A Rainbow of "Shirts" & "Shoes"
The complement of men and women aboard an aircraft carrier is impressive. From seamen, airmen, and firemen to officers and the Marines, eveyone has a role and a host of responsibilities.
Flight Deck Colors
Much goes into flight operations aboard today's modern US Navy aircraft carriers.
Preparations for a launch or recovery very much resemble a well-choreographed ballet.
Those involved in the evolution have specific, clearly defined roles, and are easily recognizable by the color of their jerseys and helmets.
From: http://www.navysite.de/cvn/catcolor.htm
The "Shirts"
Blue Shirts - Handling Crew
- Plane handlers
- Aircraft Elevator Operators
- Tractor Drivers
- Messengers
- Phone Talkers.
Brown Shirts - Plane Captains
- Air Wing Plane Captains
- Air Wing Line Leading Petty Officers
Green Shirts
- Catapult & Arresting Gear Crews
- Airwing Maintenance Personnel
- Cargo-handling Personnel
- Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Troubleshooters
- Hook Runners
- Photographers Mates
- Helicopter Landing Signal Enlisted Personnel (LSE)
Purple Shirts - The "Grapes"
- Aviation Fuels
Red Shirts - Weapons (reports to Squadron Ord Petty Officer)
- Ordnance Men
- Crash & Salvage Crews
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)
Yellow Shirts - Flight Deck Directors
- Aircraft Handling Officers
- Catapult and Arresting Gear Officers
- Plane Directors
White Shirts - Safety (reports to Safety Officer)
- Air Wing Quality Control Personnel
- Squadron Plane Inspectors
- Landing Signal Officer (LSO)
- Air Transfer Officers (ATO)
- Liquid Oxygen Crews (LOX)
- Safety Observers
- Medical Personnel
The "Shoes"
This section is still being developed... please stay tuned.