Great to hear this! I remember when President Reagan made the announcement that the hijackers were in custody. It was a very emotional moment. I'll never forget it. God bless you all!
I was a very young Marine at the time, I was so swollen with Pride when I learned of YOUR heroic night....it changed my opinion of my Navy brothers from that day forward. Thank You Sir.
"Brothers"!, get back in the cage dog, we own you. LoL, just messing with you. My Dad is a Marine. I went Navy and was on a destroyer, as my Grandfather was in WW2. Part of me wishes I had followed in Dads footsteps, but I did love all the travel in the Navy. Side note, Some shipmates wanted to go start some sh!t with some Marines one night. Myself, being raised by one, phuking new better. Marines are trained killers, Squids are trained to keep ships from sinking. Some must learn the hard way LoL. I used to have a picture of the Achillie Lauro that I took in Palma Spain in 1986. We tied up behind it. Britain's Royal Yacht also tied up in front of us, and off walk Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Stayed 30 days at that port, just after educating Momar Kadafi about international shore lines. I had a bar tending job at The Cowboy bar in the evenings. Fantastic port. Well, thank you for your service Marine, and no that I have more respect for the Marine Corp than any other branch. The level of sacrifice through the years is astounding beyond comprehension.
This was fantastic. Such an important piece of history during my first year of college. This gentleman is exactly the type of Tomcat driver I envision pulling something like this off. Top notch.
Thanks for sharing this VERY non routine flight you experienced on what was to be just a routine intercept as a Navy carrier pilot.... Absolutely amazing... Thanks for your service Roe...
Coincidence...I was in VS 30, Just down the passageway from y'all. Once the bad guy was captured our skipper, Cdr Phil Voss with crew flew his ass back to the states. (somehow one of his wrists got broken, oops). Agree, this and the incident with Libya were the hi-lites of my career also.
Hello Captain Massey wondering if you remember me I was the leading petty officer of VF 103 Intel, intelligence specialist second class Dana Bergman and produced the Tarps photos. After leaving the Squadron I pursued and acquired my Airline transport pilot's license and flew for the regional Airlines. Although I did not adapt well within the Squadron I still have very fond and proud memories of our time together aboard Saratoga. I wish I could go back and do it all again all these years later.
Wow, simple civilian here that just had my admiration for our military personnel increase tenfold. You men and women of the armed forces are simply amazing and transcend courage and valor.
Great story! I was there attached to VF-74 your sister squadron. I was working night shift and I remember the ship turning around and hauling ass south launching the alert aircraft.
What a find! We actually sailed on the Achille Lauro the next cruise after it returned to commission, to Mauritius and the Seychelles Islands. I recall bullet holes on the roof and walls on one floor. Otherwise the cruise was fine.
Three years on the Saratoga flying SPADS. One crash involving three Crusaders. Even that didn’t seem as exciting as this. Of course, my flight time that night was 0.1 with a water landing. Yours was a great story. Well delivered.
I knew that ship, and saw it a number of times between 1969 and 1971, when it was ferrying immigrants from England to Australia. Some family friends travelled there on it, and we saw their arrival at Sydney, Circular Quay.
I was on the ship USS Saratoga that night. I worked in the OM division. I remember being in the catwalk, that evening, headed to the port side sea sparrow missle lauching deck. Your Tomcat was taking off when I was on my way to my workstation. I remember how proud everyone was that we were not going to sit back and let someone kill an American the way they did. I also remember President Reagan giving everyone "that a boys" over the ship wide announcement system.
There's a lot more to the story once they got on the ground. The Italians didn't take it very well. They didn't think much of the US military "hijacking" a civilian airliner to their country and spiriting someone away. He mentioned the second ring of Delta were facing out. That's wasn't for Palestinian terrorists trying to get the guy back.
I have been wondering for DECADES if the pilots from Saratoga were ever going to give their side of the story! I wish I were at this presentation! There are so many questions I have since I did a lot of work on this back then.
