A great writing from an old S2F pilot who had both a sense of humor and a remarkable way of putting the carrier experience in the following terms. In my (humble) opinion there are those pilots who are tailhookers and those who are not and not much in between...
1. In the Beginning, God created the heavens, and the Aircraft Carrier, and the seas upon which to float it; and yet there was complete Darkness upon the face of the earth. And, as we traveled, there came to us, as a voice out of the darkness, an angel of the Lord, saying, "On centerline, on Glideslope, three quarters of a mile, call the ball." I reflected upon these words, for I was still
yet engulfed in complete darkness. With deep feeling and doubt overwhelming my countenance, I glanceth towards my companion at my right hand and saith, "What seeth thou, Trusted friend?", and there
was a great silence. Gazing in a searching manner and seeing naught, I raised my voice saying, "Clara......."
2. And God spoke to me, and He said, "You're low....power". As the Lord saith, so shall it be, and I added power; and lo, the ball riseth up onto the bottom of the mirror. But it was a tainted red glow, and surely indicateth Satan's own influence. And God spoke to
me again saying, "Power...Power...Power!!!!.... fly the ball." And lo, the ball riseth up and off the top of the lens, and the great darkness was upon me.
3. And the voice of the Angel came to me again, saying, "When comfortable, twelve hundred feet, turn downwind." Whereupon I wandered in the darkness, without direction, for surely the ships radar was beset by demons, and there was great confusion cast upon
CATCC, and there was a great silence in which there was no comfort to be found. Even my TACAN needle spinneth......and lo, there was chaos; my trusted companion weepeth quietly unto himself and from close behind I heard weeping and gnashing of teeth of our flock. There was a great turmoil within my cockpit for a multitude of serpents had crept therein.