Naval Aviation News articles from September 2005

Naval Aviation News archives from September 2005

Grampaw Pettibone.
September 1, 2005... Vestibular Valediction A first-tour Hornet pilot spent a significant amount of time troubleshooting several discrepancies on deck before a night hop, but managed to get the problems resolved in time to make the launch. The sky was overcast...

Airscoop.
September 1, 2005... For the Record The next-generation presidential helicopter received its mission design series designator of VH-71A on 7 July. A popular name is still pending. Training Air Wing 6 celebrated its last T-34C Turbo-Mentor flight on 22...

Eightballers operate from Kuwait.
September 1, 2005... For most of the crew members aboard Carl Vinson (CVN 70), each day is defined by a routine. However, for Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9's Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (HS) 8, the Eightballers, the average workday is not routine. And for their...

VR-55 Minutemen.(evaluation of Military Aircraft )
September 1, 2005... Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 55 was established in April 1976 at NAS Alameda. Calif., and was the first Naval Reserve unit to fly the C-9B Skytrain II. In 1993, the Minutemen transitioned to the C-130T Hercules, left, and today the squadron...

VS-35 Blue Wolves deactivated.
September 1, 2005... Ceremonies held on 24 March 2005 at NAS North Island, Calif., marked the deactivation (officially 31 March) of Sea Control Squadron 35 (VS-35) after more than 13 years of service. Cdr. Gary M. Wilson was the last CO of the Blue Wolves. The...

PROFESSIONAL READING.(Book Review)
September 1, 2005... Polmar, Norman. The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, Eighteenth Edition. U.S. Naval Institute, 291 Wood Rd., Annapolis, MD 21402. 2005. 661 pp. Ill. $89.95. This new edition of what has become a staple in...

Awards.(crew of Carl Vinson qualifies for pennants)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The crew of Carl Vinson (CVN 70) earned the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) and Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) pennants. To qualify for the honor of flying the pennants, all E-5 and above sailors with more than 18 months...

Awards.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)
September 1, 2005... Kitty Hawk's (CV 63) ABH1 (AW/SW) Shane Krueger is the Navy's Military Firefighter of the Year. The Navy Fire and Emergency Services Program Office gives the annual award to honor superior job performance and outstanding contributions to the...

Awards.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)
September 1, 2005... NAVAIR Depot Jacksonville, Fla., received the 2004 SECNAV Safety Award and CNO Safety Award, and the inaugural 2004 DON Excellence Award for Safety. Edited by JO3 Brandy Lewis

Awards.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)
September 1, 2005... MALS-16 won the 2004 Marine Corps Aviation Association Marion Carl Award for exceptional achievement by a Marine air wing ground unit. Edited by JO3 Brandy Lewis

Awards.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)
September 1, 2005... VT-10 received the 2004 Grampaw Pettibone Unit Award, presented by the CNO and the Naval Safety Center to recognize an organization for contributions to aviation safety awareness through publications. VT-10's Lt. Thaddeus Withers was awarded a...

Awards.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)
September 1, 2005... Kitty Hawk's (CV 63) IS3 (SW/AW) Louis Juers was selected as the Navy's Junior Intelligence Specialist of the Year for sea duty sailors. Edited by JO3 Brandy Lewis

Awards.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)
September 1, 2005... George Washington (CVN 73) received the 2004 Admiral Flatley Award. This award recognizes the safest carrier, air wing, and amphibious ship throughout the fleet, which excel in overall contributions to aviation safety based on readiness,...

Anniversaries.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)
September 1, 2005... VFA-211 celebrated its 60th anniversary on 1 May. Nimitz (CVN 68) celebrated her 30th anniversary on 12 May. Edited by JO3 Brandy Lewis

Records.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... HMH-465 surpassed 40,000 Class A mishap-free flight hours. VFA-143 surpassed 50,000 Class A mishap-free flight hours. VAW-121 CO Cdr. Jeff Bay recorded his 600th trap on 29 April, during a deployment aboard Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN...

Scan pattern.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)
September 1, 2005... On 25 May, during a four-day multinational maritime exercise off the East Coast, VAW-121 CO Cdr. Jeff Bay conducted a trap and launch from the French carrier Charles De Gaulle in a squadron E-2C Hawkeye. Edited by JO3 Brandy Lewis

Scan pattern.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)
September 1, 2005... In April, Kearsarge's (LHD 3) Air Department surpassed 2,000 mishap-free flight deck evolutions. This marked the first time Kearsarge reached this milestone since May 1999. Edited by JO3 Brandy Lewis

Scan pattern.(Australian Army and United States Navy joint excercise)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... The Australian Army and the U.S. Navy worked together in June during Exercise Talisman Saber 2005. More than 800 Australian and U.S. service members cooperated to conclude three phases of combined operations in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area....

