Naval Reserve Officer
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Typically an active duty squadron would be scheduled for at least one seven-hour anti-submarine patrol per day at various hours either night or day. The other 11 crews are scheduled for pilot/crew training. On weekends the reserve squadrons are scheduled to give the active duty squadron some time off.
We would be scheduled for a 0800 takeoff. This meant there would be a 0600 briefing in the wardroom for the entire crew, at which we would be informed what sector of the ocean we were to patrol, the type of search pattern we were to use (random, oblong, square), whether we were to be “active” or “silent” (radar on or off), the type of shipping in our area and whether we would have a submarine playmate to help in the search (i.e., a submerged submarine with sensitive listening capabilities to pick up engine sounds in the water). We would rendezvous with that submarine should it call on VHF and it would send us out on a bearing to investigate. We would also be told how we were to handle shipping. Typically we would be told to "rake" these ships, that is to take photos of the ship at mast high level, at each quarter and over the top. Navy air intelligence was keeping track of all shipping and was very interested especially in the numerous Russian trawlers off our coast. Some of those trawlers had the same engines as Russian diesel submarines and they carried a multitude of antennae designed to listen to a multitude of HF, VHF, UHF channels to gather intelligence. Basically the Russians and the U.S. were in an intelligence and electronic war waged almost entirely silently because of the "silent service" and its capability. We knew the Soviet Union had over 500 submarines at one time. Most were old WWII diesel subs with snorkel capability and there were an increasing number of nuclear submarines being added to their fleet. Just one of those submarines could wipe out our entire Eastern seaboard all the way back to Chicago from 500 miles out in the ocean. Yes, just one submarine with multiple atomic ballistic missiles and multiple warheads could hit Boston, New York, Washington, Baltimore, Atlanta, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Key West, Cleveland, Buffalo, Toronto, Cincinnati and Detroit. Of course, the USSR had numerous submarines patrolling off our Atlantic and Pacific coastlines and we were deathly afraid of what they could do. The entire U.S. fleet was (and still is) very cautious about hostile submarines.
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About the Book
Caulfield was inducted into the US Navy. The next twenty-four years of his life would take this young cadet from flight school in Pensacola, Florida, to a long and honorable career as a pilot and reserve officer. Traversing both the skies and seas between, Captain Caulfield’s life would also be about navigating and managing the twin and sometimes competing demands of military and civilian life.
In Naval Reserve Officer, author Thomas J. Caulfield provides a compelling window into the life of a naval reserve officer, and he shares what it means to be a reserve officer who needs to juggle two careers—and carry them off in a competent fashion! Those interested in becoming military reserve officers should find Naval Reserve Officer enlightening as well as valuable, as Caulfield provides details about not only his military career but also his civilian career as a teacher, counselor, and professor.
Whether it was hunting submarines over the Atlantic in a P2V patrol aircraft, navigating family life and a career in education, or rededicating himself to the US Navy as part of the reserves, Captain Caulfield’s experiences speak to a life of responsibility, commitment, and service to both country and family. Join him from the beginning and see what it takes to find success as a reservist, educator, and husband.
About the Author
Thomas J. Caulfield joined the US Navy in 1955, and he served as a naval aviator at NAS Brunswick, Maine. Following his active duty flying a P2V patrol bomber, he became a Ready Reservist while simultaneously conducting his career in education as a teacher, guidance counselor, and college professor. He is now retired and a professor emeritus at Canisius College, and he lives in both New York and Florida.