Navy’s Oldest Squadron Transitions to Super Hornet
Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California, recently earned a “safe for flight” certification to fly the Navy’s new strike fighter, the F/A-18E Super Hornet.
This landmark achievement, however, also signals that the end is near for one of the Navy’s most venerable aircraft. The VFA-14 “Tophatters” has earned a place in the history books, becoming the first operational squadron in the Navy to transition from the F-14 Tomcat to the Super Hornet.
The Tophatters’ lineage has spanned the breadth of nearly all of naval aviation, with 85 years of continuous active service. Since September 1919, VFA-14 has flown 28 different aircraft, and the squadron has had its designation changed 14 times. Over the years, VFA-14 has operated from a variety of ships, including several battleships and 20 different aircraft carriers, including the Navy’s very first, the USS Langley (CV-1).
“With so many firsts in our distinguished history, I think it is appropriate that the Tophatters have become the Navy’s first squadron to make the transition from the Tomcat to the Super Hornet,” says Commander Bruce William Fecht, the squadron’s 74th commanding officer. “We are extremely proud to be a part of this historic transition in naval aviation. When the Tomcat was first introduced to the fleet, it brought about a leap in capabilities—it was an awesome aircraft. Its airframe served well for decades as it continued being adapted to changing times and missions, most recently serving in the skies over Afghanistan.
“However,” says Commander Fecht, “today’s technology has passed her by. The Tomcat is now very expensive and difficult to maintain, and in the future it will only get harder.”
Certification as “safe for flight” is the culmination of completing a rigorous series of inspections and reviews of everything from maintenance procedures and documentation to tools and safety programs.
According to Commander Fecht, “The importance of the ‘safe for flight’ certification is that it means that the squadron has obtained the core competencies and expertise . . . and is ready to operate independently [and safely].”
Petty Officer First Class William J. Lumbra, airframe line division quality assurance representative, says certification is a major achievement for the maintenance department.
“Everyone has worked extremely hard,” says Petty Officer Lumbra. “Having Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific proclaim us Tomcat guys certified Super Hornet maintainers means we are moving on to bigger and better things.”
Commander Fecht says that the support of many different staffs and commands, both at Lemoore and throughout the Navy, contributed to VFA-14's success in achieving this landmark certification. “VFA-14 appreciates everyone’s efforts in helping us to make this transition successful,” he says. “The motivation, dedication, and outright excitement of the people involved has been inspiring. ... To me, this is the beginning of a new era in naval aviation, complete with the latest technology [and] increased flexibility.
“With each flight,” says Commander Fecht, “I am increasingly confident that the Navy has taken the right step in maintaining both maritime and air supremacy for the foreseeable future. Unlike the Tomcat, which has limited room for growth and digital enhancements, the Super Hornet was built with future growth in mind. We are already seeing new weapons and systems on the drawing board. This transition is a significant step in increasing our strike radius, flexibility, and sortie generation leading to increased target servicing. The bottom line is that all the members of my command, both those with Tomcat and those with Hornet backgrounds, are excited about this aircraft and its capabilities.”
The ability to provide air superiority and maritime dominance in a wide range of threat environments mark the Super Hornet as the next step in the evolution of naval aviation as it continues to forge a tradition of excellence into the 21st century.
“It has truly been and honor and a privilege to be a part of the history of the Tophatters during this transition,” says Commander Fecht. “Personally, I know this new jet is fantastic for the future of naval aviation, but I think the F-14 era will never truly end in the hearts of those who flew her. Soon enough the bumper stickers and T-shirts will be out—‘Tomcats Forever.’”
Journalist Third Class Christopher C. Fowler, U.S. Navy
USS Mason Documentary Being Filmed
The Mason (DE-529) was the only U.S. Navy ship that had a predominantly black American crew to see combat duty in World War II. The success and heroics of the crew were instrumental in leading to the eventual desegregation of all duties on Navy vessels. To film her new motion picture, Proudly We Served: The Men of the USS Mason, filmmaker and author Mary Pat Kelly used The Sullivans (DD-537), berthed at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park on the Buffalo, New York, waterfront. The new film, still in production, is based on Kelly’s 1995 book of the same title, published by the Naval Institute Press.
