My first time at sea was on the Nimitz for a two week run out of Norfolk, It was for pilot CQ (carrier qualifications). The squadrons crews were still back in Oceana probably having a good time. I was still a blue shirt and on break would go up to vultures row to watch the the newbie pilots do their touch and go's for credit.
I saw an S3 slam down hard and loose the towbar, the thing flew accross the deck to the portside catwalk, I ran into the airboss -but he saw it already, sh!t I was so glad I wasn't in the catwalk.lol