or: How I Became a great Naval Hero and saved Democracy as we know it.

That's me,
LTJG Eric (Rock) Andersen, standing next to my plane, the Vought A-7E Corsair II.
On the Flight Deck of the mighty U.S.S. Ranger CVA-61.
Attached to Attack Squadron 25, home ported at The Lemoore Naval Air Station in California, and deployed on the Ranger.
Chapter 1, The Carrier Landing, also called a "trap"

Here I am on final,
approaching the stern of the Ranger. In the slot, and I have "Called the ball", meaning I have sighted the Optical landing system. And The LSO signals to bring her down.
Regrettably, this landing ended up as a Bolter.

A "Bolter" is when The hook fails to engage the Wires. Either I landed long, or the hook skipped.
Since the advent of the angled deck back in the fifties, this is no longer a problem, I simply give it full power and I am airborne again for another go round.

On this landing I caught the #2 wire, A good landing, however, it means my descent was a little shallow, the #3 wire is considered the safer landing, and that's what we all try for.

On this landing, I did catch the #3 wire.
However having made one slight error on my alignment with the deck, I was informed by the C.O. that I needed more practice.
Chapter 2 The Attack Mission:

Chapter 3 Air Combat Maneuvering:

Chapter 4 Critical Missions: