DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY FIGHTER SQUADRON FOURTEEN iitn pas? OPFKE NEW YQRK 09501 VF-14:OO:ski 5750 6 Mar 1975 From: Commandfng Officer, Fighter Squadron FOURTEEN To : Chief of Naval Operations (OP 05~2) Subj: Command History; submission of OPNAV Report 5750-1 Ref: (a) OPNAVINST 5750.12B Encl: (1) VF-14 Command History for Calendar Year 1974 with enclosures (1) through (11) 1. In accordance with reference (a), enclosure (1) is submitted. A Copy to: Director of Naval History (OF 09B9) P r e s i d e n t , NAVWARCOL S u p e r i n t e n d e n t , USNA
Transcript
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY FIGHTER SQUADRON FOURTEEN
iitn pas? OPFKE
NEW YQRK 09501 VF-14:OO:ski 5 7 5 0 6 Mar 1 9 7 5
From: Commandfng O f f i c e r , F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n FOURTEEN To : C h i e f o f N a v a l O p e r a t i o n s (OP 0 5 ~ 2 )
S u b j : Command H i s t o r y ; s u b m i s s i o n o f OPNAV R e p o r t 5750-1
R e f : ( a ) OPNAVINST 5750.12B
E n c l : ( 1 ) VF-14 Command H i s t o r y f o r C a l e n d a r Y e a r 1 9 7 4 w i t h e n c l o s u r e s ( 1 ) t h r o u g h ( 1 1 )
1. I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h r e f e r e n c e ( a ) , e n c l o s u r e ( 1 ) i s s u b m i t t e d .
A
Copy t o : D i r e c t o r o f N a v a l H i s t o r y (OF 09B9) P r e s i d e n t , NAVWARCOL S u p e r i n t e n d e n t , USNA
C a l e n d a r Y e a r 1 9 7 4 was a c h a l l e n g i n g y e a r f o r F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n FOURTEEN. F o l l o w i n g a n e x t e n d e d e i g h t and o n e - h a l f month M e d i t e r r a n e a n d e p l o y m e n t a b o a r d t h e USS J O H N F . KENNEDY (CVA-67), F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n FOURTEEN r e t u r n e d t o NAS Oceana , V i r g i n i a B e a c h , V i r g i n i a i n December 1 9 7 3 .
The "TOPHATTERS" w i t h i n o n e month a f t e r r e t u r n i n g f r o m t h e i r M e d i t e r r a n e a n c r u i s e w e r e f a c e d w i t h t h e t a s k o f t r a n s - f e r r i n g a l l t w e l v e F-4B a i r c r a f t a n d a n c i l l a r y s u p p o r t e q u i p m e n t s t o o t h e r commands a n d a 1 1 two-hundred a n d t h i r t y s q u a d r o n p e r - s o n n e l t o e i t h e r o t h e r commands o r t o t h e F-14 r e p l a c e m e n t t r a i n i n g s q u a d r o n a t NAS M i r a m a r , San D i e g o , C a l i f o r n i a .
The New Y e a r i m m e d i a t e l y p r e s e n t e d t h e "TOPHATTERS" w i t h a c h a n g e o f h o m e p o r t f r o m t h e E a s t C o a s t t o t h e West C o a s t w h i c h was p r o m u l g a t e d b y C N O m e s s a g e D T G 2919402 J U N 73 and a u t h o r i z e d b y CHNAVPERS m e s s a g e D T G 1500222 OCT 73 . F o r t h e n e x t s i x m o n t h s t h e "TOPHATTERS" o f F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n FOURTEEN w e r e w h o l e l y i n v o l v e d w i t h a l l a s p e c t s o f t r a n s i t i o n i n g t o t h e Navy ' s n e w e s t f i g h t e r , t h e Grumman b u i l t F-14 TOMCAT. D u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d t h e m a i n t e n a n c e p e r s o n n e l r e c e i v e d c l a s s r o o m i n - s t r u c t i o n u n d e r t h e F l e e t R e a d i n e s s A v i a t i o n M a i n t e n a n c e P r o g r a m (FRAMP) w i t h a d d i t i o n a l h o u r s o f o n - t h e - j o b t r a i n i n g i n t h e m a i n t e n a n c e d e p a r t m e n t s a t F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n ONE-TWO-FOUR (VF-124). S i m u l t a n e o u s l y , t h e a i r c r e w s w e r e r e c e i v i n g c l a s s r o o m a c a d e m i c t r a i n i n g on t h e complex s y s t e m s o f t h e F-14A p r e p a r i n g them f o r t h e demanding e x a c t n e s s t h e i r new a i r c r a f t would r e q u i r e . "TOPHATTER" a i r c r e w s r e c e i v e d a n a v e r a g e o f 50 f l i g h t h o u r s i n t h e TOMCAT b e f o r e r e t u r n i n g t o t h e E a s t C o a s t .
