text:
July–August 2002
Also: RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76)
July–August 2002
C o n t e n t s
2 Looking Back . . .
10 PCU Ronald Reagan (CVN 76):
Navy's Newest Carrier—Just Add Water
13 OK Two Wire! Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)
Ramps Up New Technology
Navy Tackles Interdeployment Readiness
F e a t u r e s
18 Naval Aviation in the Korean War Series:
Patrol Squadrons in the Korean War
22 The War on Aging Aircraft:
26 Hank Caruso's Aerocatures™ Sketchbook:
Navy's Aging Aircraft
28 The Year in Review 2001
Flagship Publication of Naval Aviation
The U.S. Navy's Oldest Periodical, Established 1917
Volume 84, No. 5
July–August 2002
De p a r t m e n t s
4 Grampaw Pettibone
6 Airscoop
50 People–Planes–Places
ibc Flightbag/ANA Photo Contest
COVERS—Front: Hank Caruso's artwork depicts the mascot of NAVAIR's Aging Aircraft Integration Product
Team (see story and sketchbook pp. 22–27). Back: PH3 J. Scott Campbell snapped AB3 Robert
Schoblocher conducting final checks on a Training Squadron 21 T-45 Goshawk before launching from
George Washington (CVN 73). This page: Ted Carlson captured an SH-60B Seahawk of Helicopter
Antisubmarine Squadron Light 41 on the California coast.
2 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
The Naval Aviation News Year in Review article is
published annually to document key events from
the previous calendar year. This issue's chronology
includes an unprecedented event that affected the
entire nation: the 11 September terrorist attacks on
U.S. soil. Naval Aviation's response to the attacks
was immediate and unwavering.
These pages highlight images from on board some
of the aircraft carriers that stood at the ready to
respond to the terrorist threat in the month after the
attacks. Clockwise from top: a chief aviation warfare
systems operator scans the horizon above Carl
Vinson (CVN 70) from an SH-60H Seahawk on 24
September. A Sailor stands watch on Theodore
Roosevelt (CVN 71) on 13 October as Vella Gulf
(CG 72) steams in the background. Less than a week
following the attacks, a VAQ-141 EA-6B Prowler is
spotted on the catapult before launch from Enterprise
(CVN 65) on 17 September.
PH2(AW) Darryl I.Wood
PHC Daniel E. Smith
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 3
RAdm. Mike McCabe
Director, Air Warfare
Published by the Naval Historical Center under the
auspices of the Chief of Naval Operations
Dr. William S. Dudley
Director, Naval Historical Center
Sandy Russell Editor
Wendy Leland Managing Editor
Morgan I. Wilbur Art Director
JO1(SW) Ed Wright Assistant Editor
JO3 Dan Ball Assistant Editor
Hal Andrews Technical Advisor
Cdr. Peter Mersky, USNR (Ret.) Book Review Editor
Capt. R. Rausa, USNR (Ret.) Contributing Editor
Capt. Ted Wilbur, USNR (Ret.) Contributing Artist
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SEND A DISKETTE unless requested by NANews. For
PHC Johnny Bivera
Runway Run-out
An EP-3E Aries II returned from
an extended reconnaissance mission
at night and began its approach to an
airfield at a naval support activity in
the Mediterranean. The aircraft
commander elected to permit a new
and inexperienced third pilot to
perform the approach and landing at
the unfamiliar airfield.
From the beginning of the
approach, the third pilot had
difficulty. Throughout the
approach and landing the
aircraft commander permitted
aircraft configuration, altitude
and airspeed anomalies to
develop and continue unabated
and uncorrected. The third pilot
maintained excessive airspeed
during the final segments of the
approach and touched down
with only half of the available
runway length remaining.
During the initial rollout a
slight left drift developed and
continued until it was corrected
with sufficient rudder
application. With the EP-3E
well left of centerline and
minimal runway remaining, the
aircraft commander assumed
control. His flight control inputs
generated severe pilot-induced
oscillations in aircraft heading. The
plane veered off the runway twice,
ran diagonally from the end of the
prepared surface and came to rest
left of the extended centerline, well
beyond the end of the runway. The
number one engine erupted in fire
and was promptly extinguished by
airfield firefighting assets. All crew
members successfully egressed with
a few incurring minor first-aid
Grampaw Pettibone says:
Great balls of fire! I'm
referring to those bursting from
my brain, not to mention the blaze
in the bird's number one engine.
Plain and simple, the aircraft
commander allowed a bad
situation to get worse. The third
pilot was placed in a situation
beyond his capabilities—making
an approach and landing to an
unfamiliar field in the dark. Bad
show all around.
Gramps from
13 April 1951
A section of F4U-5N Corsairs
launched from NAS Atlantic City,
N.J., for an air defense exercise.
Immediately after takeoff, the
section came under control of an Air
Force radar ground-controlled
4 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
intercept station and was vectored
toward the New York City area at
15,000 feet. Later, the two aircraft
were assigned to fly at 25,000 feet.
When over Rockaway Beach at
the assigned altitude, the wingman
"tally-hoed" a target above and on a
course of 250 degrees. The Corsairs
were ordered to continue climbing
and to follow the target, an Air
Force B-36.
Passing through 27,000 feet the
leader visually checked his
wingman who was alert and flying
an excellent wing position, as he
had been doing during the entire
flight. At 28,000 feet the leader
noticed his wingman level with his
aircraft and flying erratically,
pitching and rolling. The leader
immediately suspected his
wingman was suffering from
anoxia. He radioed him to switch
to his emergency oxygen system,
but to no avail. The wingman
turned toward the lead aircraft,
passed over it and then fell off into
a steep left spiral. The leader
followed the aircraft down but lost
sight of it against the background
of Manhattan. Nevertheless, he
continued to descend, calling his
wingman by name but never
receiving a reply.
No one witnessed the entire dive.
The aircraft was next seen over
Brooklyn in a shallow dive at low
altitude with wings level. The
aircraft passed directly over the New
York Naval Shipyard at 200 to 300
feet heading 340 degrees. As it
approached the East River the F4U
commenced a right turn and then
dived toward the river. It crashed
150 yards off Manhattan in Corlears
Hook, East River.
Grampaw Pettibone says:
All facts indicated the
pilot lost consciousness
while at high altitude due
to anoxia caused by a
malfunctioning oxygen mask.
The pilot never sufficiently
regained consciousness to avert
crashing. The accident board
recommended that in all highaltitude
aircraft the blinker of
the oxygen regulator be so placed
in the cockpit as to allow the
pilot to see it during all normal
scanning of the instruments. In
the F4U-5N this was not feasible.
It required a rather awkward
motion of the head to look down
to the left to see the blinker. This
was impossible to repeat
continuously while flying combat
tactics and especially while flying
The commanding officer noted
that the wingman, an ensign, had
according to records attended
lectures, demonstrations and
movies dealing with the operation
and use of the oxygen mask for a
total of four hours of ground
training on this subject.
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 5
The first C-2A Greyhound to begin a structural life enhancement
program (SLEP) arrived at Naval Air Depot North Island, Calif.
Structural enhancements to the center wing section and rewiring are
expected to extend the life of the 36 fleet C-2As, to 15,000 flight hours
and 36,000 landings. NADEP North Island will perform the SLEP on
two Greyhounds in 2002 as part of the validation and verification
process, followed by two aircraft in 2003 and four in 2004, reaching
an eventual total of six per year.
Edited by Wendy Leland
PH2 Dwain Willis
Test Squadrons
On 1 May, test squadrons without
alphanumeric designations were
officially redesignated as air test and
evaluation squadrons in keeping
with fleet standards. Previous and
revised designations are as follows:
Naval Force Warfare Aircraft Test
Squadron, NAS Patuxent River,
Md.–VX-20; Naval Rotary Wing
Aircraft Test Squadron, NAS
Patuxent River, Md.–HX-21; Naval
Strike Aircraft Test Squadron, NAS
Patuxent River, Md.–VX-23; Naval
Weapons Test Squadron Point
Mugu, NBVC Point Mugu,
Calif.–VX-30; and Naval Weapons
Test Squadron China Lake, NAWS
China Lake, Calif.–VX-31.
Black Stallions
Marine Heavy Helicopter
Squadron (HMH) 772, a reserve
CH-53E Super Stallion squadron
based at NAS JRB Willow Grove,
Pa., was activated on 14 February
for one year. Attached to Marine
Medium Helicopter Squadron 263,
MCAS New River, N.C., the HMH-
772 Black Stallions will provide
heavy lift capability for the 24th
Marine Expeditionary Unit's
aviation combat element,
augmenting the deployment
capability of the 2d Marine Aircraft
Brite Star Looks
The AN/AAQ-22D Brite Star
forward-looking infrared system
successfully completed laser
designation testing at Yuma
Proving Grounds, Ariz., in March.
Designed to replace the AN/AAQ-
22C system on board the Marine
Corps' UH-1N "Huey," Brite Star
includes a camera, enhanced
optics, improved tracker modes and
a laser designator.
For the Record
Raytheon Aircraft, Wichita,
Kans., received a $30-million
contract for seven T-6A Texan II
training aircraft. The Navy has
ordered more than 40 Texan IIs, with
the first scheduled for delivery by
year's end.
Northrop Grumman received a
$42-million planning contract for
continued preparations toward the
overhaul and refueling of Carl
Vinson (CVN 70).
The first AH-1Z Super Cobra
entered the envelope expansion
testing phase at NAS Patuxent
River, Md.
A Naval Weapons Test Squadron
China Lake, Calif., HH-1N "Huey"
crashed in California on 28 March,
killing two crew members and
injuring four others.
An MH-53E Sea Dragon of
Helicopter Mine Countermeasures
Squadron 14 suffered Class A
damage following an emergency
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 7
H-60 Highlights
On 31 March in Guam,
Helicopter Combat Support
Squadron 5 received the first
three MH-60S Knighthawks to
be delivered to an operational
squadron. Here, during a 4 April
ceremony at Owego, N.Y., an
MH-60S Knighthawk, upper
left, flies an American flag
during the first flight of the
MH-60R Seahawk with the total
weapon system on board, below.
The third AH-1Z Super Cobra arrives under wraps at NAS Patuxent River, Md., in
May for testing with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 21.
Ted Gross
landing in Bahrain on 2 April.
Two members of Naval Weapons
Test Squadron Point Mugu, Calif.,
were killed when their QF-4
Phantom II crashed during the Point
Mugu air show on 20 April.
A Helicopter Antisubmarine
Squadron Light SH-60B Seahawk
was lost on approach to Paul
Hamilton (DDG 60) off southern
California on 4 May. Three crew
members suffered first-aid injuries.
Two T-39N Sabreliners of
Training Squadron 86 were lost and
seven crew members killed
following a midair collision in the
Gulf of Mexico on 8 May.
8 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
In recognition of the contributions
made by service members in response to
the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on
the U.S. and ongoing operations against
the terrorist threat, Executive Order 10448
authorized members of the U.S. armed
forces on active duty on or after 11
September 2001 to be awarded the
National Defense Service Medal. A closing
date is yet to be determined. The medal
was previously issued for service during
the Korean War, the Vietnam War and for
southwest Asia service from 1990 to 1995.
National Defense Service Medal Authorized
Left, before the Helicopter Antisubmarine
Squadron 14 Chargers launch from Kitty
Hawk (CV 63) on a 7 May gunnery
training exercise, AW1 Lance A.
Easterling inspects a .50 caliber machine
gun aboard one of the squadron's H-60
Seahawks. Above, the object of the
gunners' scrutiny during the live-fire
exercise is the inflatable red "killer
tomato" target.
PH3 Adam R. Gomez
PH3 John E.Woods
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 9
PH3 Kittie VandenBosch
PHAN Kristi Earl
The Navy's newest aircraft, the F/A-18E/F Super
Hornet, is now entering the fleet in force. In
December 2001, Fighter Squadrons 14 and 41
were redesignated strike fighter squadrons
(VFA) to reflect their transition from the F-14
Tomcat to the Super Hornet. Above, VFA-14
celebrated its "safe for flight" certification with
the squadron's first operational flight on 15
April. Right, a VFA-115 F/A-18E launches from
Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) on 3 May. Below,
an F-model Super Hornet of VFA-41
prepares to launch from Nimitz (CVN 68) on
13 May.
The standard issue ball cap with "Navy" across the
brow attracts attention in Newport News, Va.,
location of the Precommissioning Unit (PCU) of
the Navy's newest carrier, Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). In
approximately 25 blocks of the city, more than 1,700
PCU Sailors work in uniform. The "Navy" ball cap is
worn by prospective crew members, and it signals PCU
personnel to help integrate the newcomers into the
Sailors later exchange their "Navy" ball caps for
Ronald Reagan plank owner caps—emblazoned with a
symbolic horse and rider over the carrier's flight deck
(above)—after attending a mandatory indoctrination
course that assists Sailors in a school-to-ship transition.
Developed by PCU senior enlisted personnel, the training
includes ship familiarization, basic damage control, CPR
training, military knowledge, and the history of Ronald
Reagan the man and the carrier's shipbuilding process.
Commanding Officer Captain J. W. Goodwin gives
the course introduction. He talks about what it means to
be part of the team and what he looks for in Sailors.
Next, he directs the youngest Sailor in the room to read
from an overhead projector the CO's "four things I don't
like": drugs, sexual harassment, alcohol abuse and lack
of integrity. Each topic is thoroughly discussed by the
skipper. He reiterates that Sailors reporting to the PCU
are hand picked for outstanding qualities and are
expected to perform at that level.
Capt. Goodwin started out in Attack Squadron 66,
flying the A-7E Corsair II and then became a flight
instructor, training students in the TA-4J Skyhawk.
Several years and assignments later he transitioned to the
F/A-18 Hornet in Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25. His
first command came in 1992 at VFA-94. In 1996 he
served as Executive Officer of Carl Vinson (CVN 70), in
1998 became skipper of Rainier (AOE 7), and took
command of PCU Ronald Reagan in 2000.
He firmly believes in teamwork. "This is the crew's
ship, not my ship," Goodwin said. "If you tell me what
your job is here, I will tell you exactly how it effects the
rest of the crew. The way a precommissioning unit comes
together is by teamwork; we get a high quality cut of
10 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
By JO3 Dan Ball
Ball cap photo by JO3 Dan Ball
Sailors. Some have done this before and some are brand
new, but they are all highly motivated. I feel like a
player-coach. I get to play a little bit and I get to coach a
After indoctrination, Sailors are up to speed on the
command and the ship, and wearing their command ball
caps they become part of a unit
whose mission is to get the ship
and personnel ready. They
become watch qualified.
Working out of shipyard offices
while the ship is under
construction, they make weekly
familiarization visits to their
prospective spaces on board
Ronald Reagan and witness the
evolution from bare steel and
wires to finished bulkheads.
Command Master Chief R. T. Conklin came to PCU
Ronald Reagan from VFA-15. With more than 30 years
in the Navy, Conklin is no stranger to large commands.
He was Command Master
Chief on board Dwight D.
Eisenhower (CVN 69) and
former Force Master Chief
Naval Surface Force,
Atlantic Fleet.
Conklin said his priorities
are to support the CO, be
the advocate for the crew,
and lead the chief's mess.
One of his responsibilities is
to ensure that undesignated Sailors
attend an "A" school. Next comes
specialized training needed to run a
new carrier with new equipment. This
could mean traveling to training at
different bases, bringing equipment to
Newport News, going directly to the
manufacturer to train, or going on temporary additional
duty (TAD) aboard another ship, which is a big help to
new Sailors. "When we send them out to ships they are
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 11
Above, Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) under construction at Newport News Naval Shipyard, Va. Below right, Command Master
Chief R. T. Conklin explains the evolution of a PCU. Below, Ronald Reagan CO Capt. J.W. Goodwin welcomes new arrivals.
JO3 Dan Ball
going to come back and measure Ronald Reagan against
that frame of reference, so we set our standards high,"
Conklin said. "From the chief's mess to the very junior
Sailors, we maintain exceptional standards. That
helps our Sailors feel proud to be part of the
team and keeps them setting goals to
accomplish. "
Petty officers like Aviation
Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) First Class
(ABF1) (AW) Raymond Grey take
action. "As leading petty officer,
I'm responsible for getting the
junior guys certified for watch
stations in the department. I organize
detachments for cruises, firefighting
school and crew certification. Sailors
learn a lot by coming here."
The response to the TAD
assignments is outstanding.
Sailors aboard other ships
are more than
accommodating to their
adopted brethren. Even
amidst action like
Operation Enduring
Freedom, they understand
the mission of the Ronald
Reagan Sailors under their
wing. The PCU's goal of
training, training and more training
gets accomplished, and the TAD
Sailors become more well rounded.
"I just came off shore duty
and wanted to get my requals,"
said Aviation
Boatswain's Mate
(Electronics) First Class
(AW) Rafael Corral. "I went
with 14 guys from the PCU to
Carl Vinson. Everyone was
excited about going to sea and
seeing the ports, but when the
September 11th incident happened, port
calls were cancelled. But that was okay. The whole crew
came together, worked incredibly hard and got the
experience we needed to bring back to our ship."
Deploying Sailors to different ships around the world
greatly benefits the ones back in Newport News. The
TAD Sailors work with real equipment in real sea
conditions. "A brand new Sailor has nothing to really
base his school training on," Corral said. "When they go
on TAD they get to see how their training applies to
almost everything they do. Then they come back to the
PCU and teach the Sailors here what to expect."
Training provides a full work day for PCU crew
members, while evenings can be spent at area movie
theaters and nearby shopping malls. The PCU is also
close to Virginia Beach, Fort Story, Little Creek, Colonial
Williamsburg, Busch Gardens and Norfolk. For married
Sailors, good housing and schools are nearby.
While there is no mess hall at the command,
there are many restaurants within walking
distance. A popular diner is Eddie's,
familiar to anyone who has been stationed
at Newport News. During lunch, Sailors
fill the tables while barked kitchen
orders provide "background" for
A favorite event happens once a month
when the ship's mess crew calls for
volunteers to critique potential menu
items. The word travels fast around
the command and a line forms
outside of the host
building. The days of
black-and-white labels
on generic food are
over. Now, first-rate
entrees, desserts, salads
and beverages are
served for all to sample
as the vendors vie for a
slot on the Navy menu.
For many Ronald Reagan
Sailors, this is not their first
PCU. Aviation Boatswain's Mate
(Hydraulics) First Class (AW/SW)
Kenneth W. Letexier, who served
during the final weeks of PCU
Harry S. Truman (CVN
75), said it is interesting
to be part of the
beginning this time. "You
see the putting together of
the whole command, and
lay down all of the
guidelines and administrative
tools. It becomes the
groundwork for how the ship will
be run in the future. The example you set today
will be the standard that future crews go by."
For PCU Ronald Reagan personnel, "setting the
example" seems to be the motto, and many of the
Sailors expressed an interest in extending their tour for
the first deployment. "I came here and saw the ship
basically in pieces," ABF2 (AW) Edric Kidd said.
"Then I learned what was going on and saw parts of
the ship coming together, our spaces coming together,
the crew coming together, and it makes me want to be
there for the first deployment. I want to see what all of
our work accomplished, and really be part of a brandnew
12 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Illustration by DM2 Arturo Chavez
In 1995 Newport News Shipbuilding engineers began
designing the ninth Nimitz-class nuclear-powered
aircraft carrier, Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Modern
technology and experience gained from building the
previous Nimitz-class carriers enabled the engineers to
produce what they call a three-dimensional electronic
product model environment of the ship—a computergenerated
model used for exploration, configuration and
experimentation before the first steel beam of the actual
ship was laid. Advanced methods like this brought forth
major carrier innovations for CVN 76, including a new
island house, bow design and flight deck layout.
"This is the first carrier since Nimitz that has had any
major redesign work," said Robert Gunter, Jr., Northrop
Grumman/Newport News Senior Vice President, Aircraft
Carrier Program. "The carriers after Nimitz would be
termed with a little 'm' for modified, but we looked at
CVN 76 as a big 'M' because 60 percent of the drawings
had to be changed to incorporate all of the improvements
we made to the ship."
