Arriving in the mail today — the E-2D IOT&E patch. IOT&E (Initial Operational Test & Evaluation) is a critical milestone event for the E-2D program. Conducted by VX-1, operating out of Pax River, IOT&E provides an opportunity to test the aircraft and weapons system in a more dynamic environment than what was present for developmental…
I’ll be there — how about you? VAW 122 Alumni
Initial planning is underway for a reunion of all Steeljaws next year, most likely in the Norfolk area. Open to anyone who was a part of the Figthin’ Bitin’ Steeljaws from 1967-1996 (and I think we’ll even welcome SteelBats as well — and if you have to ask, you weren’t one 😉 ). More info…
Final log entry for the Steeljaws: “My pennant is hauled down and stored. All records are in order. Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO is hereby disestablished on this 14th day of March in the Year of Our Lord Nineteen Hundred Ninety Six” (signed) Commanding
Latest addition to the blogroll is “Spooky In The Sand” – a Hawkeye NFO (and former Steeljaw to boot!) who is presently one of the many Navy IA’s in Iraq with the Army. Swing by to capture culture encounters with the Army and the wry observations and POV afforded by a career of being shot…
Writing in the latest edition of The Hook (what, you’re not a member? Right this way then — and there’s associate memberships available for those who support tailhook aviation but haven’t experienced it first hand…yet), Boom Powell (“From the Catwalk”) relays a contributor’s lament about squadron tailcodes and callsigns, citing as examples VMA-255’s tail code…
In the mid-80’s, the VAW community in an attempt to address soaring OPTEMPO and a shortage of pilots tried the NFO Copilot program, wherein 2nd tour LTs and LCDRs were taken through a FRS NATOPS syllabus and qualified to fly right seat for day/VMC ops off the boat… “So Scribe, what was it like as…
