Playing Fair and Being Kind

Way back in 1960, my last year on USS Sirago SS-485, there was a young man name Jim Piehl. He was an engineman striker, which means he was trained as an engineman but was unrated. Jim was a good worker. More than good. He was an outstanding worker and his mates liked him a lot. He was energetic, mindful, dependable, and loved to laugh. Jim, in a nutshell, was a good shipmate. I left the ship in 1960 and never saw Jim again.

Later, it was discovered that Jim had applied for and received an appointment to attend college on Uncle Sam’s nickel in return for a few more years of duty. Jim was smart as a whip and qualified for aviation training. He became a pilot. Not just any pilot. Jim trained and qualified as a fighter pilot. The best job for a pilot in the Navy. He trained for flying an F-4 Phantom jet, the hottest ride the Navy had at the time.

The F-4 was a multi-purpose fighter jet that could be used in all weather and perform multiple tasks. It was a Ferrari or a Maserati compared to other aircraft. I can just imagine Jim’s excitement when he was assigned to fighters. I can hear him laugh and see his eyes flash with joy.

Jim died April 7th, 1976. He was the RIO* on aircraft number 113 doing night landings on USS Forrestal. During final approach the aircraft was too low and it slammed into the back of the carrier. The pilot ejected from the aircraft before impact but Jim didn’t have time to. He was in the Phantom when it crashed. Jim was lost at sea. The pilot also died from his injuries a few days later.

“While USS FORRESTAL (CV-59) was berthed at Mayport, the RIPPERS conducted
limited flight operations out of NAS Cecil, F1. On April lst, USS FORRESTAL (CV-59)
with CVW-17 aboard, departed Mayport, F1. and commenced Type Training phase I.
“On April 7th, RIPPER aircraft 113, crewed by pilot LT Charles P. Jackson and RIO
LT James W. Piehl, was lost while conducting a night carrier landing. LT Piehl
was lost at sea and LT Jackson died of injuries sustained in the accident. On
10 April, USS FORRESTAL (CV-59), returned to Mayport, F1. and memorial services
were held.”

I think about Jim now and again. I know he was a Navy aviator and I’m sure he wore his gold wings with pride. He also was one hell of a submarine sailor. He would be eligible to wear his silver dolphins as well. I wonder if he did. Oo-Rah, Jim. Oo-Rah! Submarines once, submarines twice…!
G. M. Goodwin
11 April 2019

*RIO, Radar Intercept Officer, is the second pilot in the F-4. The weapons system was so huge there was need of a separate pilot, in the rear seat, to operate the radar and direct the weapons during air battles. This is the job Jim was performing when he crashed and died.