Here are two articles that provide a little more detail about the events: "OTD in 1985, the Achille Lauro incident: when the U.S. Navy forced an Egyptair Boeing 737 off course" on "theaviationist" "US Navy fighter jets intercept Italian cruise ship hijackers" on "history" (you'll have to search to find those)
I was at NASSIG when this happened, so I have additional perspectives on the amazing event. Unfortunately, it's in the AOC private group on Facebook, so I may not post a link to that.
You know that story wasn’t told alot back then, I was in VF-103 (The Sluggers) on that cruise when that incident occurred i was a jet mech in the squadron
Very interesting “ inside “ story. . But because I’m a Public speaker “ advisor “ I’m always watching there techniques. First rule is wet ur throat first small sip. Then take a deep breath and breath out ( resetting ur oesophagus ) because there are muscles that continue to pulse ! If you try to speak to early after Drinking you will always get a small backwards pulse of fluid that messes up your vocals and can cause coughing. Etc. no joke. I know it breaks the excitement and continuity of the speech ! But that’s better then stumbling wheezing and for the next few minutes semi drowning lol. Check it. People want to rush through the Story. But good speakers take there time ! Drink relax there throats then start in to the exciting bit. No joke .
Many folks here don't realize that Capt. Massey was speaking to our local EAA chapter. This was the first time he shared the story in public and there was no pressure to rush the story. We just captured the moment. Unfortunately, this doesn't fit the mold who want quick and fast entertainment. This is not what this was about, and I'm glad.
Ok the hijacker’s on the ship are the same ones on the plane? Or was it two separate hijacking’s that his ship happened to be near? The hijacker’s were purposely allowed on the plane in Egypt so the US could try and force it to land? Lol sorry! The pilots of the civilian airliner was trying to hit you because the terrorist told them to? Or the terrorist/hijacker was also the excellent pilot.
Thank you all that helped in the Achille Lauro high jacking. As an heir, my grandfather Young Uncle Achille Lauro, a great man . 800 thousand kids where named after him!! He rebuilt Naples after World War 2.
Probably because they didn't want to be the ones Gaddafi retaliated on after the strike? It is easy to strike a country when you aren't the one bordering it
30:58 [Looking east?] Those hangars in the distance were VR-24 (and something else, i forget. The airport terminal, AIMD, Avionics VANS, The P3 Hangar and HC-4's hangar should be off camera to the left). Beyond all that was the Italian Patrol Props. Not sure where the plane was parked (i wasn't super familiar with the exact ramp design of SIG as being a junior AS working at AIMD in 1991-3, all i needed to know was where the LOX farm was and the bus stop to NAS 1)
NASWOG! That's the VP hangar on the left and HC-4 hangar on the right. Looks like the plane is near where the hot pit was. The VR hangar was farther around to the right. HC-4 94-96 AIMD GSE 96-98.
CV-62 was doing the MED/I,O, tour it sucked to be denied PERTH port, 4 days of ports for 6 months OUT AT SEA!!! never again. Singapor, Palma was ok but not worth the waste of time away from females and beer at my young age.
i think he actually WORKED HARD not to say WHO the actors on the plane WERE :( or HOW the 747 became a ISSUE in the first place. and I was ALIVE perhaps his age or older at the time i remember the SHIP...but, not egypt air 737
I was 13 when this happened and it inspired Me to join the Navy when I was of age, That and the Fact these Scumbags killed a American Handicapped Man and threw Him and His Wheelchair overboard.. I remember hearing these Dirtbags getting apprehended and a warm feeling in my gut.. Thanks for your outstanding actions that night..👍
@Phillip Banes chew to death, flight opps, clt's, going down, lso, cat one, fan tail, nose into the island, taxi the cat, night trap, tanking, vector us north, dox calls, bring him to the nose, hud, halling the mail lights out, etc.
