Rhythms the Compendium

Welcome to the “Rhythms” home page, a blogvel of sorts in several parts. The author’s attempt was to reveal elements of life aboard an aircraft carrier on the line. He had no idea it would take so long, and leave so very much untold.

— Carroll F. “Lex” LeFon

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Part I The Beginning – Assuming the watch

Part II Reveille, and the morning E-2 launch

Part III A squadron CO prepares to conn the carrier alongside the fleet oiler

Part IV The refueling rendezvous

Part V The carrier refuels, the E-2 maintains vigilance, a target is detected

Part VI The alert fighters are called away

Part VII An emergency breakaway, the alert fighters launch

Part VIII The intercept

Part IX Rules of engagement

Part X A blown intercept

Part XI Out of position, taking a gamble

Part XII A CAS brief, and life on the knife’s edge

Part XIII A near-midair collision, and the gamble pays off

Part XIV Recovering the alert

Part XV Pre-flight, and night sweats

Part XVI Day cat launch

Part XVII Letters home in the overhead tanker

Part XVIII Strat tanking on the Iron Maiden

Part XIX Buffoonery on the tanker

Part XX A fodded engine, the approach to mother

Part XXI Checking in with the DASC

Part XXII Hornet rep to Pri-Fly!

Part XXIII Single engine approach

Part XXIV Single engine landing – an epiphany?

Part XXV Calling away a Time-sensitive strike

Part XXVI Flashback – a nugget joins the fleet

Part XXVII Flashback – liberty in Hong Kong

Part XXVIII View to a JDAM kill

Part XXIX Troops in contact

Part XXX Death from above

Part XXXI Supported and supporting

Part XXXII Heading home to mom

Part XXXIII High holding

Part XXXIV Day Approach

Part XXXV Landing – a fair pass, taxi to the bow

Part XXXVI Post-flight with the BB stackers

Part XXXVII Attack pilot introspection

Part XXXVIII Sunset

Part XXXIX A contact on the bow, and walking for the night go

Part XL – In extremis

Part XLI – A near miss

Part XLII – The night launch continues

Part XLIII – A nugget’s night cat shot

Part XLIV – En route to station, a fuel discrepancy

Part XLV – Troubleshooting

Part XLVI – Decision time

Part XLVII – Decision made.

Part XLVIII – Tanker rendezvous, and troubleshooting

Part XLIX – A night approach, the world awaits

Part L – Another trip to the tanker, bad news

Part LI – The final approach

Part LII – Shutting down

Part LIII – The end

Part LIV – Epilogue

Well: What did you think?

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Back To the Index of Lex’s Blog Posts 

To the New Reader: To eliminate any confusion as to who the author is of this Compendium and all of its chapters, it was Carroll “Lex” LeFon. I have simply re-posted what he started writing 16 years ago.

He wanted to write a book that showed all aspects of the day on a US Navy Aircraft Carrier. I suspect, but have no way of knowing, that a few of these “fictional” characters were modeled on Lex’s own career. But of course, only Lex knew the answer to that question.

If you want to be in the cockpit of an FA-18 Hornet or on the Bridge with the Captain, just to name a couple of places, let Lex be your guide. I think he did quite a job as a “host”, and I am not the only one.

He served on the Constellation, which was a conventionally-powered carrier. So you will even see how they were refueled at sea.

More here and here.

Finally: If you are now hooked (as we are) on Lex’s writing, take a look at his blog posts. The “Best of” index is here. If the hundreds of entries there is too intimating to start, take a look at some recommended posts by category. From flying stories to humor.

Bill Brandt

October 17, 2021