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Chapter 8
History of the Naval Aviator and
Designations and Numbers
e evolution of the programs and policies regarding the designation of naval aviators and naval aviation pilots is
one of confusion, ambiguities, inadequate centralized administration of recordkeeping, and inconsistencies in the
implementation of a new and young aviation organization into the Navy. During the early period, divergent views
on aviation within the Navy and the onset of WWI brought a great inux of new people, programs, policies, aircra,
and air stations into the edgling naval aviation community. When the United States entered WWI, naval aviation
consisted of one operating air station, 48 aviators and student aviators, and 54 aircra on hand. It was ill-equipped to
handle the huge growth precipitated by the United States’ entry into the war.
Background on the Evolution of Naval Aviators
e Navy’s aviation program had an aviator before it acquired its rst aircra. Lt. eodore G. Ellyson was ordered
to training in December 1910 at the Glenn Curtiss aviation camp in San Diego, Calif. e Navy received its rst
aircra from the Curtiss Company the following July. Flight instruction at that time was informal and remained so
during the next couple of years.
Ellyson, a student pilot, became a pilot when Glenn H. Curtiss agreed he could y airplanes. Subsequently,
Ellyson taught John H. Towers, another student pilot, to y. In addition to ying, however, students also had to
become totally familiar with the mechanics of their machines and to be able to repair and rebuild aircra. Formality
arrived when Capt. Washington I. Chambers, the Navy’s rst Director of Naval Aeronautics, declared that the
requirements for becoming a Navy pilot were to follow the same rules employed by the Aero Club of America (the
American chapter of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale). Prior to the Navy establishing these standards,
some Navy yers held pilot certicates from the Aero Club.
e Naval Appropriations Act for scal year 1914 formally recognized ocers assigned to the “aviation
element” of the Navy and who qualied as pilots for their duty as yers on 4 March 1913. e act provided an
increase of 35 percent in pay and allowances for ocers detailed to duty as yers of heavier-than-air cra. On 10
April 1913 Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels approved performance standards for qualication and the
issuance of a certicate as a “Navy Air Pilot” to qualied ocers.
Capt. Chambers had requested the certicate in a leer to the Chief of Bureau of Navigation (BuNav) on 4
April 1913, which stated, “e requirements for a Navy Air Pilot are dierent from those of the land pilot and are
purposely made more exacting than those of the ‘license’ issued by the International Aeronautical Federation.” To
receive a Navy Air Pilot certicate ocers had to pass an advanced training course and become highly skilled as
yers or pass an examination by a board of qualied ocers. e Bureau of Navigation was responsible for issuing
the certicates, however, because of administrative problems the issuance was subject to a delay of almost two years
from the date that Secretary Daniels approved issuing a Navy Air Pilot certicate.
Although performance standards for qualication as Navy Air Pilots were established in April 1913, it was not
until a year later (22 April 1914) that the Bureau of Navigation, which was responsible for all Navy training, approved
a course of instruction for student yers and aviation mechanics, because of delays by the bureau in establishing
aviation programs and policies. On 9 January 1915 Rear Adm. Bradley A. Fiske, Aide for Operations and a member
of the Joint Board, pointed out to the Bureau of Navigation that unless they recognized some ocers as qualied and
awarded them certicates, no board of experts could be appointed to examine the qualications of new applicants.
He recommended that Navy Air Pilot certicates be issued to eodore G. Ellyson, John H. Towers, Henry C.
Mustin, Patrick N. L. Bellinger, Victor D. Herbster, Bernard L. Smith, and Godfrey de C. Chevalier, and that they
be numbered 1 through 7 and dated sequentially, one per month, from 1 January 1914 for Ellyson to 1 July 1914 for
Chevalier.
e Bureau of Navigation followed up on Rear Adm. Fiske’s recommendation and, in accordance with what the
Secretary of the Navy had approved almost two years before, sent out leers on 21 January 1915 forwarding Navy Air
Pilot Certicates to these seven ocers, numbering and dating them as the admiral had recommended. e Bureau
of Navigation and NAS Pensacola, Fla., however, continued to follow the procedure of identifying those students
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completing the elementary ight course at Pensacola as “Naval Aviators” to dierentiate them from pilots who had
completed the advanced course of requirements and qualied as Navy Air Pilots.