Much more went on that night and the following day related to the US / Italian relations and how events played out. In the end, the long arm of America got Abbass! Thank God! The behavior and attitude of the Italian government makes my stomach curdle?
How many other viewers know what Massey meant when he said they had a TARPS airplane so they had infrared to take a Polaroid? LOL Still topgun geek after all these years. Flaps locke down (real slow sloppy airplaine) had to tank dirty and have a dark night trap. and mode 1, still catches a 3 wire. After a 6 hour sortie 20 feet from a bogie airliner at 32,000 amazeballs!!!
Ha! "Christians in action". I was 12 when this happened. This actually started my fascination and desire to fly the F14. Yes, before "Top Gun" came out. Went to a military high school and everything (New York Military Academy). Got stopped when I went to MEPS and discovered my kidneys were failing.
I lost a lot of sympathy for the Palestinian cause after this incident. Pushing that wheelchair off the ship has stuck with me. RIP Leon. The Palestinians still deserve an official country.
Mik Roks is WRONG ,it's worth listening to the whole thing. Reagans reaction???!!!! What a contrast with the reaction to the attack on USS Liberty. 🤔🤫🥸
What the heck?? That was the longest story about nothing by the thirstiest guy in the world! And I still know nothing about what it was all about!! Whaaaat???
Great to hear this! I remember when President Reagan made the announcement that the hijackers were in custody. It was a very emotional moment. I'll never forget it. God bless you all!
I was a very young Marine at the time, I was so swollen with Pride when I learned of YOUR heroic night....it changed my opinion of my Navy brothers from that day forward. Thank You Sir.
"Brothers"!, get back in the cage dog, we own you. LoL, just messing with you. My Dad is a Marine. I went Navy and was on a destroyer, as my Grandfather was in WW2. Part of me wishes I had followed in Dads footsteps, but I did love all the travel in the Navy. Side note, Some shipmates wanted to go start some sh!t with some Marines one night. Myself, being raised by one, phuking new better. Marines are trained killers, Squids are trained to keep ships from sinking. Some must learn the hard way LoL. I used to have a picture of the Achillie Lauro that I took in Palma Spain in 1986. We tied up behind it. Britain's Royal Yacht also tied up in front of us, and off walk Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Stayed 30 days at that port, just after educating Momar Kadafi about international shore lines. I had a bar tending job at The Cowboy bar in the evenings. Fantastic port. Well, thank you for your service Marine, and no that I have more respect for the Marine Corp than any other branch. The level of sacrifice through the years is astounding beyond comprehension.
P99@@66Grudge
This kind of story is that will inspire the next generation of young Americans to serve. Thank you, Sir!
This was fantastic. Such an important piece of history during my first year of college. This gentleman is exactly the type of Tomcat driver I envision pulling something like this off. Top notch.
What a great journey to bring us on! Thank you & thank you for your service💛💙
Thanks for sharing this VERY non routine flight you experienced on what was to be just a routine intercept as a Navy carrier pilot.... Absolutely amazing... Thanks for your service Roe...
I was in VAW-125. CDR Zia was my skipper in 1985. Proudest moment of my military career! Thank you so much for this story.
Coincidence...I was in VS 30, Just down the passageway from y'all. Once the bad guy was captured our skipper, Cdr Phil Voss with crew flew his ass back to the states. (somehow one of his wrists got broken, oops). Agree, this and the incident with Libya were the hi-lites of my career also.
Did you know a pilot Jack Bartlett? He was a part of this story. In fact I believe he ran the problem from the E-2 this night.
Hello Captain Massey wondering if you remember me I was the leading petty officer of VF 103 Intel, intelligence specialist second class Dana Bergman and produced the Tarps photos. After leaving the Squadron I pursued and acquired my Airline transport pilot's license and flew for the regional Airlines. Although I did not adapt well within the Squadron I still have very fond and proud memories of our time together aboard Saratoga. I wish I could go back and do it all again all these years later.
Do you remember me? Lt. Truesdale was our IO.
