(Another AV8RSTUFF Creation): A landing signal officer or landing safety officer (LSO), also informally known as “PADDLES” (United States Navy) or “BATSMEN” (Royal Navy), is a naval aviator specially trained to facilitate the “safe and expeditious recovery” of naval aircraft aboard aircraft carriers. Originally LSOs were responsible for bringing aircraft aboard ship using hand-operated signals. Since the introduction of optical landing systems in the 1950s, LSOs assist pilots by giving information via radio handsets. This patch was created for the LSO’s of the PACIFIC FLEET to wear on the back of their “float coats” and show “skeletal hands” assisting an F/A-18 Hornet onto the deck and does NOT come with velcro attached.
