Navy Colors Part VI - Centennial Celebration II

EA-6B Prowler of VAQ-129, based at NAS Whidbey Island. -129 trains crew for the EA-6B and EA-18G. This Prowler carries the scheme used by most Navy tactical aircraft at the outbreak of WWII.

The VAQ-129 Anniversary birds at NAS North Island in San Diego, recently.

TH-57C 160064, of Helicopter Training Squadron 28, based at NAS Whiting Field. This paint honors US Navy aircraft in the pre-1917 era.

TC-12B 161197 of VT-35, normally based at NAS Corpus Christi. VT-35 trains perspective aircrew for multi-engine, non-carrier based aircraft. This scheme represents Naval Aviation markings at the time of the Battle of the Coral Sea.

T-45C 165598 of Training Wing 1, based at NAS Meridian, MS. This is one variation of markings carried in the 1930s.

T-45A 163656, of Training Wing 2, based at NAS Kingsville, TX. Another variation of the 'yellow wings' schemes of the 1930s.

T-44A 160984, VT-31, based at NAS Corpus Christi. This paint honors the 1919 NC-4 flying boat that traversed the Atlantic.

T-39N 165523, VT-86, NAS Pensacola. This aircraft is used to train navigators. This blue tail scheme honors the USS Enterprise Air Wing, circa 1938.

T-34C 164169 of VT-6, based at NAS Whiting Field. It is painted to represent US Coast Guard aircraft in the 1935 era.

T-34C 161481 of VT-27, Training Wing 4, based at NAS Corpus Christi. Markings mimic those of VAW-4 in the 1930s.

T-6B 166064, of VT-3, based at NAS Whting Field. This all yellow paint job harkens back tot he days of the 'yellow peril', biplane basic training aircraft used byt he Navy.

MH-60S 166323 of HSC-3. The dark blue paint represents Navy helicopters of the 1950s.

MH-60S 166294 of HCS-2. This scheme represents Navy Helos during the Korean War.

MH-60R 166524 of HSM-41.

HH-60H 163787 of HSC-84. The dark green represents Vietnam era helicopter squadron HAL-3.

Photo Credits - Most of these are official US Navy. Others were uncredited where they were originally posted.

Navy Colors Part V - Centennial Celebration

The 100th Annivesary of Naval Aviation is being celebrated this year. In honor of the occasion, the Navy has authorized a number of current aircraft to be painted in historic paint schemes, representing different eras in Naval Aviation.

To fans of military aviation, this is an incredible event. The Navy celebrated its 75th Anniversary back in 1986 with several paint schemes, but nothing approaching this. The nation's Bi-Centennial back in 1976 also saw quite a few commemorative paint schemes with patirotic themes. However, this may be the best of all time ...

All of these schemes represent actual Navy paint patterns from over the years.

S-3B 160581, VX-30, based at NAS Pt. Mugu. The scheme honors SBD Dauntless dive bombers during the Battle Of Midway.


P-3C 161591, representing Patrol Wing 11. This scheme represents Navy Patrolplanes in the Pacific during the later half of WWII.


P-3C 160770, representing Patrol Wing 2. The white over black paint brings back the scheme worn by Navy patrolplanes in the late 50s and early to mid 60s. When P-3s first entered the fleet, they carried this type of markings.


F-18F 165677 of VFA-122, based at NAS Lemoore. Color scheme represents the new Navy blue digital camo uniform.


F-18E 165666 of VFA-106, NAS Oceana. The paint scheme represents that carried by Navy attack aircraft in the Vietnam era.


An F-18C of VX-31, based at NAS China Lake.


F-18E 165210, based at NAS China Lake, representing test aircraft schemes of the late 50s and 60s.


F-18C 163745, of VFA-106, NAS Oceana. This scheme honors squadron VBF-17, based on the USS Shangri-La in 1945.


F-18C 163733 of VFA-122, based at NAS Lemoore, CA. The three tone blue/grey scheme is representative of schemes carried by carrier based aircraft in 1943-1944.


F-18A+ 162866 of VFA-204. The River Rattlers are a Reserve Squadron based at NAS New Orleans. This scheme represents NAVAIR Reserve units based in New Orleans, circa 1951.


