Lesson in just how huge the ocean really is... not appreciated by the average person who hasn't had the experience of search and recovery on the open ocean..

Lesson #1 I had just come off bridge watch, when man overboard on the Porterfield was announced on the JPJ http://www.ussjohnpauljones.org/AlbumDDG32WesPac68-69_3.htm Successful outcome, he was in the water for 5 hours.. very difficult to find.. and the water in the Asian Pacific was much warmer than quoted, otherwise he would have died of hyperthermia.

Lesson #2 In searching for remains and possibility of survivior when an (F4 or A6 don't remember which) lost flight control on carrier approach, 2am in the morning, I had the watch in CIC, and we knew exactly where the plane went in, we looked for 3 days for remains or remote chance of a survivior.. Hundreds of tiny little pieces that floated. One pilot bailed and helo rescued, other one did not eject or failed eject.. Plane was probably shot up..

Always made me wonder, how many pieces do you need to find to make a finding of death at sea.