Iwo Jima (LPH 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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Department Head Cdr Edward StM X

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n ASMAN Jace Conner AN Peter fengel AN Gregory Rich n w ' : P ll a ft Ii 1 H AZAN Scon Robinson AN Darren Smith AZAN John Spencer AMSAN Ira Walls ASEAN Todd Willden ASMAA Patrick Morgan AMSAR Dusty Lish AR CIrilo Visita AN Engel receives award from CO. 25

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The Air Department is made up of three divisions: V-l, V-3 and V-4. Each is responsible for a different aspect of flight operations. The men of V-l Division are the back- bone of the Air Department. During flight operations V-l personnel launch and re- cover helicopters and position, or spot. them in preparation for future launchings. Within V-l there are three distinct groups - crash and salvage, the LSE ' s (landing sig- nalmen enlisted) and the blue shirts. Crash and salvage personnel man all fire fighting gear during flight operations and drive the support gear, or yellow gear, that move the helos into position. The LSE ' s di- rect the landing and launching of the helos. The blue shirts are the men who tie down the helos to prevent accidental movement of aircraft due to winds and seas. The men of V-3 play an important role within the framework of the Air Depart- ment. They are responsible for the move- ment of the helicopters on the hanger bay. The operation and maintenance of the air- craft elevators is another task these men undertake. Also, the smartness of the han- gar bay is the responsibility of V-3. V-4 Division acts as the gas station for the helos aboard the ship. They pro- vide safe handling, storage and distribu- tion for all aviation fuel on IWO. Helicop- ters, aviation support equipment, ship ' s boats and various engines around the ship require fuel . . . and V-4 handles these flammables with a high degree of profes- sionalism. There is no room for error in the fast paced world of flight operations. The pro- fessionalism of all the men of Air Depart- ment is evident in the fact that there have been over 130,000 accident-free landings aboard IWO JIMA. Safely Officer LCdr Richard Kirk Aircraft Handling Officer LI Michael Mulcahy V-l Division Officer IT Dean Meyer V-3, V-4 Division Officer tTjg Edward Mills Air Leading Chief ABCS Wendell Stevens The flight deck. IWO JIMA ' s main weapon. 27 Cdr Saccio discusses ihe day ' s events with his men.