This movie will document the story of the men of the Mason, revealing the prejudice they encountered from white sailors and the higher command of the U.S. Navy. Despite the intense scrutiny they endured, the crew proved they could excel in all ship duties, not just in the duties of stewards or cooks that black sailors had been consigned.
It took nearly 50 years for the Navy to bestow commendations on the crew of the Mason. This movie, however, will show that their accomplishments were as important to the Navy as the Tuskegee Airmen were to the Air Force.
Two original Mason crew members, Benjamin Garrison of Tampa, Florida, and Lorenzo Dufau of New York City, visited Buffalo for the filming, appeared as extras in the movie, provided personal insights to the crew, and were honored in a ceremony by Patrick Cunningham, director of the Naval and Military Park.
Additional scenes for the movie were filmed in Elmira, New York, and the production currently is filming in Ireland. Proudly We Served is scheduled for release in theaters and on cable in 2003.
Marsha Falkowski
PT-109 Found off Solomons
An expedition led by oceanographer and Titanic discoverer Robert Ballard has discovered what is believed to on 29 May. The wreck was found at the bottom of Blackett Strait off Gizo Island, about 240 miles northwest of the Solomons capital of Honiara on Guadalcanal. Ballard announced that he had found the wreck of the PT-boat the week before after about a week of searching.
Lieutenant (junior grade) Kennedy and his crew of a dozen were on patrol in the waters of Blackett Strait on the night of 1- 2 August 1943 when the Japanese destroyer Amagiri came down the channel at high speed and rammed and sank the PT-109. Two men were killed in the collision, and the rest swam to a nearby island. After Lieutenant Kennedy and Ensign George Ross made contact with a local coastwatcher, the survivors were rescued on 8 August. Lieutenant Kennedy received the Navy and Marine Corps medal and a Purple Heart for his heroics after the collision.
Ballard’s team would not disclose the details of the discovery because of contractual obligations over film, magazine, and book rights to the search. A National Geographic documentary on the expedition is planned for release this November.
Festival Will Honor American Heroes
To commemorate the contributions of U.S. veterans and civilians “to the preservation of liberty,” The Freedom Museum in Manassas, Virginia, has scheduled its fourth annual Festival of Freedom for 12-13 October 2002 at the Manassas Regional Airport. The Festival of Freedom is a two-day, family-friendly event with both modern and vintage aircraft, flight demonstrations, tanks and armored vehicles, reenactors, living history units, live music, period fashion, entertainers, and noteworthy speakers. The event features dozens of aircraft, from biplanes to World War II warbirds to contemporary helicopters and fighters.
Among the planned list of flight demonstrations are: the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II, a Coast Guard HH-65B Dolphin, an SNJ-6 Texan aerobatics team, a B-25, and many others.
The event, coordinated by David Schultz Airshows, features a century’s worth of aircraft. “We are proud to be a part of the Festival of Freedom,” says Schultz, “and present an air show to honor the nation’s capital with exciting aerial demonstrations and superb static displays and encampments."
“Recent events have underscored the vital importance of our veterans,” adds the museum’s air show coordinator, Pete Peterson, “and we will continue our effort to create a permanent home to display the stories of those heroes.”
The museum was created in 1999 by a group of veterans to “tell the remarkable stories of American veterans’ contributions to the preservation of freedom and democracy throughout the world.” Thanks to a donation of 26 acres of land by Prince William County,
The Freedom Museum will have a permanent location at the Manassas Regional Airport. The facility will have ample space to display aircraft and armor and serve as a “National Veterans Visitor Center.”
“We have been approached by individuals and corporations looking for an ongoing outlet for their patriotism,” says Kathy Benz, fundraising chairman for the event. “The Freedom Museum and the Festival of Freedom [are] excellent [venues] to educate a new generation of Americans about the values that make our democracy succeed.”
The museum is open daily at the Manassas Regional Airport Terminal from 0900 to 1700 and Sundays from 1300 to 1700. For more information visit the museum’s Web site at www.freedom-museum.org, or call (703) 393-0660.
Lighthouse Conference Focuses on Children
The historic maritime city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) will host an International Lighthouse Conference on 17-21 September 2002.