Ronald Reagan's keel was laid in 1998, then hull
construction began, and two years later a newly designed
bulbous bow (above) was attached. The lower portion of
the new bow protrudes forward from the ship in a bubble
shape. Odd looking or not, the new design has some
practical applications. It adds buoyancy to the bow,
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 13
By JO3 Dan Ball
reducing drag for better handling at sea
and providing lift to the flight deck. At
722 tons it far outweighs previous bow
designs, but it is so effective that the
Navy is considering retrofitting all
Nimitz-class carriers with it.
The new island house is the same
height as older versions and is placed in the same
location, but is 20 feet longer and has one less deck. This
increases the dimensions of the interior spaces to allow
larger windows, ease of movement and space for future
technology. Notable is the redesigned primary flight
control station. The new design gives the "air boss"
larger windows and a
270-degree view of
the flight deck. On
the navigation
bridge, digital
instruments replace
analog versions in a
"glass bridge" similar
to the "glass cockpit"
in newer aircraft.
Newly designed
consoles let the
bridge crew read touch screens instead of dials
and gauges. Visible from the outside is an upper
stage weapons elevator with port and starboard
access. The new elevator is built into the rear of
the island, and will reduce hangar bay backlog
and speed up the weapons loading process.
Also, the mainmast, aft mast and topside
antennae are arranged differently than on other
carrier islands.
Construction of the island took place
completely indoors, making it much easier for
the builders to access spaces and equipment and
avoid inclement weather. In November 2000 the
650-ton island was moved from the construction site and
raised to the flight deck in one piece by Newport News
Shipbuilding's superlift crane.
There are several changes on the flight deck of Ronald
Reagan. A new design layout extending the port side
angle of the landing area has moved the foul line clear of
jet blast deflector two. The carrier can simultaneously
launch an aircraft from catapult two and trap on the
landing angle. Another visible change is a three-wire
arresting gear design instead of the traditional four-wire
system. The number two wire, located in the same spot
as number three on other carriers, will be the "hit wire."
The new system uses polycore cables designed to
withstand more traps than steel cables and extralarge
pulleys to reduce maintenance and man-hours,
and provides the capability to land potentially larger
and heavier aircraft. The former setup of four
arresting gear engines and one barricade engine is
now four arresting gear engines with two of them
interchangeable as
barricade engines. The
removal of one engine
greatly frees up the
space to flight line
maintenance crews.
The four jet blast
deflectors are also
new, incorporating a
one-panel design with
a side-panel cooling
loop to keep exhaust
gasses from harming
flight deck personnel.
Adjacent to the
hangar bay, the
Aircraft Intermediate
Department (AIMD) will work with 18 Consolidated
Automated Support System (CASS) benches. The
system's Navy standard automatic test equipment enables
the fleet to test electronics at AIMDs ashore and afloat.
The equipment station, or bench, provides
interchangeable configurations that are engineered to
14 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Crew members are invited to sample
foodstuffs, above left, that are competing
for slots on the ship's menu. Above, a
Sailor stands duty at the PCU ship's store.
The store stocks snacks, mementos and
uniform items for visitors and the crew.
Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)
incorporates many innovations,
such as a redesigned island
house with a new weapons
elevator located at the rear. The
island house, shown here during
installation, provides roomier
spaces for the "air boss" and
navigators and better views of
the flight deck.
DM2 Arturo Chavez
keep pace with improved technology and new
requirements. Previous carriers were outfitted with 8
Ronald Reagan is using the fiberoptic Integrated
Communications and Advanced Network control system.
The system uses new automated consoles that replace the
old, red "coke machines" for interior communications.
Three small touch
screens replace large
alarm panels at the
central control station.
Touch screen consoles
will also provide
instant information on the fuel system status and quality
indicators in the 3.5 million-gallon jet fuel system.
These innovations came about through advances in
technology and requests from the fleet. The challenge
was not only to make the newest carrier the most
advanced in the world, but also the safest and most
effective. Ronald Reagan is well on the way to achieving
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 15
Current Schedule
October 2002: Crew moves aboard
February–March 2003: Sea trials
28 March 2003: Contractor's delivery
10 May 2003: Commissioning
Summer 2003: Shakedown cruises
Summer 2004: Arrive at home
port, NAS North Island, Calif.
• Top speed exceeds 30 knots
• Powered by two nuclear reactors
that can operate for more than 20
years without refueling
• Expected to operate in the fleet for about
50 years
• Typical Nimitz-class ship carries 80-plus combat
• Three two-inch diameter arresting wires on the deck
bring an airplane going 150 miles per hour to a stop in
less than 400 feet
• Home to about 6,000 Navy personnel
• Carries enough food and supplies to operate
for 90 days
• Daily newspaper, and radio and
television stations
• 20,000 meals served daily
• Distillation plants produce 400,000
gallons of fresh water from sea
water daily, enough to supply 2,000
• Nearly 30,000 light fixtures and
1,325 miles of cable and wiring for
1,400 telephones; 14,000 pillowcases
and 28,000 sheets
• Towers 20 stories above the
• 1,092 feet long—nearly as long as the
Empire State Building is tall
• 4.5-acre flight deck
• Four bronze propellers, each 21 feet across and
weighing 66,220 pounds
• Steering accomplished by two rudders, each 29 feet x
22 feet and weighing 50 tons
• Four high-speed aircraft elevators, each more than 4,000
square feet
The ship was launched
in March 2001 and
directed by tugboats to
her present location for
further construction.
By Ltjg. Anne Cossitt
The ongoing success of Naval Aviation personnel as
part of Operation Enduring Freedom demonstrates
the high level of readiness of deployed forces. But
between deployments, readiness naturally ebbs,
increasing the effort needed to ramp up again. The
Thomas Group, a consulting company with expertise in
process management, is assisting the
Navy in improving nondeployed
readiness through the Naval Aviation
Readiness Integrated Improvement
Program (NAVRIIP).
"NAVRIIP is a fundamental
change in the way we determine,
manage, coordinate and prioritize
Naval Aviation resource requirements
during the interdeployment training
cycle," explained Commander Bob
Gilbeau, Commander Naval Air
Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (AIRPAC)
supply readiness officer. "It will allow
us to do better with our existing
The program is led by flag officers
from 17 commands, including
Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific
Fleet; Commander in Chief, U.S.
Atlantic Fleet; AIRPAC; Commander Naval Air Force,
U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Naval Air Systems Command
(NAVAIR); Chief of Naval Education and Training;
Naval Supply Systems Command; Naval Inventory
Control Point (NAVICP); and the Defense Logistics
Agency (DLA).
A key element in the process is aligning efforts
between different
supporting commands,
such as the fleet, NAVICP,
DLA and the maintenance
depots. "Before NAVRIIP,
the many commands
associated with the myriad
logistical elements that
define readiness played in
their own lane," said
Captain Mark Clemente,
Commander Fighter Wing,
U.S. Atlantic Fleet. "There
was no formal cross-functional coordination. NAVRIIP
will get everyone speaking the same language and then
working together to fix real problems." Three crossfunctional
teams were created to address the more
difficult challenges.
The first team defines appropriate, acceptable levels of
readiness throughout the interdeployment training cycle
16 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Top, HC-8 CH-46 Sea Knights wait out a
snowstorm at NS Norfolk, Va. Naval Aviation
commands' efforts to maintain readiness during
interdeployment cycles will be aided by the
NAVRIIP program. Above, "Boots on the
Ground" visits allow NAVRIIP teams to gather
information on obstacles to interdeployment
readiness from personnel at all levels of the
chain of command.
and then builds a training and readiness matrix tailored
for each airframe. The team works with type wings to
schedule squadron training requirements and conduct the
right training at the right time. A second team is
responsible for providing parts, people, aircraft and
support equipment to squadrons at the right time and with
the right quality so aviators can continue to meet critical
training milestones. The third cross-functional team is in
charge of planning and programming to ensure that
funding requirements are met.
While it may seem that this program only affects the
highest levels of the chain of command, its success relies
on input from Sailors throughout the fleet. Teams of
maintainers and suppliers from the type commands,
NAVAIR, program offices, NAVICP, DLA and the
Thomas Group travel to naval air stations to conduct
"Boots on the Ground" (BOG) visits to interact with the
troops maintaining and supporting aircraft in order to
identify barriers to readiness improvement.
Recent BOG visits at NAS Whidbey Island, Wash., and
NAS Oceana, Va., enabled fleet aviators and maintainers
to provide input to flag officers on readiness issues. These
visits have already resulted in improvements. For
example, at Oceana "we repair aircraft 24 hours a day, in
three shifts," explained Capt. Clemente. "The preexpended
bin, containing consumables like nuts and bolts,
was open for only two shifts. The third repair shift would
have to wait until the bin opened the next day. There was
an easy fix to that—keep the bin open during the third
shift." As problems are brought to the leadership's
attention through BOGs, steps will be taken to change the
process, working toward solving those problems
consistently over time and ultimately eliminating barriers
that make the process less efficient throughout the fleet.
Capt. Clemente concluded, "This program empowers
the operational chain, the guys who care about flying,
to dive into the issues and fix them." And that's a winwin
Ltjg. Cossitt is assigned to AIRPAC Public Affairs.
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 17
Wendy Leland
18 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Because most of the combat action of the
Korean War took place over the Korean
peninsula, the bulk of the Navy's aerial
contribution to the war took the form of
carrier-based tactical aircraft.
For Navy patrol squadrons
(VP), the war was fought
primarily on the
peripheries of the main
front, mostly in sea-control
and sea-denial missions, and
other roles such as mine hunting.
The Korean War was one hot spot of many
along the Asian landmass attracting the attention of VP
squadrons in the early 1950s. The broader Cold War was
in full chill. The Soviet Union had tested its first nuclear
weapons in 1949, and its large submarine fleet presented
a credible threat to the Navy's carrier and amphibious
task forces. Also in 1949, the Communist Chinese
People's Liberation Army forces had pushed the Chinese
Nationalist forces off the Asian mainland across the
Formosa Strait onto Formosa (now Taiwan). French
colonial forces in Indochina were embattled by an
increasingly strong Viet Minh force led by Ho Chi Minh.
From the Bering Strait to Singapore, Navy patrol planes
had much to monitor.
Although the U.S. Seventh Fleet's carrier task forces
were committed to the Korean area of operations, the
fleet still was charged with the protection of Formosa.
The fleet was able to maintain routine surveillance of the
Formosa Strait with patrol aircraft, which made it
impossible for the Communist Chinese to launch a
surprise invasion of the island.
In the Korean area of operations, VP squadrons
participated in the blockade of North Korea, keeping
merchant shipping and fishing fleets under surveillance
and deterring hostile submarine activity. In addition,
patrol aircraft hunted and destroyed mines, dropped
flares for air strikes, and conducted weather
reconnaissance and search-and-rescue operations.
At the beginning of the Korean War, Pacific Fleet VP
squadrons were equipped with three heavily armed
aircraft types. Martin PBM-5/5S/5S2 Mariners were the
only flying boats in active patrol squadrons (the P5M
Marlin had not yet entered service.) Seaplanes were
increasingly being displaced by land-based patrol
bombers, such as the four-engine Consolidated Privateer
P4Y-2/2S/2B, a holdover from WW II; and versions of
the new twin-engine Lockheed Neptune (P2V-
2/3/3W/4/5), successor to the post-WWII PV-2 Harpoon
patrol bomber.
The Pacific Fleet was equipped with only nine VP
squadrons in June 1950, having disestablished four
squadrons in the first half of the year. VP squadrons were
based at NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.; NAS San Diego,
Calif.; and NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii. They deployed to
NAF Yokosuka, Japan; NAS Sangley Point, R.P.; NAS
Kodiak, Alaska; and NAS Agana, Guam. By the end of
1950, seven reserve VP squadrons were activated, five of
which were assigned to the Pacific Fleet. By the end of
1951, two more active duty VP squadrons were
established in the Pacific Fleet, and two more reserve
squadrons were activated to augment them. NAS
Alameda, Calif., and NAS Seattle, Wash., accommodated
some of the new squadrons. Only one Atlantic Fleet
patrol squadron, VP-7 at NAS Quonset Point, R.I., was
deployed to the war zone, arriving less than one month
before the truce on 30 June 1953.
When the war broke out in 1950, Fleet Air Wing
(FAW) 1 at Guam controlled squadrons deployed to the
western Pacific. In July 1950 FAW-1 moved to Naha,
Okinawa, to control patrols over the Formosa Strait using
one land-based and one flying boat squadron. FAW-6
was established at Atsugi, Japan, to coordinate patrols in
the Yellow Sea and Sea of Japan. Eventually the typical
strength of FAW-6 included three land-plane squadrons
and two flying boat squadrons, as well as two squadrons
of Royal Air Force Sunderland flying boats. These
command structures remained in place throughout the
war, except during a short period when they were
relieved by FAW-2 and FAW-14, respectively.
Only eight patrol planes—PBMs assigned to VP-46 and
the squadron it was relieving, VP-47—patrolled the Far
East when the North Korean invasion began, while VP-
28's PB4Ys were deployed to Guam. Soon, VP-47 was
regrouped and retained on deployment, VP-6's P2V-3s
arrived at Johnson Air Base near Tokyo,
Japan, and VP-42's PBMs staged at
Iwakuni, Japan. VP-28 staged to Naha
and began daily patrols of the Formosa
Strait and the coast of China. Other
squadrons rotated in turn, and also
deployed to far-flung bases and
anchorages such as Hong Kong; the
Pescadores, Buckner Bay and Kadena
in Okinawa; Tachikawa and Itami in
Japan; and Kodiak and Shemya in the
As the North Korean invasion pushed south, VP-6's
Neptunes were used on three occasions to provide naval
gunfire spotting for United Nations warships on the
western coast of South Korea. The squadron's P2V-3s,
armed with 20mm cannon, bombs and rockets, also
launched many attacks themselves against North Korean
targets along the northeast shore.
On 29 July 1950, two crews destroyed a railroad
train with their rockets and guns. On 13 August, crews
sank three boats and two barges engaged in minelaying
near Chinnampo, and damaged two surface craft near
Wonsan. One VP-6 Neptune was damaged in the attack.
An attack on a patrol boat near Chinnampo on 16
August was fatal to another VP-6 aircraft, which
ditched after taking fire. The crew was rescued by the
Royal Navy cruiser HMS Kenya. Patrol planes were
prohibited thereafter from undertaking attack missions
over Korea. VP-6 became the only
patrol squadron awarded the Navy Unit
Citation during the Korean War.
Patrol planes—PBMs, P2Vs and
Sunderlands—were used extensively in
mine hunting, particularly in the harbors
of Inchon and Wonsan. This tedious
activity required the PBMs to fly low
and slow, close enough to detonate a
moored mine with machine gunfire, but
high enough to avoid the mine's
explosion. P2Vs dropped depth charges
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 19
Opposite, a VP-28 PB4Y-2 is
superimposed over the
squadron's first insignia,
approved in 1948. The pirate, or
Privateer, symbolized the type of
squadron aircraft. The cartoon
character holds a bomb in each
hand, intent on sinking enemy
ships. Below, a VP-1 P2V-5
Neptune leaves Atsugi, Japan, on
a patrol over the Sea of Japan on
12 September 1952.
to wipe out magnetic mines.
In 1951 VP squadrons were
pressed into another role, this time
over land, dropping illumination
flares in support of air strikes.
Known as Firefly missions, they
helped deny the night to enemy
supply movements. Admiral
Arthur W. Radford suggested the
use of P4Y-2 Privateers as flare
ships to replace the more
vulnerable R4D Skytrains in
illuminating targets for Marine
Corps F4U-5N Corsair and F7F-
3N Tigercat night hecklers. One
P4Y from VP-772 was modified
for the mission and proved highly
successful, and three more P4Ys
from VP-772 and VP-28 were
assigned as "Lamp Lighters" (later
operated by successive squadrons).
During a typical mission, the P4Y
would rendezvous with four attack
aircraft, search for truck convoys
and illuminate the targets for the attack
Although United Nations forces were
successful in maintaining air superiority over
most of the Korean peninsula, lumbering
patrol aircraft had a few encounters with
enemy aircraft. A VP-42 Mariner was
damaged on 11 May 1952 by a MiG-15
fighter over the Yellow Sea, and on 31 July
1952 a VP-731 PBM was seriously damaged
by gunfire from a MiG-15, which killed two
crewmen and injured two others.
Flights off China and the Soviet Union,
far from protective cover, were more
dangerous. VP-28 P4Ys were attacked over
the Formosa Strait on 26 July by an F-51
Mustang in North Korean markings, and on
20 September and 22 November 1950 by
MiG-15s, all without result. A VP-42 PBM
was lost to unknown causes in the southern
Formosa Strait on 5 November. On 6
November 1951 a VP-6 P2V-3W was shot
down, with no survivors, by Soviet fighters
near Vladivostok. On 18 January 1953
Chinese antiaircraft batteries shot down a
20 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons in the Korean War
Squadron Aircraft Tail Code Home Port
VP-1 P2V-3/3W/5 CD Whidbey Island
VP-2 P2V-2/3W/4 SB Whidbey Island
VP-4 P2V-4 SC Barbers Point
VP-6 P2V-3/3W BE Barbers Point
VP-7 P2V-5 HE Quonset Point
VP-9 P4Y-2 CB Whidbey Island
VP-17 (VP-772) P4Y-2/2S BH Seattle
VP-19 (VP-871) P4Y-2 CH Alameda
VP-22 P2V-3/4/5 CE Barbers Point
VP-28 P4Y-2S CF Barbers Point
VP-29 (VP-812) P2V-5 BF Whidbey Island
VP-40 PBM-5/5S CA San Diego
VP-42 PBM-5/5S/5S2 SA San Diego
VP-46 PBM-5/5S/5S2 BD San Diego
VP-47 PBM-5 BA Alameda
VP-48 (VP-731) PBM-5 SF San Diego
VP-50 (VP-892) PBM-5/5S SE Alameda
VP-57 (VP-931) P2V-2/3W/5 BI Whidbey Island
Opposite, a PBM Mariner is hoisted aboard
Curtiss (AV 4) for servicing during the
Korean War, 8 November 1950.
Note: Parentheses indicate former reserve designations.
VP-22 P2V off Swatow. A Coast Guard PBM-5G picked
up the survivors but crashed on takeoff, resulting in the
loss of 11 fliers, including 7 from the P2V. The survivors
were rescued by a Navy ship. Further such aircraft
incidents and losses occurred in the years after the
Korean truce.
One daring P2V crew amazingly survived a series of
eight or nine intentional overflights of the Soviet Union's
Kamchatka peninsula between April and June 1952. A
VP-931 P2V-3W—modified with special electronic
intelligence equipment in its nose and flown by a handpicked
crew—flew in radio silence over the peninsula at
15,000 feet in search of military installations. When
military sites were detected, an Air Force RB-50 flying
above and behind the P2V photographed the sites. The
snoopers were intercepted on two missions by Soviet
MiG fighters but apparently never were fired upon.
Fortunately, the recently declassified operations never
required the services of the Air Force SB-17 rescue plane
assigned to the missions. This VP-931 (later VP-57) crew
also performed a daring search and rescue flight in July
1953 over Vladivostok harbor for the crew of an RB-50
that was shot down by Soviet fighters. A U.S. destroyer
rescued one of the crewmen.
Land-based patrol planes saw greater use than flying
boats in the Korean War, proving to be more efficient. In
Korea, land-based patrol planes flew 12 sorties for every
9 flown by flying boats.
As with U.S. forces in general, patrol aviation
maintained a high level of presence in the Far East
after the Korean War. Its operations increasingly
focused on peripheral reconnaissance of the Soviet
Union and China, particularly surveillance of the
growing Soviet submarine force and vigilance against
Chinese sabre-rattling against Formosa.
Rick Burgess, a former NANews editor, is Managing Editor of the Navy's
League's Seapower.
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 21
By Hal Andrews
NANews Technical Advisor Hal Andrews
interrupted his education to join the Navy in 1944, but
WW II was over before he could apply his aviation
radio technician skills. He was discharged from
service, attended Cornell University in his hometown
of Ithaca, N.Y., and graduated with a bachelor's
degree in mechanical engineering. Later, he was called
to duty during the Korean War. Afterwards,
he returned to Cornell and completed
graduate school in aeronautical
engineering. With 30 years of civilian
service to the Navy before retiring in 1986,
he has spent his life supporting Naval
Aviation. Here, he recalls his experience
working with patrol aircraft in the Korean
War era.