Before the Bureau of Navigation could continue its follow up work and issue more Navy Air Pilot Certicates,
Congress revised the law on ight pay, and, in a new bill approved 3 March 1915, used the term “Naval Aviator” in
specifying those eligible for ight pay. is bill, the Naval Appropriations Act of scal year 1916, added enlisted
men and student aviators to those eligible for increased pay and allowances while on duty involving ying. It also
increased the amount previously provided for qualied aviators. e language of the act provided “ight pay” only
for “Naval Aviators,” those iers completing the elementary ight course at Pensacola. It did not cover those who had
qualied as the best pilots and received a Navy Air Pilot certicate. Hence, on 22 March 1915, in order to include
those pilots designated Navy Air Pilots, a change was made to the Secretary of the Navy’s performance standards
certicate whereby the designation “Navy Air Pilot” was changed to “Naval Aviator.” is was the beginning of
the primary emphasis being placed on the designation of Naval Aviator. However, the Navy continued to make
references to Navy Air Pilots. In March and April 1915, qualied aviation boards, appointed to give exams at
Pensacola, recommended designation of ve men as follows: Richard C. Sauey for a Naval Aviator Certicate dated
6 March, William M. McIlvain for a Navy Air Pilot Certicate dated 10 March, Clarence K. Bronson for orders
dated 6 April with the designation Navy Air Pilot, Kenneth Whiting and Holden C. Richardson for Naval Aviator
Certicates dated 10 and 12 April. e reason for the dierent use of Naval Aviator and Navy Air Pilot terminology
is not known, but the recommendations were approved with a modication as reported by the Bureau of Navigation
on 25 May 1915, that all ve men had been issued Navy Air Pilot Certicates, numbers 8 through 12. e use of the
Navy Air Pilot Certicate and designation continued even aer the Secretary of the Navy issued his order to change
the designation to Naval Aviator.
Confusion over the issue of Naval Aviator or Navy Air Pilot designations continued within Navy organizations.
On 5 May 1915 the Secretary of the Navy informed Whiting: “You are hereby designated as a Naval Aviator for
duty involving ying in aircra, including balloons, dirigibles and airplanes, in accordance with an Act of Congress
approved March 3, 1915.” e conict or confusion seems to be in terminology. It was the opinion at that time that
an ocial statement from the Bureau of Navigation was legally necessary for an individual on ying duty (necessary
only in the sense of receiving extra pay while assigned to a job involving actual ying in an aircra) and that the
“Certicates” were only evidence of qualication as an aviator. us, on 21 May 1915, the Secretary of the Navy
signed a circular leer directing that commanding ocers “issue orders detailing ocers of the Navy and Marine
Corps to Duty as Naval Aviators or Student Naval Aviators when they are required to actually y or operate these
machines.” erefore, regardless of the title on the “Certicates,” these orders used the title associated with the Naval
Appropriations Act, scal year 1916.
In January 1916 the Bureau of Navigation issued its “Course of Instructions and Required Qualications
of Personnel for the Air Service of the Navy.” is syllabus mentions 11 classications for personnel assigned to
aeronautic duty. For ocers they include: Student Naval Aviator; Naval Aviator; Navy Air Pilot, aeroplane; Navy Air
Pilot, dirigible; and Military Aviator. e remaining groups were for enlisted personnel classications. One of the
major reasons for the confusion regarding designations was the existence of several dierent organizations within
the Navy that were making policy decisions on naval aviation without adequately coordinating terminology or
standardizing applications. Terminology was used for dierent purposes, such as identifying an individual qualied
to pilot an aircra and, for pay purposes, identifying an individual involved in ight but not necessarily as the pilot.
