October 9th 1997:NNS4203. F-14 pilot missing following crash courtesy of Naval Air Force Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NWSA) -- The search has been called off for the pilot of an F-14 Tomcat aircraft which crashed off the Virginia-North Carolina coast at about 4 p.m. (EST), Oct. 2.

A Coast Guard helicopter recovered the plane's radar intercept officer shortly after the aircraft went down. The F-14 was assigned to Fighter Squadron 101 from Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana in Virginia Beach and was flying with other aircraft when the incident occurred.

Search and rescue units, including a C-130 and a HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and a helicopter from the NAS Oceana Search and Rescue Detachment were on scene. Three U.S. Navy ships were within 40 miles of the incident and also participated in the search for the missing pilot.

Lt. Cmdr. Logan A. Allen III, 33, of Virginia Beach disappeared, Cmdr. Craig A. Roll, 39, of Virginia Beach, was rescued.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.
-USN-

October 9th 1997:NNS4213. USS John F. Kennedy Battle Group heading home by USS John F. Kennedy Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NWSA) -- The USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) Battle Group will return home Oct. 28, after six months of operating in the Mediterranean Sea and the Adriatic Sea in Support of Operation Deliberate Guard and the Arabian Gulf Supporting Operation Southern Watch.

The John F. Kennedy Battle Group includes USS Vicksburg (CG 69), USS Hue City (CG 66), USS Thomas S. Gates (CG 51), USS Spruance (DD 963), USS John Hancock (DD 981), USS Taylor (FFG 50), USS Arctic (AOE 8), USS Jacksonville (SSN 699) and USS Albany (SSN 753).

As the sole conventionally powered aircraft carrier in the Atlantic Fleet, John F. Kennedy deployed with the most advanced Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Information Systems (C4I) in the Navy. John F. Kennedy and Carrier Air Wing 8 participated in numerous U.S., bilateral and multi-national exercises. The carrier's first major exercise was the French-led Iles D'or during May in the western Mediterranean to train the forces of 10 nations, including two smaller aircraft carriers from Italy and Spain.

In July, the battle group participated in the 6th Fleet exercise INVITEX involving 12 nations. During INVITEX, allied forces, including 13,000 U.S. Sailors and Marines, were challenged to effectively manage the way they communicate and act upon operational information as it is processed and distributed to allied decision-makers.

NATO'S Exercise Dynamic Mix, Sept. 23 - Oct. 7, placed John F. Kennedy Battle Group units on opposing sides. It was designed to increase task force and unit readiness as forces implemented NATO strategy and doctrine.

While deployed, John F. Kennedy Sailors and Marines enjoyed 10 port visits to six countries -- France, Spain, Israel, Greece, Bahrain, and was the first American aircraft carrier to visit the Republic of Slovenia.

Kennedy and Carrier Air Wing 8 Sailors volunteered off- duty time to help with more than 20 community projects throughout Europe. Sailor volunteers painted schools, churches, homes for the elderly, performed carpentry and yard work.

Squadrons embarked on board Kennedy include Fighter Squadrons 14 and 41; Strike Fighter Squadrons 15 and 87, Helicopter Airborne Early Warning Squadron 3, Sea Control Squadron 2, Airborne Early Warning Squadron 124, Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron 141 and Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 6 Detachment A.
-USN-

September 17th 1997:The Navy is on track to conclude its safest flight year ever with a total Navy mishap rate of only 1.32 per 100,000 flight hours for fiscal year 1997. Tactical Aircraft (1.68) and F-18 Hornets (1.44) are additionally flying their safest flight year. Mishaps are tracked from October 1 to September 30, and the ratios are provided per 100,000 flight hours.

An F/A-18 Hornet aircraft crashed Sept. 14 at 11:10 a.m. local time approximately 75 miles northeast of Raysut, Oman.

The pilot, LT Jason E. Jakubowski, of Grasonville, Md., was killed when his aircraft crashed during a routine training mission. The aircraft was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 15 based in Jacksonville, Fla., operating from USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 67), homeported in Mayport, Fla. The cause of the incident is under investigation.
-USN-

August 27th 1997: NORFOLK (NWSA) -- After nearly eight months at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry-dock Co. and Norfolk Naval Base, USS Enterprise (CVN 65) shifted to underway colors Aug. 14 for sea trials and flight deck certification. During 10 days in the Virginia Capes Operating Area, the Enterprise crew tested many of the ship's critical components affected during the in-port period. Crew members tested aviation fueling systems, radar and combat equipment, steam plants and steering systems.

