Following is taken from the authors post.
'I was on this cruise. This was in late 62 or early 63. After the U2 carrier quals, we departed Oakland with 2 U2's and about 6 F4's. aboard the Ranger (CVA61), We had 7or 8 crews, some maint guys, and 3 Airforce (or Maybe CIA) U2 pilots. Our OinC was John Young (later Astronaut) . We were gone about 3 weeks. Never found out where we went except that we crossed the equator and had a big shellback ceremony. After about a week the U2's flew several 6 or 7 hour missions and then we turned for home. We flew several times during the cruise just for proficiency but just in the landing pattern. No tacan locks and no radar returns (and no bingo fields!) so we were way out in the middle of nowhere.' "
http://www.creativefission.com/Frame_MO ... 0x240.html
Here's something you thought you'd never see I bet...
- KevinJarvis
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- starlifterfan
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U-2
Good stuff,just when I thought I had seen it all....Thank you.
- Javier Tapia
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Yup... in 1963 the CIA operated U-2 aircraft off of USS Ranger. This was due to range limitations of early U-2 models. These new U-2 aircraft were known as U-2G models and had a stronger gear, wing spoilers and a tailhook(they took off without catapult aid). There wasn't much a use for it though and it kind of faded away.
Then in '69 on USS America they tried carrier qual with the U-2R model that had a tailhook as well as folding wings.
However, similar to '63 there wasn't really a need for a naval U-2 version. The U-2R version increased fuel and payload capabilities enough that it could operate from land without too many issues.
Then in '69 on USS America they tried carrier qual with the U-2R model that had a tailhook as well as folding wings.
However, similar to '63 there wasn't really a need for a naval U-2 version. The U-2R version increased fuel and payload capabilities enough that it could operate from land without too many issues.
--Chris

