMAN \h\hSPRINGS INTO ACTION,

GRABBING TWO PIECES OF CLOTH

TO GUIDE THE PILOT IN FOR A SAFE TOUCHDOWN.

THE LANDING SIGNAL OFFICER \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS BORN.

♪

IN WORLD WAR II,

LSOs EARN THEIR COMBAT STRIPES

AND A NICKNAME...

PADDLES--

A NOD TO THE COLORED PADDLES THEY USE TO WAVE PILOTS IN.

♪

SOON, PADDLES ARE A FIXTURE \h\h\hON EVERY CARRIER DECK.

♪

IN 1955,

PADDLES GETS A LANDING AID...

AN OPTICAL LANDING SYSTEM.

PILOTS CALL IT "THE MEATBALL."

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE MEATBALL IS A BRIGHT AMBER LIGHT

INDICATING WHETHER OR NOT

THE PILOT IS ON A CORRECT \h\h\h\hANGLE OF APPROACH.

\h\h\h\h\h\hPILOTS CAN SEE IT UP TO A MILE AND A HALF AWAY.

IF THE MEATBALL ALIGNS

WITH THE HORIZONTAL ROW \h\h\h\hOF GREEN LIGHTS,

THE PILOT IS RIGHT ON TARGET.

\h\h\h\h\hIF IT APPEARS BELOW THE GREEN LIGHTS,

HE’S COMING IN LOW.

IF THE MEATBALL TURNS RED,

HE RISKS A CRASH.

BAUMAN’S JOB IS TO MAKE SURE PILOTS CAN SEE THE MEATBALL

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THE LAST 15 TO 18 SECONDS OF FLIGHT.

\hBauman: WHEN THE PILOT COMES AROUND THE CORNER,

HE’S GOING TO SIGNAL TO US \hTHAT HE’S GOT THE BALL.

US, AS LSOs,

\h\h\hARE GOING TO BE KIND OF AN EXTRA SET OF HELPING HANDS

IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LENS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: NINE MILES FROM THE SHIP,

\h\h\hTHE FIRST PILOT CALLS IN TO THE TOWER

\h\h\hTO GIVE THE AIR DEPARTMENT A CRUCIAL PIECE OF INFORMATION--

HIS F-18’S WEIGHT.

Kaczynski: THEY HAVE TO HAVE \h\h\h\h\hTHE RIGHT SETTING

BASED ON THEIR FUEL WEIGHT

AND THEIR MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTRAP WEIGHT

SO THAT THAT AIRCRAFT \h\h\h\h\hCAN ROLL OUT

WITH THE RIGHT DECELERATION

AND SUCCESSFULLY TRAP ON BOARD OUR CARRIER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE DO THAT FOR EVERY SINGLE AIRCRAFT

THAT LANDS IN THIS PATTERN.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: AS THE JET APPROACHES,

AIRCRAFT SPOTTERS QUICKLY \h\h\h\hPROGRAM THE WEIGHT

INTO THE ARRESTING GEAR,

TELLING THE ENGINES BELOW DECK

HOW MUCH BRAKING FORCE TO GIVE \h\h\hTO THE ARRESTING WIRES.

Man: ...RHINO 480.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hKaczynski: GEAR LINE SET RHINO 480.

Man: CLEAR DECK, SIR. Kaczynski: CLEAR DECK.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FIFTEEN SECONDS LATER,

THE PILOT APPROACHES THE SHIP.

BUT THE DECK MOVES TOO MUCH \h\hTO MAKE A SAFE LANDING.

[MAN YELLING]

THE LSOS WAVE HIM OFF \h\h\hFOR ANOTHER TRY.

A MINUTE LATER,

THE PILOT COMES AROUND \h\hFOR A SECOND TIME.

THIS TIME HE GETS CLOSER...

BUT MISSES THE WIRE.

Bauman: IF HE MISSES THE WIRE, \h\hIT’S GOING TO BE A BOLTER,

IN WHICH CASE HE’S JUST GOING TO GO FULL POWER, GO ROUND,

AND TRY IT AGAIN.

Man: 206, BOLTER. Man: 206, BOLTER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: MAKING THREE LANDING ATTEMPTS

IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL.

\h\h\hTHE PILOT NOW HAS THE UNDIVIDED ATTENTION

\h\h\h\h\hOF EVERYONE IN THE AIR DEPARTMENT.

HIS SUCCESS OR FAILURE BELONGS TO THEM, TOO.

THE F-18 CIRCLES ONE MORE TIME

\hAND BEGINS TO MAKE ITS FINAL APPROACH.

\h\h\h\h\hBUT EVEN IF THIRD TIME’S A CHARM,

\h\hA CARRIER TOUCHDOWN DOESN’T ALWAYS END WITH CATCHING A WIRE.

A LANDING IS ONLY AS GOOD...

AS THE ARRESTING GEAR.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHIGH OVER THE U.S.S. GEORGE H.W. BUSH,

TEN F-18 SUPER-HORNETS

RETURN FROM A STRIKE MISSION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAGAINST ISIS.

ON BOARD,

\h\h\hHUNDREDS OF MEN AND WOMEN IN THE CARRIER’S AIR DEPARTMENT

\h\h\h\h\h\hWAIT ANXIOUSLY FOR THE FIRST JET TO LAND.