The conference will focus primarily on the education of children for lighthouse preservation. Sally Snowman, chairperson of the conference planning committee says, “The end result of the conference will be a program that can be used by teachers worldwide to teach lighthouse history and preservation to children, primarily in the 5th and 6th grades. However, the program can also be easily adapted to fit other grade levels.”
The conference will include many workshops and presentations from numerous educators and lighthouse groups from around the country. There also are many events scheduled that will ensure the conference is fun for all ages. Some of these events include a helicopter arrival by George Morgan, “The Flying Santa of the Lighthouses.” (Morgan is the president of the Friends of the Flying Santa, a nonprofit group that has been keeping alive a tradition that began when Bill Wincapaw began dropping presents to New England Lighthouse keepers back in 1928). Rear Admiral George Naccara, commander of the First Coast Guard District, is expected to address the conference on the opening night, a Coast Guard buoy vessel will be on hand for tours, and the Coast Guard Band will perform a concert that will be open to conference attendees and the public free of charge. Attendees also will be offered a cruise on the Ernestina, a 105-year-old schooner, plus a walking tour of the city once known as “The Whaling Capital of the World.”
According to Tim Harrison, president of the American Lighthouse Foundation located in Wells, Maine, “This may well be the most important lighthouse conference of our time. The reason is that all the work and advancement made in recent years to restore and save historic lighthouses will have been in vain if we don’t start now to teach our children why it is important to save and preserve our lighthouses and their history.”
Harrison says ALF still needs to raise an additional $50,000 to cover the expenses of the conference. Volunteers are hoping that enough corporate sponsors and private donations will come forward to defray the costs. Donations can be sent to International Lighthouse Conference, c/o American Lighthouse Foundation, P.O. Box 889, Wells, Maine 04090. Registration forms for the conference are available on the Internet at www. LighthouseFoundation.org/.
Events Mark 200 Years of Bowditch
In Salem, Massachusetts, this summer a series of events will honor the 200th anniversary of the publication of Nathaniel Bowditch’s New American Practical Navigator, long called the “seaman’s bible” or simply “Bowditch.” On 13-14 July is the annual Salem Maritime Festival, which this year will honor Bowditch with expected visits by U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels to the Maritime National Historic Site on the Salem waterfront. The Coast Guard’s barque Eagle (WIX-327) also will visit Salem from 9-12 August, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ tall ship Ernestina will call on 2-6 September. Numerous other events, including 4th of July celebrations with a Bowditch theme, academic conferences at Salem State College, and other activities are planned through the end of the year. For more information, contact Historic Salem, Inc., at (978) 745-0799 or visit www.historicsalem.org/.
Historic Naval Ships Association to Hold Annual Meeting
The Historic Naval Ships Association will hold its 37th Annual Conference at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park in Buffalo, New York, from 14-18 September 2002. The conference will include sessions on legal issues, museum security, education, preservation, and other topics. Membership in the Historic Naval Ships Association, which includes vessels from the United States and seven other countries, is open to any individual who supports the preservation of naval heritage. The mission of the association is to assist its fleet members in the acquisition, restoration, and display of their museums and memorials. It also encourages active participation by the public in volunteer support of the ships, and conducts seminars and exchange programs to enhance the professional development of their staffs. For more information, visit the association’s Web site at www.hnsa.org/.
New Exhibit Showcases French Maritime Treasures
This summer the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, will showcase one of Europe's finest collections of maritime art and history with “Rendez-vous with the Sea: The Glory of the French Maritime Tradition.” This exhibition from the Musee national de la Marine in Paris represents a rare chance for U.S. visitors to experience France’s rich maritime heritage through examples of art and innovation from the 17th century to the present. The exhibition, which recently concluded a year-long visit to the Musee canadien des civilisations in Gatineau, Quebec, opens again to the public in Salem on 12 July and will run through 14 October.
“Rendez-vous with the Sea” invites visitors to view some 170 masterworks from the esteemed French institution, including many immense ship models that bear witness to the meticulous work of their artisans. There also are paintings, engravings, sculptures, navigational instruments, maps, everyday objects, and many other items linked to life at sea. Renowned French painters such as Claude-Joseph Vernet and Eugene Isabey are well represented. So too are larger- than-life figures from French history, such as Marie Antoinette, whose pleasure craft was adorned with a neoclassical figurehead featured in the exhibition. Even Jacques Cousteau’s early diving equipment is included.
