Nuclear Seaplane Striking Force - The Aircraft Carrier Replacement

Fascinating, thinking what might have been

I was a Sea Scout sailing out of the Baltimore Yacht Club on the opposite side of Middle River from the Martin Plant. We spent many enjoyable hours either watching the Seamaster taxiing to and from the Martin plant or chasing it during takeoff and landing. Picket boats were always on hand to chase us off if we got to close. The water boiled behind the plane from the jet exhausts as it taxied. On one of its first test flights we watched it taxi out of sight across the bay. After a puff of spoke we saw it taking off in our direction. It took a long time to clear the water and the bartender frantically began moving all his glassware to the floor when it became apparent that it was going to pass low over the clubhouse roof. It was a helluva sight and made of a helluva a racket...

SFC Pete Kain LCDR (Join to see) SGT James Murphy Sgt (Join to see) SGT Mark Anderson SFC(P) Palmer Utley SSG Donald H "Don" Bates SGT Steve McFarland Maj Kim Patterson SPC Michael Oles SR SSG Michael Noll ] SGT Joseph Cabra SPC Jon O. ] MSgt David Hoffman Maj Robert Thornton Sgt John H. Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SSgt Terry P. 1stSgt Glenn Brackin