\h\h\h\hTHEY ALL KNOW THAT NOT EVERY LANDING GOES AS PLANNED.

IN 2016, AN E-2 HAWKEYE \hSURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT

\h\h\h\h\hCAME IN TO LAND ON THE U.S.S. EISENHOWER.

IT CATCHES THE WIRE.

BUT THE CABLE SNAPS.

THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARS.

THEN, THE PILOT MANAGES \h\h\h\hTO PULL BACK UP

AND COME BACK FOR ANOTHER PASS.

EIGHT CREWMEMBERS ON DECK \h\h\h\h\hAREN’T SO LUCKY.

THE BROKEN CABLE INFLICTS \h\h\h\hSERIOUS INJURIES.

Kaczynski: YOU CAN PREPARE \h\h\hAS MUCH AS YOU CAN,

\h\h\hBUT THERE’S ALWAYS THAT POTENTIAL OR CHANCE

THAT THERE’S GONNA BE SOMEBODY

IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME.

SO WE VERY CAREFULLY WORK

TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY’S SAFE.

GEAR LINE SET RHINO 480.

Narrator: NOW, THE FIRST F-18 \h\hAPPROACHES THE BUSH’S DECK

FOR A THIRD LANDING ATTEMPT.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHIS TIME, THE PILOT HOOKS A WIRE...

\h\h\h\h\h\hSTOPPING THE 40,000-POUND JET

IN TWO SECONDS FLAT.

\hTHE CREW HAS UNDER A MINUTE TO RESET THE DECK FOR THE NEXT JET.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hMackey: THEY’LL TAXI HIM FORWARD.

\hTHEY’LL PASS HIM OFF INTO THE DE-ARM AREA.

THEY’LL TELL HIM TO FOLD UP,

AND THEN THEY’LL TURN HIM \h\hEITHER FORWARD OR AFT,

\h\h\h\hDEPENDING ON WHERE HE NEEDS TO GO

AND HOW THE DECK CALLER \hIS SPOTTING THE DECK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hKaczynski: GEAR LINE SET RHINO 480.

CLEAR DECK.

Narrator: ONE BY ONE,

THE OTHER NINE F-18s LAND.

IN JUST A FEW MINUTES,

THE ENTIRE STRIKE GROUP IS BACK ON DECK SAFELY.

FOR NOW, THE DAY IS OVER.

TOMORROW, THE WORK BEGINS \h\h\h\h\hALL OVER AGAIN.

Kaczynski: WE WORK VERY WELL \hAND VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER

AS A TEAM EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE ENJOY WHAT WE DO, WE LOVE WHAT WE DO.

IT’S A PASSION THAT WE HAVE.

\h\h\h\hIT’S A GREAT PRIVILEGE AND HONOR

TO BE UP HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

♪

Narrator: BEHIND EACH PILOT \h\hWHO FLIES INTO COMBAT...

IS AN ENTIRE SHIP FULL OF SAILORS...

\h\h\h\hEACH WORKING WITH COORDINATION...

SHEER DETERMINATION...

AND TRUST.

[ENGINES ROARING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPilot: THEY’RE OUT THERE SWEATING,

CARRYING CHAINS, PULLING SHOTS,

MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS \h\h\hSAFE AROUND THE AIRCRAFT

SO THAT WE CAN GO FLYING.

SO, IF THEY DON’T TRUST YOU \hAND YOU DON’T TRUST THEM,

IT’S GONNA BE A ROUGH FLIGHT.

Narrator: ON DECK,

IN EVERY DEPARTMENT OF THE SHIP,

EACH MAN AND WOMAN ON BOARD IS PART OF THE BUSH’S FIGHT.

Phillips: EVERY JOB ON THIS SHIP IS CRITICAL TO OUR MISSION.

EVERY SAILOR IS CRITICAL

TO LAUNCHING AIRCRAFTS \h\h\h\hOFF THIS DECK

AND ANNIHILATING THE ENEMY.

EVERYTHING THAT WE DO \h\h\hGOES INTO THAT.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: FROM BUILDING BOMBS...

Pickens: WE DO ANYTHING

THAT’S GOING TO HELP TAKE OUT \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHOSE BAD GUYS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hNarrator: TO LAUNCHING PLANES...

Mackey: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF AIRCRAFT

AND EVERYTHING INVOLVED,

IT’S PRETTY FLIPPIN’ \h\h\hAMAZING TO ME.

Narrator: GETTING THEM HOME...

AND DOING IT ALL OVER AGAIN,

DAY AFTER DAY.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hKearney: IT’S JUST A BEAUTIFUL THING

\h\h\hTO WATCH THIS, THIS COME TOGETHER.

IT’S A SYMPHONY--

EVERYBODY’S CONTRIBUTIONS WORKING THEIR LITTLE PART

TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN.

IT’S REALLY INCREDIBLE \h\h\h\hTO BE PART OF.

Narrator: IT’S A TEAM THAT EXISTS TO ACHIEVE ONE END.

[CHEERING]

TO PROTECT AMERICAN INTERESTS

AND PROJECT AMERICAN POWER

WHENEVER AND WHEREVER \h\hIT’S NEEDED MOST.