This from EW1(SW) Jim Littlehale
The Jesse L holds the distinction of being the only ship that launched a Lamps I from Pier at Navbase Charleston. I'm not sure exact date, but returned from deployment with HLS-36 side # 37...
Had an engine failure while deployed with no available store to replace onboard. A couple of days after arrival back in Charleston, the replacement engine was received and installed.
The decision was made to request special clearance from NavBase and FAA to repair, test and launch pier side in lieu of craning off of the ship to alternate location.
LTjg Russ Talbot was LSO. The inport fire party (I seem to remember it was like Saturday or Sunday so was duty section) manned the deck, and after run up and test, Russ Talbot stood down the fire party with "Good bye 37, good bye"
Jesse L was always a unique ship...
Used to have pic of CH-46 cross wise the nets, wheels on deck offloading a 18" valve for engineers... and the SH-3 parked on deck running, after failed hook up on HIFR... We never wanted for help after saving that bird...
Ah yes... memories...
From LTJG Bruce Golding
I was the CIC Officer on JLB (1974 - 78). On one midwatch during our second Med deployment I was in Combat when BUNO 149773 was out about 30 miles. (We had the same aircraft onboard during 2 deployments. First in 1974-75 in the Med, and then again in 1976-77 in the Med again.) The ASAC, OS-1 John Roehner, and I heard the call that the aircraft had a chip light, indicating there was a chance the main transmission was coming apart. Time seemed to freeze for me. We got the bird back onboard safely, but it was a long time before I could sleep well.
Roehner ultimately played back an audio tape that had been recorded in CIC. Until I heard the tape, I couldn't believe we had taken less than 5 seconds to inform the bridge of the situation and recommended closing the helo at best possible speed. I still wake up at night having dreamt that my delay caused the H-2 to have to ditch.
After leaving the Navy in 1979, I went to work at Kaman Aerospace in Bloomfield, CT. We went back into production of the SH-2F and delivered our first "new" bird in the fall of 1983. The Navy specified that the first few aircraft had to be an exact duplicates of the old SH-2F, right down to the patched foot-holes on the side that were left over from the late 1960s when the bird was converted from the old single engine UH-2A/B version. A second batch of SH-2Fs were made with the patches, but without the holes!
At Kaman, we went through twenty "RFI" (ready for installation) T58 engines before we found 2 that were OK. The T58-GE-8F engines were a real problem. Some of the engine cans the Navy sent us had water in them. (No wonder the Det had such problems changing out an engine during the 1976-77 deployment.) Eventually, in the 1986-87 time frame Kaman won a Navy contract to install GE-T700-401 engines on a prototype H-2 (the YSH-2G). The first production SH-2G flew in late December 1989.
During the 1980s, I had a civilian film crew that worked for me at Kaman that had flight qualifications and a security clearance. While filming both east and west coast squadrons, we continually ran into some of the LAMPS Det personal I served with on the JLB. I ran into many other LAMPS Det personnel from the JLB at trade show like the Navy League, and the Navy Helicopter Association. (On a side note, if you look at any of the 1980s vintage brochures from Kaman, you'll find that I always had the artist use the JLB in any ship / helicopter artwork.)
From ET2 John Johnston
I remember the first awards the ship received after the 77 yards. I came into Radio Central, where all the RM's were patting each other on the back for getting the Green C. I commented that RM's got to leave after their watch, but some ET's spent many sleepless nights working on the equipment that earned the award. Of course, I was kidding, and made a fake pouty face as I left.
That Friday, our LPO gave me the option of chipping paint on the stacks, or attending the awards ceremony where all the other divisions would pat themselves on the back, and we got to watch. Of course, chipping would mean early liberty for us, while everyone else was just getting back from the ceremony.
While up on the stack, the MAA poked his head out, and he wondered why I wasn't at the ceremony. It seems the RM Chief thought I was serious, and was going to have me accept the award on behalf of the RM gang.
They had been looking all over for me. I showed up, but wasn't real presentable (black paint chips all over), so they had me stay in ranks while the RMC accepted the award.
Later, I was called to the Captains Stateroom. Pretty weird feeling, having the Skipper holler at you while giving you a letter of commendation.
From EW1 (SW/AC) Jim Littlehale
Yard trials in Casco Bay out of Bath Iron Works in fall 1978.
Nighttime, aft lookout reported a red flare astern and to port...
JLB goes to investigate, finds a I believe it was about 40' sailboat.
Several younger people on board. Turns out final story was that couple of the kids had made a connection and had been out to a small dope ship off coast of Maine. On the way back in to port, the only person who was able to actually sail (daughter of boat owner) became sea sick due to rough weather. She was below in a bunk. Sailboat only had a small mooring motor, which was only able to steer boat into waves, not gain any distance. One of kids realized full sails were rigged and blowing them further out to sea, so dropped sails by cutting lines.
Lookouts reported seeing the kids throwing "stuff" overboard on approach.
CO (Hank Walker?) brought JLB around, and was going to take boat into tow... Coast Guard Portland was sending a cutter (Abanaki, former USN Fleet tug) to tow into Portland, arrival time early AM...
When took boat into tow, bow cleat of sailboat wrenched free of deck...
CO ordered boat alongside port side stern and was going to take crew onboard JLB for safety until CG arrived. During this operation, the heavy fibreglass boat slammed into the portside stern, the JLB wears a dent from the impact...
The crew was all brought onboard, and HMCS Swanson treated them and we dug up dry clothes for the kids who were taken to the wardroom...
Ends up the kids were so grateful for rescue, they started telling story...
The Abanaki came alongside around several hours later, still dark... transferred crew of sailboat from port stern to starboard bridge wing of Abankai...
Since kids told Coast Guard officers all about what they did, and some residue was found on boat to confirm... They were able to take down the small freighter that was the dope mothership off coast...
Kids were given probation, and a few tons of pot were confiscated from freighter...
Coast Guard Commandant Boston sent CG commendation to JLB for rescue and for assist in dope bust (although didn't actually participate in takedown)... and the Commandant mentioned how if JLB had been a Cutter, she would have been able to wear marijuana leaf markings for dope intercept... But since USN didn't...
CO authorized a small (about 3' I seem to remember) leaf to be painted in the port and starboard sides of mack about 6' to 8' off deck...
JLB wore them into Charleston Naval Base on return from yards... Captain Dallamura, then DESRON 4 didn't appreciate the non-standard USN markings and they were painted over within couple of days of arrival in Chucky town... Which was anticipated anyway...
