[DuncanWaring]

...he and his weapons systems officer, retired Cdr. Gary Thornton, were flying an F-4 Phantom fighter from the USS Enterprise...

That's curious.

USAF pilots typically don't fly from carriers.

[SunTzuWu]

While assigned to squadron, he was selected to serve as a liaison officer between the Air Force and the Navy.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Goodman was an exchange pilot flying an F-4B, BuNo 150413, with VF-96. Gary Thornton was a RIO not a WSO.

The exchange pilot program has been around for a long time and continues today.

020201-N-1407C-002 At sea aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) Feb. 1, 2002 -- U.S. Air Force Major Philip Malebranche from Virginia Beach, VA, pilots an F/A-18 “Hornet” strike fighter from the flight deck of USS George Washington during carrier qualifications. Major Malebranche is a participant in an Air Force to Navy exchange program. The Washington is conducting fleet carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class J. Scott Campbell. (RELEASED)