Shadow Flight

Cangemi clicked his mike twice to acknowledge the radio transmission, switched to the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC), then switched again to the LSO standing on the side of the flight deck. The LSO platform was adjacent to the arresting gear at the stern of the carrier.

"Animal One with a sick right engine, and ah… hydraulic problems."

"Okay, Animal," the senior LSO said in a reassuring tone, "hang onto it. Left two-seventy into the grove."

"Animal One," Cangemi replied a second before the right engine fire warning light flashed on and off momentarily.

"Oh… no," Cangemi said to himself as he approached the carrier at 3,000 feet and 360 knots. "Just two more minutes… give me two more minutes."

The fighter pilot watched the ship pass under him as he started slowing and banking to the left. "I'm going to trap on this pass," Cangemi said to himself, "if I have to taxi to the one wire." He lowered the flaps as the leading edge slats deployed automatically.

The F/A-18 continued to decelerate as Cangemi lowered the landing gear and tailhook. He increased power on both engines to compensate for the drag, glanced at his angle-of-attack indicator, then looked out at the wake of the carrier.

Concentrating on his approach, he did not see the right engine fire warning light flicker twice, then glow steadily.

"Animal One," the LSO radioed urgently, "you have smoke-negative, you're on fire! You're burnin' Vince!"

Cangemi snatched the right throttle to cutoff and activated the fire extinguishing system. The fire light remained illuminated as he tightened his turn toward the carrier.

"Hornet ball!" Cangemi radioed as he added more power on the left engine. The angle-of-attack indicator continued to rise, forcing the pilot to ease up the port throttle further.

"Roger, ball," the LSO replied, trying to quell his apprehension. "You're lookin' good."

Cangemi, concentrating intently on the bright orange meatball, angle of attack, and lineup, did not detect the drop in emergency hydraulic pressure.

"You're going low… too low!" the LSO shouted. "Power! POWER!"

Animal One, seconds from touchdown, shoved the left throttle forward. The stricken fighter plane climbed through the glide slope as Cangemi tried frantically to force down the Hornet's nose. He recognized that the controls were frozen as the carrier deck rushed up to meet him.

"Oh, god, I'm sinking like a rock!" Cangemi yanked the left throttle to idle and shoved on the control stick, diving for the deck. The burning fighter sank toward the end of the mammoth ship as Cangemi fought desperately to salvage the landing.

"Wave off! Wave off!" the LSO shouted as the F/A-18, flying left wing low, slammed into the rounddown at the aft end of the flight deck.

The fighter shed its landing gear, along with the left wing, then caught the number one arresting wire. The crushing impact, followed by the violent arrestment, separated the fuselage three feet behind the cockpit. The Hornet's nose and cockpit, minus the canopy, continued up the flight deck on its left side, stopping four feet from the angled deck edge.

Cangemi, rendered semiconscious during the 160 mile-per-hour crash, struggled to free himself from the smoking wreckage. He could see waves passing almost directly below him.

Three hot-suit firefighters and a paramedic reached Cangemi at the same time. They assisted the stunned aviator out of the remains of his cockpit, then placed him on a stretcher. The paramedic helped remove Cangemi's helmet, then placed it on the fighter pilot's chest.

Cangemi looked at the helmet in astonishment, then said a silent prayer. The left side of the marine red and gold helmet had been ground paper thin where Cangemi's head had slid on the rough flight deck.

Chapter Nineteen

CABLE NEWS NETWORK

The CNN anchorman adjusted his tie for the third time, smoothed back his hair, and waited for his cue.

"Tensions in the Gulf of Mexico continue to escalate as President Jarrett attempts to resolve the B-2 hijacking. CNN has learned that another air battle has taken place, this time over the Straits of Florida. Initial reports indicate that American carrier planes were attacked only minutes ago by Cuban-based MiG fighters.

"A Pentagon source confirmed that two fighters from the carrier America were lost. The fate of the crews is unknown. Cuban losses are unconfirmed at this time.

"Premier Fidel Castro has issued a harsh warning to the White House, prompting legislators to call for immediate sanctions against Cuba. In a statement released minutes ago, Premier Castro stated that any further aggression on behalf of the United States will result in a state of war being declared by his government.

"The official newspaper of the Cuban Communist party, Granma, announced that any airplanes, including civilian aircraft, violating Cuban airspace will be shot down.