On 1 May 1917 a new course of instruction was presented as a revision without specifying what it revised,
although it must have taken the place of the course dated January 1916. e new course stated that ocers detailed
to aeronautic duty would be classed as Student Naval Aviator, Naval Aviator, and Navy Air Pilot, either for seaplanes
or dirigibles. Completion of the course of instruction for Student Naval Aviator (seaplane) qualied the student
for advancement to elementary and solo ying. Upon completion of that stage the student took the exam for Naval
Aviator (seaplane) and was then eligible for what appears to be the advanced course. For this course the instruction
stated: “Upon successful completion of the examination the Naval Aviator (seaplane) will be designated Navy Air
Pilot (seaplane) and issued a certicate numbered according to his standing in the class with which he qualied as
a Navy Air Pilot (seaplane).” A revision to the May 1917 course of instruction was issued 1 January 1918, and the
term Navy Air Pilot was not mentioned. In this revision, ocers and men detailed for pilot duty were classed as
student Naval Aviators and Naval Aviators, seaplane or dirigible. By this time the United States was fully engaged
in WWI, the naval aviation training program had expanded, and the question of title nally seemed to be seled. It
took almost three years, from 22 March 1915, when the SecNav order was issued to change Navy Air Pilot to Naval
Aviator, to January 1918, before the terminology Navy Air Pilot was dropped from instructions issued by the Navy.
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Designation List of Naval Aviators
Confusion in the designation list of naval aviators seems to have been tied with the precedence for the designation
date of a naval aviator and its connection with the adoption of the gold wings insignia (naval aviator wings). A 13
November 1917 Bureau of Navigation leer states, “e Bureau is now compiling a list of all ocers and men who
are qualied as Naval Aviators, in order that new pins may be delivered as shortly aer they are received from the
manufacturers as possible.” is is followed by a Bureau of Navigation report to Pensacola, Fla., stating, “e new
Naval Aviator’s pins have been delivered to the Bureau of Navigation and they will be sent out as soon as they can
be engraved to show the Aviator’s number, his name and branch of service.” (See Chapter 9 for an explanation of the
design and evolution of Naval Aviator Wings.)
ere is some question as to whether BUNAV produced a list of naval aviators at this time. However, the
CNO’s Aviation Oce had a listing of 282 numbers that was forwarded to BUNAV under a leer dated 19 January
1918 with the following:
1. Enclosure (a) is a list of qualied Naval Aviators given in numerical sequence.
2. is list was compiled aer careful examination of all the records of this oce and numbers
assigned according to the date of qualication as Naval Aviator in all cases where such date is
shown by the records; but due to the fact that those ocers of the regular service who were the
rst to enter aviation were not required to take a Naval Aviator’s test but were merely designated
‘Naval Aviator’ or ‘Navy Air Pilot’ because of their recognized qualication as such, the numbers
assigned in such cases were determined by the date upon which they were ordered to aviation
duty and the length of such duty, full consideration being given each and every individual case so
aected.
3. Additions to the aached list will be forwarded to the Bureau from time to time and as rapidly as
the students now under instruction pass the necessary test for qualication as Naval Aviators.
e following list, except for the omission of fractional numbers and the dierences in two names, is accepted as the
precedence list of early naval aviators.
Naval Aviator Number
(Navy Air Pilot Number) Name Service
1 (1) Ellyson, Theodore G. USN
2 Rodgers, John USN
3 (2) Towers, John H. USN
4 (5) Herbster, Victor D. USN
5 (14) Cunningham, Alfred A. USMC
6 (6) Smith, Bernard L. USMC
7 (7) Chevalier, Godfrey de C. USN
8 (4) Bellinger, Patrick N. L. USN
9 Billingsley, William D. USN
10 Murray, James M. USN
11 (3) Mustin, Henry C. USN
12 (9) McIlvain, William M. USMC
13 (12) Richardson, Holden C. USN
14 (8) Sauey, Richard C. USN
15 (10) Bronson, Clarence K. USN
16 (11) Whiting, Kenneth USN
17 (13) Maxeld, Louis H. USN
18 McDonnell, Edward O. USN
19 Capehart, Wadleigh USN
20 Spencer, Earl W., Jr. USN
21 Bartlett, Harold T. USN
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Naval Aviator Number Name Service
