Quick story.
Back in the day, it seemed everybody in the Navy was a dipper. I was sitting the Alert 5 on the boat. You already preflighted the aircraft, did a full systems check and are strapped in, all you have to do is start engines and you're gone. Alert 5 means you have to be able to get airborne in 5 minutes or less.
Anyway, it was a gorgeous day, not too loud on the flight deck, not much going on. Had canopy open, just enjoying the view. Across from me was friend of mine, Horse. Horse is a big dipper, I can see him spitting into a bottle that was tucked into his survival vest pocket. His canopy is open, too. Your head is about 10 feet above the ground when you're seated in the plane
Well, here comes Horse's Commanding Officer (CO) wearing his khaki uniform. We're just fucking off giving each other obscene hand signals and razzing each other on the radio. Horse and the CO are trying to have a conversation, but there's just too much ambient noise. Due to Alert 5 status, not allowed to lower boarding ladder without permission from Air Boss in tower. Horse takes his helmet off, still can't understand each other. CO motions for Horse to lean over. Horse unstraps, leans over and drops a stream of spent spit on his CO's starched khaki shirt!!! Hilarity ensued! I'm laughing so hard I'm afraid I'm going to shit myself. The CO is fucking screaming at Horse!!! His face was so red it was almost purple. I get Horse's back seater on the radio. He wasn't paying attention, buried in his radar. I tell Tiny (back seater) what's happening. He peeks over the side and then leans as far forward as he can, basically ducking so the CO won't see him busting out laughing. Everyone but Horse and the CO are basically dying at this point, everyone is all over the radio talking about it. Finally, the CO's rant ends, he stomps off the flight deck.
After the hilarity died down, I wiped my eyes and called Horse. "Horse, you are so fucked." Horse said, 'You have no idea. If we go flying, it might not bother me to get shot down, Saddam's got nothing on my CO.'
We didn't go flying. Dipping was banned in Horse's squadron aircraft. I can still see it all in my mind.
Beautiful.