A s e a r l y a s 29 May 1 9 7 4 members o f F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n FOURTEEN w e r e e n r o u t e t o NAS O c e a n a , V i r g i n i a B e a c h , V i r g i n i a t o make r e a d y f o r t h e s q u a d r o n s move b a c k t o t h e E a s t C o a s t . The o f f i c i a l h o m e p o r t c h a n g e f r o m t h e West C o a s t t o t h e E a s t C o a s t was p r o - m u l g a t e d b y C N O m e s s a g e DTG 1 5 1 4 5 7 2 FEB 74 a n d a u t h o r i z e d b y CHNAVPERS m e s s a g e D T G 0211432 HAY 74, w i t h t h i r t y - t h r e e (33) o f f i c e r s a n d two-hundred and f i f t y - s i x ( 2 5 6 ) e n l i s t , e d p e r s o n n e l a s s i g n e d .
The 'PTOPNATTERS't r e c e i v e d t h e i r f i r s t TOMCAT, BUN0 159019 on 2 1 J u n e 1 9 7 4 w h i c h was t h e n f l o w n t o t h e Grumman f a c i l i t y a t NAS P o i n t Mugu, C a l i f o r n i a w h e r e i t u n d e r w e n t t h e UP-I1 P r o g r a m d u r i n g w h i c h c e r t a i n m o d i f i c a t i o n s w e r e i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e a i r p l a n e . On 26 J u l y 1 9 7 4 , CDR J . T . MCHUGH, Commanding O f f i c e r o f FITRON FOURTEEN and LTJG f l e w t h e f i r s t s q u a d r o n TOMCAT t o NAS O c e a n a , V i r g i n i a B e a c h , V i r g i n i a m a r k i n g t h e b e g i n n i n g o f a new ERA f o r N a v a l A v i a t i o n on t h e E a s t C o a s t .
E n c l o s u r e (I) -
The s q u a d r o n c o n t i n u e d t o b u i l d o n t h e E a s t C o a s t w h i l e f a c i n g t h e u n i q u e t a s k o f m o n i t o r i n g a n d m a n a g i n g t h e complex d e l i v e r y s c h e d u l e o f t h e a i r p l a n e s . A i r c r a f t o n c e a s s e m b l e d b y t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r a t Long I s l a n d , New P o r k w e r e f e r r i e d b y s q u a d r o n c r e w s t o t h e m a n u f a c t u r e s s i t e a t NAS P o i n t Mugu, C a l i f o r n i a . W h i l e a t MAS P o i n t Mugu t h e a i r p l a n e s u n d e r w e n t a n e x t e n s i v e s i x weeks m o d i f i c a t i o n p r o g r a m p r i o r t o b e i n g f e r r i e d a g a i n b y s q u a d r o n c r e w s and u l t i m a t e l y a r r i v i n g a t WAS O c e a n a , V i r g i n i a B e a c h , V i r g i n i a .
An e x t e n s i v e t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m t o g e t t h e s q u a d r o n combat r e a d y f o r t h e i r upcoming d e p l o y m e n t t o t h e M e d i t e r r e a n was a g g r e s s i v e l y u n d e r t a k e n i n S e p t e m b e r 1 9 7 4 . Of e x t r e m e i m - p o r t a n c e was t h e ~ 2 ~ 1 ~ 1 4 d a t a l i n k c r o s s t r a i n i n g c o n d u c t e d .
