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Barrett · 1 January 2001, 10:37 AM

Wayne, please extend my fond regards to Rod Smith. I've not had any contact with him in about a year and a half, but as you note he is an extremely perceptive and knowledgable student of "the game." He impressed me no end when I met him in the 1980s; he knew that USS Essex (CV-9) was the lead ship of the class, and there are active duty USN admirals who don't know that much. Rod's brother (Jerry?) was the Spit pilot who lost his drop tank on launch from USS Wasp (CV-7) off Malta and safely landed without a tailhook! I had the pleasure of introducing Rod to the landing signal officer, Dave McCampbell, c. 1990.

1 January 2001, 10:37 AM	#25 (permalink)
Barrett Forum Ace of Aces Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: The American West Posts: 4,809	Wayne, please extend my fond regards to Rod Smith. I've not had any contact with him in about a year and a half, but as you note he is an extremely perceptive and knowledgable student of "the game." He impressed me no end when I met him in the 1980s; he knew that USS Essex (CV-9) was the lead ship of the class, and there are active duty USN admirals who don't know that much. Rod's brother (Jerry?) was the Spit pilot who lost his drop tank on launch from USS Wasp (CV-7) off Malta and safely landed without a tailhook! I had the pleasure of introducing Rod to the landing signal officer, Dave McCampbell, c. 1990. __________________ You will not rise to the occasion: You will default to your level of training.