Leroy-A.-Mendonca

The USNS 'Mendonca (T-AKR 303)' brought the wreckage of an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Augusta Bay Port Facility in Sicily on Aug. 16, 2022 to be transported back to Norfolk, Virginia. The Super Hornet blew off the deck of USS 'Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)' on July 8, 2022. The single-seat Super Hornet belonging to Strike Fighter Squadron 211 (VFA-211) “Fighting Checkmates” and assigned to Carrier Air Wing 1 was knocked off the deck of the carrier in unexpected heavy weather.The crew of the 'Mendonca' assisted with planning the lift, landing the aircraft from the salvage barge’s crane, and securing the F/A-18 on deck. The aircraft was recovered on Aug. 3 from a depth of approximately 9,500 feet by a team from Task Force (CTF) 68, Naval Sea Systems Command’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV),' Harry S. Truman', Naval Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic, and US 6th Fleet embarked on the multi-purpose construction vessel MPV 'Everest'. It was then transported to Italy. The Super Hornet was recovered using a CURV-21 remotely operated vehicle to attach specialized rigging and lift lines to the aircraft. A lifting hook was attached to the rigging to raise the aircraft to the surface and hoist it aboard the 'Everest'. Report with photos: https://theaviationgeekclub.com/usns-mendonca-transports-recovered-navy-f-a-18e-aircraft-to-the-us-the-super-hornet-blew-off-deck-of-uss-harry-s-truman-aircraft-carrier-in-july/