S i n c e t h e s q u a d r o n r e c e i v e d v i r t u a l l y no d a t a l i n k i n s t r u c - t i o n w h i l e i n t h e r e p l a c e m e n t t r a i n i n g s q u a d r o n , F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n ONE-TWO-FOUR, a c o m p r e h e n s i v e d a t a l i n k e x e r c i s e was u n d e r t a k e n a t F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n FOURTEEN b e t w e e n t h e new E2C a n d F14A t o e x e r c i s e a n d v a l i d a t e t h e i n t e r f a c i n g o f b o t h s y s t e m s . On 2 1 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 7 4 t h e a i r c r e w members f r o m VAW-125, t h e a i r w i n g s E2C s q u a d r o n , a n d VF-14 met t o e x e r c i s e t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e s y s t e m s o n t h e g r o u n d w i t h t h e two a i r p l a n e s p o s i t i o n e d s i d e - b y - s i d e . The a i r b o r n e p h a s e o f t h e d a t a l i n k t r a i n i n g commenced on 26 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 7 4 , d u r i n g w h i c h VF-14 c r e w s r a p i d l y r e a c h e d t h e s t a g e o f v v Z i p - L i p " d a t a l i n k i n t e r c e p t s . T h e s e t r a i n i n g s e s s i o n s marked t h e f i r s t t i m e t h e s e two new a i r p l a n e s w h i c h h a d o n l y r e s e n t l y b e e n i n t r o d u c e d t o t h e f l e e t h a d a c t u a l l y worked s u c c e s s f u l l y t o g e t h e r .
The end o f S e p t e m b e r 1 9 7 4 was h i g h l i g h t e d b y t h e s q u a d r o n Change-of-Command. Onboard NAS O c e a n a , Commander George W . WHITE, J R . , r e l i e v e d Commander J o h n T. MCHUGH on 38 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 7 4 a n d became t h e FIFTY-FIRST d i s t i n g u i s h e d N a v a l A v i a t o r t o command t h e "TOPHATTERS".
D u r i n g t h e m o n t h s o f O c t o b e r and November 1 9 7 4 , F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n FOURTEEN c o n t i n u e d t o p u r s u e i t s g o a l o f becoming 1 0 0 % combat r e a d y . A n o t h e r m a j o r m i l e s t o n e was a c c o m p l i s h e d o n 1 3 November 1 9 7 4 a s A B l Q O (BUN0 1 5 9 0 0 7 ) , f l o w n by LCDR
a n d LT became t h e f i r s t A t l a n t i c F l e e t TOMCAT a i r c r e w t o l a n d a b o a r d t h e USS J O H N F . KENNEDY (CV-67) .
A s t h e "TOPHATTERS" b e g a n t h e i r l a s t month o f c a l e n d a r y e a r 1 9 7 4 , t h e tempo o f o p e r a t i o n s was b e g i n n i n g t o r a p i d l y b u i l d t o a c r e s e n d o . B o t h m a i n t e n a n c e and a i r c r e w p e r s o n n e l w e r e f u n c t i o n i n g h a r m o n e o u s l y t o g e t h e r , and p o l i s h i n g t h e r o u g h e d g e s o f a n e w l y t r a n s i t i o n e d F-14A s q u a d r o n .
E n c l o s u r e (1 )
A f i r s t f o r t h e "TOPHATTERS" o f VF-14 and t h e e n t i r e E a s t C o a s t was marked o n 3 December 1 9 7 4 when C D R G . W . WHITE, J R . , Commanding O f f i c e r , F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n FOURTEEN became t h e f i r s t t o f i r e t h e M-61Al 20mm V u l c a n Cannon a g a i n s t a n a i r - t o - a i r t a r g e t , a t t a i n i n g a r e s p e c t a b l e s c o r i n g r a t e on a b a n n e r towed b y a TA-4 a i r c r a f t o f F l e e t C o m p o s i t e S q u a d r o n TWO. T h e s e a i r - t o - a i r g u n n e r y s o r t i e s w e r e t h e f i r s t o n t h e E a s t C o a s t s i n c e t h e o l d F-8 e r a .
