I Regret to Inform You....

I spent a career "driving ships," but whenever the opportunity presented itself, I got some "stick time." Had it not been for bad vision (inherited) and the fact that there was a time in not so distant past history when the RIO NFOs, even when in control of the awesome AGM-54 Phoenix missile system, with the guy in the front being a glorified bus driver, there was a "promise" of making O-4 and being cast aside..no squadron command opportunities, etc...so, I didn't choose to be "Goose." I have enjoyed flight simulators, as a result. Tonight, I found an interesting link that has a basis in reality. It's about flight sim crews "buying the farm."

"UNCLASSIFIED MESSAGE FLASH TRAFFIC TO NAVADMIN R 192049Z AUG 05 PSN 998249J41 UNCLAS //N01200// NAVADMIN 009/05 MSGID/GENADMIN/COMMANDER PERV AIR FORCES NASNI/N1/-/AUG// SUBJ/OFFICIAL PRIMARY NEXT OF KIN NOTIFICATION - DEATH OF SIMULATOR AIRCREW// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES EXPRESSED BY COMMANDER, NAVAL PERV FORCES AFTER THE TRAGIC LOSS OF SIMULATOR AIRCREW PAGE 02 RUERMFU1735 UNCLAS 2. AIRCRAFT SIMULATOR MISHAP REVIEW BOARD INVESTIGATIONS FOUND THE DISASTERS WERE UNRELATED TO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR ENEMY FIRE, BUT WERE INSTEAD CAUSED BY EXTREMELY SUSPECT AIRCREW BEHAVIOR INCLUDING LOW/SLOW FLIGHT AND "SCREAMING LIKE A LITTLE GIRL" WHILE ON CARRIER CONTROLLED APPROACH (CCA) 3. REQUEST FOR NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING AND FLAGS FLOWN AT HALF-MAST REJECTED BY CONGRESSIONAL VOTE. NATIONAL DAY OF MOCKING PROPOSED INSTEAD. 4. OFFICIAL LETTER OF CONDOLENCE IS ATTACHED FOR YOUR PERUSAL. 5. RELEASED BY LCDR PERV, N1.// BT #1735 NNNN RTD:000-000/COPIES:"

If you need a laugh, read the "attached letter of condolence." Thanks to Mudville Gazette for the open posts....