AIRCRAFT CARRIER OUT RANKED

ONE FOGGY NIGHT,

A UNITED STATES AIRCRAFT CARRIER WAS

CRUISING OFF THE COAST OF NEWFOUNDLAND

AND THE JUNIOR RADAR OPERATOR

SPOTTED A LIGHT IN THE GLOOM. 

HERE IS A TRANSCRIPT OF WHAT HAPPENED NEXT.

THE RADAR OPERATOR WORKED OUT THAT

A COLLISION WAS LIKELY UNLESS THE

OTHER VESSEL CHANGED ITS COURSE. 

SO HE SENT A RADIO MESSAGE.

U.S. AIRCRAFT CARRIER RADAR OFFICER:

'PLEASE DIVERT YOUR COURSE AT LEAST

7 DEGREES TO THE SOUTH TO AVOID A COLLISION'.

BACK CAME THE REPLY:

'YOU MUST BE JOKING,

I RECOMMEND YOU DIVERT YOUR COURSE INSTEAD'.

THE U.S. RADAR OFFICER REFERRED

THE MATTER TO HIS SUPERIOR OFFICER. 

AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT AS INSUBORDINATION.

AS A RESULT THE CAPTAIN OF THE

AIR CRAFT CARRIER SENT A SECOND MESSAGE. 

'I BELIEVE THAT I OUT RANK YOU,

AND AM GIVING YOU A DIRECT ORDER

TO DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW!!!'

CANADIAN RADIO OPERATOR: 

'THIS IS A LIGHTHOUSE. 

I SUGGEST YOU TAKE EVASIVE ACTION.'