Obviously, as a recovery option, the barricade is not highly relished by carrier pilots. The result of the CRUSADER'S first tangle with the "net" under my supervision did nothing to dispel that prejudice. Among the adverse circumstances that prefaced my predicament were rapidly deteriorating weather conditions due to the sudden onset of what turned out to be Hawaii's worst storm in 50 years. Two prior landing accidents had not only fouled the deck and caused critical delay but also resulted in the removal of 2 of the 5 cables available for an arrested landing. Add to that my broken tailhook (the result of materiel failure on an otherwise "picture perfect" earlier attempt to trap). And just enough fuel remaining for my first (and last) shot at the barricade--it was a nasty situation exacerbated by every passing second.

You might ask, "Why not ‘ditch' the aircraft or use the ejection seat?" The ostensible answer was that it was your duty to exercise your best efforts to save the multi million dollar aircraft (and your own posterior) if at all possible. The other reasons were even more compelling. The ditching maneuver (crash landing the F8 in the water) was always climaxed by a spectacular explosion as the cold seawater swamped the red-hot F 8 engine or by the CRUSADER otherwise disintegrating on impact with the water.

Even at stall speed, this was just like hitting a ten-foot thick brick wall. Out of 5 attempted semi-controlled collisions with the water the aircraft were instantly torn apart, only one pilot survived. And this instance was not a true ditching, a landing F 8, slammed down on the carrier deck as usual but its tailhook broke and the plane was only partially arrested. There was just no to fly it and no stopping it. Nasty business! The pilot jammed full power on including afterburner but the decelerated CRUSADER ran off the angled deck at low speed. Somehow the wings stayed level as the shuddering CRUSADER mushed down into the water. The lucky pilot was able to scramble out of the cockpit just before the engine he had been sitting on top of exploded and the rescue helicopter quickly plucked him out of the briny. Hence, ditching definitely was not a viable option.

Oh, by the way, what about in-flight refueling-a standard and vital component of today's air operations? Forget it! It was strictly an Air Force luxury in the late 50's. Except as a rare training exercise, for us sea dogs it was non-existent.  

Consequently, in a situation where the fates had dealt the carrier jet pilot a low fuel state, no hook, no "Bingo" hand, the only possible ace in the hole was the barricade. If a CRUSADER pilot eschewed or was otherwise unable to enjoy the embrace of the barricade, the only alternative was to stick with the F8 and commence harp-tuning exercises -- you just "stayed and prayed".