09-23-2021, 07:28 AM
Welcome Avohill!
In 1977 I bought a Yamaha XS750 and brought it home on the USS Constellation. Once in San Diego (North Island). It was offloaded and we put it on a C-9 aircraft and flew home to Norfolk (our squadrons base). Thats the simplified story. It turned out to be a lot more complex in my case.
Anyway, the bikes were loaded on the boat in Yokosuka and put in one of the Hangar bays. After we pulled out, the customs inspectors flew onboard and checked all the bikes VINs to ensure they were US legal. Then they were put somewhere down in a hold til we got the San Diego.
We were told we were the last that were allowed to do that. But that was then. Maybe times have changed. The guys who had been over there during the Vietnam years said you could buy a bike at the Navy Exchange for $1 per CC. Don’t know if that is true.
We also brought back a TON of stereo gear. Bought almost all of it at the Navy Exchange in Olongapo in the PI. Our squadron had enough to fill at least 3 tri-wall containers and that all got on a C-9 back to Norfolk too. Fun times!
In 1977 I bought a Yamaha XS750 and brought it home on the USS Constellation. Once in San Diego (North Island). It was offloaded and we put it on a C-9 aircraft and flew home to Norfolk (our squadrons base). Thats the simplified story. It turned out to be a lot more complex in my case.
Anyway, the bikes were loaded on the boat in Yokosuka and put in one of the Hangar bays. After we pulled out, the customs inspectors flew onboard and checked all the bikes VINs to ensure they were US legal. Then they were put somewhere down in a hold til we got the San Diego.
We were told we were the last that were allowed to do that. But that was then. Maybe times have changed. The guys who had been over there during the Vietnam years said you could buy a bike at the Navy Exchange for $1 per CC. Don’t know if that is true.
We also brought back a TON of stereo gear. Bought almost all of it at the Navy Exchange in Olongapo in the PI. Our squadron had enough to fill at least 3 tri-wall containers and that all got on a C-9 back to Norfolk too. Fun times!