Russian Bear Aircraft and U. S. Navy Carrier Overflights

Yesterday we displayed the most recent Russian overflights of a U. S. Navy Aircraft Carrier, the USS Nimitz. This is not a new event. During the "Cold War" it was a common place experience. A fellow USS Ranger Sailor of the early 1960s sent me this image. It shows a Bear aircraft operating in the vicinity of the USS Ranger (CVA-61). As you can see the year this happened is 1987. My fellow USS Ranger Sailor of the 60s also reported that during his time in Ranger the Carrier was overflown by Bears during each of the three cruises where he was a participant

During the Cold War it was thought that the Russians were attempting to discredit the U. S. Navy and their potential to wage war by clearly showing that they, the Russians, could always find our Carriers at any time.

The USS Ranger (CVA-61) was known as "The Top Gun" way back in the 1960s. On this date, February 14th, as we remember the First Salute by a Foreign Nation, France, to our new U. S. Flag it is also appropriate to know that John Paul Jones was in Command of the Ranger which flew this new Flag. I recall a ceremony being held on the Flight Deck of the USS Ranger (CVA-61) to observe this historic event. The Marine detachment conducted Evening Colors as members of the Crew stood at attention on the Flight Deck. A well done ceremony which allowed us Ranger Sailors to celebrate and also remember our proud U. S. Heritage. We we were deployed to the far Pacific and we were in Port.

Even today, the Flower Child is proud to be a part of the History of the USS Ranger legacy.