Lexington (CV 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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- 1 ,::::.3?-'!??E7- .-..m-......... .. .. ., . , W -P-v:uf:. ---- .... -- -, ,. .-, - .. .. ... f ., 4 i Air Groups in underway flight operations. She operated in this capacity out of Mayport, Florida for about six weeks, but was never called upon to actually participate in the Cuban quarantine. When the crisis finally abated, Lex steamed around to Western Florida and relieved Antietam at Pensacola. Operations since becoming based at Pensacola have constituted a steady routine previously un- known aboard the carrier in its world-wide travels. One week a month-'4Fleet Weekl' -is devoted to operations with Navy and Marine Squadrons assigned to the fleet, this means day and night flight operations with our most modern aircraft. This busy period also provides the ship an opportunity to conduct other drills and training operations necessary -to maintain over- all readiness. Most of the time, however, Lexington is en- gaged in her prim ary mission-qu alifying student pilots under the cognizance of the U.S. Navy's Basic and Advanced Air Training Commands. The weeks and weeks of long hours ship's com- pany have devoted to the duties involved since assignment to Pensacola have occasionally been broken by Search-and-rescue or disaster-relief missions, but it has been the exacting perfor- mance of her vital number 1 job that will long stand out in the minds of the officers and crew who compose the proud complement of Lexington. 87 . . ..r...... .,..-..- ,.....,...........w- .-Z---T--fffffffy-. 1-1:1:11:11::r--.....---.:.':::-......---c:::::.-:::::::-.,...-'-'::::::.-..,.'-'-'--H-...m,...-:5.'::,:...3fj55.3g.j35555:55g5g:::::'-'..g....j

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' ' ' ' 1: '.1I.f2.Q,-fl ', :'.:, 5xMfi '....i 'f '11xgi?LeEEz.f',,',,gf', 152 'liiidiiiks- 75f55'.g:-!: '2 ' ' ' ' C arrier Qualifications - A The specific missions of U. S. Navy ships differ according to their size and capability, all com- bine, however, one overall mission -the preserva- tion of World peace. . At Pensacola, Lexington is under the operation- al control of the Chief of Naval Air Basic Train- ing. The ship conducts carrier qualification landings and launchings for basic students in the T28A, a propeller-driven training aircraft, and the T2A QT2j j, a single-engine jet trainer. Often operating from 7:00 a.m. until dusk- sometimes six days a week until the scheduled operations are completed-Lex is not a c'soft shore-duty billet by any means. In addition, Lexington pro- vides fleet carrier qualification training for pilots of the Replacement Air Group of the Naval Air Force, Atlantic Fleet, located at jacksonville, as well as other operational Naval and Marine Air Units flying fleet-type aircraft. This is during the monthly 'fFleet Week , when she operates at sea, conducting day and night flight ops and other fleet exercises. Approximately every three Weeks CVS-16 crosses the Gulf of Mexico and operates in the vicinity of Corpus Christi, Texas, Where she is under the operational control of the Chief of Naval Air Advanced Training. Advanced stu- dents conduct their carrier qualifications in the TF9j QFQF-8j, a single-engine, swept-wing jet Vital Mission trainer formerly used as a first line fighter in the fleet, the A1H CAD-Gj, a propeller-driven fleet attack aircraft, the S2A QSQFQ, a twin-engine propeller-driven, anti-submarine aircraft, and the T2A basic jet trainer. In addition to her primary' mission of conduct- ing carrier qualifications, Lexington is prepared to render aid to hurricane and earthquake vic- tims, as the training carrier has done in the Gulf area many times. She is capable of providing medical and sanitation assistance as well as con- veying foodstuffs and other supplies to stricken communities in case of any unusual emergency. Lexington also is available to assist in any School of Aviation Medicine projects, including space operations and recovery procedures. By discharging her responsibilities as training carrier for fleet and future fleet pilots, CVS-16 fulfills her role in the preservation of world peace. She also is ready to move into the front lines and stem the thrust of aggressive powers, as necessary. A ' The ship 's new mission - training car- rier pilots. Air operations are frequent-s ' br Conducted continuousbz, from seven in the rnorning until the greyingqtwilzght of evening, day after day. ,,,,, , An- ,, . . . . Z . .. l.,,m.,il-..avr......:,,,,,:,.5.,.,.,,.L..... ...N