Found this in a stack of photos though it interesting... 1967 Westpac, USS John F. Kennedy. Forward of the green house, elevator 1 seen 2 RA5Cs. My squadron, and the type of bird flying, (escorting) this Bear, took the picture.
Plains on the bow, says recovery opps happening. A Phantom F-4 hooks the wire on the stern, snagging wire 1. Across the deck 2, A-3 tankers sit, they had Green Stamps logos on the lower rear fuselage, remember those?
Every American house hold had free toasters and coffee pots, redeemed with the filled books of stamps, bonus for buying xyz gas.
Front of the super structure, a C-2, sits, we loved the cod, true air mail. Up from a mix of A-3s, man eaters and F-4s
This Bear was most likely filming and watching these crazy Americans. Catching a wire on this little rectangle floating on the ocean. Russia did not have carriers at this time.
The most hair raising blood pumping ride other then a fast car sporting side pipes. Getting shot off the flight deck, and hooking the wire upon return.
Cheers,
Pep