The E a s t C o a s t and F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n FOURTEEN c a r r i e r q u a l i f i e d t h e i r f i r s t F-14 p i l o t , LT , o n b o a r d US§ KITTY HAWK (CVA-63) 7 December 1 9 7 4 t h r o u g h 1 2 December 1 9 7 4 . I n a d d i t i o n t o d a y a n d n i g h t c a r r i e r q u a l i f y i n g , ET
a l s o became f u l l y LSO q u a l i f i e d f o r t h e P-14 community - a g a i n a f i r s t o n t h e E a s t C o a s t .
C a l e n d a r y e a r 1 9 7 4 c o n c l u d e d w i t h VF-14 e n j o y i n g a n o s t s u c c e s s f u l t e n d a y d i s s i m i l a r ACPI(Air Combat M a n e u v e r i n g ) d e t a c h m e n t t o NAS J a c k s o n v i l l e , F l o r i d a . The d e t a c h m e n t , u n d e r t h e s u p e r b l e a d e r s h i p o f LCDR , was composed o f a l l s q u a d r o n a i r c r e w members and n i n t y - f i v e e n l i s t e d "TOP- HATTERS" w i t h f i v e o f VP-14's TOMCATS. The d e p l o y m e n t was c o n d u c t e d f r o m 9 t h r o u g h 1 9 December 19'74.
T h i s o p e r a t i o n a l d e p l o y m e n t a l l o w e d t h e d e t a c h m e n t t o function as a separate e n t i t y i n a highly demanding o p e r a t i o n a l a t m o s p h e r e w i t h o u t pursuant a d m f n i s t r a t l v e workloads, t h u s e n a b l i n g t h e a i r c r e w s t o c o n c e n t r a t e on ACM t r a i n i n g . I n a d d i t i o n t o d a y a n d n i g h t a i r r e f u e l i n g , i n t e r c e p t s , f l i g h t s I
t h r o u g h t h e E l e c t r o n i c W a r f a r e r a n g e a t P i n e c a s t l e , and s i m u l a t e d "ALPHA" s t r i k e t y p e m i s s i o n s w e r e s u c c e s s f u l l y c o n d u c t e d .
The "TOPHATTERS" t e a m s p i r i t a n d t o t a l d e d i c a t i o n t o d u t y e n a b l e d t h e s q u a d r o n t o f l y o n e - h u n d r e d and t w e n t y - f o u r ( 1 2 4 ) s o r t i e s a n d o n e - h u n d r e d a n d e i g h t y - f i v e p o i n t two (185 .2) h o u r s d u r i n g t h e t e n d a y d e p l o y m e n t . T h e s e f i g u r e s r e p r e s e n t a t r e m e n d o u s a c c o m p l i s h m e n t c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t t h e f i r s t F-14 t o a r r i v e a t NAS Oceana was o n l y f o u r m o n t h s p r i o r t o t h e d e t a c h m e n t itself. The ACM c o n d u c t e d d u r i n g t h e J a c k s o n v i l l e d e t a c h m e n t w i t h the F ~ E ' P p r e s e n t e d t h e f i r s t o p p o r t u n i t y a n y E a s t C o a s t F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n h a d t o fly a g a q n s t t h e F-5E.
I n r e f l e c t i o n F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n FOURTEEN c a n b e e x t r e m e l y p r o u d o f i t s p e r f o r m a n c e a n d a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s d u r i n g t h e h i g h l y c o m p l e x a n d c h a l l e n g i n g c a l e n d a r y e a r o f 1 9 7 4 , a n d l o o k w i t h e v e n g r e a t e r a n t i c i p a t i o n t o t h e c h a l l e n g e s o f 1 9 7 5 .
3 E n c l o s u r e ( I )
COMMAND WTSTORY LIST OF ENCLOSURES
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
1974 FLIGHT STATISTICS
PTLOT HOURS/LANDINGS
NFO HOURS
ORDNANCE EXPENDITURES
LIST OF OFFICERS AND BILLETS HELD
CDR J. T. MCHUGH BIOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPH OF CDR J. T. MCHUGH
CDR G. W. WHITE, JR. BIOGRAPHY
PHOTOGRAPH OF CDR G. W. WHITE, JR.