After going to work for Boeing Aircraft
Company in Seattle, Wash., in 1948, a
friend and I joined the Naval Reserve at
NAS Seattle. As an aviation electronics
technician (AT) with Fleet Aircraft Service
Squadron (FASRON) 895, weekend duty involved
servicing our aircraft, as well as PV-2s and PBY-5As
flown by the patrol squadrons. We also got local flights
and sometimes a weekend hop to NAS Oakland, Calif.,
where we stayed in the barracks overnight.
In 1949 I went East and got married, then my wife
and I settled in Seattle. I learned that with a
mechanical engineering degree, my only path to a
reserve commission was as an aviation machinist's
mate (AD), so I became an AD trainee. After I
reenlisted in early June 1950, our FASRON was called
up in July—on two hours' notice—and briefly moved
to NAS Whidbey Island, Wash. The FASRON soon
returned to NAS Seattle and became an operational
training unit for recalled reserves and newly formed
regular squadrons that would fly P4Y-2s taken out of
desert storage and returned to service. With plenty of
ADs and a shortage of ATs, I switched back to my AT
rating. Our squadron was beefed up with a recalled
augmentation unit from Minneapolis, Minn., and we
had a good radio/radar shop. We even
prepared six P4Y-2s for delivery to the
French in French Indochina, and supplied
ferry crews for some of them.
Those of us who were called up in July
1950 were informed in mid-1951 that we
would be released from active duty in less
than the two-year squadron call-up period.
Meanwhile, I had applied for a new program
which offered commissions to college
graduates on active duty. Ironically, in
October I received both an offer of a
commission if I accepted two years of
additional active duty, and notice of my
release in November.
We put the house in Seattle on the market and
headed back East, arriving in western New York State
for Christmas so that I could begin work in Buffalo at
the Cornell Aeronautical Lab. I was part of an
evaluation team assessing the design of captured
North Korean-operated Russian aircraft under Air
Force contract.
My brief service in the reserves proved to be
another step toward a civilian engineering career in
Naval Aviation.
Hal Andrews as a
Sailor in 1944.
22 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
The War on Aging Aircraft:
One Battle Down, Many To Go
B y J o h n M i l l i m a n
The war began more than
three years ago, but victory
is still far from secure.
Efforts by the Naval Air Systems
Command's (NAVAIR) Aging
Aircraft Integrated Product Team (AAIPT) to keep Naval
Aviation a step ahead of the debilitating effects of age are
starting to pay off. "The first battle was merely getting
on the scope," explained Bob Ernst, head of the AAIPT
at NAS Patuxent River, Md.
"We had to educate the decision
makers about something the
fleet knew all along—aging
platforms and weapons systems
are eating our lunch."
Like the other services, the Navy and the Marine
Corps face significant age-related challenges in
extending the life span of some aircraft into the middle
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 23
A Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 5
maintenance crew works on an HH-46D Sea
Knight on 30 April—almost 38 years after the
Navy accepted the helicopter in 1964.
PH2 Marjorie McMillen
of the 21st century. "The average age of our in-flight
refueling and maritime surveillance aircraft is about 29
years," Ernst stated. "If they were cars in Maryland, they
would qualify for historic license plates."
Recent congressional testimony by senior Department
of Defense officials, including the Chief of Naval
Operations, Commandant of the Marine Corps, various
service secretaries and members of Congress, indicates
that the AAIPT's message is getting through. The
decision makers know about the problem, and sometimes
knowing about it means more funding to do something
about it. "Thanks to the Chief of Naval Operations' drive
for near-term readiness, we have the support to make this
happen," Ernst said. "Now, we have to actually do
something if we want to effectively support these legacy
platforms until their replacements start showing up in 10
to 15 years."
The battle plan involved joining the efforts of the
AAIPT, which stood up in 1999, with similar teams set
up by the other services. This has been accomplished
with the formation of the Joint Council on Aging Aircraft
(JCAA), a collaborative effort by the Navy, Marine
Corps, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Defense Logistics
Agency, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), NASA
and academia. "The JCAA is a true force/budget
multiplier that helps us get fixes to the fleet faster, better
and cheaper than we could do it alone," Ernst said. "It
also increases our credibility, and makes for a stronger
argument on Capitol Hill when asking for funding."
Finding affordable, available and supportable products
for the fleet to ease maintenance burdens is the trick,
explained AAIPT deputy Lieutenant Commander Lance
Hernandez. "When I was in the fleet, I always wondered
why it took so long to get something you knew you
could get commercially. You stand around scratching
your head in the hangar deck wondering why you
couldn't just send out to Radio Shack for a replacement.
Sure, we could find a part that would work right off the
shelf, but would it survive the first trap or the Arabian
Sea operating environment?"
According to Ernst, that sums up the big task ahead
for the team and JCAA. "You can't take stuff right off
the shelf and just slap it on the aircraft. You have to
make sure it's available, it can withstand the harsh
maritime environment and that the maintainers have the
logistics manuals and training to use it. None of these
things are hard, but they all require analysis and
prototyping," he emphasized.
Already, the AAIPT is starting to field some new
technology, albeit without the fanfare accorded to larger
programs. "There are a lot of low-tech solutions that
aren't sexy," Ernst said, "but they can provide immediate
relief once they're mapped to the right application."
Thanks to the team's efforts, a corrosion fighting tool
called the SemPen will soon meet the fleet. SemPen is a
spot primer/paint applicator that's easy to use, easy to
24 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Above, Bob Ernst leads a group of engineers, chemists,
logisticians, technicians and support personnel to develop,
test and field solutions to the challenges of operating aging
Navy and Marine Corps aircraft. Right, Dave Kayser
engineered several options for tackling obsolescence
issues plaguing the F/A-18 Hornet's APG-65 radar.
dispose of and vastly reduces costly overgrinding and
painting of aircraft. Also headed to the fleet is another
corrosion tool called the radial bristle disk, developed
from commercially available automotive paint removing
disks that were found to be too aggressive for aircraft
To fight catastrophic electrical fires, the team is well
along in testing arc fault circuit breaker technology for
aircraft use. "A large portion of our funding for developing
wiring solutions comes from our FAA and Air
Force partners in the JCAA," Ernst added. "I love
spending other people's money."
In addition to hardware, the team is developing
process tools and cost models to address obsolescence.
"A big challenge associated with our aging platforms is
that we can't keep up with the rapid change in
technology," Ernst stated. "At best, we upgrade our
equipment every four or five years. What's killing us is
the microcircuit technology upgrades every 18 months.
We're often two or three generations behind, so 80
percent of the time our programs have to go to a costly
redesign." That's why the team first tries to find old parts
to fix a problem before proceeding with a new design.
One example to hit the fleet is an obsolescence fix the
team developed for the F/A-18 Hornet's APG-65 radar.
"We identified drop-in components to replace obsolete
and discontinued high-failure components that were
degrading mission capable rates," Ernst said. "Some of
these components were also used in the Air Force F-15
Eagle, highlighting the joint nature of the challenge. The
new components avoided a costly redesign while
doubling the reliability of the systems."
That might sound easy, but it required a detailed
engineering analysis of the microcircuits involved by
AAIPT engineer Dave Kayser. "I had to look at the
design application, operating environment and
configuration failure modes just to identify the root cause
and define the problem," he explained. "Then I had to
research the available options, remembering that I wasn't
allowed to do any major redesigns. Finally, I had to get
the parts and prove it." And Kayser isn't quite finished.
Doing the whole process once isn't enough, because
there are so many configurations in use.
With a few successes soon to be fielded, the AAIPT
still has a long war ahead of it that is segmented into five
major thrust areas: avionics, corrosion, wiring, dynamic
components and engines. "We've just started to scratch
the surface," Ernst said, and "begun searching for the
common problems in other areas in tandem with our
JCAA partners. It's going to require the same focus and
discipline to identify, develop and field affordable
solutions to keep our legacy warriors viable and
affordable—and not on the backs of our maintainers."
Ernst likens the team's efforts to the buildup that led
to success in WW II. "We're still doing this as guerilla
warfare. We snipe at technology applications from
behind rocks. We've got to do this systematically so all
the platforms can benefit." He sees the teaming
opportunities through the JCAA as ultimately winning
the war on aging aircraft, but not yet. "Victory in WW II
came after extensive mobilization and buildup of forces,
materiel and strategy."
Similarly, fighting the effects of aging aircraft isn't
going to be over anytime soon. "We're not quite ready
to sail into Tokyo Bay and sign anything just yet," Ernst
concluded. "We're still at Guadalcanal. But we're
making progress."
John Milliman is AAIPT public affairs officer.
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 25
Above, chemist Kevin Koveleski evaluates new
corrosion preventive compounds and coatings for
possible use in the fleet of aging aircraft. Right, a
logbook reflects testing notes by members of NAVAIR's
Organic Coatings Team.
AAIPT Mascot. The average age
of the Navy's aircraft fleet is over 17 years and growing. In
spite of the physical condition, we still expect these
aircraft to continue to perform their operational
functions. The Naval Air Systems Command's
(NAVAIR) Aging Aircraft Integrated Product Team
(AAIPT) "mascot" incorporates the five key types
of issues facing the U.S. military's steadily aging
fleet of airborne warriors: degraded and abused
wiring; outdated or unserviceable avionics;
pneumatic and hydraulic dynamic components
(such as valves and pistons); power plants and
propulsion systems; and materials corrosion and
26 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Chiropractics. Dynamic components include hydraulic and
pneumatic aircraft elements that translate force into motion.
Continuous cycling under extreme loading conditions takes a
significant toll on these elements over an aircraft's lifetime and
many are reaching their rework limit. Specific problems include
arthritis of wing fold, blade fold and control surface actuation
mechanisms; canopy hazing; landing gear strut cracks and leaks; leaking
seals for hydraulics and fuel tanks; popped and worn out fasteners;
environmental control system inadequacy; and heat-dirtcontamination
A Stitch in Time. Because the problems associated with
aging aircraft plague all military and civilian aviation
communities, the Joint Council on Aging Aircraft has
been created to more effectively deal with areas of
mutual concern. The council consists of technical
experts from the Navy, Air Force, Army, Coast
Guard, Federal Aviation Administration and Defense
Logistics Agency. This expertise has been stitched
together into a grassroots coalition focused on dealing
with formidable but under-appreciated concerns.
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 27
Expiring Wiring. There are two fundamental
wiring concerns for aging aircraft: insulation
degradation due to old age and chemical
attack, and insulation damage due to
physical actions, such as abrasion, cuts,
pinches and other maintenance wear and
tear. In addition to the wiring itself, the
AAIPT is attempting to mitigate the
potential effects of wiring damage by
detecting and isolating electrical short
circuits and limiting the effects of short circuits
on system operation.
Paleotronics. Aging aircraft are performing their
operational missions with dated electronic systems that are
often several generations behind the state of the art. The
obvious problems are inferior performance (such as
sensor capabilities, display resolution and computing
power) and difficulty in replacing or repairing
damaged electronic elements. More subtle, but
equally significant, are problems associated with
systems interoperability between different platforms
and different generations of electronics. Paleotronics
are also incapable of transforming overwhelming
amounts of raw data from today's combat environment
into usable situational awareness for aircrew.
What's eating you? Corrosion is
insidious and ever present. It acts on all
physical elements of an aircraft.
Corrosive action comes from many
potential sources: exhaust gases,
hydraulics, fuels, cleaning fluids, solvents
and salt atmosphere. Specific problems
include internal corrosion, especially in hardto-
access areas; dissolved honeycomb in
structural panels; delamination of composite
structures; moisture entrapment; and band-aid and
spray-paint fixes resulting from inadequate
resources or training.
Special thanks for assistance from Bob Ernst, head of
NAVAIR's AAIPT; John Milliman, AAIPT public affairs officer; and Kurt
Engel of Titan Systems.
28 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
On 11 September 2001, zealots owing allegiance to
al Qaeda, an Islamic terrorist organization with
cells in over 60 countries, attacked America.
Founded and led by Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda had
proclaimed jihad (holy war) against the United States and
its allies. Evidence verified that the terrorists were aided
and abetted by Taliban, the Islamic fundamentalist
regime of Afghanistan. The Taliban's refusal to extradite
terrorists and al Qaeda's dangerous threat to the free
world left no alternative but to make it clear that
harboring terrorists carried a steep price.
On 7 October 2001, the Sailors and Marines about to
spearhead the free world's retribution into Afghanistan—
dubbed Operation Enduring Freedom—believed they
faced between 45,000 and 70,000 seasoned fighters.
Predominantly tough mountaineers bred to their harsh
climate, Taliban masters of camouflage and dispersal
were experienced by years of warfare. Afghans, who had
outlasted invaders for centuries and were led by Taliban
religious fanatics, were superbly confident.
The approaching onset of winter promised to render
the bleak weather even more severe. In the north, the
Hindu Kush mountains climbed to over 24,000 feet, and
recurring subfreezing temperatures and shifting, chilling
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 29
Above, Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)
underway in the Arabian Sea (PH2 Jason
Scarborough). Opposite, top, Enterprise (CVN 65)
signalmen hoist a flag that flew over the Pentagon post
11 September 2001 (PH3 Joshua C. Millage). Opposite,
bottom, after a mission over Afghanistan, an F-14 Tomcat aircrew
briefs a plane captain aboard Enterprise (PHAN Lance H. Mayhew, Jr.).
winds penetrated every layer of
clothing, while ground snow caused
"whiteouts." In the deserts,
dehydration was a constant concern,
and in the south Marine helicopter
pilots learned that dust was such a
problem they had to maintain
forward movement during takeoffs
and landings to stay ahead of the
dust clouds.
Taliban claimed 250 to 300
aircraft, though only half were
operational combat types—believed
to be MiG-21BIS Fishbed, 21UM
Mongol and 23BN/UB Flogger, as
well as Su-20, 22U/M-4/UM Fitter
and 25K/UBK Frogfoot aircraft; and
Mi-25 Hind gunship and Mi-8 and
Mi-17 Hip transport
Principal airfields
included Baghlan,
Bagram, Faizabad,
Gardez, Ghazni, Herat,
Jalalabad, Kabul,
Kandahar, Kholm,
Kunduz, Mazar-e-
Sharif, Sherpur and
Shindand. Air defense
was reported as
primarily SA-7 Grail
and FIM-92A Stinger
surface-to-air missiles
(SAM), together with
strong antiaircraft
artillery (AAA). Taliban
teams were anticipated
to employ rocket-propelled grenades
against helos entering landing zones.
America and its allies expected one of
the toughest fights they had ever
The first strikes went in around
2230. Approximately 25 strike
aircraft from Enterprise (CVN 65)
and Carl Vinson (CVN 70)—
supported by about 15 Air Force
bombers, including several B-1B
Lancers, six B-2 Spirits of the 509th
Bomb Wing and B-52H
Stratofortresses—struck al Qaeda
and Taliban targets with laser-guided
bombs, joint direct attack munitions
and air-to-ground missiles. In
addition, U.S. and British ships and
submarines launched 50 Tomahawk
land attack missiles.
This concentration of ordnance
hit 31 targets, comprising aircraft,
airfields, SAM and AAA sites and
training camps. Coalition pilots flew
just under 200 sorties on the first
day with a 100-percent completion
rate. No aircraft were diverted
ashore and not one was lost.
Seven S-3B Vikings from Sea
Control Squadron 24 flew ahead
above Pakistan to wait for strike
aircraft to rendezvous, and refueled
the strikers on both inbound and
outbound flights. Strike aircraft
averaged 5.5 hours per mission, and
for northern targets, up to 850 miles
away, twice that. Electronic Attack
Squadrons 135 and 141 EA-6B
Prowlers completed their core
mission of Taliban and al Qaeda
electronic suppression, then
eventually jammed enemy ground
communications, enabling coalition
forces to localize the enemy.
Fighter Squadron 14 F-14B
Tomcats led the first strike into the
Afghan capital of Kabul and
knocked out its early warning
facility. Tomcats used the Low-
Altitude Navigation and Targeting
Infrared for Night system to pinpoint
and pass on precision targeting
coordinates to other strikers. Tactical
Airborne Reconnaissance Pod
System equipment was instrumental
in identifying and tracking the
enemy. Taliban pilots refused to give
battle in the air, so F-14 Tomcats and
F/A-18C Hornets blasted enemy
aircraft on the ground.
Joint cooperation reached new
levels. Navy fighters escorted Air
Force bombers until air supremacy
was achieved. Air Force C-17
Globemaster IIIs dropped 37,500
humanitarian ration packets to
starving refugees, while EC-130Es
flown by the 193rd Special
Operations Wing, Pennsylvania Air
National Guard, broadcast news and
information to the Afghan people.
Air Force combat controllers used
modern technology, including
"spotting scopes" (similar to highpowered
binoculars) and global
positioning system units, to call in
Naval Aviation strikes,
then traveled on
horseback to the next
battle. Air Force KC-135
Stratotankers performed
more than 80 percent of
the mission tanking. The
United Kingdom's
Operation Veritas
supported its allies.
1 CVW-3 aircraft
operating from Harry S.
Truman (CVN 75) on
her maiden deployment
struck a radar system in
southern Iraq with
precision-guided munitions.
9 The flight restriction was lifted
on all 165 Marine MH-53E Sea
Dragons, grounded on 25 August
2000 following the 10 August crash
of a Sea Dragon off Corpus Christi,
Texas. The aircraft were fitted with
monitoring systems for the duplex
swashplate bearings in the main
11 Navy changed the status of
LCdr. Michael Scott Speicher, VFA-
81, from killed in action/body not
recovered to missing in action. On
17 January 1991 Speicher was flying
his F/A-18C Hornet from Saratoga
(CV 60) when he was shot down
over Iraq.
19 At White Sands Missile
Range, N.M., the Joint Air-to-
30 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
An F-14A Tomcat of Fighter Squadron 41 prepares to refuel during
flight operations from Enterprise (CVN 65) on 5 October 2001.
Cdr. Brian G. Gawne
Surface Standoff Missile performed
its first flight using an imaging
infrared seeker to guide to the target.
19 Navy awarded Lockheed
Martin, Orlando, Fla., a contract
modification worth $62.9 million
over three years to provide 40
Consolidated Automated Support
Systems (CASS) stations. Used to
test avionics, CASS was the world's
largest automated test support
20 Donald H. Rumsfeld, a former
Naval Aviator, was sworn in as the
21st Secretary of Defense.
25 Flight tests were concluded on
the AQS-22 dipping sonar for the
SH-60R Seahawk. A total of 243
SH-60R upgrades from the SH-60B
were planned by 2012.
26 Newport News Shipbuilding,
Va., was awarded a contract for the
design and construction of CVN 77,
scheduled for delivery in 2008.
Navy began testing the Joint
Helmet-Mounted Cueing System for
the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
2 Navy announced the selection
of 14 Advanced Concept
Technology Demonstration FY 2001
projects, including an advanced
tactical laser for aircraft; a loitering
electronic warfare killer; an
unmanned aerial vehicle; and a
tactical missile penetrator against
hard and deeply buried targets.
5–11 During a maritime
interdiction operation surge
enforcing Iraqi compliance with UN
sanctions, aircraft 617 from HS-7
was instrumental in halting the
smuggling of 2,300 metric tons of
Iraqi oil worth $460,000 by the
vessels Al Salam and Mustafa.
6 The CH-60S Seahawk was
redesignated MH-60S to better
reflect its diverse primary missions
of armed helicopter, organic
airborne mine countermeasures and
vertical replenishment.
7 Space shuttle Atlantis launched
with Naval Aviation personnel
retired naval officer Kenneth D.
Cockrell and Cdr. Robert L.
Curbeam, Jr., on board.
13 Boeing Co., St. Charles, Mo.,
was awarded a $36.4 million
contract for the production of the
Standoff Land Attack Missile-
Expanded Response (SLAM-ER). A
total of 346 SLAM-ERs were
ordered through 2004. Approximately
700 AGM-84H SLAMs in
inventory would be retrofitted with
the SLAM-ER upgrade.