Dana, please send an e-mail to storiesfromaviation@gmail.com. Capt. Massey does remember you and would like to reach out to you.
Wow, simple civilian here that just had my admiration for our military personnel increase tenfold. You men and women of the armed forces are simply amazing and transcend courage and valor.
Great story! I was there attached to VF-74 your sister squadron. I was working night shift and I remember the ship turning around and hauling ass south launching the alert aircraft.
Excellent story thanks for sharing, And thanks for your service.
I was around 10 when this happened, I learned alot today listening to this.
Cdr. Zia was the skipper of VAW 120 when I went through. I also heard a lot of the stories when I was at NASSIG. Crazy stories.
What a find! We actually sailed on the Achille Lauro the next cruise after it returned to commission, to Mauritius and the Seychelles Islands. I recall bullet holes on the roof and walls on one floor. Otherwise the cruise was fine.
Skid, thanks for sharing this. Excellent briefing on the incident! I was on the LSO platform; yet never heard all the details... "Potsie"
Three years on the Saratoga flying SPADS. One crash involving three Crusaders. Even that didn’t seem as exciting as this. Of course, my flight time that night was 0.1 with a water landing. Yours was a great story. Well delivered.
I knew that ship, and saw it a number of times between 1969 and 1971, when it was ferrying immigrants from England to Australia. Some family friends travelled there on it, and we saw their arrival at Sydney, Circular Quay.
I was on the ship USS Saratoga that night. I worked in the OM division. I remember being in the catwalk, that evening, headed to
the port side sea sparrow missle lauching deck. Your Tomcat was taking off when I was on my way
to my workstation. I remember how proud everyone was that we were not going to sit back and let
someone kill an American the way they did. I also remember President Reagan giving everyone "that a boys"
over the ship wide announcement system.
I hear you. Yes killing a person in a fckkkiing wheel chair. UNCIVILISED Horrible PEOPLE
The rest of the story. I was aboard the USS Yorktown CG 48. This is what we understood what happened..the whole cruise was interesting.
I was there , VF103 troubleshooter, white shirt , Letter of Commendation from Capt Chapman
Great review of the situation. I got the debrief from the ground element of SEALs on those 141's. Interesting to hear the air side of the story..
CDR. Massey was Skipper when I was with VF-103 Jolly Rogers.
There's a lot more to the story once they got on the ground. The Italians didn't take it very well. They didn't think much of the US military "hijacking" a civilian airliner to their country and spiriting someone away. He mentioned the second ring of Delta were facing out. That's wasn't for Palestinian terrorists trying to get the guy back.
I did two 6 month deployments to Sig while serving as a Naval Aircrewman in 1991 & 1994. Had no idea this happened.
I have been wondering for DECADES if the pilots from Saratoga were ever going to give their side of the story! I wish I were at this presentation! There are so many questions I have since I did a lot of work on this back then.
Fascinating story…Thank You for your servise! Proud to be an American…Ric
Skid, great to hear the WHOLE story all this time later! Fish.
Here are two articles that provide a little more detail about the events:
"OTD in 1985, the Achille Lauro incident: when the U.S. Navy forced an Egyptair Boeing 737 off course" on "theaviationist"
"US Navy fighter jets intercept Italian cruise ship hijackers" on "history"
(you'll have to search to find those)
More interviews, stories! Excellent job.
My neighbor growing up flew on this mission.
I was at NASSIG when this happened, so I have additional perspectives on the amazing event. Unfortunately, it's in the AOC private group on Facebook, so I may not post a link to that.
I have to laugh at the idea that Ollie North "brainstormed" anything.
Great story. Next time feel free to show us more than a snippet of the slides. I know what this guy looks like and I can hear him.
And leave the cap off the water bottle if you're gonna be slugging on it every 10 seconds.
You know that story wasn’t told alot back then, I was in VF-103 (The Sluggers) on that cruise when that incident occurred i was a jet mech in the squadron
I was stationed at Sigonella from 84-86. I remember
I was a ships company AO1 on Saratoga during this time and remember it well.
