The wire that the tail hook picks up has to be retracted in place for the next plane.

Fred and Vern, experienced Midway Vets, were showing me the process on the ship. Here Fred is pulling the lever that retracts the wire on the flight deck.













Then Vern took us under the flight deck to explain the machinery and see how it works











It's great to get the info first hand by guys who actually lived it on the Midway.

Here I am - with my hand on the controls to set the tension on the arresting wire.

It's Fleet Week in San Diego. Things have been busy on the ship.








The Navy had a parade of ships and bunch of fly-overs too on the bay.