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 also embarked aboard to participate in the certification process.

Enterprise will get underway again Sept. 11 for carrier qualifications.
-USN-

August 27th 1997:NNS3602. Super Hornet will come to life at NAS Lemoore by Glen Faison Golden Eagle Editor
LEMOORE, Calif. (NWSA) -- Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122 will be the Navy's training squadron for the new F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif. The first of the new Hornets is scheduled to arrive in November 1999 with five more to follow a month later.
-USN-

August 19th 1997:NNS3507. NORFOLK (NWSA) -- The pilot of a Naval Air Station Ocean, Va.-based F-14 Tomcat aircraft is safe after he was accidentally ejected from his aircraft during a landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis personnel rescued the radar intercept officer from the pilotless Tomcat as it sat on the flight deck with engines still running.

The officers, both of Virginia Beach, Va., are assigned to Fighter Squadron 143, and both were treated for minor injuries by Stennis medical personnel. The pilot was recovered immediately astern of the carrier and rescued by a helicopter from Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 5 based at NAS Jacksonville, Fla.

An investigation is being conducted to determine the cause of the incident.

John C. Stennis is on routine training operations in the Virginia Capes.
-USN-

August 19th 1997:by Constellation Public Affairs
ABOARD USS CONSTELLATION (NWSA) -- The USS Constellation (CV 64) Battle Group departed 5th Fleet's Area of Responsibility Aug. 17, on schedule to continue its routine six-month deployment in the waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Constellation Battle Group entered the Arabian Sea May 16, and conducted high tempo operations that included more than 4,400 sorties during more than 10 weeks in the Arabian Gulf.

Operations included exercises with friendly forces in the region. Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, embarked in Constellation, participated in Operation Southern Watch flying 1,460 sorties enforcing the no-fly zone over southern Iraq.

Constellation Battle Group includes the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV 64), USS Merrill (DD 976), USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), USS Chosin (CG 65), USS Lake Erie (CG 70), USS Cimarron (AO 177)and USS Mount Hood (AE 290).
-USN-

August 19th 1997: In its first overhaul in 11 years TR went into the yards July 8 for a $175mill refurbishment which includes 4 new propellers, repainting, renovating storage tanks and numerous systems upgrades.

August 13th 1997:WASHINGTON (NWSA) - A San Diego-based carrier early airborne warning squadron, the "Wallbangers" of VAW-117, completed 20 years and more than 44,050 mishap-free flight hours on July 28.

In his congratulatory message, RADM Donald A. Weiss, Commander Carrier Group Three, cited "keenest attention to detail and the commitment from every member of the team to accept nothing but excellence" as the reasons for the squadron's success.
-USN-

August 4th 1997:NNS3205. WASHINGTON (NWSA) -- The massive fire power projected from the flight deck of a forward deployed carrier battle group (CBG) was demonstrated like never before during a recent high tempo exercise involving USS Nimitz and the embarked Carrier Air Wing Nine.

SURGEX was a strike warfare demonstration conducted by the Nimitz Carrier Battle Group in July off the coast of Southern California. The demonstration was designed to surge the number of strike sorties a CBG can fly from approximately 100 to 200 per day for four consecutive days. The significant impact on operations and forward presence is evident from the 1000+ sorties launched during the 98 hours of continuous flight operations, more than 800 of which were strike sorties. This four-day surge was made possible by augmenting ship's company with just 200 additional personnel to help provide around-the-clock operations.

Strike sorties flown during the four days totaled 195, 193, 202 and 212 during each 24-hour period. That doesn't take into account the intensive 14 hours-a-day of flight ops conducted in the six days prior the SURGEX demo as part of the overall JTFEX.

