A Reason to Always Do Your FOD Check

DefenseTech org ^ | 12 May, 2008

[brityank]

A Reason to Always Do Your FOD Check

From the US Navy aboard the USS Harry S Truman:

When the words foreign object debris (FOD) come to mind the last thing someone thinks about is an owl. On the morning of March 17 on board USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), an owl is exactly what was found. What might have been a mishap, ended on a happier note thanks to a few Sailors' attention to detail.

"I was the safety behind the 300 jet. That's why I probably ended up there first," said Aviation Structural Mechanic (Equipment) 3rd class Jeremy Smith, a Sailor attached to the "Ragin' Bulls" of Strike Squadron (VFA) 37.

He was called over by Aviation Electronics Technician Airman Apprentice Tony McJohnston, also part of VFA 37. What they found was a screech owl.

Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd class Zachary Gorman who is attached to Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (HS) 7, the "Dusty Dogs," is a licensed falconer in the U.S. He was called to the scene to check the status of the bird.

"When I got there, I checked him over to make sure he didn't have any broken wings and if he was dehydrated or malnourished," said Gorman.

Gorman and the flight deck medical team nursed the owl, or "Fod" as Flight Deck Control liked to call him, back to health by giving him a shot of sugar water to help rehydrate him.

Gorman said after treating the bird they found no life-threatening problems.

"For the most part the bird was healthy, just a little tired," said Gorman. He also made sure "Fod" was okay in a box the crew dubbed his makeshift "stateroom." Gorman has been working with birds of prey since the age of 12 and said he was more than happy to help the animal.

"I've worked with a lot of owls throughout the years, but I never thought I'd have to deal with one on a carrier in the middle of the Gulf" said Gorman.

The owl could not reside on board indefinitely so they came up with another plan.

(Gouge NC and Aero-News)

[brityank]

Hooters on a bird farm! What they won't do for morale!

(swiped from gp)

[robomatik]

cute little bugger! maybe they can train him/her to scratch the eyeballs out of some jihadis. ;)

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I wonder what the sailor superstition is surrounding owls.

Probably the guardian angels of CPOs or something.

[brityank]

Watched "Carrier" on PBS over the weekend; what a whiney bunch of BS. Still, there was about 40 minutes of interesting stuff sprinkled through the ten hours!

This one reminded me of the pelican we 'caught' up on the forward main FC director between Hawaii and Guam. Like this owl, seems he was just tired, and hitched a ride for a while. He (?) flew off sometime that night, but left us something as payment.

[6SJ7]

The owl was discovered in the left-main wheel well of an F/A 18 Hornet during a pre-flight inspection of the aircraft.

Hope the enviro-nuts don't declare all F/A 18's an endangered species habitat.

[B-Chan]

[Stoat]

Navy NewsStand - Eye on the Fleet

Description:   Airman Jacob Larsen holds "Fod," a screech owl that was found on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

 

"Since he was in a weak condition, flying to land would decrease his chances of survival so we thought we would give him a hand," said Gorman.

Preparations were made to fly the owl off the ship on a Carrier Onboard Delivery to land, where he was released safely and out of harms way.

"It was a free ride. They were going there anyway so we made it a little bit easier on him," said Gorman.

Too bad he wasn't allowed to stay onboard long enough to warrant an honorary sailor's or Airman's rank  :-)

Officers' tribute to hero cat (Credited with saving the lives of Royal Navy Officers)

[dighton]

Sweet post, a pleasure to ping along.

[skr]

Cute owl.

Thanks for the link to Simon’s story.

[Bob]

Preparations were made to fly the owl off the ship on a Carrier Onboard Delivery to land, where he was released safely and out of harms way.

Wouldn't it have been easier to just launch him with a catapult? :=)

[Billthedrill]

USN BTT. Dang pilots get all the glory, even the feathered ones...

[Slings and Arrows]

You’ll like this one.

[Secret Agent Man]

Thank God we have people there who care for and love animals.

[Stoat]

Cute owl.

Thanks for the link to Simon’s story.

You're quite welcome and I'm delighted that you've enjoyed it  :-)

Cute owl.

Thanks for the link to Simon’s story.

[LukeL]

[Solitar]

Back in the old days they would have kept that owl as a mascot — helluva lot smarter than a raven.

[LucyT]

Awwww, you’re right. What a nice story. Thanks for the ping.

[B-Chan]

[SES1066]

Wouldn't it have been easier to just launch him with a catapult?

"Set aircraft weight to 6 ounces..."!?!?!?!
Nah, I don't thinkso ...

[B-Chan]

I wonder if ths counts as a "trap" for the squadron?

B-chan
Former MM3
USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65)

GONAVY