22 Murray, George D. USN
23 Corry, William M. USN
24 Read, Albert C. USN
25 Johnson, Earle F. USN
26 Evans, Francis T. USMC
27 Paunack, Robert R. USN
28 Scoeld, Harold W. USN
29 Child, Warren G. USN
30 Dichman, Grattan C. USN
31 Young, Robert T. USN
32 Gillespie, George S. USN
33 Mitscher, Marc A. USN
34 Strickland, Glenn B. USN
35 Monfort, James C. USN
36 Cabaniss, Robert W. USN
37 Chase, Nathan B. USN
38 Stone, Elmer F. USCG
39 McKitterick, Edward H. USN
40 Leighton, Bruce G. USN
41 Grifn, Virgil C. USN
42 Cecil, Henry B. USN
43 Sugden, Charles E. USCG
44 Bressman, Augustus A. USN
45 Ramsey, DeWitt C. USN
46 Hull, Carl T. USN
47 Peyton, Paul J. USN
48 Kirkpatrick, Robert D. USN
49 Geiger, Roy S. USMC
50 Bonner, Walter D. USN
51 Murphy, Thomas H. USN
52 Mason, Charles P. USN
52 ½ Salsman, James USN
53 Simpson, Frank, Jr. National Naval Volunteer (NNV)
54 Donahue, Robert USCG
55 Brewster, David L. S. USMC
55 ½ Sunderman, John T. USN
56 Barin, Louis T. NNV
57 Parker, Stanley V. USCG
58 Masek, William USN
59 Cofn, Eugene A. USCG
60 Eaton, Phillip B. USCG
61 Enos, George USN
62 Varini, Giochino USN
63 Hawkins, Clarence A.
USN
64 Ruttan, Charles E. USN
65 Gates, Artemus L. U.S. Naval Reserve Force (USNRF)
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Naval Aviator Number Name Service
65 ½ Laud-Brown, Wellesley USNRF
66 Lovett, Robert A. USNRF
67 Ames, Allan W. USNRF
68 Gould, Erl C. B. USNRF
69 Walker, Guy A. USN
70 Kilmer, Oliver P. USN
71 Talbot, Peter USN
72 Davison, Henry P. USNRF
73 Vorys, John M. USNRF
74 MacLeish, Kenneth A. USNRF
75 Beach, Charles F. USNRF
76 Farwell, John D. USNRF
77 Sturtevant, Albert D. USNRF
78 Read, Russell B. USNRF
79 Brush, Graham M. USNRF
80 James, Oliver B. USNRF
81 Rockefeller, William USNRF
82 McIlwaine, Archibald G. USNRF
83 Read, Curtis S. USNRF
83 ½ Gartz, Richard C. USNRF
84 Ireland, Robert L. USNRF
85 Ingalls, David S. USNRF
86 Walker, Samuel S. USNRF
87 Smith, Kenneth R. USNRF
88 Lynch, Francis R. V. USNRF
89 Lawrence, George F. USNRF
89 ½ Merrill, Norman E. NNV
90 McLaughlin, Guy USN
91 McCrary, Frank R. USN
92 Coombe, Reginald G. USNRF
93 Landon, Henry H., Jr. USNRF
94 Culbert, Frederic P. USN
95 Feher, Anthony USN
95a Fitzsimon, Ricardo Argentine Navy
95b Pouchan, Ceferino M. Argentine Navy
95c Zar, Marcos A. Argentine Navy
96 Coil, Emory W. USN
96 ½ Chamberlain, Edmund G. USMC
97 Strader, Ralph M. USNRF
98 Talbot, Andrew B. USNRF
99 Whitehouse, William P. USNRF
100 Crompton, George USNRF
100 ½ Pennoyer, Ralph G. USN
100 ¾ Presley, Russell A.
