People, planes, places.

Awards

The 2005 DON Safety Excellence Award winners for aviation were George Washington (CVN 73); HMM-263; HMM-774; NAES Lakehurst, N.J.; VFA-136; and VT-31.

VT-10 received the CNO Aviation Safety Award, the squadron's 20th Safety "S."

Abraham Lincoln's (CVN 72) PH3 Patrick Bonafede was named the 2005 Walter L. Richardson Pacific Fleet Photographer of the Year.

The 2005 SECNAV Energy Awards for aviation commands were: NAF El Centro, Calif. (small shore activity) and MCAS Yuma, Ariz. (Marine Corps small shore activity).

On 25 October 2005 Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) logged her 160,000th trap.

Milestones

HC-2 completed their last major underway period. The Ghostriders will be replaced aboard Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) by HSC-28 Det 7, which will be using the MH-60S helicopter to support the 6th Fleet.

VFA-82 was deactivated on 30 September 2005.

VQ-2 relocated from NS Rota, Spain to NAS Whidbey Island, Wash., as of 30 September 2005.

Scan Pattern

On 23 September 2005 Carrier Airborne Early Warning Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet merged with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet at NS Norfolk, Va. COMAEWWINGPAC will command all E-2C Hawkeye and C-2A Greyhound squadrons from NAWS Point Mugu, Calif., under the new title of Commander, Airborne Command, Control, Logistics Wing.

Belleau Wood (LHA 3) was decommissioned on 13 October, at NS San Diego, Calif. Belleau Wood served the Navy and the nation for 27 years and is the first of five Tarawa-class amphibious assault ships to be decommissioned.

On 2 December 2005 the Navy announced that George Washington (CVN 73) will replace Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as the forward-deployed carrier in the western Pacific, and will arrive in Yokosuka, Japan, in 2008. Kitty Hawk is nearing the end of her service life and will return to the United States in 2008 to be decommissioned. CVW-5 will remain the forward-deployed air wing.

On 24 September 2005 two EA-6B Prowlers of VAQ-141 departed Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) while in the Mediterranean to enhance the mission capability of VMAQ-1, based out of Al Asad, Iraq. The aircraft proceeded ahead of the Roosevelt group to provide aerial support for Marine Corps ground forces following the departure of the carrier that was previously on station. The aircraft were outfitted with additional equipment to improve mission effectiveness. The 13 officers and 15 enlisted members from VAQ-141 conducted 37 combat sorties with a total of 165 hours of flight time and rejoined their squadron on 6 October 2005.

Rescues

On 7 September 2005 HS-75 search and rescue crew members rescued a downed crew from a Bell 206 helicopter in New Orleans, La. LCdr. Bruce Glasko and LCdr. Glenn Jimenez were patrolling over the Hurricane Katrina-ravaged area when they noticed the Bell 206 swap ends and begin a rapid descent. The helicopter hit the roof of a small house surrounded by flood water. The SH-60 pilots prepared for a hover as Jimenez called the controlling agency to ask that other aircraft stay clear during the rescue. Rescue swimmer AW2 Kevin Parrish quickly set up the hoisting equipment and SAR swimmer AE1 Bryan Davis was lowered to assist. Davis hoisted all three survivors to safety and both he and Parrish bandaged their wounds. The pilot and two passengers were transferred to Iwo Jima (LHD 7), which was operating five miles away in the Gulf Coast, where they were pronounced in stable condition. After dropping off the rescued helicopter crewmen, the HS-75 crew returned to the air to make their 13th rescue before finishing the night's mission.

On 11 September 2005 a lookout on Higgins (DDG 76) reported hearing gunshots coming from the horizon while operating in the northern Arabian Gulf, and spotted a small boat headed toward Higgins shortly thereafter. The crew of the boat appeared to be signaling for help. A RHIB from Higgins made contact with the boat and discovered one of the men was suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen. The patient was transferred to wound to his abdomen. The patient was transferred to Higgins until a helicopter from HS-6, assigned to CVW-11 aboard Nimitz (CVN 68), arrived to airlift the patient to the aircraft carrier. The injured man underwent surgery later aboard Nimitz, where the bullets were removed. The patient was listed in stable condition. According to the dhow's crew, bandits approached the dhow in a speedboat and peppered it with machine gun fire. After the shooting the dhow's crewmembers hailed a nearby speedboat to transport the injured man to Higgins.

On 28 October 2005 AM1 Jerry Lego from VQ-1 successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver on a medical operations flight commander who was choking in the mess hall. He received a certificate of appreciation, a 379th Expeditionary Group coin from the victim and a 379th AEW coin from Col. Ted Kresge, the AEW CO.

On 28 September 2005 San Jacinto (CG 56) received a call for assistance from the Spanish navy ship Alvaro de Bazan (F 101). Bazan had a sailor on board with a life-threatening illness who required immediate medical attention. With no available specialist aboard Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), HSL-44, embarked on San Jacinto, had to conduct a medical evacuation to transport the patient to the nearest shore medical facility. HSL-44 maintenance crew promptly prepared Magnum 446 for flight and flew to the Spanish frigate to pick up the patient and a corpsman. San Jacinto coordinated with Theodore Roosevelt's staff and arranged for the necessary diplomatic clearance. Once the clearance was received, Magnum 446 proceeded toward the international airport, where an ambulance was waiting to take the patient to a nearby hospital.

Outreach

On 23 October 2005 sailors from Essex (LHD 2) painted the Gordon Heights Elementary School in Olongapo City, Republic of the Philippines, during a community service project.

On 21 October 2005 George Washington (CVN 73) sailors exceeded 20,000 community service hours for the residents of Newport News, Va. The projects included a women's transitional center, three city parks, and two city playgrounds.

In September 2005 sailors and Marines from Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) donated more than $4,000 to the American Red Cross to aid the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

In October 2005 sailors from John C. Stennis (CVN 74) assisted a community in Pearlington, Miss., by removing old refrigerators from the area. The refrigerators had become a health hazard after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast.

RELATED ARTICLE: NAF Photo Contest

The Naval Aviation Foundation (formerly Association of Naval Aviation) photo contest is open to everyone except the staffs of the NAF, Wings of Gold magazine, and Naval Aviation News. The subject matter MUST pertain to Naval Aviation. Submissions can be in black and white or color, slides or prints, or electronic images. Please include the photographer's name and address, and PHOTO CAPTION. For details call 703-960-2490. Mail photos to NAF Photo Contest, 2550 Huntington Ave., Suite 201, Alexandria, VA 22303-1499; or email [e-mail]. Cash Awards: Bimonthly--$100. Annual--First, $350; Second, $250; Third, $150.

Edited By J02 Brandy Fisher