15 When an earthquake
devastated Mumbai, India, Cowpens
(CG 63) and HSL 51 Det 2
delivered over $80,000 worth of
disaster relief supplies.
16 F/A-18C Hornets, USAF
F-15E Eagles and British GR1
Tornados, supported by VAQ-130
EA-6B Prowlers, struck five Iraqi
radar and command, control and
communication nodes outside
24 The X-31 thrust vectoring
demonstrator flew for the first time
since 1995, at NAS Patuxent River,
Formal training began for Naval
Aviation personnel selected for
International Space Station missions
beginning in 2002. Selectees were
retired Capts. Frank L. Culbertson
and Kenneth D. Bowersox, Cdr.
Daniel W. Bursch, LCdr. Scott J.
Kelly and Marine Lt. Col. Carlos I.
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 31
NAS Keflavik, Iceland/
NS Roosevelt Roads, PR
VP-10 Aug 00–Feb 01
VP-8 Feb 01–Aug 01
VP-16 Aug 01–Feb 02
NAS Sigonella, Italy
VP-45 Aug 00–Feb 01
VP-26 Feb 01–Aug 01
VP-5 Aug 01–Feb 02
Indian Ocean (Dets in North Arabian Sea/
Arabian Gulf)
VP-47 Dec 00–Jun 01
VP-9 Jun 01–Dec 01
VP-4 Dec 01–Jun 02
Patrol Squadron Major Deployments, 2001
NAF Misawa, Japan (Det at Kadena,
VP-1 Dec 00–Jun 01
VP-46 Jun 01–Dec 01
VP-40 Dec 01–Jun 02
Note: All squadrons fly the P-3C Orion.
A P-3C Orion of Patrol Squadron 46,
NAS Whidbey Island,Wash., hunts for a
submarine off Malaysia on 25 July 2001
as part of an annual Cooperation Afloat
Readiness and Training exercise.
PH1 Kevin H. Tierney
4 Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) was
christened at Newport News
Shipbuilding, Va. Launched six days
later, she was scheduled for
commissioning in 2003.
7 Navy announced that blendable
borescope technology developed by
Pratt & Whitney for repairing
commercial jet engines had been
adapted to allow AV-8B Harrier II
engines to be serviced without
removal from the aircraft.
8 Space shuttle Discovery
launched from Kennedy Space
Center, Fla., with Naval Aviator
Capt. James D. Wetherbee on board.
It returned on 21 March with Capt.
William M. Shepherd from the
International Space Station.
24 The Shared Reconnaissance
Pod Program began testing on
board F/A-18E Super Hornet E2 at
China Lake, Calif. Carried on the
aircraft's centerline, the pod was
designed to provide high- and
medium-altitude tactical
reconnaissance capability.
28 Navy agreed to allow Sailors
in the aviation machinist's mate and
aviation structural mechanic ratings
to apply skills learned in "A" School
toward an associate's degree in
aviation maintenance technology.
31 AH-1Z Super Cobra aircraft
number 1 (BuNo 162549) arrived at
NAS Patuxent River, Md., for
continued flight testing.
The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo.,
was awarded a $235 million contract
for 11,054 Joint Direct Attack
Munitions including 672 for the
Navy. JDAMs incorporate a new tail
section containing an inertial
navigation system/global positioning
system to convert unguided free-fall
bombs into guided weapons.
1 While flying a routine
surveillance mission in
international airspace over the
South China Sea, a VQ-1 EP-3E
Aries II (BuNo 156511) was
disabled in a midair collision by a
Chinese J-8. Lt. Shane Osborn,
mission commander, recovered and
executed an emergency landing at
the nearest airfield, Lingshui, a
Chinese air base on Hainan Island.
The 24 crew members were
1 HSL-60, the Navy's first
reserve Light Airborne Multi-
Purpose System MK III squadron,
was established at NS Mayport, Fla.
Its six SH-60B Seahawks were
intended to support reserve frigates
by eliminating the gap between the
total of 82 active duty LAMPS dets
and the 88 required fleet-wide.
2 A fire on board Lexington (AVT
16) in Corpus Christi Bay, Texas,
caused extensive damage to the
carrier, a non-Navy museum.
3 Navy ordered 24 T-6A Texan IIs
and technical support from Raytheon
Co., Wichita, Kans., worth $148
million as part of the Joint Primary
Aircraft Training System with the
Air Force. Navy planned 328 Texan
IIs through 2017.
6 The X-31 completed its first
flight phase at NAS Patuxent River,
6 Amphibious assault ship Iwo
Jima (LHD 7) was delivered to the
Navy at Northrop Grumman Ingalls
Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss.
11 Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)
began a six-month planned
incremental availability at PSNS
Bremerton, Wash.
12 VAdm. Joseph S. Mobley, the
Navy's last Vietnam-era POW on
active duty, was relieved as
Commander Naval Air Force, U.S.
Atlantic Fleet by RAdm. Michael D.
Malone, on board Theodore Roosevelt
(CVN 71) at NS Norfolk, Va.
16 The 24 crew members of the
VQ-1 EP-3E Aries II detained in
China following a 1 April midair
collision with a Chinese fighter
returned to NAS Whidbey Island,
19 Space Shuttle Endeavour
launched from Kennedy Space
Center, Fla., with Naval Aviation
personnel Capts. Kent V. Rominger
and Jeffrey S. Ashby and retired
Capt. John L. Philips on board.
Endeavour returned to Edwards
AFB, Calif., on 1 May.
19 The NP2000 E-2C Hawkeye
completed its first flight at NAS
Patuxent River, Md. The aircraft was
equipped with digitally controlled,
all-composite eight-bladed propeller
32 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General Henry H. Shelton presents
awards to 24 crew members of the
captured EP-3E Aries II who were
detained by Chinese authorities on
Hainan Island, Peoples Republic of
China, following a midair collision
with a Chinese J-8 fighter over
international waters on 1 April. The
presentations were made during the
2001 Department of Defense Open
House at Andrews AFB, Md., on 18
SrA Joseph Lozada
continued on page 34
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 33
Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)
CVW-14 (Tail Code: NK)
14 Aug 00–12 Feb 01
Squadron Aircraft
VRC-30 Det 1 C-2A
Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)
CVW-3 (Tail Code: AC)
28 Nov 00–23 May 01
Squadron Aircraft
VRC-40 Det 1 C-2A
Kitty Hawk (CV 63)†
CVW-5 (Tail Code: NF)
2 Mar 01–11 Jun 01
Squadron Aircraft
VRC-30 Det 5 C-2A
Constellation (CV 64)
CVW-2 (Tail Code: NE)
15 Mar 01–15 Sep 01
Squadron Aircraft
VRC-30 Det 2 C-2A
HSL-47 Det 4‡ SH-60B
Enterprise (CVN 65)
CVW-8 (Tail Code: AJ)
25 Apr 01–10 Nov 01
Squadron Aircraft
VRC-40 Det 5 C-2A
Carl Vinson (CVN 70)
CVW-11 (Tail Code: NH)
23 Jul 01–23 Jan 02
Squadron Aircraft
VRC-30 Det 3 C-2A
Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)
CVW-1 (Tail Code: AB)
19 Sep 01–27 Mar 02
Squadron Aircraft
VRC-40 Det 2 C-2A
Kitty Hawk (CV 63)†
CVW-5 (Tail Code: NF)
Operation Enduring Freedom
1 Oct 01–23 Dec 01
Squadron Aircraft
VRC-30 Det 5 C-2A
Special Operations Aircraft§
John C. Stennis (CVN 74)
CVW-9 (Tail Code: NG)
12 Nov 01–12 May 02
Squadron Aircraft
VRC-30 Det 4 C-2A
*All deployed F-14 squadrons are equipped
with the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod
System and Low-Altitude Navigation and
Targeting Infrared for Night.
**While on deployment, VMFA squadrons
take on the tail code of the air wing. Their
original tail codes are noted in parentheses.
†Kitty Hawk (CV 63) operates from her home
port in Yokosuka, Japan.
‡This deployment marked the first time an
HSL det deployed as part of an air wing.
§Kitty Hawk (CV 63) deployed during
C a r r i e r a n d A i r W i n g D e p l o y m e n t s , 2 0 0 1
Destroyer O'Kane (DDG 77) refuels
from Carl Vinson (CVN 70) on 20
December 2001 (PH3 Carol Warden).
21 Destroyer Lassen (DDG 82),
named in honor of Ltjg. Clyde
Everett Lassen, was commissioned
at Tampa, Fla. Lassen was awarded
the Medal of Honor for a 19 June
1968 night rescue of two aviators
from America (CVA 66), whose F-4J
Phantom II had been shot down over
North Vietnam.
21 The first C-40A Clipper was
delivered to the Naval Air Reserve
at NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas.
23 A Naval Strike Aircraft Test
Squadron F/A-18A Hornet made the
first fully automated landing at sea
using the global positioning system,
on board Theodore Roosevelt (CVN
71) off Norfolk, Va.
28 An operation leading to the
largest cocaine drug seizure in
maritime history began. A Customs
Service P-3 Orion supported a Coast
Guard HC-130 Hercules shadowing
suspected smuggler Svesda Maru.
Frigate Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60),
with an embarked Coast Guard law
enforcement detachment, intercepted
Svesda Maru 600 miles south of
Acapulco, Mexico. Davis was then
relieved by Coast Guard cutter
Active (WMEC 618). A total of 460
bales (26,397 pounds) of cocaine
worth $844 million were seized.
Navy released ALNAV 047/01,
which changed the standards for
student pilot uncorrected vision from
uncorrected 20/30 correctable to
20/20, to uncorrected 20/40
correctable to 20/20. Standards for
pilots in Group II relaxed from
20/100 to 20/200 and from 20/200 to
20/400 for Group III.
NAVADMIN 101/01 announced
the reinstatement of the NFO to
Pilot Program, with 12–36 eligible
NFOs selected annually.
1 Navy awarded Northrop
Grumman Ingalls Shipbuilding,
Pascagoula, Miss., an additional
$196 million for continued
construction of LHD 8, the first gas
turbine-powered Wasp (LHD 1)-
class amphibious assault ship.
7 Navy announced the award to
Northrop Grumman, San Diego,
Calif., of a $14.2 million contract
for low-rate initial production of the
RQ-8A Fire Scout vertical takeoff
and landing unmanned aerial
8 The first RQ-2B Block upgrade
Pioneer unmanned aerial vehicle
rolled out at NAS Patuxent River,
22 Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN
69) arrived at Newport News
Shipbuilding, Va., for a four-year
refueling and complex overhaul, her
only one scheduled.
23 Raytheon Co., El Segundo,
Calif., announced a $62 million
contract for low-rate initial
production of 15 Advanced
Targeting Forward Looking Infrared
Receiver pods and spares for the
F/A-18A–D Hornet and F/A-18E/F
Super Hornet.
25 The SH-60R Seahawk was
redesignated MH-60R to better
reflect its diverse primary missions of
undersea warfare, antisurface warfare
and naval surface fire support.
29 Robert Grant Smith died at his
home in California. Best known as a
Naval Aviation artist, Smith's career
began in 1936 as an engineer with
Northrop Aircraft. In 1994 he
became the first recipient of the
R. G. Smith Award for excellence in
Naval Aviation art, named in his
honor by the Naval Aviation
Museum Foundation, Pensacola, Fla.
15 Secretary of the Navy
announced that the Navy would
discontinue training on Vieques
Island by 1 May 2003.
19 Remains returned from
Vietnam were identified as Col.
Winfield W. Sisson, USMC, and
Col. Harley B. Pyles, USAF. On 18
October 1965 their O-1E Bird Dog
crashed on a mountainside in South
34 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
L–R, Kitty Hawk (CV 63), USNS
Rappahannock (T-AO 204),
HMAS Brisbane (DDG 41) and
Chancellorville (CG 62) conduct a
replenishment at sea during Exercise
Tandem Thrust on 11 May 2001.
PH2 Andrew Meyers
Vietnam during low-level clouds
and heavy rain.
22 AH-1Z Super Cobra Zulu
1 logged its 100th flight hour at
NAS Patuxent River, Md.
23 Destroyer Mason (DDG
87) was christened at Bath Iron
Works, Maine. The destroyer
was named in honor of Ens.
Newton Henry Mason of VF-3
who was posthumously
awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross for his actions
against the Japanese during the
Battle of the Coral Sea on 8–9
May 1942.
25 VFA-115 became the first
operational squadron to
complete transition to the F/A-
18E/F Super Hornet, receiving
its "safe for flight" certification
at NAS Lemoore, Calif. The
squadron was scheduled for
deployment with CVW-14 on
board Abraham Lincoln (CVN
72) in summer 2002.
26 Lockheed Martin,
Marietta, Ga., began full-scale
fatigue testing of an S-3 Viking
to determine its remaining
structural life.
27 Secretary of Defense released
details of the FY 2002 budget,
including a 4.1 percent across-theboard
pay raise for service
members. Naval Aviation was
authorized 2,480 active aircraft
(1,460 Navy and 1,020 Marine), not
including trainers or TACAMOs, as
well as 407 reserve aircraft (221
Navy and 186 Marine)—a build-rate
goal of only 90 aircraft per year
instead of the 180–210 requested.
Ordnance included 30 Standoff
Land Attack Missiles-Expanded
Reponse, 9,207 Joint Direct Attack
Munitions, 57 AIM-120 Advanced
Medium Range, Air-to-Air Missiles
and 90 RIM-116A Rolling Airframe
28 Following her only scheduled
three-year refueling and overhaul, at
Newport News Shipbuilding, Va.,
Nimitz (CVN 68) was redelivered to
the Navy at NS Norfolk, Va.
29 Navy awarded an additional
$81 million to Northrop Grumman
Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula,
Miss., for the construction of LHD 8.
30 HSL-84 was deactivated at
NAS North Island, Calif., marking
the passing of the Navy's Light
Airborne Multipurpose System MK
I program.
30 Amphibious assault ship Iwo
Jima (LHD 7) was commissioned at
NAS Pensacola, Fla.
Kitty Hawk (CV 63) installed the
RIM-116A Rolling Airframe Missile
system, comprising two mounts,
each holding 21 missiles per
launcher. Additional systems were
installed on Peleliu (LHA 5).
Navy announced qualification of
the Common Crash Resistant Troop
Seat System. Designed to
accommodate and protect nearly
any size person, it was expected to
first enter the fleet in the upgraded
UH-1 "Huey."
5 The disassembled pieces
of the VQ-1 EP-3E Aries II—
held by Chinese authorities
after it landed on Hainan
island following a midair
collision with a Chinese
fighter on 1 April—arrived at
Dobbins ARB, Marietta, Ga.,
on board a Russian Antonov-
124 transport.
9 An E-2C Hawkeye
equipped with a Surveillance
Infrared Search and Track
sensor detected and tracked a
theater ballistic missile
launched from White Sands
Missile Range, N.M.
11 The National Defense
Authorization Act of FY
2002 included bill H.R.
2586, stating that the
Secretary of the Navy could
close the Vieques Island livefire
training range only if
CNO and Commandant of
the Marine Corps jointly
certified that an alternative
providing equivalent or
superior training was
available immediately
12 Space shuttle Atlantis
launched from Kennedy Space
Center, Fla., with Marine Aviator
Maj. Charles O. Hobaugh on board.
Atlantis returned on 24 July.
18 Navy announced that the crew
of Enterprise (CVN 65) had been
selected to debut the fleet's new
flight deck trousers, designed for
comfort and durability.
19 At Sikorsky Aircraft, Stratford,
Conn., the first SH-60B remanufactured
into an MH-60R Seahawk
made its maiden flight.
31 The Pentagon announced an
increase in Iraqi violations
following a missile launch against
an E-2C Hawkeye inside Kuwaiti
airspace on 19 July. In Operation
Southern Watch, there were 221
Iraqi provocations against coalition
aircraft in 2000, but 370 to date in
2001. For Operation Northern
Watch, there were 145 during
2000, and 62 since January 2001.
To date in 2001, the coalition
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 35
Electronic Attack (VAQ)
Expeditionary Squadron
Major Deployments,
Incirlik Air Base, Turkey
VAQ-128 Oct 00–Jan 01
VAQ-133 Jan 01–May 01
VAQ-134 May 01–Aug 01
VMAQ-1 Aug 01–Nov 01
VMAQ-3 Nov 01–Feb 02
Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia
VMAQ-1 Oct 00–Jan 01
VMAQ-3 Jan 01–Apr 01
VAQ-209* Apr 01–May 01
VAQ-142 May 01–Aug 01
VAQ-128 Aug 01–Nov 01
VAQ-133 Nov 01–Feb 02
MCAS Iwakuni, Japan†
VMAQ-4 Oct 00–Mar 01
*Reserve squadron deployment.
struck Iraq 19 times in the south
and seven in the north.
The first upgraded TAV-8B
Harrier II, the two-seat trainer
version, was delivered to VMAT-203
at MCAS Cherry Point, N.C.
Scheduled for 17 aircraft, the
upgrade included enhanced night
attack and radar capabilities.
The arc fault circuit breaker,
designed to protect aircraft from
wire-related mishaps, made its first
flight on board a Navy C-9 Skytrain
II at NS Norfolk, Va. It was
scheduled for production in 2002.
1 S-3B Vikings of VS-24
equipped with the Surveillance
System Upgrade, a synthetic
aperture radar coupled with a
tactical common data link, deployed
with CVW-8 in support of Operation
Southern Watch. The Vikings tracked
and identified multiple targets in
southern Iraq and provided
coordinates for RQ-1A Predator
unmanned aerial vehicles from
ranges of over 50 miles.
2–3 Coast Guard HH-60A
Jayhawks and HH-65A Dolphins
supported three cutters in rescuing
22 survivors from a Cuban migrant
vessel that capsized southeast of
Key West, Fla. The crews flew 26
sorties covering over 1,000 square
miles during the two-day SAR
5 A team of 10 specialists began a
30-day excavation on the slope of
Mutnovskiy volcano, Kamchatka,
Russia, tentatively identified on 11
August 2000 as the crash site of a
PV-1 Ventura. On 25 March 1944 the
Ventura and its crew of seven failed
to return to Attu, Aleutian Islands,
from a five-plane reconnaissance and
bombing mission against the
Japanese in the Kurile Islands.
10 About 20 coalition strike
aircraft, comprising F/A-18C
Hornets and F-14B Tomcats from
Enterprise (CVN 65), supported by
USAF F-16 Falcons and British
GR1 Tornados, attacked
communication, radar and missile
sites near Baghdad, Iraq.
10 Space shuttle Discovery
launched from Kennedy Space
Center, Fla., with Naval Aviators
retired Capt. Frank L. Culbertson
and Frederick Sturckow on board.
Discovery returned on 22 August.
16 The Navy awarded Northrop
Grumman, Melbourne, Fla., a $44.7
million contract for the Coastal
Battlefield Reconnaissance and
Analysis program, an airborne mine
detection system utilizing an
unmanned aerial vehicle, for the
16 Upon retirement, VAdm.
Arthur K. Cebrowski, President,
Naval War College, transferred the
Gray Eagle title to RAdm. Robert
M. Nutwell, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Defense, in a Pentagon
ceremony. The title honors the Naval
Aviator on active duty with the
36 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Aviation Command Changes, 2001
Sea Control Wing Pacific Detachment AIMD 1 Mar
Strike Fighter Wing Pacific Detachment AIMD 1 Mar
Airborne Early Warning Wing Pacific Detachment AIMD 1 Mar
Electronic Attack Wing Pacific Detachment AIMD 1 Mar
Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Unit (AIMU), Fallon, NV 1 Mar
HSL-60 1 Apr
Naval Air Depot Jacksonville Detachment, Oceana, VA 1 Jul
Sea Control Weapons School, Jacksonville, FL 13 Sep
Naval Air Mediterranean Repair Activity, Naples, Italy 1 Oct
Naval Technical Training Center, Lackland AFB, TX 1 Oct
Naval Air Forces, North Island, CA 16 Oct
Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, VA 16 Oct
Naval Air Maintenance Training Group Detachment, Milton, FL 20 Sep
Iwo Jima (LHD 7) 30 Jun
HSL-94 1 Apr
HSL-84 30 Jun
Naval Air Pacific Repair Activity Detachment, Naples, Italy 1 Oct
Naval Technical Training Center Detachment, Lackland AFB, TX 1 Oct
Naval Aviation Depot Cherry Point, NC, to Naval Air Depot
Cherry Point 20 Apr
Naval Aviation Depot Jacksonville, FL, to Naval Air Depot
Jacksonville 20 Apr
Naval Aviation Depot North Island, CA, to Naval Air Depot
North Island 20 Apr
NAS Key West, FL, to NAF Key West 30 Sep
Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division Detachment,
White Sands Missile Range, NM, to Port Hueneme Division
Naval Surface Warfare Center Detachment, White Sands
Missile Range 15 Nov
earliest designation date.
