Kitty Hawk (CV 63) - Naval Cruise Book

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1 i K. s m f ' fir. i

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acrefory of the Navy Arriving The Honorable John F. Lehman Jr., Secretary of the r4avy, embarked in Kitty Hawk as we sailed from Pearl Hartxx, Hi., on April 15th. Secretary Lehman, wtv3 is a naval flight officer and a Lieutenant Commartder in the Naval Reserve, was launched and recovered in an SH-2 Sea Sprite heli- copter and the A-6E Intruder in which he completed a weapons delivery training mission. The Kitty Hawk battle group, USS Wabash, USS Mt. Hood. USS Halsey, USS Hoel, USS Gushing, USS Leftwich, and the USS Fanning executed a pass-in-review in secretary Lehman ' s honor. WNIe onboard, secretary Lehman also received tours of operational, maintenance and weapons spaces. Secretary Lehman was also given operational brief- ings by RAdm Lawrence C. Chambers, Commander, Carrier Group Three and by Kitty Hawk Commanding Officer, Captain Foster S. Teague. Secretary Lehman took time out to address the crew of Kitty Hawk and Air Wing 15 via the ship ' s closed circuit television system. In his talk with the crew, the secretary talked about current Navy problems and initiatives, emphasizing the vital role of the carrier bot- tle group in preserving world peace. Secretary Lehman was accompanied by his wife Bar- bara wtiile on Kitty Hawk.

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Commanding Officer Capt. Foster S. league Captain league, son of Mrs. A.R. league and the late Mr. A.R. league of Bossier City, La., was born in Bossier City on November 21, 1934. After graduating from Bossier High School in 1952, Captain league attended Texas A M University, where he received a bachelors ' of arts degree in Business Administration in 1956. Captain league reported to NAS Pensacola, Fla., on September 26, 1956, as an aviation officer candidate and was commissioned a U.S. Navy ensign in February 1957. Commenc- ing flight training that month at NAS Saufley Field, he received his Navy Wings of Gold and was designated a naval aviator in March 1958. Captain league reported to Fighter Squadron 121 in April 1958 for training in the F11F-1 fighter and joined VF-211 at NAS Mof- fett Field, Co., in December 1958. Since that time Captain league has had squadron tours of duty in VF-24, VF- 124 (2), VF-51 (2), VF- 1 1 1 and VT-4, He completed eight Western Pacific cruises embarked in the aircraft carriers USS Lexing- ton, Ticonderoga, Oriskany, Intrepid, Bon Homme Richard, Coral Sea, Kitty Hawk and the oiler USS Kawishiwi. He has commanded VF- 111, VF-51, Carrier Air Wing 1 1 (USS Kitty Hawk) and USS Kawishiwi. During his latter tour, the Kawishiwi was awarded the Battle Efficiency E and the Golden Anchor. Other duty assignments include Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Rear Admiral R.E. Riera, Com- mander Alaskan Sea Frontier, and in the Office of Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Prior to assuming command of Kitty Hawk, Captain league was Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, U.S. Seventh Fleet. He has over 5,000 accident-free flight hours, 423 combat missions in Vietnam during four combat cruises, 873 carrier arrested landings in five aircraft models, and is credited with one MIG destroyed in aerial combat. His decora- tions include the Silver Star (2 awards). Distin- guished Flying C ross (6 awards). Bronze Star (Combat V ), Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (39 awards). Navy Commendation Medal (5 awards). Purple Heart, and various unit and theater awards. Since his departure from Kitty Hawk, Captain league has been assigned to the staff of the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, Pearl Har- bor. Hi.