This is a story that I have put off writing down, for more than 40 years, and it really needs telling, if just for historical sake. I’m sure that the AO’s from VS41 heard this tale over the years but, never from one of those, who supposedly “did the deed”. So, here goes.

            It was probably very late in the year 1968 or very early in 1969. VS41, being a training squadron, was on their 24 hour flight operation, segment of pilot training, I can’t recall what we called it any more. Anyway, my partner Tom and I were on the midnight shift and it was a very cold night, for San Diego, that’s why I think it was at about that time this happened.

Because the old S2E’s were always being declared “down” due to some mechanical problem or another, we were constantly required to transfer all required ordnance to an “up” aircraft. On this particular night we were extra busy, for some reason or another, and were both taking turns making the transfers, while the other stood by in the shop.

The end of the shift was rapidly approaching, we were required to attend morning muster, like always, and so both Tom and I had not gone home yet. We, or at least, I didn’t know it but, all hell was about to break loose. We were all going out to the muster when, as our division officer was passing the Ordnance shop door, he suddenly went ballistic.

Standing just outside the Ordnance Shop door was an old, black, water sand fill practice bomb. It stood a bit over 6 ft. high and about 3 ft. in diameter. It represented the equivalent of a WWII, 2000 pound bomb. During the night, and to this day I think it was Tom, someone had put an old “big Ben” alarm clock inside, and closed the bomb up. Now, if anyone else had heard the clock ticking inside, it would probably have just been a huge laugh but, THE DIVISION OFFICER heard it instead.

 Our division officer was actually an electronics person and really understood little about ordnance. Apparently he thought the ticking inside the “shape” was a time bomb. Well, the chief was forced to open the access on the shape. When he removed the cover and looked inside, all he could say was “Oh shit”. Then he reached inside and pulled this huge old alarm clock out of the shape. The division officer’s face turned bright red and then purple, with rage. That must have been a very embarrassing thing to have happen, become the fall guy for a prank like that; being that he was an officer.

The chief and our division officer didn’t make it to muster and afterwards no one was allowed to go anywhere. Everyone in turn was asked if they knew how the clock got inside the old shape. Finally it was Tom and myself that were called into the chiefs office. “Ok you two, which one of you put the clock in the bomb”, Was the chief’s question. First he looked at me, “I have no idea how that thing got there chief”, was my response, and Tom denied it too.

Well, the chief chewed us both out for a while and then said” ok, get out of my office”, but as we turned to go he said, “wait’ come back. That is the best gag I’ve ever seen, in the entire time I’ve been in the Navy. I don’t know which one of you did it but, for your own good, never pull a stunt like that again, now get out of here before I change my mind”.  A few weeks later, Tom finished his time in the Navy, left, and I have never heard from him since. I caught a lot of flak from the squadron’s officers, from that day on, until I finished my tour later that year.

Thirty three years later:

I got the opportunity to return to San Diego.  I have cousin that is a retired officer in the navy, and still lives there. He took my wife and me onto the base, and I got to visit my old outfit. I got to walk around and actually touch the S3’s, which had replaced the old S2’s. Finally we got around to where the ordnance shop was located. I stuck my head in the door and said. “Hey, do you guys mind if an old AO comes in and looks around”? The person behind the desk said “sure, were you in VS41”? When I said yes he asked, “When were you here”? I told him and his response was “My God I wasn’t even born yet, back then”.  I suddenly felt real old.

We talked for a bit and I finally got around to asking if they still had the old black practice bomb. He said, “It’s still out in the hanger, why”? I said, “Have you ever heard a story about the time when an alarm clock was found inside it”? He said “ya, it’s just another old sea story about VS41, everybody has heard it over, and over why”? I said, “Well I’m one of the two guys’ that was supposed to have done the deed”.

At that point everyone in the shop was there and so, there were handshakes all around and so on. We talked about the days when I was there and how VS41 had trained the only Navy OV10 squadron, VAL4, and how I was part of that story too. Soon it was time to move on. I have never been back.

As with many veterans, I take great pride in having served in our Navy. I also, when given the chance to tell them, I tell the stories about my time in service. Almost always, the story about “the clock in the practice bomb” comes into the mix.

VS41 is now a part of naval history. The time I spent there is etched in my mind for the remainder of my life. There are other stories that I can tell about how Old Tom and I got into some sort of a fix, around the squadron but, the clock in the bomb will always be the best.

I often wonder what ever happened to Tom. I would like for him to know what I learned, that day, when I visited VS41. It may be a bit infamous but, the two of us have a small but, well known, place in the legacy and history of VS41, and maybe he would finally admit that, he is the one who did it, too.

Now someday, if this gets into the hands of the right person, it can be made known that the story about “the clock in the practice bomb” isn’t just a “sea story” but, a true story. No, I’m not the one that did it but, just a “very” first hand witness.

Bob Weldon AO3

VS41- 1/15/1967 through 9/22/1969

Where are you now?

John (Hawkeye) Hawkins   (the quickest study I’ve ever known)

Thomas A. (TA) Meals   (what do ya say slick) (You called me Jake)

John (Ivan) Kapriva       (Don’t ride the flat bed with me)

And the rest of the gang, at VS41 way back then?