21 Aviation Career Continuation
Pay, a sea- and performance-based
incentive designed to enhance
retention of experienced officers for
Naval Aviation, was authorized.
Officers designated as Naval
Aviators or active duty Naval Flight
Officers at or below O-6 paygrade;
qualified to perform operational
flying duty; and having less than 24
years aviation service were eligible.
27 President Theodore
Roosevelt's Medal of Honor—
awarded for leading the "Rough
Riders" of the 1st Volunteer Cavalry
up Kettle and San Juan Hills against
the Spanish on 1 July 1898—was
presented to Theodore Roosevelt
(CVN 71). It was displayed through
14 September, then transferred to the
Theodore Roosevelt inaugural site,
Buffalo, N.Y.
29 The first guided BLU-109
2,000-pound Joint Direct Attack
Munition launch from an F/A-18E
Super Hornet occurred at NAWS
China Lake, Calif.
29 The Joint UAV in Time
Sensitive Operations Joint Test &
Evaluation organization was
established at NAS Fallon, Nev. Led
by a Navy director, the temporary
joint-DOD organization was tasked
with addressing commonality in
unmanned aerial vehicle operations
and training.
29 The Secretary of the Navy
implemented the National Defense
Authorization Act for FY 2001,
passed on 1 October 2000, granting
back pay to Navy and Marine WW
II POWs imprisoned between 7
December 1941 and 31 December
1946, who were selected for
promotion but not available to
accept the promotion. The act
included surviving spouses of
deceased POWs and allowed two
years for collection.
31 The Marines accepted delivery
of the first three production KC-
130J Hercules, the first arriving at
VMGRT-253, MCAS Cherry Point,
N.C., on 7 September. All 79 Marine
KC-130F/R/Ts were to be replaced
with KC-130Js. Seven were
requested for 2001, all for VMGRT-
253 following testing at NAS
Patuxent River, Md.
31 The Marines accepted delivery
of a UC-35D Encore, the third of
seven planned to replace the CT-39
Sabreliner. To be assigned to MCAS
Miramar, Calif., it was to be
followed over the next six months
by two more, one to MCAS
Futenma, Okinawa, and one to
Marine Reserve NAF Washington.
Two initial UC-35C Ultras were
assigned to Marine Reserve NAS
New Orleans, La.
5 The MH-60 Seahawk common
cockpit received certification for
flight in instrument meteorological
conditions, paving the way for
operational evaluation.
10 On the eve of the terrorist
attacks, the Navy comprised 375,618
active and 170,168 reserve
personnel and 4,108 operational
aircraft and 317 ships, with 44,638
personnel and 91 ships deployed.
Carriers underway were Enterprise
(CVN 65) in the Arabian Gulf, Carl
Vinson (CVN 70) in the Indian
Ocean, and Constellation (CV 64)
and John C. Stennis (CVN 74) in the
11 Hijackers flew two Boeing
767 airliners, American Flight 11
and United 175, into the twin World
Trade Center towers in New York
City, collapsing both and devastating
nearby buildings. Two Boeing 757s
were also hijacked: American 77
crashed into the Pentagon, and
United 93 was seized for a second
attack against the nation's capital,
which was thwarted by passengers,
and the plane crashed in southern
Pennsylvania. The terrorist atrocities
killed as many as 3,000 people from
over 80 nations.
11–12 DOD declared Force
Protection Condition Delta, the
highest alert. The George
Washington (CVN 73) battle group
sailed from NS Norfolk, Va., to
protect New York City, responding
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 37
Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 5 crewman HM3 Raymond Munn assesses
a "victim" with the assistance of AM3 Todd Steinbrecher during a search and
rescue exercise on 31 May 2001.
PH2 Marjorie McNamee
to tasking from the North American
Aerospace Defense Command, as
well as supporting hospital ship
Comfort (AH 20). The John F.
Kennedy (CV 67) and John C.
Stennis (CVN 74) battle groups
positioned themselves to defend the
East and West coasts, respectively,
while across the globe aircraft
ashore emergency-sortied. The
Coast Guard began to escort Navy
ships departing or arriving ports.
14 The president declared a
national emergency and authorized
the call-up of up to 50,000 reservists
and National Guardsmen. Initial
participation included 13,000 Air
Force, 10,000 Army, 7,500 Marine,
3,000 Navy and 2,000 Coast Guard
14 Navy received $3.8 billion
from H.R. 2888, which provided a
$40 billion appropriation for
national security measures. Passed
as P.L. 107-38 on 18 September, it
was followed by P.L. 107-40, which
authorized the use of the armed
forces against those responsible for
the terrorist attacks.
19 The first AH-1W Super Cobra
was inducted at NADEP Cherry
Point, N.C., as part of the Integrated
Maintenance Concept, designed to
produce a shorter maintenance
turnaround time.
19 The Theodore Roosevelt
(CVN 71) battle group deployed
from NS Norfolk, Va., escorted by
HH-60H Seahawks from HS-11.
24 The Navy accepted delivery
of the first full-rate production F/A-
18F Super Hornet (BuNo 165875),
to be assigned to VFA-115. To date,
67 Super Hornets had been
delivered, including 12 to VFA-115
and 34 to VFA-122.
24 Secretary of Defense
delegated his "stop-loss" authority to
the heads of military departments,
allowing the services to retain
individuals on active duty beyond
their date of separation. President
George H. W. Bush first delegated
stop-loss authority to the Secretary
of Defense during Operation Desert
Shield in 1990, though it has not
been implemented since Operation
Allied Force in 1999. Approximately
10,500 naval personnel in 11 critical
specialties were affected.
25 Secretary of Defense
announced that America's war on
terrorism outside the U.S. was
designated Operation Enduring
Freedom. Activities to sustain
homeland defense and civil support
were designated Operation Noble
28 Remains returned from
Vietnam were identified as Lt. Edd
D. Taylor, VA-152. On 29 August
1965 Taylor, flying an A-1H
Skyraider (BuNo 134619) from
Oriskany (CVA 34) on a search and
rescue mission for a downed Air
Force pilot, was shot down over
North Vietnam.
30 The first U.S. flag raised over
the rubble of the World Trade Center
in New York City was hoisted on
board Theodore Roosevelt (CVN
Shortly after the terrorist attacks
on America, VQ-1 aircrews began
flying over Afghanistan, providing
invaluable intelligence and
situational awareness to theater
2 Commandant of the Coast
Guard announced that 2001
interdiction operations had collected
an all-time record amount of cocaine
in maritime seizures, most made
possible with the close cooperation
provided by Naval Aviation.
4 In preparation for the air
campaign against Afghanistan, HS-3
and HS-6 stood up as the Navy's
combat search and rescue (CSAR)
alert package for the northern
Arabian Sea. The Navy was initially
responsible for all CSARs in
Pakistan south of 28º north and all
overwater SARs.
4–7 As H-hour approached P-3C
Orions executed intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance
flights over Afghanistan, while
VFA-15 F/A-18C Hornets flew
combat air patrols over Pakistan.
The enormous distances necessitated
the eventual establishment of
forward operating bases and forward
arming and refueling points ashore
in Pakistan: Pasni, on the coast;
Shamsi, approximately 90 miles
inland from Pansi; and Jacobabad
and Dalbandin, both deeper in the
6 NATO Standing Naval Force,
Mediterranean began patrols in the
eastern Med in support of the war on
terrorism. On 12 September NATO
implemented Article 5, which stated
38 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Enterprise (CVN 65) steams alongside
fast combat support ship Arctic (AOE
8) during a vertical replenishment in
the Arabian Gulf on 5 September 2001.
PH3 Douglas M. Pearlman
that an attack against a member in
Europe or North America was an
attack against them all.
7 The first strikes were launched
against Afghanistan in retaliation for
the terrorist attacks of 11 September.
8 Office of Homeland Security
was established to develop and
coordinate a national strategy to
protect the U.S. from terrorism.
Naval Aviation early warning and
intelligence aircraft were tasked with
rapid integration into the plan.
9 The third day of strikes against
al Qaeda and Taliban hit 13 targets,
including airfields, air defense sites,
communications and
infrastructure. Approximately
15 strike aircraft were
supported by about 8 landbased
bombers and 15 ship
and submarine-launched
missiles. VF-14 led the first longrange
tactical air strike, flying over
1,700 miles round trip to Mazar-e-
Sharif, where two F-14B Tomcats
destroyed three MiG-21 Fishbeds and
two transports on the ground. As
Taliban casualties increased, they
began to hide troops and equipment
among mosques, sacred sites and
schools, which made precisionguided
munitions crucial for
knocking out targets without
collateral damage.
12 Kitty Hawk (CV 63), with
CVW-5 embarked, arrived on station
in the Arabian Sea. She was
deployed as an afloat forward
staging base for U.S. joint forces,
commencing operational tasking on
16 October. During the deployment
CVW-5 flew over 600 missions,
including 100 combat sorties.
14–15 As the war entered its
second week, naval aircraft were
supported by USAF AC-130U
Spookys for the first time in the
fighting. Strikes against Taliban
increased in momentum as the air
campaign shifted to support the
advance of the Islamic State of
Afghanistan (Northern Alliance),
Afghans opposed to Taliban. VF-14
maximized forward air control
flexibility by configuring five F-14B
Tomcats to carry four GBU-12 laserguided
bombs each, and configuring
the remainder for two GBU-16s.
16 The Joint Staff deputy director
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 39
In October 2001, strikes against
Afghanistan took center stage in Naval
Aviation operations. Clockwise from
left, an F/A-18C Hornet launches from
Carl Vinson (CVN 70) on 7 October; an
F-14 Tomcat launches from Enterprise
(CVN 65) on 18 October; and an
aviation ordnanceman adjusts a bomb
mounted on an F/A-18C Hornet in
preparation for a strike from
Enterprise (CVN 65) on 16 October.
PHAN Lance H. Mayhew, Jr.
PHAN Lance H. Mayhew, Jr.
PH1 Greg Messier
of operations announced the use of
engagement zone doctrine in
Afghanistan due to the reduction of
enemy air defense. This allowed
"flex targeting" to be adopted:
aircraft hit a target, refueled in the
air and then hit another target.
17 Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)
launched her first strikes in the war
on terrorism. Her schedule shifted
12 hours to accommodate night
operations, while Carl Vinson (CVN
70) conducted day strikes.
18 F/A-18C Hornets from
VMFA-251 launched strikes against
Taliban infrastructure from Theodore
Roosevelt (CVN 71), the first
Marine air strikes in Operation
Enduring Freedom.
19 Near Kandahar, the first
American ground offensive of the
war began when special forces from
Kitty Hawk (CV 63) raided the
compound of Mullah Omar, a key
Taliban leader. Among Task Force
57 aircraft that supported the raid
were Aircraft Improvement
Program-equipped P-3C Orions.
19 Developmental testing of the
Harpoon Block II missile concluded
at Point Mugu, Calif.
19–20 The 15th Marine
Expeditionary Unit and Army
mechanics recovered an Army UH-
60 Blackhawk that crashed in
Pakistan during a Ranger special
operation. Marine KC-130 Hercules
refueled the search and rescue CH-
53E Super Stallions en route,
enabling the Marines to reach the site
and recover the Blackhawk without
additional landings in dangerous
21 As the war in Afghanistan
entered its third week,
approximately 80 strike aircraft,
including about 60 carrier-based,
struck 11 targets comprising
airfields, radar, tanks, vehicles and
military training facilities.
22 The first of 21 new production
E-2C Hawkeyes, featuring the
Cooperative Engagement Capability
(CEC), advanced control
workstations and an integrated
satellite communications system,
was delivered to the Navy at
Northrop Grumman, St. Augustine,
Fla. Initial operational capability
was scheduled for 2004. The CEC
was developed to defend the fleet at
greater ranges against advanced
threats, such as cruise missiles,
enabling the development of a single
integrated air picture.
25 Prior to her departure from the
Arabian Sea, Enterprise (CVN 65)
unloaded most remaining ordnance
to her relief, Theodore Roosevelt
26 DOD announced that
Lockheed Martin, Fort Worth,
Texas, won the Joint Strike Fighter
40 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Squadron Dates Ship
HC-5 Det 2 Mar 01–Sep 01 San Jose (TAFS 7)
HC-5 Det 4 Aug 01–Dec 01 Niagara Falls (TAFS 3)
HC-5 Det 6 Sep 01–Nov 01 Essex (LHD 2)
HC-5 Det 5 Sep 01–Jul 02 Flint (TAE 32)
HC-11 Det 5 Aug 00–Feb 01 Tarawa (LHA 1)
HC-11 Det 2 Aug 00–Feb 01 Camden (AOE 2)
HC-11 Det 1 Mar 01–Sep 01 Rainier (AOE 7)
HC-11 Det 7 Mar 01–Sep 01 Boxer (LHD 4)
HC-11 Det 8 Jul 01–Jan 02 Sacramento (AOE 1)
HC-11 Det 6 Aug 01–Mar 02 Peleliu (LHA 5)
HC-11 Det 2 Sep 01–Nov 01 Nimitz (CVN 68)
HC-11 Det 3 Nov 01–Dec 01 Bridge (AOE 10)
Squadron Dates Ship
HC-6 Det 6 Sep 00–May 01 Nassau (LHA 4)
HC-8 Det 2 Nov 00–May 01 Mount Baker (TAE 34)
HC-6 Det 3 Apr 01–Sep 01 Inchon (MCS 12)
HC-6 Det 2 Apr 01–Oct 01 Arctic (AOE 8)
HC-8 Det 7 Apr 01–Oct 01 Kearsarge (LHD 3)
HC-8 Det 4 May 01–Jul 01 Detroit (AOE 4)
HC-8 Det 4 Sep 01–Mar 02 Detroit (AOE 4)
HC-8 Det 3 Oct 01–Apr 02 Saturn (TAFS 10)
HC-2 Det 1 * LaSalle (AGF 3)/Naples, Italy
HC Squadron Major
Deployments, 2001
An HC-8 CH-46 Sea Knight approaches Vella Gulf (CG 72)
on 14 November 2001 (PHC Eric A. Clement).
competition. The Navy planned
480 to complement the F/A-
18E/F Super Hornet, replacing
older versions of the Hornet,
while the Marines requested 609
to replace the AV-8B Harrier II
and Hornet. The first operational
Joint Strike Fighter was to be
delivered in FY 2008.
28 LCdr. (Ret.) Richard Halsey
Best died in Santa Monica, Calif.
During the Battle of Midway on 4
June 1942, Lt. Best led the SBD-
2/3 Dauntlesses of VB-6's 1st
Division from Enterprise (CV 6)
in an attack that sank Japanese
heavy carrier Akagi, for which he
was awarded the Navy Cross.
29 Navy announced that the
MH-60S Seahawk had been
cleared to enter operational
evaluation, scheduled to conclude in
January 2002.
31 HSL-60 accepted its first SH-
60B Seahawk (BuNo 161567) at NS
Mayport, Fla.
At China Lake, Calif., the
Standoff Land Attack Missile-
Expanded Response completed its
first firing from an S-3B Viking.
1 Secretary of Defense
announced that as of the 25th day of
combat operations during Operation
Enduring Freedom, coalition aircraft
had flown over 2,000 sorties and
delivered more than a million
humanitarian rations.
1 Task Force 58 stood up,
combining the 15th and 26th Marine
Expeditionary Units (MEU). Both
MEUs included an AV-8B Harrier II
det of six aircraft from VMA-331
and VMA-223, respectively. Since
the two KC-130 Hercules normally
allotted to each MEU were not
sufficient, six were committed to TF
58: two from VMGR-252 and four
from VMGR-352.
2 OPNAVNOTE 3111 formally
completed the disestablishment of
VFA-127, the Navy's last active
duty adversary squadron, which
actually occurred on 31 March
1996 at NAS Fallon, Nev.
3 15th Marine Expeditionary
Unit AV-8B Harrier IIs from
Peleliu (LHA 5) flew the first
Harrier strikes in the war on
terrorism, hitting targets in
southern Afghanistan with MK-82
500-pound bombs.
9 More than half of the combat
sorties flown on this date focused
on the engagement zones north of
Kabul and around Mazar-e-Sharif,
a crucial crossroads for Taliban
supplies. F-14 Tomcats and F/A-
18C Hornets delivered precisionguided
munitions against Taliban
positions, enabling the Northern
Alliance to tighten the noose around
the beleaguered city.
9–13 Under constant pounding
from Naval Aviation assets, Taliban
troops retreated from Mazar-e-Sharif
and Kabul at dawn with Northern
Alliance troops close on their heels.
The victory gave the coalition its
first large airfield in-country and
opened up an overland supply route
through Uzbekistan.
13–14 A strike on a building near
Kabul, and on the following day in
Kandahar, killed senior terrorist
leaders believed to include
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 41
In support of Operation Enduring Freedom:
above, a Fighter Squadron 102 F-14 Tomcat
launches from Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 69) on
17 November 2001; below, an aircraft director
signals an AH-1W Super Cobra to launch from
Peleliu (LHA 5) on 13 October 2001.
LCpl. Matthew J. Decker
PHAN Marla E. Martinez-Cintron
Mohammed Atef, al Qaeda's second
in command.
14 Near Ghazni, 50 miles
southwest of Kabul, naval aircraft
covered three U.S. special
operations helos when they rescued
eight aid workers, including two
Americans who had been held
captive by Taliban.
15 The EA-18 Airborne Electronic
Attack concept aircraft completed
initial demonstration flights at the
Boeing Co., St. Louis, Mo., using
an F/A-18F Super Hornet to carry
three ALQ-99 jamming pods.
16 An Improved Capability III
EA-6B Prowler, the first of two
prototypes, logged its first flight at
Northrop Grumman, St. Augustine,
18 An eight member team from
destroyer Peterson (DD 969)
boarded vessel Samra, suspected
of smuggling Iraqi oil in
international waters in the Arabian
Gulf. Samra was dangerously
overloaded and sank in heavy seas.
Two Americans and several
smugglers died. Naval aircraft
assisted in the rescue of the other 6
U.S. sailors and 10 smugglers.
22–23 Overnight, the 26th MEU
flew its first sorties into
Afghanistan. Just before dawn, four
VMA-223 AV-8B Harrier IIs
surprised an al Qaeda vehicle
convoy and destroyed it with laserguided
25 Covered by AH-1W Super
Cobras, six HMM-163 CH-53E
Super Stallions launched from Peleliu
(LHA 5) at 1800 local time carrying
15th Marine Expeditionary Unit
Marines. The helos rendezvoused
with KC-130 refuelers, and four
hours later secured a desert airstrip
southwest of Kandahar, some 300
miles from their ships. Within an
hour of the initial landing, equipment
and supplies were delivered via
Hercules. By the morning of the
26th, 519 Marines and Sailors were
ashore and established a perimeter,
designated Forward Operating Base
Camp Rhino. Navy top cover was
continual throughout the
25–26 Bitter fighting
raged at Qala-e-Jhangi, a
walled and moated 19th
century fortress six miles
west of Mazar-e-Sharif,
when 500–600 Taliban
prisoners rebelled. The
rebels killed CIA agent
Johnny Micheal Spann,
stormed the armory and
seized most of the fortress.
Despite attacks by
coalition special forces and
Northern Alliance troops
supported by tanks, it was
only retaken after strikes
by F/A-18C Hornets and a
USAF AC-130U Spooky.
26 Joint Surveillance Target
Attack Radar System-equipped
aircraft detected a column of about
15 Taliban vehicles, including
several armored personnel carriers,
probing the northwest perimeter of
Forward Operating Base Camp
Rhino. VF-102
F-14B Tomcats broke up the
attackers and two Marine AH-1W
Super Cobras finished the job.
