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Historical PHOTO - 1972: Don Garlits' Swamp Rat 16 Dragster on the Flight Deck of the USS Lexington
NavSource Online ^ | 1971 | Contibuted by John C. Driskill

Posted on 08/04/2013 12:09:25 PM PDT by DogByte6RER

Circa 1972:  Don Garlits' drag racer on the flight deck of the USS Lexington

From NavSource Online, John C. Driskill -

"In 1972, I was stationed on the Lexington (CVT-16) as a PH3. President Richard Nixon asked Don Garlits to do a "Fly Navy Promo" with his car the Swamp Rat 16. We photographers mates were allowed to photograph the scene while assisting the photographers from "Hot Rod" Magazine. We had to swear we would not sell the photographs we took to any other magazines. This is my shot of the Swamp Rat 16 on the flight deck of the Lexington," [ready to race an A-7E Corsair II of VA-81 "Sunliners."]

William Carter Fields adds: "The Catapult Officer is LCDR Mckinney, Flight deck Photographer (back to camera) is PH2 John Signaigo, Phone Talker is AN Parrish. I was Flight Deck Control Phone talker when the photo shoot was done."

(Excerpt) Read more at navsource.org ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Chit/Chat; History; Military/Veterans; Miscellaneous; Outdoors; Sports; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: badass; cv16; cvt16; dongarlits; dragster; flynavy; gonavy; ladylex; navair; swamprat16; usn; usslexington
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To: DogByte6RER

My 2 older brothers were in the Navy at the time, and the whole family was drag racers.

I had a huge poster of this on my wall as a kid!


41 posted on 08/04/2013 5:15:03 PM PDT by Delta 21 (Oh Crap !! Did I say that out loud ??!??)
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To: katana

In South Jersey it was:SUNDAY...SUNDAY...SUNDAY...SUPER SUNDAY AT ATCO DRAGWAY...BE THERE!!!


42 posted on 08/04/2013 6:39:44 PM PDT by 4yearlurker (Democrats + Unions + Corruption= Detroit.)
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