George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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LCDR Poe. Rasnick i-COR Lela. 'W; LTjamc. | Li Jim Durso LT Thomas Haoussler LT Jeffrey Heiges LT Stan Jones LT Stephen Kay CAPT Alan Kollien. USAF LT Chris McCarthy LT Richard McCormack LT Gregory McWherter LT Thomas Price LT Richard Whipple ENS Chuck Millhollan CW03 Santiago Ortiz EMCM(AWZSS) Curtis Molina AFCM(AW)Jimmy Stovcnson ATCS(AW) Donald Albrecht AMCS(AW) Ronald Kemp VFA 57

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VFA 131 Wildcats deployed again aboard Eisenhower, including operations in the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf. In September 1992. the Wildcats and CVW-7 deployed aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) for shakedown, then deployed on May 20, 1994. The historic deployment began with a visit to Portsmouth, England and Brest, France to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. The Wildcats flew sorties in support of Operation Deny Flight over Bosnia-Herzegovina and Operation Southern Watch over southern Iraq. Their efforts resulted in the winning of the 1994 Estocin Award and Safety “S upon their return to NAS Cecil Field. VFA-131, on a short turnaround cycle, enjoyed a very successful work-up schedule in preparation for its 1996 deployment aboard the USS George Washington. The Wildcats departed for the Mediterranean at the end of January and proceeded to the Adriatic to support NATO troops in Bosnia during Operation Decisive Endeavor, and then deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. The Wildcats then returned to the Mediterranean and the Adriatic before heading back to the United States. Within the first month of deployment, VFA-131 surpassed eight years and 32,000 flight hours Class A mishap free, massing over 11.500 day and night arrested landings. 556 VFA 131 trike Fighter Squadron 131 (VFA-131) traces its colorful lineage back over 50 years to March 1944 when VF-81 was commissioned at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, as part of CAG 81. In November 1946. VF-81 was redesignated as VF-131. Again redesignated in 1948. VF-131 served aboard USS Princeton until being decommissioned in November 1949. Twelve years later, VF-131 was recommissioned flying the F3H-2 Demon. The Nightcappers deployed aboard USS Constellation (CV64) in May 1962 in response to the Berlin Crisis. VF-131 was again decommissioned in October 1962 at NAS Cecil Field. Florida. On October 3.1983. VFA-131 was recommissioned at NAS Lemoore, California. By May 1984, the Wildcats received their first F A-18A Hornet and began an intensive training program. In January 1985, the Wildcats moved cross country to NAS Cecil Field, Florida and became “AIRLANT's First and Finest F A-18 squadron. As part of Carrier Air Wing THIRTEEN, the Wildcats deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in October 1985 aboard USS Coral Sea (CV 43) and participated in air strikes against Libya and international terrorism in 1986. For their efforts, the men of VFA-131 received both the Armed Forces and the Navy Expeditionary Medals and two Navy Unit Commendations. In 1986. VFA-131 was also awarded the AIRLANT Battle “E for battle efficiency, the CNO Aviation Safety Award, the Silver Anchor for personnel retention, and the Estocin Award for the best F A-18 squadron in the U. S. Navy. The Wildcats completed their second Mediterranean deployment aboard USS Coral Sea in March 1988. On October 15,1988. the squadron joined Carrier Air Wing SEVEN. Following an extensive work-up cycle, the Wildcats deployed to the Mediterranean Sea aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in March 1990. In August 1990, Eisenhowerbecame one of the first U.S. units to respond to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. In September 1990. the squadron received F A-18C Lot XIII Night Strike Hornets. After a rapid turnaround training cycle, the squadron

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ATCS John Renk AMCS(AW) Marvin Sanders AOCS(AW) Tracy Townsend YNCS(AW) Mickey Warriner ADC(AW) Ramon Baniqued AEC(AW) Gary Brown ATC(AW) Michael Everett AMHC Liberato General AMSC David Jones AOC(AW) Harold Stubbs PNC(AW) Ernesto Tampoc AZI(AW) James Allen