Colors of the Flight Deck – Blue and Purple

In a continuing series on my humble electronic home, I want to introduce you to the many and varied colors of shirts worn on the Flight Deck of your typical Aircraft Carrier. The color is significant in what the people are doing and even within the color there are differences.

Explained herein Today's lesson: The Blue and Purple Shirts.

The Blue Shirts, like the Yellow Shirts are Aviation Boatswains Mates (H) and are members of the ships company assigned to the Air Gang (V1 division usually) and work with the Yellow Shirts when aircraft are moved by tractor. It is the Blue Shirt that pulls the chocks and chains off the aircraft and act as spotters during the move. They ensure the aircraft under tow does not hit anything while it is being moved. At the completion of the move, they reinstall the chocks and chains and move on to the next aircraft move.

A Blue at the wheel of a tow tractor during respot of a War Hoover. (USN Photo)

After sufficient training Blue Shirts move to being tractor drivers and eventually, they move up to and become Yellow Shirts. You find Blue Shirts on the Hanger Deck as well (V3 division), assisting in the move and spotting of aircraft down there is even more perilous than up on the flight deck because of the closeness, the tight confined space. Blue Shirts are also tasked with the operation of the large aircraft Elevators which move aircraft from the flight deck down and into the hanger.

A pair of Blue's have pulled the chains off this Marine AH-1 Cobra, it is typical when launching any helo to show the crew that their chains have been removed. Thus the one holding them up, inventory. (USN Photo)

Blues tinkering with the Chains on this V-22. (USN Photo)

A pair of Blues waiting for their next assignment. Note the wheel chock. (USN Photo)

The Purple Shirts or 'Grapes' are also Aviation Boatswains Mates but of the 'F' variety for Fuels. These men and women haul large and heavy hoses to each aircraft and pump them full of gas. This is done almost as soon as the engines are shut down after a flight.

A 'Grape' in their natural pose,

bent with the weight of the fuel hose. (USN Photo)

The fuel hoses are rolled up on large reels that are stationed every 100 feet around the edge of the flight deck. From each of these stations the Grapes control pumps down inside the ship that will pressurize each fuel hose forcing the JP5 fuel into the aircraft. Usually each aircraft is topped off with gas and in only a few instances are the Grapes called upon to 'de-fuel' an aircraft, bringing it down to a specific fuel load.

This is a long run out of hose here. (USN Photo)

The Blue and the Purple, vital personnel in the mix, the salad of the flight deck.

BT: Jimmy T sends.