The aircraft carrier continues to be the centerpiece of the forces necessary for forward presence. Carriers support and operate aircraft that engage in attacks on airborne, afloat and ashore targets that threaten free use of the sea, and engage in sustained operations in support of other forces.
-USN-

 

June 30th 1997: In 1970 the number of courts-martial in the navy and marines was 30,000 representing 1 in 32 of all personnel. In 1996 this number had dropped to 4,885 or 1 in 120. Most of the cases in 1970 were drugs and the recent figure represents better leadership, better recruiting and more women.

May 15th 1997: The Defense Department Defence Review sees cuts in the Navy of 128 surface ships to 116, 73 attack submarines to 50, production of F/A-18E/F from 1,000 to 548 and the Joint Strike Fighter to start initial production in 2008 for a total production of 2,852 aircraft.

May 9th 1997: NNS2003. The Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet test program passed the 1,000 flight-hour mark May 9 during a flight with Integrated Test Team (ITT) pilot CDR Tom Gurney, USN, at the controls. Tests are also under way for missile firings.
- US Navy -

Apr 18th 1997: The Battle E for best Atlantic carrier goes to Nimitz (CVN-68) and for the Pacific goes to Carl Vinson (CVN-70).

Apr 10th 1997: The Amphibious ships USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Cleveland (LPD 7) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) will arrive in San Diego Thursday, April 10. The USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group, with its nine tactical aircraft squadrons, and San Diego-based ships USS Cowpens (CG 63), USS Antietam (CG 54), USS Reid (FFG 30) and the attack submarine USS Salt Lake City (SSN 716) will return Friday, April 11.

The Kitty Hawk Battle Group spent three months in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch and U.N. sanctions in the region. During that period, Airwing Eleven aircraft flew 1,775 sorties, accumulating 4,065 flight hours while in the Gulf.
- US Navy -

Apr 10th 1997: The eighth Nimitz class aircraft carrier, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), will enter the fleet in the summer of 1998 as the numerical replacement for USS Independence (CV 62). The first seven Flight II Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers will be commissioned in FY-98 and FY-99. The ships have an improved electronic warfare suite, extended range surface-to-air missiles, Link 16 and an improved tactical information exchange system.

Expeditionary warfare forces will gain significant capability and modernization with the addition of the Amphibious Assault Ship USS Bon Homme Richard (LHD 6) and the Dock Landing Ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52). Pearl Harbor will be the first LSD to have the integrated Ship Self Defense System (SSDS). All other LSDs will be backfitted with SSDS by 2002. USS New Orleans (LPH 11) and USS Guam (LPH 9), both built in the mid-1960's, are scheduled for decommissioning.

The second Seawolf nuclear attack submarine, USS Connecticut (SSN 22), is also scheduled to join the Fleet in FY98. The Seawolf class boats have an advanced design sensor suite with unmatched combat systems performance at all speeds, including automatic passive high-speed contact tracking, which is particularly important against diesel and electric submarines.

Thirty-three ships will be decommissioned or transferred to the Naval Reserve Force over the next two years including the aircraft carrier USS Independence (CV 62), the guided missile cruiser USS Arkansas (CGN 41), seven guided missile frigates, 19 attack submarines and one submarine tender.
-USN-

Apr 3rd 1997: An F-18's wheel mount collapsed during a cat shot, the wing tip slamming shut a deck hatch on the legs of a crewman who was taken by a sea hawk to a hospital in Sydney, Australia. The F-18 involved was damaged and was flown on 1 engine 220km to Williamtown RAAF base where it managed a landing with a wheel collapsing. The aviator is OK.

Mar 26th 1997: The Defense Dept announced that 62 F/A-18E/F's will be purchased over the next 3 years. The first planes should reach the fleet in 1999. The navy has a requirement for 1,000 aircraft. 7 aircraft are currently going through testing, 2 F's and 5 E's.
-US Navy-

USS America (CV-66) 9 Aug 1996 Reserve - Norfolk
USS Ranger (CV-61) 10 Jul 1995 Reserve - Bremerton
USS Saratoga (CV-60) 30 Sep 1994 Stricken - Philadelphia
USS Forrestal (AVT-59) 10 Sep 1993 Stricken - Philadelphia

Feb 26th 1997: The venerable A-6 Intruder retired officially from Navy service on February 28th during a ceremony aboard the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. VA-75 will stand down on the East Coast at NAS Oceana, Va. and VA-196 at NAS Whidbey Island.
-US Navy-