During the 89 IO cruise the Cochrane handed over the towed target used by the USS Midway planes to the USS Reeves before making a port call inside the "footprint of freedom" for the night. That night while dusk was falling the USS Reeves took a 500lb bomb to the bullnose and spent the night fighting the fire. Luckily no one was killed but the damage was extensive and there were several injured sailors. In a lucky twist of fate the accident happened just after dusk when the ship called in all sailors for lights out operations.

For anyone who ever worked the line pulling back in the towed target I thought this story would bring back some memories.

Former FC3 AN/SPG-51C/D Radar Tech on board the USS Cochrane 88-90.