The image above shows a fighter plane parked on the USS Wasp’s deck in 1952, adorned with humorous tags by the crew. These tags include jokes about the Air Force and a remark about landing on any carrier.

While the graffiti may be embarrassing and funny, it’s not surprising that planes occasionally end up on the wrong aircraft carrier. This was especially common in the 1950s and 1960s when navigation technology was less advanced than it is today. Pilots were more prone to making mistakes without tools like GPS and radar. Additionally, the decrease in major conflicts during that time meant fewer carrier strike groups with multiple carriers in the same area, making it easier for confusion to occur. However, it is still rare for US Navy planes to land on the wrong carrier. In the rare instances that it does happen, the planes are still graffitied as a lighthearted tradition.