PHOTOGRAPH OF SQUADRON AIRPLANE - F-14A TOMCAT
1'9'74 'CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
01 JAN - 25 JAN Based ashore at NAS Oceana, Va.
26 JAN - 04 JUL Based ashore at NAS Miramar, California
21 JUN Squadron received first F-14A "TOMCAT, BUNO 159019
05 JUL - 31 DEC Based ashore at NAS Oceana, Va.
24 JUL
26 JUL
01 AUG
14 AUG
16 AUG
21 AUG
22 AUG
27 AUG
30 AUG
30 AUG
01 SEP
13 SEP
17 SEP
Squadron entered new hangar spaces. Hangar 404, Module 3.
Squadron's first F-14A "TOMCAT", BUNO 159019, flown by CDR J. T. MCHUGH, the Commanding Officer, and LTJG arrived NAS Oceana.
Flew first day mission from NAS Oceana.
Squadron received second F-14A, BUNO 159007.
Squadron assigned three (3) F-14A airplanes.
Squadron assigned four (4) F-14A airplanes.
CDR MCHUGH, the Commanding Officer, and Rear Admiral J. C. BIXON flew local familiarization flight.
Squadron flew first night mission.
Squadron assigned five (5) F-14A airplanes.
Squadron conducted an open-house ceremony in Hangar 404, Module 3.
Homeport change to East Coast effective.
VF-14 assigned six (6) F-14A airplanes.
CDR MCHUGH, Commanding Officer, and CAPT W e A. GURECK, Commanding Officer, USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67), flew local familiarization flight.
CDR G. W. WHITE, JR., relieved CDR J. T. MCHUGH as Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron FOURTEEN.
S q u a d r o n a s s i g n e d s e v e n ( 7 ) F-14A a i r p l a n e s .
S q u a d r o n a s s i g n e d e i g h t ( 8 ) F-14A a i r p l a n e s .
S q u a d r o n a s s i g n e d n i n e ( 9 ) F-14A a i r p l a n e s .
S q u a d r o n a s s i g n e d t e n ( 1 0 ) F-14A a i r p l a n e s .
S q u a d r o n a s s i g n e d e l e v e n ( 1 1 ) F-14A a i r p l a n e s .
F-14A BUN0 1 5 9 0 0 9 , f l o w n b y LCDR a n d LT made f i r s t F-14A c a r r i e r l a n d i n g a b o a r d t h e USS J O H N F . KENNEDY (CV-67).
S q u a d r o n a s s i g n e d a f u l l c o m p l e m e n t o f F-14A a i r p l a n e s - t w e l v e ( 1 2 ) .
VF-14 a i r c r e w members l e d b y CDR G. W . WHITE, J R , , Commanding O f f i c e r , made f i r s t a i r - t o - a i r g u n n e r y s h o o t a g a i n s t a t owed b a n n e r . F i r s t i n h i s t o r y o n E a s t C o a s t s i n c e o l d F-8 d a y s ,
D e t a c h m e n t f l o w n t o NAS J a c k s o n v i l l e , F l o r i d a t o c o n c e n t r a t e o n d i s s i m i l a r ACM, d a y a n d n i g h t a i r r e f u e l i n g , i n t e r c e p t s , a n d E l e c t r o n i c W a r f a r e t r a i n i n g .
LT became t h e f i r s t E a s t C o a s t a n d F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n FOURTEEN p i l o t t o d a y a n d n i g h t c a r r i e r q u a l i f y . LT a l s o became f u l l y LSO q u a l i f i e d f o r t h e F-14 E a s t C o a s t Communi tye
H i g h l y s u c c e s s f u l d e t a c h m e n t t o NAS J a c k s o n v i l l e , F l o r i d a r e t u r n e d t o NAS O c e a n a .
2 E n c l o s u r e ( 1 )
F I GRTER SQUADRON FOURTEEN '1 9'7'4 FLI'GHT STAT1 S T 1 C S
TOTAL TIME
NTTE TIME
AVG/PILQT
TOTAL CV LANDINGS
TOTAL INTERCEPTS
AVG/CREFJ
ACM ENGAGEMENTS
A V G / C R E W
GUN S O R T I E S
A V G / C R E W
INFLIGMT REFUELINGS
Enclosure (2 )
FIGHTER SQUADRON FOURTEEN 1 9 7 4 HOURS/LANDINGS PER PILOT
TOTAL DAY NIGHT FIELD LANDINGS NAME HOURS HOURS HOURS DAY NIGHT