30 The Battle of Tora Bora
began as naval reconnaissance
aircraft spotted Taliban troops
fleeing toward the fortress of Tora
Bora, an immense cave complex
interlaced with tunnels spanning
two valleys south of Jalalabad.
The Naval Air Training
Command unveiled the
Introductory Flight Screening
program at NAS Pensacola, Fla.,
to provide prospective Naval
Aviators with 25 hours of
instruction from FAA-certified
flight instructors prior to
commencing Navy flight training.
The last of seven KC-130J
Hercules to be delivered to the
Marines in 2001 arrived at MCAS
Cherry Point, N.C.
1 The Bonhomme Richard (LHD
6) amphibious ready group, with the
13th Marine Expeditionary Unit
42 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
On 2 December 2001, CH-53 and AH-1 helos await their next mission as Seabees level a dirt
landing strip at Forward Operating Base Camp Rhino inside Afghanistan.
Commander Carrier Group 3 RAdm. Thomas
E. Zelibor briefs an aviation electronics
technician after a routine check flight from
Carl Vinson (CVN 70) on 17 November.
PHC Terry Cosgrove
PH3 Kerryl Cacho
continued on page 45
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 43
LAMPS MK III Major Ship Deployments, 2001
Battle Group Deployments
George Washington (CVN 73)
21 Jun 00–20 Dec 00
Squadron Ship
HSL-44 Det 9 Simpson (FFG 56) (04 Aug
00–04 Feb 01)*
Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)
28 Nov 00–23 May 01
Squadron Ship
HSL-42 Det 8 San Jacinto (CG 56)
HSL-44 Det 1 Deyo (DD 989)
HSL-48 Det 6 Stump (DD 978)
HSL-46 Det 2 Carr (FFG 52) (12 Jan–
10 Jul 01)*
Enterprise (CVN 65)
25 Apr 01–25 Oct 01
Squadron Ship
HSL-42 Det 5 Nicholas (FFG 47)
HSL-46 Det 1 Thorn (DD 988)
HSL-46 Det 5 Gettysburg (CG 64)
HSL-48 Det 9 Philippine Sea (CG 58)
HSL-44 Det 7 Nicholson (DD 982) (16
Jun–12 Dec 01)*
Individual Deployments
Squadron Dates Ship
HSL-46 Det 6 15 Dec 00–15 May 01 O'Bannon (DD 987)
HSL-48 Det 1 10 Mar 01–25 Apr 01 Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29)
HSL-44 Det 5 10 Mar 01–28 Aug 01 Halyburton (FFG 40)
HSL-44 Det 3 22 Mar 01–17 Aug 01 John L. Hall (FFG 32)
HSL-48 Det 8 20 Apr 01–28 Aug 01 Ticonderoga (CG 47)
HSL-46 Det 10 21 May 01–05 Jul 01 Anzio (CG 68)
HSL-48 Det 1 21 May 01–12 Jul 01 Cape St. George (CG 71)
HSL-48 Det 4 11 Jun 01–12 Nov 01 McInerney (FFG 8)
HSL-42 Det 3 11 Jun 01–07 Dec 01 Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49)
HSL-46 Det 8 13 Aug 01–29 Oct 01 Churchill (DDG 81)
HSL-42 Det 9 12 Oct 01–05 Dec 01 Monterey (CG 61)
HSL-42 Det 10 10 Oct 01–08 Apr 02 Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29)
HSL-46 Det 10 07 Nov 01–26 Mar 02 Doyle (FFG 39)
Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71)
18 Sep 01–27 Mar 02
Squadron Ship
HSL-42 Det 2 Leyte Gulf (CG 55)
HSL-44 Det 4 Peterson (DD 969)
HSL-44 Det 6 Elrod (FFG 55)
HSL-48 Det 10 Anzio (CG 68)
HSL-46 Det 3 Hayler (DD 997) (16 Oct 01–16 Apr 02)*
* Deployment dates of squadrons that joined a battle group late are
indicated in parentheses.
Battle Group Deployments
Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)
14 Aug 00–12 Feb 01
Squadron Ship
HSL-37 Det 3 Crommelin (FFG 37)
HSL-37 Det 7 Fletcher (DD 992)
HSL-43 Det 1 Bunker Hill (CG 52)
HSL-49 Det 4 Shiloh (CG 67)
Kitty Hawk (CV 63)
02 Mar 01–11 Jun 01
Squadron Ship
HSL-51 Det 1 Vandegrift (FFG 48)
HSL-51 Det 4 Chancellorsville (CG 62)
HSL-51 Det 5 Gary (FFG 51)
HSL-51 Det 6 Vincennes (CG 49)
Constellation (CV 64)
15 Mar 01–15 Sep 01
Squadron Ship
HSL-37 Det 6 Chosin (CG 65)
HSL-43 Det 2 Kinkaid (DD 965)
Individual Deployments
HSL-47 Det 3 13 Sep 00–06 Feb 01 McClusky (FFG 41)
HSL-49 Det 6 09 Nov 00–26 Apr 01 Hewitt (DD 966)
HSL-45 Det 9 12 Jan 01–28 June 01 Paul F. Foster (DD 964)
HSL-43 Det 3 19 Mar 01–06 Aug 01 Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60)
HSL-51 Det 11 20 Mar 01–20 Jun 01 Blue Ridge (LCC 19)
HSL-49 Det 2 15 May 01–01 Nov 01 David R. Ray (DD 971)
HSL-51 Det 3 15 Jun 01–21 Nov 01 O'Brien (DD 975)
HSL-49 Det 4 24 Sep 01–03 Dec 01 Fife (DD 991)
HSL-47 Det 6 18 Oct 01–18 Apr 02 John Young (DD 973)
HSL-45 Det 2 18 Oct 01–18 Apr 02 Ford (FFG 54)
HSL-43 Det 5 22 Oct 01–19 Apr 02 Rentz (FFG 46)
John C. Stennis (CVN 74)
12 Nov 01–12 May 02
Squadron Ship
HSL-31 Det 1 Port Royal (CG 73)
HSL-43 Det 6 Elliot (DD 967)
HSL-47 Det 2 Jarrett (FFG 33)
Carl Vinson (CVN 70)
23 Jul 01–23 Jan 02
Squadron Ship
HSL-45 Det 1 Ingraham (FFG 61)
HSL-43 Det 4 Antietam (CG 54)
† This deployment marked the first time an HSL squadron deployed as part of a carrier air wing.
44 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
A-6E 152936 14 Nov
A-6E 162203 14 Nov
AV-8B 162730 23 Jan
AV-8B 162738 20 Feb
AV-8B 162742 23 Apr
AV-8B 162947 20 Jun
AV-8B 162967 21 May
AV-8B 163188 21 Aug
AV-8B 163189 18 Jul
AV-8B 163193 20 Jun
AV-8B 163197 18 Sep
AV-8B 163204 20 Mar
AV-8B 163419 20 Jun
AV-8B 163659 20 Jun
AV-8B 163665 11 Dec
AV-8B 163668 13 Nov
AV-8B 163669 20 Jun
AV-8B 163678 16 Oct
AV-8B 163680 20 Jun
AV-8B 163853 25 Jul
AV-8B 164149 20 Jun
C-2A 162146 7 May
CH-46E 157668 9 Jul
CH-53D 156669 2 Aug
CH-53D 156674 2 Aug
CH-53D 156964 8 Mar
CH-53D 157130 2 Aug
CH-53D 157136 2 Aug
CH-53D 157143 2 Aug
CH-53D 157746 2 Aug
CH-53D 157750 2 Aug
CH-53E 161536 20 Jun
CH-53E 161537 20 Jun
DC-130A 570496 6 Jun
E-2C 161785 25 Jul
E-2C 162614 4 Jan
E-2C 162616 25 Jul
E-2C 164354 23 Jan
EA-6B 160787 16 Nov
EA-6B 164403 21 Nov
ES-3A 158862 2 Aug
ES-3A 159393 2 Aug
ES-3A 159420 2 Aug
F-4S 158362 20 Jun
F-14A 158616 21 Mar
F-14A 158631 27 Nov
F-14A 159591 19 Apr
F-14A 159837 2 Aug
F-14A 159866 2 Aug
F-14A 160382 10 Nov
F-14A 160387 2 Aug
F-14A 160396 2 Aug
F-14A 160399 2 Aug
F-14A 160402 2 Aug
F-14A 160404 2 Aug
F-14A 160405 2 Aug
F-14A 160410 2 Aug
F-14A 160413 2 Aug
F-14A 160655 2 Aug
F-14A 160668 2 Aug
F-14A 160679 2 Aug
F-14A 160682 2 Aug
F-14A 160687 2 Aug
F-14A 160892 2 Aug
F-14A 160900 2 Aug
F-14A 160908 2 Aug
F-14A 160913 23 Apr
F-14A 161137 2 Aug
F-14A 161140 2 Aug
F-14A 161155 2 Aug
F-14A 161156 2 Aug
F-14A 161161 2 Aug
F-14A 162589 26 Oct
F-14B 161417 21 Oct
F-14D 164351 9 Aug
F/A-18A 161713 2 Aug
F/A-18A 161715 2 Aug
F/A-18A 161716 2 Aug
F/A-18A 161717 2 Aug
F/A-18A 161718 2 Aug
F/A-18A 161720 2 Aug
F/A-18A 161724 2 Aug
F/A-18A 161728 2 Aug
F/A-18A 161730 2 Aug
F/A-18A 161731 2 Aug
F/A-18A 161738 2 Aug
F/A-18A 161739 2 Aug
F/A-18A 161742 25 Jul
F/A-18A 161745 25 Jul
F/A-18A 161747 25 Jul
F/A-18A 161752 25 Jul
F/A-18A 161755 25 Jul
F/A-18A 161756 25 Jul
F/A-18A 161757 25 Jul
F/A-18A 161758 25 Jul
F/A-18A 161760 25 Jul
F/A-18A 161761 25 Jul
F/A-18A 161969 19 Jun
F/A-18A 163134 22 Aug
F/A-18C 164251 23 Oct
F/A-18C 165219 29 May
HH-1N 158245 27 Jul
HH-1N 158258 27 Jul
HH-1N 158283 27 Jul
HH-1N 158290 25 Jul
HH-1N 158556 4 Sep
HH-1N 160832 25 Jul
HH-46D 151949 22 Jun
MV-22B 165433 16 Jul
NF-14A 160658 11 Jul
NP-3B 152739 23 Oct
OH-58C 696189 5 Oct
QF-4N 152970 26 Jun
QF-4S 153823 29 Aug
QF-4S 153887 18 Jul
QF-4S 155521 12 Dec
QF-4S 158351 28 Nov
S-3A 159395 25 Jul
S-3A 159396 25 Jul
S-3A 159410 25 Jul
S-3A 159417 25 Jul
S-3A 159749 25 Jul
S-3A 160585 25 Jul
S-3A 160586 25 Jul
S-3A 160594 25 Jul
S-3A 160595 25 Jul
S-3A 160598 25 Jul
S-3B 159743 23 Oct
SH-60R 162094 21 Nov
SH-60R 162098 29 Sep
T-2C 157044 2 Aug
T-34C 160520 30 Aug
T-34C 160960 8 Jul
T-38A 610825 14 Aug
T-45A 163601 21 Feb
TAV-8B 164540 3 Feb
TH-57C 162023 6 Jul
UH-1N 158282 27 Jul
UH-1N 159688 10 Apr
UH-1N 160449 27 Jul
Aircraft Stricken in 2001
Aircraft BuNo Date Aircraft BuNo Date Aircraft BuNo Date
embarked, deployed six weeks
ahead of schedule in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom.
1 VF-14 and VF-41 were
redesignated VFA-14 and VFA-41.
Both began relocation from NAS
Oceana, Va., to NAS Lemoore,
Calif., and transition from the F-14B
Tomcat to the F/A-18E/F Super
2 The Marines at Forward
Operating Base Camp Rhino were
reinforced by 26th Marine
Expeditionary Unit helos and
finished building their defensive
4 At China Lake, Calif., the
unitary warhead variant of the
AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapon,
launched by F/A-18C/D Hornets,
completed its first free-flight tests.
This was the first U.S. weapon to
incorporate the Broach penetration
5 Marine and Navy aircraft flew
close cover for lines-ofcommunication
interdiction missions
along Route 1, which connected
Lashkar Gah with Kandahar, to cut
off the escape of Taliban and al
Qaeda troops fleeing from the
battles in northern Afghanistan.
5 Three U.S. service members and
5 Afghans were killed and 17
Americans and 19 Afghans
wounded when a B-52H
Stratofortress accidentally
dropped a Joint Direct Attack
Munition nearby. AH-1W
Super Cobras covered the
evacuation of casualties by
CH-53E Super Stallions to
Forward Operating Base
Camp Rhino. Nineteen
Americans were transferred
to a USAF C-130
Hercules Joint
Medevac Aviation
Unit. The Afghans
were flown by Super
Stallions to Bataan
(LHD 5) and Peleliu
(LHA 5) for
6–7 When
Marines at Forward
Operating Base
Camp Rhino spotted light flashes to
the north, a P-3C Orion orbiting
overhead confirmed a Taliban probe
and the Marines opened up with
81mm mortars, forcing the Taliban
to disengage. Later that evening a
six-vehicle convoy tried to slip past
the Marines, but was spotted by an
Orion. As the enemy, estimated to
be in company strength, dismounted
to form a skirmish line, F/A-18C
Hornets and F-14 Tomcats dropped
six 500-pound and two 1,000-pound
laser-guided bombs.
6 Remains returned from Vietnam
were identified as Cdr. John A.
Feldhaus, VA-152. On 8 October
1966 Feldhaus launched from
Oriskany (CVA 34) on a daytime
armed reconnaissance mission over
North Vietnam, but was lost when
his A-1H Skyraider (BuNo 137629)
was hit by ground fire.
7 Marine Corps accepted the first
AN/AAQ-28 Litening II targeting
pod, designed to give the AV-8B
Harrier II the capability to
autonomously deliver precisionguided
11 The last of 74 Marine dayattack
AV-8B Harrier IIs was
inducted at NADEP Cherry Point,
N.C., for modification into the
night-attack Harrier II Plus
configuration. The aircraft was
expected to return to fleet service in
September 2003.
12 An Air Force B-1B Lancer
outbound from a night strike over
Afghanistan crashed in the Indian
Ocean north of Diego Garcia,
B.I.O.T. A VP-4 P-3C Orion and an
Air Force KC-10A
Extender from the 79th
Air Refueling Wing
conducted a search and
rescue and directed
destroyer Russell (DDG
59) to the scene. All four
crew members were
13–14 A task force
comprised of a combined
antiarmor team plus
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 45
Left, on 30 November 2001, Bataan
(LHD 5) steams in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom with the
26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
embarked. Below, an F/A-18 Hornet
lands aboard Kitty Hawk during
Operation Enduring Freedom on 21
A VFA-94 F/A-18 Hornet refuels from an Air Force tanker
during Operation Enduring Freedom on 4 November 2001.
PH3 John E.Woods
PH1 David C. Mercil
supporting elements from the 26th
Marine Expeditionary Unit advanced
to the Kandahar airport, linking up
en route with Army special forces.
AV-8B Harrier IIs and AH-1W
Cobras supported by additional
coalition aircraft provided close air
support. CH-53E Super Stallions
rushed in reinforcements, enabling
the Marines to establish a forward
operating base.
15 Destroyer Mustin (DDG 89)—
named for the four Navy veterans of
the Mustin family, including Naval
Aviator Henry C. Mustin—
was christened at Pascagoula, Miss.
16–17 John C. Stennis (CVN 74)
relieved Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in
the Arabian Sea and immediately
launched her first strikes against
17 The Northern Alliance claimed
victory at Tora Bora. F/A-18C
Hornets pounded escape routes as
Taliban and al Qaeda remnants fled
toward Pakistan.
21 The Joint Air-to-Surface
Standoff Missile was approved for
low-rate initial production.
Aircraft Accepted in 2001
Bureau Number Qty Type Name Contractor
165488-165498 11 T-45C Goshawk Boeing
165568-165579 12 AV-8B* Harrier II Boeing
165598-165599 2 T-45C Goshawk Boeing
165647-165648 2 E-2C Hawkeye Northrop Grumman
165736 1 KC-130J Hercules Lockheed Martin
165738-165739 2 KC-130J Hercules Lockheed Martin
165752-165759 8 MH-60S Seahawk Sikorsky
165764 1 MH-60S Seahawk Sikorsky
165766 1 MH-60S Seahawk Sikorsky
165782-165792 11 F/A-18E Super Hornet Boeing
165798-165808 11 F/A-18F Super Hornet Boeing
165809-165810 2 KC-130J Hercules Lockheed Martin
165829-165832 4 C-40A Clipper Boeing
165860-165866 7 F/A-18E Super Hornet Boeing
165875-165881 7 F/A-18F Super Hornet Boeing
165938-165939 2 UC-35D Encore Cessna
166402-166403 2 MH-60R* Seahawk Sikorsky
650979 1 NC-130H Hercules Lockheed Martin
842402 1 UH-60L Blackhawk Sikorsky
872466-872467 2 UH-60L Blackhawk Sikorsky
* Remanufactured
Bureau Numbers Issued in 2001
Numbers below were assigned by CNO during 2001 for future Navy and
Marine Corps aircraft procurement:
Numbers Qty Type Name Contractor
166374 1 UC-35D Encore Cessna
166375-166379 5 C-37A – Gulfstream
166380-166382 3 KC-130J Hercules Lockheed Martin
166383-166399 17 MV-22B Osprey Bell/Boeing
166400-166401 2 RQ-8A Fire Scout Northrop Grumman
166402-166410 9 SH-60R Seahawk Sikorsky
166411-166413 3 AV-8B Harrier II Boeing
166414-166416 3 RQ-8A Fire Scout Northrop Grumman
166417-166419 3 E-2C Hawkeye Northrop Grumman
166420-166467 48 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Boeing
Left, a VFA-147 F/A-18 Hornet
launches from John C.
Stennis (CVN 74) in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom
on 18 December 2001. The
previous day, Sailors and
Marines stood at attention on
Stennis's flight deck as a flag
found in the rubble of the
World Trade Center in New
York was raised on the mast,
below left.
PH3 Jayme Pastoric PH3 Troy M. Latham
46 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 47
Naval Aeronautical Organization—United States Naval Aviation
Air Force Commanders
Naval Air Forces NAS North Island, CA
Naval Air Force Atlantic NB Norfolk, VA
Naval Air Force Pacific NAS North Island, CA
Naval Air Reserve Force NAS JRB New Orleans, LA
Carrier Groups
Carrier Group One NS San Diego, CA
Carrier Group Two NB Norfolk, VA
Carrier Group Three NS Bremerton, WA
Carrier Group Four NB Norfolk, VA
Carrier Group Five Fleet Activity Yokosuka, Japan
Carrier Group Six NS Mayport, FL
Carrier Group Seven NS San Diego, CA
Carrier Group Eight NB Norfolk, VA
Aircraft Carriers
Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Fleet Activity Yokosuka, Japan
Constellation (CV 64) NS San Diego, CA
Enterprise (CVN 65) NB Norfolk, VA
John F. Kennedy (CV 67) NS Mayport, FL
Nimitz (CVN 68) NS San Diego, CA
Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) NB Norfolk, VA
Carl Vinson (CVN 70) NS Bremerton, WA
Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) NB Norfolk, VA
Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) NS Everett, WA
George Washington (CVN 73) NB Norfolk, VA
John C. Stennis (CVN 74) NS San Diego, CA
Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) NB Norfolk, VA
Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)* NB Norfolk, VA
Fleet Air Commands
Fleet Air Keflavik NAS Keflavik, Iceland
Fleet Air Western Pacific NAF Atsugi, Japan
Fleet Air Mediterranean Naples, Italy
Functional Wing Commanders
Reserve Patrol Wing NAS Willow Grove, PA
Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Atlantic NB Norfolk, VA
Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Pacific MCBH Kaneohe Bay, HI
Helicopter Wing Reserve NAS North Island, CA
Fleet Aviation Specialized Operational Training Group
Fleet Aviation Specialized Operational Training Group
Atlantic (plus detachments) NB Norfolk, VA
Fleet Aviation Specialized Operational Training Group
Pacific (plus detachments) NAS North Island, CA
Type Wing Commanders
Airborne Early Warning Wing Atlantic NB Norfolk, VA
Airborne Early Warning Wing Pacific NBVC Point Mugu, CA
Electronic Attack Wing Pacific NAS Whidbey Island, WA
Fighter Wing Atlantic NAS Oceana, VA
Fleet Logistics Support Wing NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX
Helicopter Antisubmarine Wing Atlantic NAS Jacksonville, FL
Helicopter Antisubmarine Wing Pacific NAS North Island, CA
Helicopter Antisubmarine Wing Light Atlantic NS Mayport, FL
Helicopter Antisubmarine Wing Light Pacific NAS North Island, CA
Helicopter Tactical Wing Atlantic NB Norfolk, VA
Helicopter Tactical Wing Pacific NAS North Island, CA
Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1 NSF Kamiseya, Japan
Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1
Det Diego Garcia NAF Diego Garcia, B.I.O.T.
Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1
Det Kadena NAF Kadena, Japan
Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 1
Det Misawa NAF Misawa, Japan
Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 5 NAS Brunswick, ME
Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 NAS North Island, CA
Sea Control Wing Atlantic NAS Jacksonville, FL
Sea Control Wing Pacific NAS North Island, CA
Strategic Communications Wing 1 Tinker AFB, OK
Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic NAS Oceana, VA
Strike Fighter Wing Pacific NAS Lemoore, CA
Carrier AirWings
Carrier Air Wing 1 NAS Oceana, VA
Carrier Air Wing 2 NAS Lemoore, CA
Carrier Air Wing 3 NAS Lemoore, CA
Carrier Air Wing 5 NAF Atsugi, Japan
Carrier Air Wing 7 NAS Oceana, VA
Carrier Air Wing 8 NAS Oceana, VA
Carrier Air Wing 9 NAS Lemoore, CA
Carrier Air Wing 11 NAS Lemoore, CA
Carrier Air Wing 14 NAS Lemoore, CA
Carrier Air Wing 17 NAS Oceana, VA
Carrier Air Wing Reserve 20 NAS Atlanta, GA
Fighter Squadrons
VF-2 NAS Oceana, VA
VF-11 NAS Oceana, VA
VF-31 NAS Oceana, VA
VF-32 NAS Oceana, VA
VF-101 NAS Oceana, VA
VF-103 NAS Oceana, VA
VF-143 NAS Oceana, VA
VF-154 NAF Atsugi, Japan
VF-211 NAS Oceana, VA
VF-213 NAS Oceana, VA
Fighter Composite Squadrons
VFC-12 NAS Oceana, VA
VFC-13 NAS Fallon, NV
Strike Fighter Squadrons
VFA-14 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-15 NAS Oceana, VA
VFA-22 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-25 NAS Lemoore, CA
48 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
VFA-27 NAF Atsugi, Japan
VFA-34 NAS Oceana, VA
VFA-37 NAS Oceana, VA
VFA-41 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-81 NAS Oceana, VA
VFA-82 MCAS Beaufort, SC
VFA-83 NAS Oceana, VA
VFA-86 MCAS Beaufort, SC
VFA-87 NAS Oceana, VA
VFA-94 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-97 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-102 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-105 NAS Oceana, VA
VFA-106 NAS Oceana, VA
VFA-113 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-115 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-122 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-125 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-131 NAS Oceana, VA
VFA-136 NAS Oceana, VA
VFA-137 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-146 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-147 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-151 NAS Lemoore, CA
VFA-192 NAF Atsugi, Japan
VFA-195 NAF Atsugi, Japan
VFA-201 NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX
VFA-203 NAS Atlanta, GA
VFA-204 NAS JRB New Orleans, LA
Electronic Attack Squadrons
VAQ-128 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-129 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-130 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-131 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-132 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-133 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-134 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-135 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-136 NAF Atsugi, Japan
VAQ-137 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-138 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-139 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-140 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-141 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-142 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VAQ-209 NAF Washington, DC
Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadrons
VAW-77 NAS Atlanta, GA
VAW-78 NB Norfolk, VA
VAW-112 NBVC Point Mugu, CA
VAW-113 NBVC Point Mugu, CA
VAW-115 NAF Atsugi, Japan
VAW-116 NBVC Point Mugu, CA
VAW-117 NBVC Point Mugu, CA
VAW-120 NB Norfolk, VA
VAW-121 NB Norfolk, VA
VAW-123 NB Norfolk, VA
VAW-124 NB Norfolk, VA
VAW-125 NB Norfolk, VA
VAW-126 NB Norfolk, VA
Sea Control Squadrons
VS-21 NAF Atsugi, Japan
VS-22 NAS Jacksonville, FL
VS-24 NAS Jacksonville, FL
VS-29 NAS North Island, CA
VS-30 NAS Jacksonville, FL
VS-31 NAS Jacksonville, FL
VS-32 NAS Jacksonville, FL
VS-33 NAS North Island, CA
VS-35 NAS North Island, CA
VS-38 NAS North Island, CA
VS-41 NAS North Island, CA
Patrol Squadrons
VP-1 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VP-4 MCBH Kaneohe Bay, HI
VP-5 NAS Jacksonville, FL
VP-8 NAS Brunswick, ME
VP-9 MCBH Kaneohe Bay, HI
VP-10 NAS Brunswick, ME
VP-16 NAS Jacksonville, FL
VP-26 NAS Brunswick, ME
VP-30 NAS Jacksonville, FL
VP-40 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VP-45 NAS Jacksonville, FL
VP-46 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VP-47 MCBH Kaneohe Bay, HI
VP-62 NAS Jacksonville, FL
VP-64 NAS Willow Grove, PA
VP-65 NBVC Point Mugu, CA
VP-66 NAS Willow Grove, PA
VP-69 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VP-92 NAS Brunswick, ME
VP-94 NAS JRB New Orleans, LA
Patrol Squadron Special Units
VPU-1 NAS Brunswick, ME
VPU-2 MCBH Kaneohe Bay, HI
Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadrons
VQ-1 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VQ-1 Det Misawa NAF Misawa, Japan
VQ-2 NS Rota, Spain
VQ-3 Tinker AFB, OK
VQ-3 Det Offutt Offutt AFB, NE
VQ-3 Det Travis Travis AFB, CA
VQ-4 Tinker AFB, OK
VQ-4 Det NAS Patuxent River, MD
VQ-7 Tinker AFB, OK
Fleet Logistics Support Squadrons
VR-1 NAF Washington, DC
VR-46 NAS Atlanta, GA
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 49
VR-48 NAF Washington, DC
VR-51 MCBH Kaneohe Bay, HI
VR-52 NAS Willow Grove, PA
VR-53 NAF Washington, DC
VR-54 NAS JRB New Orleans, LA
VR-55 NBVC Point Mugu, CA
VR-56 NB Norfolk, VA
VR-57 NAS North Island, CA
VR-58 NAS Jacksonville, FL
VR-59 NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX
VR-61 NAS Whidbey Island, WA
VR-62 NAS Brunswick, ME
VRC-30 NAS North Island, CA
VRC-30 Det 5 NAF Atsugi, Japan
VRC-40 NB Norfolk, VA
Composite Squadrons
VC-6 NB Norfolk, VA
VC-6 Det Patuxent River NAS Patuxent River, MD
VC-6 Det Dam Neck Fleet Combat Training Center Dam Neck, VA
VC-8 NS Roosevelt Roads, PR
Helicopter Antisubmarine Warfare Squadrons
HS-2 NAS North Island, CA
HS-3 NAS Jacksonville, FL
HS-4 NAS North Island, CA
HS-5 NAS Jacksonville, FL
HS-6 NAS North Island, CA
HS-7 NAS Jacksonville, FL
HS-8 NAS North Island, CA
HS-10 NAS North Island, CA
HS-11 NAS Jacksonville, FL
HS-14 NAF Atsugi, Japan
HS-15 NAS Jacksonville, FL
HS-75 NAS Jacksonville, FL
Helicopter Antisubmarine Warfare Squadrons Light
HSL-37 MCBH Kaneohe Bay, HI
HSL-40 NS Mayport, FL
HSL-41 NAS North Island, CA
HSL-42 NS Mayport, FL
HSL-43 NAS North Island, CA
HSL-44 NS Mayport, FL
HSL-45 NAS North Island, CA
HSL-46 NS Mayport, FL
HSL-47 NAS North Island, CA
HSL-48 NS Mayport, FL
HSL-49 NAS North Island, CA
HSL-51 NAF Atsugi, Japan
HSL-60 NS Mayport, FL
Helicopter Combat Support Squadrons
HC-2 NB Norfolk, VA
HC-3 NAS North Island, CA
HC-4 NAS Sigonella, Italy
HC-5 Anderson AFB, Guam
HC-6 NB Norfolk, VA
HC-8 NB Norfolk, VA
HC-11 NAS North Island, CA
HC-85 NAS North Island, CA
Helicopter Combat Support Special Squadrons
HCS-4 NB Norfolk, VA
HCS-5 NAS North Island, CA
Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadrons
HM-14 NB Norfolk, VA
HM-15 NAS Corpus Christi, TX
Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons**
VX-1 NAS Patuxent River, MD
VX-9 NAWS China Lake, CA
VX-20 NAS Patuxent River, MD
HX-21 NAS Patuxent River, MD
VX-23 NAS Patuxent River, MD
VX-30 NBVC Point Mugu, CA
VX-31 NAWS China Lake, CA
Tactical Air Control Group
Tactical Air Control Group 1 NB Coronado, CA
Tactical Air Control Squadrons
TACRON 11 NB Coronado, CA
TACRON 12 NB Coronado, CA
TACRON 21 NAB Little Creek, VA
TACRON 22 NAB Little Creek, VA
Flight Demonstration Squadron
Blue Angels NAS Pensacola, FL
Naval Air Training Command
Chief of Naval Air Training NAS Corpus Christi, TX
Training AirWings
Training Wing 1 NAS Meridian, MS
Training Wing 2 NAS Kingsville, TX
Training Wing 4 NAS Corpus Christi, TX
Training Wing 5 NAS Whiting Field, FL
Training Wing 6 NAS Pensacola, FL
Training Squadrons
VT-2 NAS Whiting Field, FL
VT-3 NAS Whiting Field, FL
VT-4 NAS Pensacola, FL
VT-6 NAS Whiting Field, FL
VT-7 NAS Meridian, MS
VT-9 NAS Meridian, MS
VT-10 NAS Pensacola, FL
VT-21 NAS Kingsville, TX
VT-22 NAS Kingsville, TX
VT-27 NAS Corpus Christi, TX
VT-28 NAS Corpus Christi, TX
VT-31 NAS Corpus Christi, TX
VT-35 NAS Corpus Christi, TX
VT-86 NAS Pensacola, FL
Helicopter Training Squadrons
NAS Whiting Field, FL
NAS Whiting Field, FL
Aviation Training Schools/Center
Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic
NAS Oceana, VA
Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific
NAS Lemoore, CA
Strike Weapons and Tactics School
NAS Oceana, VA
Strike Weapons and Tactics School Pacific
NAS North Island, CA
Electronic Attack Weapons School
NAS Whidbey Island, WA
Landing Signal Officer School
NAS Oceana, VA
Sea Control Weapons School
NAS Jacksonville, FL
Reserve Antisubmarine Warfare
Training Center
NAS Willow Grove, PA
Organization chart only includes Navy aviation
units active as of press time. Marine Corps
aviation units were not included.
*PCU Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is included
because upon commissioning in May 2003, the
ship is slated to be home-ported at NB Norfolk,
**On 1 May 2002, test squadrons without
standard alphanumeric designations were
officially redesignated in keeping with fleet
standards. Previous and revised designations are
as follows: Naval Force Warfare Aircraft Test
Squadron–VX-20; Naval Rotary Wing Aircraft
Test Squadron–HX-21; Naval Strike Aircraft
Test Squadron–VX-23; Naval Weapons Test
Squadron Point Mugu–VX-30; and Naval
Weapons Test Squadron China Lake–VX-31.
50 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
For the third year in a row
Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)
won the Fleet Retention Excellence
Award. The award gives the crew
the privilege of painting each of the
ship's 60,000-pound anchors a
bright gold to mark the achievement.
The 2001 CNET Golden Anchor
award winners in the aviation
community were NAS Corpus
Christi, Texas; NAS Pensacola, Fla.;
NAS Meridian, Miss; Naval
Aviation Schools Command,
Pensacola, Fla.; and Naval Air
Maintenance Training Units North
Island, Calif., and Whidbey Island,
Wash. The annual award recognizes
commands that excel in retention.
VFA-97 earned the Capt.
Michael J. Estocin award for
meritorious achievement by a strike
fighter squadron. Squadron pilot
LCdr. James J. Reich was selected
as the winner of the
Michael G. Hoff Attack Aviator
award, presented annually to the top
tactical pilot or Naval Flight Officer
for exceptional proficiency,
professionalism and contributions to
carrier-based attack missions.
The CNO Search and Rescue
Model Manager establishes the
policies for Navy search and rescue
teams, and presents annual SAR
Excellence Awards. Recipients
judged to exemplify the commitment
to others embodied in the SAR
motto, "So Others May Live," were:
Aviation Rescue Swimmer of the
Year, AW2 Patrick G. Parent;
Aviation Rescue Crew of the Year,
Rescue Oscar Two, NAS Brunswick,
Maine; and Search and Rescue Unit
of the Year, HC-5.
The winners of the 2002 Captain
Edward F. Ney award for food
service excellence in the aviation
community were Bataan (LHD 5);
Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6);
Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71);
Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72); NAS
Brunswick, Maine; NAS Oceana,
Va.; and NAS Sigonella, Italy.
The annual Secretary of Defense
Environmental Award recognizes
installations, teams and individuals
for outstanding work in Department
of Defense environmental programs.
Aviation community honorable
mentions went to NAS Pensacola,
Fla.; NAS Brunswick, Maine; and
NAES Lakehurst, N.J.
The 2001 aviation winners of the
Secretary of the Navy
Environmental Award for
outstanding environmental programs
were: NAS Pensacola, Fla.; MCAS
Beaufort, S.C.; MCAS Yuma, Ariz.;
NAS Keflavik, Iceland; MCAS
50 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Above, a VF-103 F-14B Tomcat
assigned to CVW-17 aboard George
Washington (CVN 73) performs a highspeed
pass while conducting
integrated training exercises in the
Caribbean on 26 April.
PH1 James Vidrine
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 51
JO1(SW) Ed Wright
Iwakuni, Japan; NAF Atsugi/
Shinkampo, Japan; George
Washington (CVN 73); NAS
Brunswick, Maine; and NAES
Lakehurst, N.J.
The Navy League of the United
States presented its 2002 awards in
recognition of outstanding
leadership and achievement.
Aviation winners were: Admiral
Claude V. Ricketts award for
inspirational leadership (E-7 and
above), HMCS(SW/AW/FMF)
Roger M. Grose, Enterprise (CVN
65); Captain Winifred Quick
Collins award for inspirational
leadership (enlisted), AZCS(AW)
Amy E. Goin, VF-41; General
Gerald C. Thomas award for
inspirational leadership (enlisted),
MSgt. Delphine E. Hamilton,
VMFT-401; Rear Admiral William
S. Parsons award for scientific and
technical progress, Donald A.
Birchler, COMPATRECONWING 1;
Stephen Decatur award for
operational competence, Cdr.
Charles T. Hollingsworth,
COMPATRECONWING 1; and
Honorable J. William Middendorf
II award for engineering excellence
Michael A. Bastys, Theodore
Roosevelt (CVN 71).
The 2001 aviation winners of the
Secretary of the Navy Admiral
Elmo R. Zumwalt award for
excellence in bachelor housing were:
NAF Key West, Fla.; NAS Whidbey
Island, Wash.; NAS Lemoore, Calif.;
NAF Atsugi, Japan; NAS Whiting
Field, Fla.; and NAS Pensacola, Fla.
CHINFO Merit Awards
recognize exemplary achievements
in internal media products by Navy
commands and individuals. The
categories and winners in the
aviation community for 2001 were:
publication for a specific audience,
(magazine), 1st Naval Aviation
News, Naval Historical Center,
Washington, D.C.; military funded
newspaper, small deployed units, 1st
Penny Press, Abraham Lincoln
(CVN 72), and 3rd Give 'Em Hell
Herald, Harry S. Truman (CVN 75);
military funded newspaper, small
shore units, 2nd Northwest Islander,
NAR Whidbey Island, Wash.;
civilian enterprise newspaper, 1st
Jax Air News, NAS Jacksonville,
Fla.; news article, 2nd JO3 William
D. Price Jr., Theodore Roosevelt
(CVN 71); commentary, 1st Ltjg.
Don Capoldo, NAS Lemoore, Calif.;
and 3rd Eileen Brown, NAS
Whidbey Island, Wash.; sports
Above, L-R, Lt. Hughes, Lts. (jg) Cruz
and McCabe and LCdr. Pettigrew of
VF-114. On 6 May 1972, flying F-4J
Phantom IIs, top, these aircrews
vectored against four MiG-21s near
Than Hoa, Vietnam, taking out three.
Each man received the Silver Star for
aggressive airmanship and
professional performance. Left, MiG
killer-era squadronmates and friends of
now-Director, Air Warfare RAdm. Mike
McCabe surprised him at a May 2002
ceremony to commemorate the 30th
anniversary of the MiG kills: L-R, retired
RAdms. John Kerr and Ed Allen, Adm.
William Fallon, RAdm. McCabe and
Capt. Denis Faherty.
article, 1st Lt. Brandon Hammond,
VFA-122; series, 1st Lt. John A.
Kalantzis, NAS Lemoore, Calif.;
stand-alone photograph, 3rd JO3
Michael Douglas, NAS Sigonella,
Italy, and HM Wendy Leland,
Naval Aviation News, Washington,
D.C.; photojournalism, 1st James S.
Darcy III, NAS Patuxent River, Md.;
2nd Art Giberson, NAS Pensacola,
Fla., and HM Wendy Leland,
Naval Aviation News, Washington
D.C.; art/graphics in support of a
publication, 3rd Morgan Ian
Wilbur, Naval Aviation News,
Washington, D.C., and HM Ted
Wilbur, Naval Aviation News,
Washington. DC.; contribution by a
newspaper contractor-stringer, 1st
Tammy Ragonese, NAS Lemoore,
Calif.; web-based publication, 2nd
Rudder Online, NAR Norfolk, Va.;
outstanding new writer, 2nd JO3
Kristin Fitzsimmons, George
Washington (CVN 73); DON print
journalist of the year, 1st JO2
Joaquin Juatai, NAS Whidbey
Island, Wash.; familygram, small
command, 2nd Seahawker, VAW-
126; familygram, large command,
1st Talon, Tarawa (LHA 1);
cruisebook, large command, 1st
Westpac 2000, Tarawa (LHA 1), 2nd
Med/Arabian Gulf 2000, George
Washington (CVN 73); SITE TV
newscast, 1st PAO/Photolab, Carl
Vinson (CVN 70); and SITE open,
Late Night with the PAO, Theodore
Roosevelt (CVN 71).
52 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Below,Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) steams home after 159
days at sea, a post-WW II record. The ship was on station in the
Arabian Sea conducting air strikes in Afghanistan in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom. Right, "The Stick" artwork © Hank
Caruso, originally commissioned by VAQ-141 in 1993, depicts
air operations aboard TR.
By JO1(SW) Tim Paynter, Joint Task Force-Full
Accounting Public Affairs
On a January morning in 1968, a Navy
commander, three lieutenants (junior
grade), four petty officers second class
and a petty officer third class climbed
aboard their OP-2E Neptune and prepared
for takeoff. They would not live to see
sunset that day.
The nine Sailors were members of
Observation Squadron 67, a unit that operated
secretly from an air base in Thailand during the
Vietnam War. Their mission was to pepper the jungles
of Laos with tiny sensors that could be used to collect
intelligence by detecting slight movements or listening
in on conversations.
That morning, three planes left the airstrip in
Thailand, but only two returned. The cryptic last words
of the third aircraft's mission commander were, "I'm
going down through this hole in the clouds."
