New
#601
Just to prove I was young once:
I think it was during navigation qualifying 1968.
This was my second boat, starting first border patrol. Station: twin 50s on port side. Few days before that we had plane target shooting, pilot of the plane towing target was angry as hell and made us go and see holes in his plane's tail.
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Had to be, it's navy !! Almost two years of compulsory service, for dust busters was only one year.
You know old navy saying: "If it moves, salute it, if it doesn't, paint it". Those plywood, WWII Elco boats needed painting every time in port. 3 weeks of patrol, mostly south islands toward Albania and 2 days of painting and maintenance to leave boat in pristine condition for next crew to take for 3 weeks. One week of shore duty and almost 2 weeks out of uniform. We had a house on the Adriatic coast 40 Km from the base so I spent free time there. Man, we were elite, the rest of the navy had to work every day of service. Once I rowed my private boat those 40 clicks to get to the base.