And now for something completely different:
Don Garlits Hot-Rod on the Deck of 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.”
And a full color scan from River City Cruisers.
Click to big up
Lexington, the last of the Essex-class carriers in the fleet, was retired in 1991 and currently serves as a museum ship in Texas.