All that is known is that their plane crashed on the
side of a cloud-covered mountain in Laos, nearly a mile
above the jungle floor, and for more than 30 years the
site remained untouched.
The mountain was deemed too dangerous
to excavate in 1996 when an investigation
team located the crash site, but with help
from Army mountaineers it was decided that
it could be done. In 2001, the crash site was
excavated for the first time; the remains were
repatriated and are in the identification process.
Now, as part of a Joint Task Force–Full Accounting
initiative, another search is in progress.
Strapped in and nearly dangling at times from the
side of the mountain, only 100 feet from the summit,
workers systematically search through grids on a 35-
degree mud- and rock-filled slope. This time around it's
fresh dirt, undisturbed remains, new pieces of the
puzzle and hopefully closure for families who have
waited for more than three decades.
Sailors Search for Sailors in Southeast Asia
PH2 Jason Scarborough
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 53
The Coast Guard reported banner success rates in its
drug-interdiction operation "New Frontier." The new
program uses C-130 Hercules and cutter-deployable
tactical MH-68A Mako helicopters in the pursuit of drug
smugglers in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.
Approximately 80 percent of the illegal narcotics that enter
the United States via maritime routes each year are
transported on "go-fast" vessels, which are normally
between 30 and 40 feet long and capable of traveling in
excess of 50 knots (58 mph) and can carry up to three tons
of cocaine.
On 15 January,
the crew of cutter
Steadfast, homeported
Warrenton, OR,
recovered 2.2
tons of marijuana
from a 30-foot
go-fast vessel and
turned the boat,
marijuana and
three crewmen over to Mexican naval authorities.
On 16 January, the crew of cutter Midgett, based in
Seattle, Wash., chased a go-fast boat, caught it and its six
crewmen, and recovered 925 pounds of cocaine.
On 24 January, Midgett's crew caught another go-fast
vessel, with four
crewmen and 733
pounds of
On 26 January,
the helicopter crew deployed aboard Steadfast located a
go-fast boat, which jettisoned its load of 1.8 tons of
marijuana during the pursuit.
On 3 February, the crew of cutter Boutwell, homeported
in Alameda, Calif., recovered 2.5 tons of cocaine
from a 40-foot go-fast vessel and took into custody four
crewmen for prosecution in the U.S.
On 12 February, cutters Boutwell and Hamilton, homeported
in San Diego, Calif., working with their two
embarked helicopters, stopped a 40-foot go-fast boat and
its six-person crew who had jettisoned 3.4 tons of
cocaine into the ocean.
On 22 February, Midgett's crew possibly
thwarted a transfer of contraband when they
pursued the Mexican-flagged fishing vessel Atun X,
which quickly sank as Midgett approached. The 11
crewmen rescued from Atun X were turned over to
Mexican naval authorities.
On 12 March, Boutwell and Hamilton located
and chased two go-fast
boats which jettisoned
their cargo. One vessel
was stopped and 1.5 tons
of marijuana were
recovered. The three
crewmen were turned
over to Mexican naval
authorities for
Top left, HITRON 10
MH-68A Mako helicopters
based out of Jacksonville, Fla.
The Mako is an all-weather,
short-range interdiction
aircraft deployable aboard
Coast Guard cutters. Top
right, Rick Gallant of the
Coast Guard inspects the
landing platform at a Boston, Mass., hospital. Right,
Coast Guard sharpshooters fire warning shots and
disable engines if other methods fail to stop boats. The
MH-68A is equipped with a 7.62 machine gun, above
right, and a precision .50-caliber rifle. Above left, these
suspected drug smugglers were arrested and 6,749
pounds of cocaine were seized after rounds were fired
into the boat's engine, disabling it at sea.
Scan Pattern
In a 23 January ceremony the
National Museum of Naval Aviation,
Pensacola, Fla., accepted for display
the City of Marietta, a C-9 Skytrain II
(BuNo 163511), honoring its three
decades of service to the fleet. The
aircraft was flown by VR-46, NAS
Atlanta, Ga.
Naval Aviators are "staying Navy"
at the highest rate in 12 years. The
current total of 68 resignations from
Naval Aviation to date for FY 02, is a
50-percent reduction from this point
in FY 01. The war on terrorism is
having a significant impact of
resignation rates: 94 aviators pulled
their resignation requests after 11
September 2001. Other factors
include increases in basic pay, career
sea pay, incentive pay, Aviation
Career Continuation Pay and the
Thrift Savings Plan availability.
Anniversary and
VR-56 celebrated its 25th
anniversary in January.
HSL-41 surpassed 110,000 mishapfree
flight hours
HMM-264 surpassed 90,000
mishap-free flight hours.
VR-53 surpassed 33,000 mishapfree
flight hours.
Commander CVW-1 Capt.
Stephen Voetsch completed his
4,000th F-14 Tomcat hour in January
on Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).
Commander CVW-5 Capt.
Michael F. Galpin logged his 3,000th
Tomcat hour in February at NAF
Atsugi, Japan.
Also in February, VF-154 CO Cdr.
James H. Flatley IV marked his
3,000th F-14 hour at Kadena Air
Base, Okinawa.
On 26 January the Boston Coast
Guard command center dispatched an
HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and HU-25
Falcon jet in response to a distress
call from five fishermen in a life boat
after their vessel Tara M.J. sank in the
North Atlantic. The Falcon crew
spotted the life raft 125 miles east of
Portland, Maine. Kastner, a 170-foot
cargo ship in the area, retrieved the
unharmed crewmen and took them to
Lockporte, Nova Scotia.
LCpl. Ernest Rancel rescued a
Sailor while on liberty during a
deployment to Tumon Bay, Guam, in
February. An ordnance technician with
VMFA-212, Rancel witnessed the
Sailor in a jet ski accident and was
able to bring him ashore on a floating
backboard. Rancel then provided the
Sailor first aid for a broken leg and
shock while awaiting emergency
An HC-11 CH-46 Sea Knight
acting as the search and rescue
helicopter for flight deck
qualifications on Tarawa (LHA 1) was
called into action when an AV-8B
Harrier II crashed during a landing
attempt. The pilot of the Harrier
ejected safely, landed in the water and
was picked up and in medical care
aboard Tarawa within 15 minutes.
54 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
Enterprise (CVN 65): Capt. Eric
C. Heidlinger relieved Capt. James
A. Winnefeld, Jr., 15 Feb.
FIFTHFLT: VAdm. Timothy J.
Keating relieved VAdm. Charles W.
Moore, Jr., 10 Feb.
HCS-5: Cdr. Michael S.
Remington relieved Cdr. Donald S.
Thiesse, 23 Feb.
HSL-40: Cdr. Michael A. Walley
relieved Capt. William K. Lescher,
26 Apr.
HSL-43: Cdr. S. Jeff Tappan
relieved Cdr. James J. Gillcrist, 31
VAQ-140: Cdr. Steven G.
Kochman relieved Cdr. Thomas L.
Mascolo, 20 Apr.
VF-154: Cdr. James H. Flatley IV
relieved Cdr. Paul O. Monger, 4 Mar.
VFA-82: Cdr. Steve Foley relieved
Cdr. Mark Hunter, 12 Mar.
VFA-201: Cdr. Thomas W.
Marotta relieved Cdr. Hermon C.
Cook, 16 Mar.
VP-4: Cdr. Tyrone Payton relieved
Cdr. M. D. Yancey, 8 Apr.
VPU-2: Cdr. Michael E. Groody
relieved Cdr. Joseph W. Rixey, 8 Mar.
VR-48: Cdr. John A. McGrath
relieved Cdr. Timothy G. Schaefer,
13 Apr.
VR-53: Cdr. John B. Fluhart
relieved Cdr. Jerome D. Frechette,
3 Nov 01.
VT-9: Cdr. Charles L. Aley
relieved Cdr. Albert L. St. Clair,
8 Mar.
Wasp (LHD 1): Capt. Edward P.
McNamee relieved Capt. Robert C.
Jackson, 15 Feb.
A potential Naval
Aviator gets his first
experience at the
stick in an AH-1W
Super Cobra during
the annual firepower
exhibition on the Mall
in Washington, D.C.,
in May.
JO3 Dan Ball
A VF-154 F-14A Tomcat recovers
aboard Kitty Hawk (CV 63).
PH1(AW) William R. Goodwin
Naval Aviation News July–August 2002 55
By LCdr. John Wallach, Great Lakes Public
Affairs Officer
With the help of technology, simulation and
some of the entertainment industry's top
creative minds, the Recruit Training Command
is poised to make a quantum leap in the evolution of
"Battle Stations" training.
First assembled in an empty warehouse in 1997
with plywood, makeshift plumbing and old-fashioned
Sailor ingenuity, Battle Stations has evolved
considerably from its beginnings. Nearing its fifth
anniversary, the 12-hour exercise pushes recruits to
their limits, requiring them to draw on every aspect
of their training to date. Now, with the help of
experts in the entertainment industry, the Navy is
working to make Battle Stations even more
"Our objective is to make Battle Stations a more
effective training evolution," said RAdm. Ann
Rondeau, Commander Naval Training Center, Great
Lakes, Ill. "If we achieve that goal, we send a better
trained Sailor to the fleet, and that's what Great Lakes
is all about."
With that guidance, the Naval Air Warfare Center
Training Systems Division in Orlando, Fla., and
i.d.e.a.s. at Disney-MGM Studios began work on the
first phase of the project, creative development of a
Battle Stations story line.
"Our tasking was to create the Battle Stations
experience in the form of a story, incorporating the
scenarios which are taught today," said Bob Allen,
i.d.e.a.s. chief executive officer. "We are professional
storytellers, and our aim is to have recruits so
immersed in the Battle Stations story that it becomes
real. Reality leads to what we call 'experiential
learning,' a very effective technique."
Under the i.d.e.a.s. concept, recruits are marched to
a pier, where they are dwarfed by a ship's mast
protruding through the roof of the Battle Stations
facility. Bird calls, tug boat whistles and other ambient
noises of a busy port echo from speakers nearby.
Once aboard the Battle Stations ship, recruits go
below to the mess decks to receive briefings on the
night's mission. The scenarios then begin to unfold
in a continuous sequence along the story line.
Routine operations come first. Gear is stowed, stores
are loaded, then the order is passed to execute an
emergency sortie—20 minutes to get the ship
underway. Aggression scenarios follow. General
quarters is sounded. Recruits battle shipboard fires,
repel terrorist boarders, move ammunition from a
flooding magazine, and rescue injured shipmates
from smoke-filled compartments.
It is the increase in realism that sets the new Battle
Stations apart from the old. In the abandon-ship
scenario, for example, wave machines, salt water and
night lighting will make the jump from the ship far
more uninviting than the combat pool used today. "We
have to maintain a suspension of disbelief throughout
the entire 12-hour evolution," said Allen. "It's
imperative that we keep the stress level up as well."
"The new Battle Stations must be 'refreshable,'"
added Rondeau. "We have a predictable customer in
the fleet, but not a predictive one. Ten years ago, antiterrorism
force protection was not as significant a part
of our training curriculum as it is today. We need to
anticipate what our training priorities will be 10 years
from now, and build in the flexibility to adapt to
"We will evaluate our Battle Stations return on
investment, as we do the effectiveness of all of our
training programs, based on feedback from the fleet,"
stated Capt. O. W. Wright, Recruit Training
Command skipper. "When a Sailor uses what he or
she learned in boot camp to respond successfully to a
Naval Aviation News routinely spotlights Naval Aviation personnel,
and it is interesting for the staff to follow their career paths. This
photograph from the February 1981 issue shows AD2 Constance R.
Woodworth (third from left) with other Helicopter Mine
Countermeasures Squadron 12 members at NAS Norfolk, Va. Her
proud father, Ralph, wrote to say that his daughter, now
AFCM(AW/NAC) Robinson, retired in a joint ceremony with her
husband, AFCM(NAC) Alan W. Robinson, at Corpus Christi, Texas.
As a woman in a nontraditional rating, she saw changes during her
naval service, but her dad remarked, "I don't think she ever had a
truly bad day in the Navy. Some days were just better than others."
Osborn, Shane, with Malcolm McConnell. Born to Fly:
The Untold Story of the Downed American
Reconnaissance Plane. Broadway Books, 1540
Broadway, New York, NY 10036. 2001. 262 pp. Ill.
$22.95. Simultaneously published: Osborn, Shane,
with Malcolm McConnell. Adapted for young people
by Michael French. Born to Fly: The Heroic Story of
Downed U.S. Navy Pilot Lt. Shane Osborn. Delacorte
Press, 1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036. 2001.
183 pp. Ill. $15.95.
Having the eyes of the world, including those of
your commander in chief and his top military
advisors, resting squarely on you and your crew is
pretty heavy stuff for a 27-year-old lieutenant aviator.
But that was part of the challenge that Shane Osborn and
his crew of 23 faced in the first weeks of April 2001.
Taking off from Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in the early
morning hours of 1 April, they were anticipating a
routine surveillance flight over the South China Sea.
However, the flight became anything but routine when
two Chinese Finback fighters appeared and quickly
established close and sloppy formation with the
American EP-3E.
After some attention-getting antics, the J-8s came too
close, one of them hitting the Aries II's No. 1 engine. The
huge four-bladed prop tore through the fighter's rear
fuselage, and debris carried away the EP-3E's radome.
The doomed interceptor and pilot fell into the sea below,
leaving the Americans struggling to right their stricken
aircraft, literally fighting for their lives in an inverted
Backed up by his crew, Lt. Osborn regained controlled
flight after losing nearly 8,000 feet in 30 seconds. The
crew decided to land at the Chinese airfield on Hainan
Island. After repeated calls for landing instructions went
unanswered, they landed the EP-3E and were
immediately surrounded by Chinese troops. Eleven days
of internment and interrogation followed before the 24
Americans were released to American authorities and
allowed to leave Hainan.
The secretive world of airborne electronic intelligence
gathering shuns the glare of notoriety, but this VQ-1
crew brought a high level of favorable exposure to their
small community. Their story is told in these two books.
It's a rather unusual commercial ploy: one "full size"
adult-oriented book with all the preflight details,
occasional four-letter words and the intense
interrogations the crew experienced, published along
with a smaller format book whose text is reduced in
length and content and focuses on the more exciting
aspects of Lt. Osborn's love of flying for the Navy. Note
the subtle difference in the two books' subtitles. The
adult version touts "The Untold Story," while the junior
version promises "The Heroic Story." Both publishers are
imprints of Random House.
The adult book begins with a lengthy description of an
EP-3 preflight, allowing the author to introduce his crew
and establishing the narrative for what is to come. The
text moves back and forth from the present to Osborn's
memories of growing up in South Dakota and Nebraska.
It's an accepted way of telling a story and moves well.
Like many youngsters dreaming of military wings,
Osborn had always wanted to fly fighters.
After graduating from the University of Nebraska on a
Naval ROTC scholarship, he began flight training. His
dream of flying F-14 Tomcats or F/A-18 Hornets quickly
evaporated when the small window of the jet pipeline
closed. Undaunted, he chose P-3 Orions and got his
wings and an assignment to VQ-1. His description of that
fateful 1 April mission is worth reading to learn how he
and his crew survived what should have been a deadly
midair with an overly aggressive Chinese aviator bent on
showing off and scaring his American quarry.
The common mistake of designating the Finback as an
F-8 instead of the correct J-8 is, unfortunately,
perpetuated. This error led to occasional confusion in the
media during the two-week crisis, one CNN anchor
demanding of an Army general why the Chinese had
been allowed to get F-8s. The young reporter obviously
thought the F-8 in question was the F-8 Crusader of
Vietnam fame.
Lt. Osborn also gives first-time public confirmation
that the flight crew completed the destruct plan to disable
their valuable intelligence-gathering sensors and systems.
As he and his crew realized they would be staying with
their Chinese hosts for a while, Osborn developed a
game plan. They determined what their individual and
collective roles would be and resolved to hang together
as a unit.
Writing in the first person, Osborn gives a lot of space
to his particular experiences, especially as he was
initially separated from his group when the Chinese
realized his senior position and the fact the crew looked
to him for leadership. Fortunately, the other officers and
the senior chief flight engineer quickly exercised their
own leadership skills in Osborn's absence, and soon the
23 other members had formed their manner of dealing
with the Chinese. As Senior Chief Nick Mellos said,
"Don't get lazy around the guards. We might still be here
a long time. This detention crap can be drawn out much
longer than any of us want. But we're Americans, and
we're sailors. So we'll watch what we say and what we
do." It was excellent advice from an old hand who was
as much responsible for the successful return of everyone
as Lt. Osborn and his other officers.
These are good books, although I question the
legitimacy of issuing two editions. I saw nothing in the
adult version that today's younger readers couldn't have
56 Naval Aviation News July–August 2002
By Cdr. Peter B. Mersky, USNR (Ret.)
Save the Vengeance
In December 2001 an organization
was formed to secure the future of the
last surviving WW II British aircraft
carrier. "Save the Vengeance" is
attempting to acquire the historic ship
from the Brazilian navy, her last
operator and current owner.
Initially built as a Colossus-class
light fleet carrier, the ship was
commissioned HMS Vengeance for
the Royal Navy in 1944. Following
service during WW II, she went on
loan to the Australian navy from
1952 to 1955 as HMAS Vengeance.
Later, the ship was sold to the
Brazilian navy, refitted and
commissioned NAeL Minas Gerais
in 1960, serving until decommissioned
in October 2001.
The organization's goal is to
acquire the carrier, return her to the
United Kingdom and transform her
into a museum to educate the public
on the development of aircraft
carriers and their role in history. If
this project is successful, Vengeance
will be the only preserved aircraft
carrier in Europe. For more
information, go to
EAAAirVenture, 23–29 JUL,
Oshkosh, WI. POC: Dick Knapinski,
920-426-6523; firstname.lastname@example.com;
Ranger (CVA/CV 61), 24–28
JUL, Chicago, IL. POC: George
Meoli, firstname.lastname@example.com.
RVAH-12, 26–28 JUL, Pensacola,
FL. POC: Rod Anderson, 734-475-
5898; firstname.lastname@example.com;
Bon Homme Richard (CV/CVA
31), 9–10 AUG, Charleston, SC.
POC: Ron Edlund, 231-773-0441.
America (CV 66), 14–17 AUG,
Charleston, SC. POC: Ed Pelletier,
888-391-CV66; firstname.lastname@example.com;
Enterprise (CVA/CVN 65), 27–31
AUG, Pittsburgh, PA. POC: Walter
McDougall, 724-325-9954;
Newport, RI. POC: Edward
Seykowski, 219-462-3636;
Iwo Jima (LPH 2/LHD 7), 5–8
SEP, Everett, WA. POC: Robert
McAnally, 757-723-0317;
Salisbury Sound (AV 13), 12–14
SEP, Virginia Beach, VA. POC:
Marian Bruce, 505-293-3841;
Albuquerque, NM. POC: William
Martin, 505-864-7953;
Tripoli (CVE 64), 18–22 SEP, Hot
Springs, AK. POC: Jim Metts, 409-
722-1468; firstname.lastname@example.com;
Saginaw Bay (CVE 82), 20–24
SEP, Arlington, VA. POC: Rita
Homman, 740-654-1651;
Wright (AV 1/AG 79/CVL 49),
22–26 SEP, Charleston, SC. POC: Ed
Harvey, 229-872-3940;
NAS/NOB Trinidad, 26–28 SEP,
Memphis, TN. POC: F. D. Barrett,
870-496-2285; firstname.lastname@example.com.
WW II Navy Scouting
Squadrons, 27–30 SEP, Corpus
Christi, TX. POC: Leon Hance, 361-
780-5419; email@example.com.
Essex (CV/CVA/CVS 9/LHD 2),
30 SEP–6 OCT, New Orleans, LA.
POC: C. Leonard Schlamp, 812-437-
9485; firstname.lastname@example.com.
PH1 Jim Hampshire won the
bimonthly photo contest with this
spectacular shot of a Special
Purpose Insertion/Extraction team
suspended above John F.
Kennedy (CV 67).
For contest details call
703-960-2490. Mail photos to
ANA, 2550 Huntington Ave.,
Suite 201, Alexandria, VA
22303-1499; email
Cash Awards:
Annual—First, $350;