Sylvania (AFS 2) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 8 text:

vfQMgf',4i- ' jugepxg . -,,,.f-f H ' ,,,.,,Jll!t::Lf 9? ' j AJg3u,-g:tL1fT'A ian, W ,- ,. .un-4'-ff' W- CAPT. MCRASHW ADAMS Capt. Adams tests Sylvanials modern weaponry system. Illl take a pepperoni, hold the grease 'A-N.. X Practical application Hn' O-7?

Page 7 text:

FORMER COM I G OFFICER CAPT AI J. W. ADAMS Captain John W. Adams was born in Camden, New Jersey in 1935 and raised in Kokomo, Indiana, graduating from Kokomo High School in 1953. After attending Purdue University, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1954, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering and was commissioned an Ensign, U.S. Navy, in June 1958. He entered flight training after graduation and was designated a Naval Aviator in December 1959. He commenced his first fleet assignment with VS-32 in January 1960 at Quonset Point, RI. During this tour he made deployments in the Atlantic and Caribbean aboard the USS LAKE CHABIPLAIN, flying the S-2Fairc1-aft. In July 1963, CAPT Adams was assigned to the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, CA for a yearls study. Upon completion of this tour, he served as Aide to the Director, Field Support Activities, Washington, D.C. from July 1964 to August 1965. He then served in the bureau of Naval Personnel Plans and Programs Support Activity until June 1966. He was next assigned as Assistant Navigator aboard the USS RANDOLPH homeported in Norfolk, VA and deployed to the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean areas from July 1966 until June 1969. He attended Naval War College at Newport, RI, during the academic year 1968- 1969, and earned his Master of Science degree in Political Science from the George Washington University during this period. Following graduation CAPT Adams received replacement pilot training at FAETULANT and VS-30 prior to joining VS-24 at Norfolk, VA in December 1969. This squadron relocated to Cbionset Point. RI where CAPT Adams served as Administrative and Operations Officer, deploying aboard the USS INTREPID to the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Baltic, and Caribbean areas until detachment in November 1971. He reported to VS-30 in December 1971 and served as Executive Officer until detachment in May 1973. He then reported to Commander, Air Anti-Submarine Wing ONE and served as S-3A Fleet Introduction Officer from Jtme 1973 until May 1974. He reported to VS-22 at Cecil Field, FL in June 1974, served as Executive Officer and as Commanding Officer until June 1976. During his command VS- 22 conducted the first Atlantic Fleet S-3A deployment aboard the USS SARATOGA, and won the Arnold J. Isbell,OOMNAVAIRLANT Aviation Safety, COMNAVAIRLANT Battle Efficiency E , and OOMSDITHFLT ASW Excellence Awards. In June 1976, he reported to CommanderAir Anti-Submarine Wing ONE, and served as Chief Staff Officer until detachment in June 1977. He next served on the staff of Deputy Chief of Naval Operations fAir Warfarej as Sea Based ASW Plans and Programs OHicer from June 1977 until June 1979. He commanded Air Anti-Submarine Wing ONE from August 1979 to December 1980, and after detachment attended various courses of instruction prior to reporting to USS SYLVANIA QAFS 21. He assumed command ofU SS SYLVANIAin July 1981, deploying twice to the Mediterranean. He was relieved by CAPI' R.E. Tucker, Jr. in December 1982. CAPT Adams is married to the former Ann McGill of Wayzata, Minnesota. They reside at CAPT Adams' new duty station, OOMSERVRON TWO in Earle, New Jersey with their children Catherine, Elizabeth, Patricia, and David.

Page 9 text:

Uss SYLVANIA QAFS-25 PRESENT COMMANDING OFFICER CAPT. R. E. TUCKER, JR. Captain Robert E. Tucker, Jr., was born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1937. The son of a career Army Officer, he entered the Navy in 1955 after graduation from high school. Reporting flrst to USNTC Bainbridge, Maryland, for recruit training and prep school and to the U.S. Naval Academy, he was graduated and commissioned 8 June 1960. Captain Tuckerls initial sea duty was in USS FLETCHER QDDE 455 where he served a three year tour as DCA and Engineering Officer. While attached to FLETCHER, he made two deployments to the Western Pacific and participated in the recovery ofthe first manned space capsules in 196 lf 1962. In the summer of 1963, he reported to Pensacola, Florida for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in December 1964. Upon completion of F-4 replacement training with VF-101 in Key West, Captain Tucker reported to the TARSIERS' of VF-33. While deployed to the Mediterranean with Fighter Squadron THIRTY-THREE aboard USS AMERICA KCV 661, he participated in the 1967 Paris Air Show and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for his aerial demonstration of the slow flight characteristics of tl1e F-4B. During his three year tour with VF-33, he made two Mediterranean deployments and one to the Western Pacific, becoming the first pilot to attain 500 arrested landings aboard AMERICA. In February 1969, Captain Tucker reported to the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland. While at Patuxent River, he served for two and a halfyears as a project pilot in the carrier suitability branch ofthe flight test division, participating in the ACLS certification of eight CV's and major carrier suitability testing ofthe F-4, F-8 and RA-5C aircraft. In December 1971, Captain Tucker participated in the Navyls first evaluation ofthe E- 14, becoming the second Naval Aviator to fly the TOMCAT. In the summer of 1972, Captain Tucker reported to VF- 103 and served as the SLUGGERS, Operations Officer for two years. While deployed to WESTPAC with CVW-3 aboard USS SARATOGA QCV-601, Captain Tucker and l1is RIO, LTJ G Bruce Edens, shot down a MIG-21 during a night intercept over North Vietnam. He served concurrently as Air Wing Operations Officer during the last 5 months of that deployment and has flown over 250 combat missions. In June 1974, Captain Tucker reported as Oillcer in Charge of VF- 101 Aerial Combat Maneuvering!Tactics Detachment in Key West. He then served his XO! CO tour with the DEDEVILERS of Fighter Squadron SEVENTY- FOUR from 1975 to 1978. During his tour with VF-74, he recorded his 1,000th carrier arresting landing. He currently has over 1,200 carrier arrested landings. After a short tour on the staff of Commander Naval Air Force. U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Captain Tucker reported to USS FORRESTAL CCV-591 as Commander, Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN where he served until July 1980. He then commanded Fighter Wing ONE at Oceana, Virginia, from July 1980 until April 1982. Captain Tucker's decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, 16 StrikefFlight and Two Individual Air Medals, Five Navy Commendation Medals wf Combat V , the Navy Achievement Medal, Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Five Vietnam Campaign Ribbons and the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry w!Gold star. Captain Tucker resides in Virginia Beach with his wife, the former Alice J effrey, and their two children, Leslie and Bob.