USMC
101 Hamlen, Warner USNRF
102 Little, Charles G. USNRF
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Naval Aviator Number Name Service
103 Brewer, Arthur D. USNRF
104 Delano, Merrill P. USNRF
104 ½ Kiely, Ralph USN
105 Lansdowne, Zachary USN
105 ½ Douglas, Gilbert W. USNRF
106 Bell, Colley W. USNRF
107 Chadwick, Noel USNRF
108 Ditman, Albert J. USNRF
109 Donnelly, Thorne NNV
110 Carter, R. C. USNRF
110 ½ Allen, Charles L. USN
111 Stone, George W. USN
111 ½ Bradford, Doyle USNRF
112 Atwater, William B. USNRF
112 ½ Webster, Clifford L. USNRF
113 Fallon, Nugent USNRF
114 Williams, Arthur S. USNRF
115 Dietrich, Arthur F. USN
116 Palmer, Carlton D. USN
117 Murray, Cecil D. USNRF
118 Taylor, Moseley USNRF
119 Townsend, Richard S. USNRF
120 Walton, Mark W. USNRF
121 Depew, Ganson G. USNRF
122 Goodyear, Frank USNRF
123 McCormick, Alexander A. USNRF
124 Schieffelin, John J. USNRF
125 Rodman, Thomas C. USNRF
126 Smith, Edward T. USNRF
127 Otis, James S. USNRF
128 Hawkins, Ashton W. USNRF
129 Lufkin, Chauncey F. USNRF
130 Potter, Stephen USNRF
131 Fuller, Percival S. USNRF
132 Decernea, Edward USNRF
133 Ott, George A. USN
134 Geary, John W. USNRF
134 ½ Wetherald, Royal W. USNRF
135 Hinton, Walter USN
136 Willcox, Westmore USNRF
137 Lee, Benjamin, II USNRF
138 Stone, Emory A. USNRF
139 Fuller, Charles F. USNRF
140 Hutchins, Hurd
USNRF
141 Stocker, Robert M. USNRF
142 Foster, John C. USNRF
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Naval Aviator Number Name Service
143 Allen, Frederic S. USNRF
144 Amory, Francis I. USNRF
145 Read, Duncan H. USNRF
146 Goldthwaite, Duval R. USNRF
147 McCann, Richard H. USNRF
148 Wright, Arthur H. USNRF
149 Swift, Henry USNRF
150 Butler, Stuart M. USNRF
151 Gordon, Harry B. USNRF
152 Zunino, Frank A. USNRF
153 Shea, Edward L. USNRF
154 Forrestal, James V. USNRF
155 Brackenridge, Gavin USNRF
156 Gibson, Harold F. USNRF
157 Mudge, William F. USNRF
158 Clarkson, William F. USNRF
159 McCoid, Paul H. USNRF
160 Halstead, Jacob S. USNRF
161 Randolph, Robert D. USNRF
162 Matter, Robert USNRF
163 Warburton, William J. USNRF
163 ½ Peterson, Herman A. NNV
164 Rutherford, John NNV
165 Laughlin, George M., III NNV
166 Evans, George B. NNV
167 Johnson, Albert R. NNV
168 McCulloch, David H. USNRF
169 Peirce, Thomas J. H. NNV
170 Page, Phillips W. USNRF
171 Shaw, George W. USNRF
172 Peck, Lyman S. USNRF
173 Humphreys, William Y., Jr. NNV
174 Berger, Frederick, G. B. NNV
175 Boyd, Theodore P. NNV
175 ½ Alexander, William H. USN
176 White, Lawrence G. NNV
177 Coddington, Dave H. NNV
178 Kerr, Robert H. USN
179 Whitted, James A. USN
180 Haskell, Armory L. USNRF
181 Hyde, Russell N. USNRF
182 Keyes, Kenneth B. USNRF
183 Warren, Alfred K. USNRF
184 Eaton, Joseph A.
USNRF
185 Peterson, William L. USNRF
186 Stanley, Henry T. USNRF
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Naval Aviator Number Name Service