EA-18G of VAQ-129, based at NAS Whidbey Island.

Photo Credits - Most of these are official US Navy photographs. Others were uncreditited where they were originally posted.

Fire And Ice - Combat Art

Michael Fay runs a blog called Fire and Ice.

Michael is a very talented artist. He is also a former Marine who experienced combat firsthand in Afghanistan. His postings contain a fascinating look at life on the ground in that war. It would be well worth your time to take a look.

37th Anniversary of F-16 First Flight

February 2nd marks the 37th anniversary of the first official flight of the F-16.

YF-16 72-1567 lifted off from Edwards AFB on Feb. 2, 1974, signifying the beginning step of one of the most successful fighter aircraft ever built.

(In actuality, the first 'unofficial' flight took place on January 20, 1974, when the aircraft accidently took off during a high speed taxi run.)

Happy Birthday to the Viper!

A Hero Passes

Captain Robert J. Bosworth Jr. (USAAF) passed away on Jan. 23 in Dallas. He was 90 years old.

Capt. Bosworth flew B-17s in the MTO and ETO during World War II. He commanded the 32nd Bomb Squadron for a time in 1943/44. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and 9 Air Medals for his service.

Godspeed, Capt. Bosworth ...

Two Heroes Come Home

Major Robert Tucci and Colonel James Dennany will be buried on Friday, Jan. 14th, at DFW National Cemetary.

On November 11, 1969, Major Tucci and Colonel Dennany were flying F-4D 66-8718, assigned to the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 432nd Tactical Recon Wing, out of Udorn AB in Thailand. During a night attack against truck targets on the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos, their aircraft was hit by AAA fire. Both men perished when the aircraft crashed into the jungle. Then Capt. Tucci was on the 32nd mission of his second tour, having flown 181 missions of of Da Nang on his previous one.

Efforts to locate the men began in 1995. Fragmented remains were recovered in 2003. The painstaking work by the US Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command culminated in a positive identification of the remains on September 8, 2010.

Welcome home, gentlemen.

A Hero Passes

Lt. Col. Dalton Leftwich (USAF Ret.) passed away on Jan. 9, 2011, one day short of his 83rd birthday. Nicknamed Lefty, he initially joined the USMC from 1946 to 1948. He then joined the USAF in 1951 after attending SMU.

In 1967, Col. Leftwich flew 100 missions over North Vietnam in F-105s, while attached to the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Korat AB in Thailand.

Col. Leftwich was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Silver Stars, and multiple Air Medals during his Vietnam tour.

Lefty will be laid to rest on Saturday, Jan. 15th, in Dallas.

Godspeed, Colonel ...

Desert Storm, Plus 20

It is really hard for me to believe, but Saturday, Jan. 16, marks the 20th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm. To me, as a military aviation fan, it seems like yesterday. I remember where I was that day, and I remember coming home to watch the war start on live TV. (CNN was actually a news organization back then).

Volumes have been written over the past two decades about that war and its aftermath. Volumes more will be written concerning this 20th anniversary. From that perspective of military aviation fan, I want to explore how the US's air assets have changed in those two decades.

The euphoria we experienced from the success of Desert Storm gave way to massive military cuts in the mid'90s by the Clinton Administration. Whole categories of military aircraft disappeared from the inventory, many of which were not replaced in either function or number. This past decade saw more cuts, in spite of the aftermath of 9/11. Budget problems coupled with aircraft age saw more mass retirements of airframes. What our nation has in military aviation as we enter 2011 is a tiny fraction of what it was just 2 decades ago.

Here are the aircraft types that have been completely removed from the inventory since the end of the Gulf War:

USAF/USAFRes/ANG
F-15A/B (air superiority)
F-16A/B (general purpose fighter)
F-111A/D/E/F (long range attack)
EF-111A (electronic warfare)
F-117A (long range attack)
F-4E (general purpose fighter)
F-4G (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses)
RF-4C (manned recon)
KC-135A/D/E/Q (aerial refueling)
EC-135L (command and control)
T-37B (basic training)
T-43A (navigator training)
HH-3H (combat rescue)
B-52G (heavy bombardment)
C-29A (airfield calibration)
C-130E (tactical transport)
AC-130A (aerial gunship)
MC-130E (special operations)
C-141B (heavy transport)
MH-53J (special operations)
SR-71 (strategic recon)