I was in ordnance control that night.
WOW!!!!! Mad skills!! Thanks for sharing!
❤👏🙌
The follow up between 737 flying out escorted by f104 from ami and f14 could be interesting...
Very interesting “ inside “ story. . But because I’m a Public speaker “ advisor “ I’m always watching there techniques. First rule is wet ur throat first small sip. Then take a deep breath and breath out ( resetting ur oesophagus ) because there are muscles that continue to pulse ! If you try to speak to early after Drinking you will always get a small backwards pulse of fluid that messes up your vocals and can cause coughing. Etc. no joke. I know it breaks the excitement and continuity of the speech ! But that’s better then stumbling wheezing and for the next few minutes semi drowning lol. Check it. People want to rush through the Story. But good speakers take there time ! Drink relax there throats then start in to the exciting bit. No joke .
Many folks here don't realize that Capt. Massey was speaking to our local EAA chapter. This was the first time he shared the story in public and there was no pressure to rush the story. We just captured the moment. Unfortunately, this doesn't fit the mold who want quick and fast entertainment. This is not what this was about, and I'm glad.
Netflix needs to make this into a documentary.
Movie
Ok the hijacker’s on the ship are the same ones on the plane? Or was it two separate hijacking’s that his ship happened to be near? The hijacker’s were purposely allowed on the plane in Egypt so the US could try and force it to land? Lol sorry! The pilots of the civilian airliner was trying to hit you because the terrorist told them to? Or the terrorist/hijacker was also the excellent pilot.
have a shot everytime he takes a sip of his water bottle
Thank you all that helped in the Achille Lauro high jacking. As an heir, my grandfather Young Uncle Achille Lauro, a great man . 800 thousand kids where named after him!! He rebuilt Naples after World War 2.
The C-141s were not a Delta Squad. It was SEAL Team Six.
Hey Skid!!! Great brief!
Probably why the Italians gave Gaddafi a heads up during operation El Dorado Canyon
Probably because they didn't want to be the ones Gaddafi retaliated on after the strike?
It is easy to strike a country when you aren't the one bordering it
Great Job sir
In my opinion the F-14 is the most beautiful aircraft of all time. It is my favorite jet aircraft of all time.
Bill "Skid Roe" Massey? He eventually went on to be skipper of the 103 Jolly Rogers.
RIP, Skid
Was there on the ground - never heard this side of the story - Well done r/
My unit had ANPVS5 . I was in that unit 1984-1986. The Air Force used the An/pvs-5a to fly night ops with? So why wouldn't the Navy??
would've been nice to see more of the screen he was pointing at...
30:58 [Looking east?] Those hangars in the distance were VR-24 (and something else, i forget. The airport terminal, AIMD, Avionics VANS, The P3 Hangar and HC-4's hangar should be off camera to the left). Beyond all that was the Italian Patrol Props. Not sure where the plane was parked (i wasn't super familiar with the exact ramp design of SIG as being a junior AS working at AIMD in 1991-3, all i needed to know was where the LOX farm was and the bus stop to NAS 1)
NASWOG! That's the VP hangar on the left and HC-4 hangar on the right. Looks like the plane is near where the hot pit was. The VR hangar was farther around to the right. HC-4 94-96 AIMD GSE 96-98.
I remember when this happened, I was 17 yrs old
It is sad that you didn't get more likes and comments.
wow, what a story, that was really good!!
CV-62 was doing the MED/I,O, tour it sucked to be denied PERTH port, 4 days of ports for 6 months OUT AT SEA!!! never again. Singapor, Palma was ok but not worth the waste of time away from females and beer at my young age.
i think he actually WORKED HARD not to say WHO the actors on the plane WERE :( or HOW the 747 became a ISSUE in the first place. and I was ALIVE perhaps his age or older at the time i remember the SHIP...but, not egypt air 737
I was 13 when this happened and it inspired Me to join the Navy when I was of age, That and the Fact these Scumbags killed a American Handicapped Man and threw Him and His Wheelchair overboard.. I remember hearing these Dirtbags getting apprehended and a warm feeling in my gut.. Thanks for your outstanding actions that night..👍
This would be a great movie🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
I was there for this on Sara in V-4. TINS, what he's describing.