187 Remey, John T. USNRF
188 Palmedo, Roland USNRF
189 Forbes, Duncan P. USNRF
190 Allen, Francis G. USNRF
191 Baker, Charles S. USNRF
192 Greenough, Charles W. USNRF
193 Ames, Charles B. USNRF
194 Hofer, Myron A. USNRF
195 Ives, Paul F. USNRF
196 Clark, Robert F. USNRF
197 Brewer, Edward S. USNRF
198 Dumas, Gardner D. USNRF
199 McNamara, John F. USNRF
200 Rowen, Harold J. USNRF
201 Compo, George L. USNRF
202 Perrin, John USNRF
203 Hutchinson, Lester B. USNRF
204 MacCaulay, Donald M. USNRF
205 Lochman, Dean E. USNRF
206 Moore, Lloyd Ray USN
207 Thomas, Reginald de Noyes USNRF
208 Clements, James R. USNRF
209 Schermerhorn, Horace USNRF
210 Murphy, Dudley B. USNRF
210 ½ Grosvenor, Theodore P. USNRF
211 Roe, George T. USNRF
212 Teulon, Arthur P. USNRF
213 Marriner, Walter T. USN
214 Pumpelly, Harold A. USNRF
215 Biggers, Robert L. USNRF
216 Farmer, Charles R. USNRF
217 Rumill, George E. USNRF
218 Greeneld, Edwin R. USNRF
219 Weld, Lothrop M. USNRF
220 Phelan, James USNRF
220 ½ West, Wineld M. USNRF
221 Lancto, Joseph W. USNRF
222 Wilcox, Harold M. USNRF
223 Hawkins, Rees USNRF
224 Wenz, Edward A. USNRF
225 Alvord, Donald B. USNRF
226 Baum, James E., Jr. USNRF
227 Smith, Frank S. USNRF
228 Hawkins, Samuel S.
USNRF
229 Clapp, Kenneth H. USNRF
230 Dowell, Benjamin B. USNRF
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Naval Aviator Number Name Service
231 Ostridge, Charles L. USNRF
232 Bergin, Thomas M. USNRF
233 Gadsden, Philip H. USNRF
234 Graves, Justin D. USNRF
235 Connolly, Leo W. USNRF
236 McAdoo, William G., Jr. USNRF
237 Wheeler, Oscar G. USNRF
238 Benjamin, Henry R. USNRF
239 Souther, Arthur F. USNRF
240 Roberts, Charles H. USNRF
241 Harris, Frederick M. USNRF
242 Naylor, Henry R. USNRF
243 Voorhees, Dudley A. USNRF
244 Maxwell, Howard W., Jr. USNRF
245 King, Frederick E. USNRF
246 Lamar, Lamartine E. USNRF
247 Bancroft, Frederick W., Jr. USNRF
248 Griswold, Rettig A. USNRF
249 Chapman, Thomas H. USNRF
250 Frothingham, Philip B. USNRF
e confusion regarding precedence and the assignment of numbers resulted in some qualied individuals
being le o the list of naval aviator numbers. During WWI qualied civilian aviators joined the naval service and
served as naval aviators. ey were qualied pilots who ew as a Navy pilot or naval aviator but did not receive a
naval aviator number or were overlooked in the assignment of a number because of administrative problems during
the huge war build-up.
e Bureau of Navigation (redesignated Bureau of Naval Personnel in 1942) continued to issue naval aviator
numbers and was the sole source until 31 July 1942. In a SECNAV leer dated 31 July 1942, the old method of
designating naval aviators through the assignment of numbers was discontinued. e following system was put in place:
• Commandant, Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla., is directed to commence a series of numbers for
the foregoing designations as Naval Aviator (HTA) Number P1, P2, P3, etc.
• Commandant, Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Fla., is directed to commence a similar series as
Naval Aviator (HTA) Number J1, J2, J3, etc.
• Commandant, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Tex., is directed to commence a similar series as
Naval Aviator (HTA) Number C1, C2, C3, etc.
• Commanding Ocer, Naval Air Station, Miami, Fla., is directed to commence a similar series, as
Naval Aviator (HTA) Number M1, M2, M3, etc.
• Commanding Ocer, Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Va., is directed to commence a similar series, as
Naval Aviator (HTA) Number N1, N2, N3, etc.
• Commanding Ocer, Naval Air Station, Alameda, Calif., is directed to commence a similar series
as Naval Aviator (HTA) Number A1, A2, A3, etc.
• Commanding Ocer, Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, N.J., is directed to commence a similar series
as Naval Aviator Number L1, L2, L3, etc.
• Commanding Ocer, Naval Air Station, Moe Field, Calif., is directed to commence a similar
series as Naval Aviator (LTA) Number S1, S2, S3, etc.
is leer also stated: “e original leer of designation will be delivered directly to the individual without
prior reference to the Navy Department for approval.” Copies of the leer of designation were to be forwarded to
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the Bureau of Personnel; Bureau of Aeronautics; Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps; and Bureau of Medicine and
Surgery (in the case of ight surgeons). Because of the decentralization of this numbering system, a complete listing
of naval aviators and their designation numbers has not been found for the WWII period even though the Bureau of
Personnel was to receive a copy of all the leers of designation.
On 28 November 1942, a Secretary of Navy leer issued a modication to the commands designating Naval
Aviators. Changes in this leer were as follows:
• e Commandant, Naval Air Training Center, Pensacola, Fla., assumed the duties of designating
Naval Aviators vice the Commandant, Naval Air Station, Pensacola. ere is no indication the use
of the numbering series P1, P2, P3, etc., was changed.
• e Commandant, Naval Air Training Center, Corpus Christi, Tex., assumed the duties of
designating Naval Aviators vice the Commandant, Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi. ere is no
indication the use of the numbering series C1, C2, C3, etc., was changed.
