Refueling in the Rain

Military Friday

 

Today is Friday, and I am taking a break from the writing posts. Well, it is Navy day, so I am putting this one out there.

When I first reported to USS Scott DDG-995 as a new GSM3 out of Great Lakes, I was first assigned to MER1. The ship was in a short yard period, so it was a perfect time to learn her from top to bottom, fo'c'sle to fantail.

We wrapped up the yard time and started getting underway. During the yard time, I was also helping out the crew in the Oil Lab. So, when they needed a new guy in the oil lab, it was me. Mind you this was a good positive, I knew I needed the qualification for the move up. This also put me in a prime spot to get on the helo refueling crew. That was again a good qualification to have, and it paid extra each month too.

So, I had been going on deck to help fuel the helo for about 3 weeks. Petty Officer Holloway and I were in the hanger one afternoon, setting up to refuel. It was pouring rain outside too. We told the LSE (Landing Signalman Enlisted) we would never get a clean sample in the rain. He told us to do our best. Each time we refueled, we gave the pilot a sample for him to visually check for water. He did it by giving the bottle a swirl, and any water would be seen doing it. It was pretty neat to see, actually.

They call us out on deck to land the helo. Instantly we got soaked. I held the sample bottle upside down in a vain attempt to keep possible water out. It was really coming down. Then add in the chopper landing, and water was everywhere. Rain falling on us and prop wash kicking up water sideways and from below.

We start the pump, take a sample, the pilot says No. Holloway and I are doing all we can to get a clean sample. Second one. No again. We tell the guy on deck we can only do one more. Still, we try, but again, the pilot says, No.

The pilot stares out the window and us and give us a WTF motion. I look over at him and give him the cut it hand gesture. Telling a pilot that they cannot fly is the worst thing I think you can do. The LSE looks at me, his eyes wide as hell. Even the pilot did a double take. So, I give him the cut it again. The pilot does a facepalm and shakes his head, then sticks his index finger up and twirls it, pump away.

The LSE gives me an eye roll and points a finger at me. I tell the pump room to fire up. We stand there, pumping the chopper while it sits on the deck running. That is called hot pumping. We usually did not stay on deck for the take-off, but we were motioned to remain. I think they wanted us to enjoy the pelting spray as the helo took off.

We were soaked to the bone after that whole experience. Holloway and I get back in the hangar. We are met by the CHENG, Chief Engineer, who was instantly on me. I am 6’5,” and CHENG was like a foto shorter. It was kind of comical getting chewed out by him, but…

“Did you tell the pilot to kill it?”

“Yes, I did,” I say

“Why?”

“We gave him three samples, and he rejected all three. We can't do a 4th and have enough in the take for a full load.” I say.

Holloway nods.

“Don’t do that again, tell the air det to do it.”

Later that day, when we were toping the helo off again before putting it in the hangar, the pilot jumped my ass. I never did like that guy. He told me it is my job to get him clean fuel. It is hard at times to remember the chain of command. Human nature can kick in, but I held back. Sucked it up and gave him the proper “yer, sir.” I did explain my point, but he did not want to hear it.

I think it was 2 months later when the ship was going through certification for refueling helicopters, AvCert I believe it was called. I was the only crew member who had been through the aviation fuels school. Sitting in on one of our talks was the pilot. When asked his opinion of the fuel team and me, he gave us a glowing review. Pilots like to fly. When they are told NO, they tend to cry.

I did enjoy refueling our helo, even in all of the crazy situations we did it in. When looking at the attached picture, I was a member of the purple vest team. Each person on a flight deck is in a different color vest, so it is easy to recognize their function. Purple, fuel, red, damage control, brown, chain/chock, yellow, LSE.

The helo in the picture is the model we did refuel. And, we did work with HSL-32, our chopper was 135, the one shown was 137. And, that is either my old ship, USS Scott or USS Kidd in the picture.