USN/USNRes
F-14A/B/D (air defense, deep attack)
F-18A/B (general purpose fighter/attack)
A-6E (medium attack)
KA-6D (aerial refueling)
A-7E (light attack)
S-3A/B (anti-submarine, aerial refueling)
P-3B (anti-submarine)
EC-130Q (electronic warfare)
SH-3G/H (combat rescue)
SH-2F (anti-submarine)
EA-3B (electronic warfare)
T-2C (trainer)
TA-4J (advanced trainer)

USMC/USMCRes
A-4M (light attack)
A-6E (medium attack)
F-4S (general purpose fighter)
RF-4B (manned recon)
OV-10A/D (observation)
KC-130F (tactical transport/aerial refueling)
AH-1J (attack helicopter)
CH-53A (heavy transport helicopter)

USArmy
UH-1H/V (general purpose helicopter)
OV-1D (electronic warfare)
OH-58A/C (light general purpose helicopter)

The vast majority of these aicraft have not been replaced, and their capabilities lost to the US military for good.

Da' Blues

Thought I'd share a few shots I took at a recent Blue Angels performance. This was actually a practice show. If you look closely, you'll see two dual-seat #7s in the formation. I've seen them fly with a two seater before during practice, but this is the first time I've seen two of them at once.

Alaska C-17 Lost, Updated

The Air Force has released its report on the loss of C-17A 00-0173, back on June 28. They determined that pilot error was the prime cause, with contributing factors of a lack of oversight and leadership.

www.pacaf.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-101211-002.pdf


They have also released a video shot of the aircraft while it was doing its practice routine for the airshow. It cuts off just before the moment of impact. One has a morbid thought ... when did they realize they were going to go in?

www.pacaf.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-101210-080.wmv

This video looks pretty much like the official C-17 demos I have seen at airshows. Unless the pilot did something I'm not seeing, this is pretty much an indictment of the official USAF demo of that aircraft.

Document, Photo, and video via US Air Force

New Iranian Super Fighter Spotted

A clandestine, long range spy photo of the new Iranian Super Fighter, the T-URd, seen practicing an intercept of a USAF F-22 Raptor.

You can see how the Iranian President is correct when he states that arms produced by his country are superior to anything the Great Satan can come up with. This jet powered, afterburning monster can run circles around the inferior F-22.

Update - OK, from the underwhelming response, I guess the photo is not clear in what it shows. Here's something that might explain it a bit more .... (is that jet exhaust, or results of a bad burrito?)

The USS Ft. Worth

The USS Ft. Worth, LCS-3, will be christened this weekend by Rep. Kay Grainger (R-TX). Ms. Grainger's district includes Ft. Worth, a city she used to be mayor of. This is the first Navy ship to bear the name of the city, which is the 17th largest in the US. Ft. Worth has a long history of supporting the military (Bell Helicopter is located in the county, AF Plant 4 (Consolidated/General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin is a major defense production facility on the west side of the city, co-located with Carswell AFB/NAS Ft. Worth.)

The Ft. Worth is the third ship of the Littoral Combat Ship class. These ships are designed for close in fighting in coastal waters, closer to land than traditional Navy ships. The ships are modular, being able to switch mission specific equipment in and out depending upon its tasking.

The vessel is being constructed at Marionette Marine shipyard in Wisconsin. It was designed by Lockheed-Martin. In an odd twist, one of her first commanding officers will be a man who was born at Carswell AFB in Ft. Worth, and grew up near the city. The ship will be homeported in San Diego after is is completed in early 2012.

The LCS series of ships actually contains two very different platforms. LCS-1 and LCS-3 look like conventional ships, while LCS-2 is a tri-maran platform.

Photos credit US Navy

Here is some video of the sea trials for LCS-2, the USS Independence. She is the Ft. Worth's predecessor. Wild looking ship!

Update - Lockheed-Martin announced it has received a $3.6 billion contract form the US Navy to build 10 more LCS class ships over the next 5 years. The will be built inthe same Wisconsin shipyard the USS Ft. Worth is currently being finished at. I did not see a breakdown on how many would be LCS-2 type vs. how many LCS-3 type.