Good stuff !!
"I don't know any-thing about this"
He needs to though
Interesting story. Maybe you can do it again English.
@Phillip Banes chew to death, flight opps, clt's, going down, lso, cat one, fan tail, nose into the island, taxi the cat, night trap, tanking, vector us north, dox calls, bring him to the nose, hud, halling the mail lights out, etc.
Much more went on that night and the following day related to the US / Italian relations and how events played out. In the end, the long arm of America got Abbass! Thank God! The behavior and attitude of the Italian government makes my stomach curdle?
Cope American. Italy wasn't and still isn't your toy, the Americans had no right to operate in Italy that night
I was there…..
My uncle's cruise ship!
#CAS RSQ.#APPROVED18
33:39 Christians In Action. Lol. Nice job. Great story.
I would like to talk to you I was on the inside at Sig
Sutton, leave me an e-mail address and I'll try to get you in contact w/ Capt. Skid.
I was 2 months and one day old
How many other viewers know what Massey meant when he said they had a TARPS airplane so they had infrared to take a Polaroid? LOL Still topgun geek after all these years. Flaps locke down (real slow sloppy airplaine) had to tank dirty and have a dark night trap. and mode 1, still catches a 3 wire. After a 6 hour sortie 20 feet from a bogie airliner at 32,000 amazeballs!!!
How much water can this guy drink?
Who cares
This man is giving us honest intel and your worried about his fluid intake? Take a seat in the back of the class!
What makes you think he’s drinking water 😂
He may be diabetic
This guy loves his moment in the spotlight and takes hid time. Could have summed this up in about 15 minutes not 43 minutes
And after all that, the Italians released all the terrorists with an apology.
Pretty much false
Ha! "Christians in action". I was 12 when this happened. This actually started my fascination and desire to fly the F14. Yes, before "Top Gun" came out. Went to a military high school and everything (New York Military Academy). Got stopped when I went to MEPS and discovered my kidneys were failing.
Aaron Britt Sorry to hear that your body put your dreams on hold. My hopes that you are doing well and forward. E-7 USAR Retd
I lost a lot of sympathy for the Palestinian cause after this incident. Pushing that wheelchair off the ship has stuck with me. RIP Leon.
The Palestinians still deserve an official country.
Ok but they will still attack Israel with rockets,suicide bombers,etc.
@@briancooper2112 it's a tactic of the disenfranchised. Study the Irgun, during Israeli War of Independence.
Bullshit! there's no such thing as a Palestinian, theyre Arabs and they belong to the adjoing Arab Muslim crazy states. Anyone speak Palestinian?
I wroke tha it mession
robotech the best tomcat
“military intelligence”!😂😜🤔🤨
Vsry well done USA , those were President Reagan times
Don't bother to watch this... trust me
Mik Roks is WRONG ,it's worth listening to the whole thing.
Reagans reaction???!!!! What a contrast with the reaction to the attack on USS Liberty. 🤔🤫🥸
why would any of it be classified? lol.. it wasn't classified when it happened...
Wow. Was this boring for a no end story.
What the heck??
That was the longest story about nothing by the thirstiest guy in the world!
And I still know nothing about what it was all about!!
Whaaaat???
way to long winded. cut to the chase man
Pretty sure we served together in VF-103 Mr.Massey🫡
60 min is a long time. It's 5 min now
Great story just wish you talked in more detail, left way too much out?
Some items still classified
He could tell you more but then he would have to kill you
free palestine
Stopped watching because guy kept repeating himself and never getting to the story line. I've better things to do!
That was a mistake on your part.