Posted on 03/27/2004 12:59:17 PM PST by BykrBayb
Story Number: NNS040326-16 Release Date: 3/26/2004 10:40:00 PM
From Commander, U.S. Naval Air Force, Atlantic Fleet
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The pilot of a Navy F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, which crashed the afternoon of March 26 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in North Carolina, is uninjured. He has been identified as Lt. j.g. Wesley Baumgartner of Yorktown, Va.
Baumgartner was the pilot of the aircraft, assigned to the “Valions” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 15 based at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia. He was part of a two-aircraft flight on a routine cross-country training mission when they made a stop at Raleigh-Durham to refuel. Raleigh-Durham International Airport is a joint-use facility that also serves as a base for local Air National Guard units. The other aircraft landed safely.
Baumgartner was taken to Wake Medical Center for examination.
The accident is under investigation.
For more news from around the fleet, visit the Navy NewsStand at www.news.navy.mil.
040225-N-9907G-001 Atlantic Ocean (Feb. 25, 2004) – An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the “Valions” of Strike Fighter Squadron One Five (VFA-15) makes its final approach before landing aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). The nuclear powered aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman is undergoing carrier qualifications and flight deck certification off the Atlantic coast. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd class Floyd Grimm. (RELEASED)
040227-N-4757S-005 Atlantic Ocean (Feb. 27, 2004) – An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to “Valions” of Strike Fighter Squadron One Five (VFA-15) makes an arrested landing on the flight deck aboard USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75). The nuclear powered aircraft carrier is currently undergoing carrier qualifications and flight deck certification off the Atlantic coast. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Craig R. Spiering. (RELEASED)
030910-N-2838C-502 Atlantic Ocean (Sept. 10, 2003) -- Flight deck personnel move an F/A-18 Hornet assigned to the "Valions" of Strike Fighter Squadron Fifteen (VFA-15) into position on the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The nuclear powered aircraft carrier is conducting carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Michael D. Cole. (RELEASED)
030909-N-9907G-502 Atlantic Ocean (Sept. 9, 2003) -- Weapons handlers, assigned to the “Valions” of Strike Fighter Squadron Fifteen (VFA-15), load an AGM-88 “HARM” missile to the starboard wing of an F/A-18C Hornet aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). A HARM missile is a high-speed, anti-radiation, advanced air-to-ground, anti-radar weapon. The nuclear powered aircraft carrier is conducting training in the Atlantic Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Floyd Grimm. (RELEASED)
030906-N-1522S-080 Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Virginia Beach, Va. (Sep. 6, 2003) -- Lt. Jon Biehl, assigned to the “Valions” of Strike Fighter Squadron One Five (VFA-15), helps a young boy put on a helmet and harness during the 2003 NAS Oceana Regional Air Show. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Leah Stiles. (RELEASED)
030528-N-6141B-010 The Atlantic Ocean (May 28, 2003) -- An F/A-18 Hornet Strike Fighter assigned to the “Valions” of Strike Fighter Squadron Fifteen (VFA-15) prepares for launch from aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) fly off. This completed flight operations on their five-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Journalist Alan J. Baribeau. (RELEASED)
030506-N-2838M-506 The Mediterranean Sea (May 6, 2003) -- An F/A-18 Hornet assigned to the “Valions” of Strike Fighter Squadron Fifteen (VFA-15) launches from the flight deck aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Roosevelt and Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are deployed conducting operations in the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Michael McCannCole. (RELEASED)
030503-N-2838M-503 The Mediterranean Sea (May 3, 2003) -- An F/A 18 “Hornet“ from the "Valions" of Strike Fighter Squadron One Five (VFA-15) launches from the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The “Valions “are a part of Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) currently embarked aboard the nuclear powered aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt operating in the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Apprentice Michael McCannCole. (RELEASED)
030301-F-3408B-006 The Mediterranean Sea (Mar. 3, 2003) -- An F/A-18 Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron One Five (VFA-15) patrol the skies over the eastern Mediterranean. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark Bucher. (RELEASED)
030301-F-3408B-001 The Mediterranean Sea (Mar. 3, 2003) -- A pair of F/A-18 Hornets from Strike Fighter Squadron One Five (VFA-15) patrol the skies over the eastern Mediterranean. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Mark Bucher. (RELEASED)
030212-N-4142G-001 At sea aboard USS Constellation (CV 64) Feb. 12, 2003 -- An F/A-18 "Hornet" assigned to the "Vigilantes" of Strike Fighter Squadron One Five One (VFA-151) launches from the ship's flight deck as the guided missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) steams alongside the aircraft carrier. Constellation is on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Felix Garza Jr. (RELEASED)
030129-N-3896H-508 At sea aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Jan. 29, 2003 -- An F/A-18C “Hornet” assigned to the "Valions" of Strike Fighter Squadron One Five (VFA-15) is launched from one of four steam powered catapults on the ship’s flight deck. VFA-15 is part of Carrier Air Wing Eight embarked on Roosevelt and are conducting training exercises in the Caribbean Sea in preparation of an upcoming deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jeremy Hall. (RELEASED)
990707-N-6483G-001 Off the coast of Pusan, South Korea, July 7, 1999 -- An F/A-18 Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron One Five One (VFA-151) breaks the sound barrier in the skies over the Pacific Ocean. VFA-151 is deployed aboard USS Constellation (CVN 64). U.S. Navy photo by Ensign John Gay. (RELEASED)
There are larger versions of these photos available at Navy NewsStand website.
They're not even embarrassed by their ignorance.
I don't know. Maybe she was recommissioned. Or maybe her name was re-used for another ship. I'll see if I can find out. Or maybe we'll get lucky, and someone who knows will tell us.