“This exhibition represents the full spectrum of the maritime experience in France over three centuries,” says Daniel Finamore, the Russell W. Knight Curator of Maritime Arts and History at the Peabody Essex Museum. “There are great works of art here, and there are many other objects that are fascinating for the people and time they represent.”
“Rendezvous with the Sea” showcases France’s long engagement with the sea, which has inspired great art, yielded many successful inventions, and changed the course of history. From Pacific exploration to the slave trade, from marine arts made for the court, to the operation of oar-powered galleys by prisoners of war, the exhibition presents an array of objects that tell fascinating stories.
“French culture is inextricably intertwined with the ocean on many levels, from the common seaman enlisted in the navy to the haute cultural signifies of royalty and leadership,” says Finamore.
The exhibition is organized into five sections: Life at Sea, Sailing for Country, Exploration, Trade, Dockyard Construction, and an overview of the collection of the Musee national de la Marine.
“Although many of the objects in the show are similar to examples from American and other European nations, the French flair for embellishment and design makes this array unique and distinctly French,” says Finamore. “Also, the ship models are simply the best to be seen anywhere—among the best built by anyone for any purpose.”
The Peabody Essex Museum is in the midst of a $100 million renovation project that includes a 100,000-square-foot addition featuring six new galleries and an auditorium. The new museum is scheduled to open in May 2003. For more information, visit the museum’s web site at www.pem.org, or call (800)-745-4054.
Gregory Liakos
Naval Historical Center Recognizes Scholars
The Naval Historical Center recently recognized a number of naval scholars with prestigious research awards. The $10,000 Rear Admiral John D. Hayes predoctoral fellowship in U.S. naval history for 2002-2003 was awarded to Howard Fuller, a Ph.D. candidate at Kings College, University of London. Mr. Fuller is preparing a doctoral dissertation entitled “Clad in Iron: Assessing the Comparative Strategic and Tactical Strengths of British and Union Ironclad Programs of the Civil War Era.” Fuller contends that only those nations armed with the most technologically advanced naval vessels stood a chance of securing their political and economic interests. By comparing the strengths of the first- rate warships of these two powers, Fuller hopes to foster a better understanding of the dynamics of naval supremacy. The deadline for applications for the next Rear Admiral John D. Hayes predoctoral fellowship is 28 February 2003.
Two Vice Admiral Edwin B. Hooper research grants in U.S. naval history ($2,500 each) were selected for 2002- 2003. Dr. Angus E. Goldberg, a scholar on the faculty of the Scottish Institute of Maritime Studies at the University of St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland, intends to use his grant to support a book project entitled “The Political World of the United States Navy Officer Corps, 1828-1858." His premise is that birth or marriage tied many officers to politicians at the state and national level and that as a result the officer corps was highly politicized.
Thomas P. Lowery is an independent scholar who has authored numerous works on the Civil War and compiled a computerized database of the more than 75,000 Union Army courts-martial. He intends to use his grant to create a similar database, employing records held in the National Archives, of U.S. Navy courts-martial. The information in the database will include names, ranks, ships or shore stations to which assigned, and the specifics of individual courts-martial. This promises to be a unique research tool for the study of the social aspects of the Civil War.
The Vice Admiral Edwin B. Hooper research grants award up to $2,500 each to individuals undertaking research and writing in the field of U.S. naval history. Applicants should have either a Ph.D. or equivalent credentials, and they must be U.S. citizens. The deadline for applications is 28 February 2003. For information and application forms relating to the Hayes and Hooper programs, consult the Naval Historical Center’s web site at www.history.navy.mil.
South Street Hosts Boat Model Festival
New York City’s South Street Seaport Museum will host the 12th Annual Ship and Boat Model Festival on 3-4 August 2002 from 1300 to 1700 on Pier 16. The festival will feature dozens of model builders, nautical skill demonstrations, and a children’s workshop. Admission to the festival is free. For more information, call (212) 748-8560, or send an e-mail to [email protected].