Scan pattern.(volunteer work of Midshipmen)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... On 20 June, Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and CVW-9 sailors volunteered to read, play, and help teach children at the Rashid Pediatric Therapy Center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The children come from England, Pakistan, Lebanon, and some 20 other...

Rescues.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... On 21 June, an MH-60 helicopter from HSC-28 Det 2 was directed by U.S. 5th Fleet to an Iranian fishing dhow stranded in the Arabian Gulf. The helicopter crew found the dhow with nine people on deck, with the vessel taking on water. The mariners...

Rescues.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... On 11 May, the crew of Mustin (DDG 89) rescued 27 people from the Panamanian-flagged vessel Olympias, when an engine-room fire engulfed the boat in the northern Arabian Gulf. Mustin's embarked helicopter from HSL-45 Det 5 arrived on scene and...

Rescues.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)
September 1, 2005... On 3 June, Carl Vinson (CVN 70) received a distress call from the Iranian-flagged fishing dhow Henif. Mustin (DDG 89) was dispatched to render assistance. The destroyer's crew members used a RHIB to transport the Iranian victim to their ship...

Rescues.(PEOPLE, PLANES, PLACES)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... On 10 June, the U.S. Coast Guard's command center in Mobile, Ala., received a distress call reporting that a vessel seven miles southeast of Panama City was disabled and taking on water in heavy seas caused by Tropical Storm Arlene. An HH-60...

Change of command.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... CVW-17: Capt. William R. Massey, Jr. relieved Capt. Mark D. Guadagnini, 23 Feb. Enterprise (CVN 65): Capt. Lawrence S. Rice relieved Capt Eric C. Neidlinger, 10 Dec 04. HSL-51: Cdr. Kevin M. Coyne relieved Cdr. Eric A. Patten, 18 May....

As VFA-143 continued its transition from the F-14B Tomcat to the F/A-18E Super Hornet, the squadron celebrated numerous awards for excellence in 2004.
September 1, 2005... As VFA-143 continued its transition from the F-14B Tomcat to the F/A-18E Super Hornet, the squadron celebrated numerous awards for excellence in 2004. The Pukin' Dogs received the AIRLANT Safety "S"; Battle "E"; Adm. Joseph C. Clifton Award;...

Commander Carrier Strike Group 5 RAdm. Jamie D. Kelly.
September 1, 2005... Caption: Commander Carrier Strike Group 5 RAdm. Jamie D. Kelly descends to the flight deck of the Australian frigate Canberra (FFG 02) on 7 June during Exercise Talisman Saber. Photo by PH3 Bo Flannigan.

Checkmates celebrate success.(VFA-211 Checkmates)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2005... Spring 2005 has been an eventful season for the VFA-211 Checkmates. On 1 May, the squadron celebrated its 60th anniversary. To mark this historic occasion, the squadron hosted former Checkmate Phil Vampetella, a MiG killer in Vietnam, and his...

Remembering VAdm. James Bond Stockdale, 1923-2005.(Obituary)(Biography)
September 1, 2005... On 9 September 1965, Commander James Stockdale flew his 202nd combat mission over North Vietnam in an A-4 Skyhawk. What should have been a straightforward attack against a group of railroad cars south of Thanh Hoa turned into a seven-year...

Four F/A-18C Hornets.
September 1, 2005... Caption: Four F/A-18C Hornets, led by Commander CVW-3 Capt. Pat Rainey, perform a fly-by over Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) on 19 July.

Correction.(Correction Notice)
September 1, 2005... The back cover image of the July-August issue should have been credited to PH1 Aaron Ansarov.

Reunion.
September 1, 2005... Lake Champlain (CV/CVA/CVS-39) Association, 3-6 November, Jacksonville, FL. POC Eugene Carroll; 607-532-4735; gcarroll@rochester.rr.com.

Letter.
September 1, 2005... Freelance writer seeks stories, anecdotes, and photographs from Navy and Air Force members who participated in polar aviation operations with the C-47/R-4D. Contact Noel Gillespie at noel.design@xtra.co.nz or 74A Norwood Street, Christchurch,...