I wasn't referring to anyone in particular and I certainly don't expect non-Navy people to know the lingo.
I just get amused at the media talking heads who blunder when reporting erroneous information as fact.
Sorry for the misunderstanding.
BTW, the TAGS in my tagline refers to The Andy Griffith Show.
I think he went air-born trying to re-enact a scene from Dukes Of Hazard The Man With The Golden Gun.
Useless trivia data point number #43876 finally earns it's keep.
Here's a very large version of the one on top.
Glad the pilot is OK.
The following website gives the best history I've found on her maintenance and upgrades.
http://vialardi.org/IRAQ/iraq_constell_hst.html
USS Constellation (CV 64)
Like her famous namesakes, USS Constellation (CV 64) has a proud and distinguished record. After 40 years of service, Connie has sailed into harm's way from Yankee Station off the coast of Vietnam to the turbulent waters of the Arabian Gulf.
Built at the New York Naval Shipyard as the second ship in the Kitty Hawk class of aircraft carriers, Connie was commissioned on October 27, 1961, under the motto "Spirit of the Old, Pride of the New." She has been homeported at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego since July 1962.
Just like the original Constellation, America's newest and best Navy ship was immediately put to the test. In response to reports of North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin in August 1964, CONSTELLATION departed from a scheduled port visit to Hong Kong and was the first U.S. warship to launch strikes against North Vietnamese vessels and bases.
Over the next eight years, Constellation would return to the South China Sea for a total of seven combat cruises, conducting air strikes against heavily fortified North Vietnamese positions, engaging naval targets and shooting down enemy aircraft.
In 1968 President Lyndon Johnson made a surprise visit prior to Connie's fourth deployment to the Western Pacific (WestPac). In November, Connie pilots flew the last strike missions into North Vietnam prior to a bombing halt declaration.
In May 1972, Lt. Randy Cunningham and Ltj.g. Willie Driscoll of Fighter Attack Squadron 96 became America's first fighter aces of the Vietnam War by downing three MiGs during vicious dog fighting over North Vietnam. The extraordinary effort brought their total to five enemy aircraft in four months.
For her actions in Southeast Asia, Constellation was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation by President Richard Nixon.
In 1975 Connie was redesignated "CV" from "CVA" following a complex overhaul to the flight deck, enabling her to deploy with the S-3A Viking (anti-submarine) and F-14 Tomcat (fighter) aircraft.
A newly refurbished Connie began her 10th deployment in April 1977, which included the first port call by a U.S. carrier to Pattaya, Thailand. In September 1978, Connie sailed west once again on her 11th overseas deployment. The ship was extended on station in the Arabian Gulf because of the Iranian hostage crisis. Her service earned her the Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal. While on her 12th deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, Constellation set a new Navy endurance record for that time by remaining on station for 110 consecutive days.
In the summer of 1981, Connie hosted President Ronald Reagan. It turned out to be a watershed moment in the carrier's illustrious history. Reagan presented a Presidential Flag to the ship and proclaimed Constellation as "America's Flagship" - a new ship's motto which is used to this day.
In 1982, Constellation returned to the yards, this time in Bremerton, Wash. Naval aviation had undergone vast changes since 1961, and when Connie came out of the yards in 1984 two weeks early and under budget, it was completely modernized. One facet of the ship's upgrade was the ability to carry the Navy's newest strike fighter, the F/A-18 Hornet. She was also fitted with the new PHALANX radar-guided gattling gun, two new flush deck catapults and the NATO Sea Sparrow Missile System.
During WestPac 1987, Constellation once again found itself in the spotlight; this time providing vital air cover for the escort of U.S. flagged oil tankers through the Arabian Gulf.
In February 1990, Constellation left San Diego, returning to the East Coast for a three-year overhaul. The $800-million Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), completed in Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in March 1993, added an estimated 15 years to the carrier's operational life. The overhaul saw upgrades to virtually every system on the ship.
After completing one of the most successful work-up schedules in Navy history, Constellation departed San Diego on June 18, 1999, beginning her 19th overseas deployment. Connie immediately put her war fighting skills to the test by conducting a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX). This marked the first time ever that a carrier has conducted JTFEX at the beginning of a deployment. With increased tensions between North and South Korea, Connie then headed for the Korean theatre to closely monitor the situation and provide a calming influence. After port calls in Pusan, ROK; Yokosuka, Japan; Singapore; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Connie entered the Arabian Gulf on August 28 and began flying combat air patrols over the Iraqi no-fly zones in support of Operation Southern Watch. During her 10-week stay in the 5th Fleet theater, Connie and CVW-2 flew 1,256 sorties and expended nearly 44 tons of ordnance during nine combat engagements against Iraqi ground and air targets. Connie left the Arabian Gulf for some well-earned R&R with port visits in Fremantle/Perth and Sydney Australia. Connie recorded a rare deployment milestone of 10,000 aircraft "traps" just before returning to San Diego for a memorable holiday homecoming on December 17, 1999. For their extraordinary efforts during the Navy's last deployment of the century, the crew of the Constellation was awarded the 1999 Battle “E” as the Pacific Fleet's best carrier.
For almost 200 years, a ship bearing the name “Constellation” has traveled the world's oceans representing America's interests. Whether it was from the cannons of the “Yankee Racehorse” or from the aircraft of “America's Flagship”, Constellation has always been first to answer our nation's call. And just as thousands of Sailors have done before, today's Sailors will continue to protect freedom around the globe and add to Constellation's “stellar” history.
Source: US Navy
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I hope I did okay on the formatting. It was pretty screwy.
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