• e Commandant, Naval Air Center, Hampton Roads, Va., was directed to assume the duties of
designating Naval Aviators vice the Commanding Ocer, Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Va. ere is
no indication the use of the numbering series N1, N2, N3, etc., was changed.
is system remained in eect until 1949. A Secretary of the Navy leer of 29 March 1949 cancelled its
previous leers regarding designation of Naval Aviators (leers of 31 July 1942, 28 November 1942, and 9 January
1943) and authorized the Commander, Naval Air Training; Commander, Naval Air Advanced Training; and the
Chief of Naval Airship Training and Experimentation to designate Naval Aviators (and assign numbers). By the time
this leer was issued the other training commands had already been disestablished or consolidated under the control
of these three commands. In step with the previous decentralized system, the following system was established:
• Chief of Naval Air Training was directed to commence a series of numbers for the foregoing
designations as Naval Aviators, (HTA), Number T-1, T-2, T-3, etc.
• Chief of Naval Air Advanced Training is directed to commence a series of numbers for the
foregoing designations of Naval Aviators (HTA), Number V-1, V-2, V-3, etc.
• Chief of Naval Airship Training and Experimentation is directed to commence a similar series as
Naval Aviators (LTA) using the L series, carrying on from the last number used in this series by
the Commanding Ocer, Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, N.J.
e Chief of Naval Air Training quit issuing Naval Aviator Numbers sometime in the 1970s. Documentation
has not been located that gives the date or provides reasons why the assignment of Naval Aviator numbers was
discontinued. To date, no complete listing of all Naval Aviator numbers, including the leer-number designations,
has been found. Moreover, it is highly unlikely a complete list exists because of the decentralization of the system
during WWII. Bits and pieces of the listing for Naval Aviator numbers is held by the Naval Aviation History
Oce. However, the WWII and post-war period list is not organized in any alphabetical or chronological order,
consequently, it is extremely dicult to nd any individual’s number.
Background on the Evolution of Naval Aviation Pilots
e evolution of the Naval Aviation Pilot designation for enlisted men is more complicated because of the lack of a
clear Navy policy regarding enlisted pilots during naval aviation’s rst decade and the misconceptions surrounding
the terminology regarding designations used for enlisted pilots. By seing the standards for qualication and
certication of ocers as Naval Aviators in the early phase of naval aviation, a stable policy was put into eect. e
failure to establish a clear-cut policy regarding programs for training enlisted pilots caused considerable confusion
that aected the enlisted pilot program during its entire existence.
e confusion begins with terminology and how it was applied to those people “involved in actual ight.”
Enlisted men had been undergoing aeronautic training from the time the aeronautic station was established at
Pensacola, Fla., in January 1914. Training for enlisted men can even be traced back to the rst aeronautic station at
Greenbury Point, Md. However, more publicity for enlisted aeronautic training and its resultant positions developed
in March 1915, when a law was passed by Congress that extended increased pay and allowances to enlisted men and
student aviators, as well as qualied pilots, while on duty involving ight. Prior to the passage of this law, Congress
had authorized special pay only for ocers detailed to duty as yers. e allure of ight, more pay and the continued
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development of the small aviation section of the Navy brought about a greater interest by enlisted personnel in the
naval aeronautic eld. It was only natural that some enlisted men, aside from their regular duties of maintaining the
cra and ying as crewmembers, developed an interest in piloting aircra.
ere is some confusion surrounding the rst training of enlisted men as pilots. References are made to the
beginning of pilot training at NAS Pensacola, Fla., for the rst group of enlisted men on 6 January 1916.
In a leer to Lt. Cmdr. Henry C. Mustin, Commandant, NAS Pensacola, Fla., dated 4 January 1916, Capt.
Mark L. Bristol, Director of Naval Aeronautics, states,
In an order issued the other day, we organized a class of men for training as aviators, specifying
men of the seamen’s branch. It may happen that the machinists at the present time are best ed
for this training, but we can not establish such a precedent. It would lead to all kinds of future
complications, so start square on this subject.
In his 10 January 1916 response to Bristol’s leer, Mustin wrote,
As regards the distinction between Naval Aviator and Navy Air Pilot, I think that the term Naval
Aviator, in view of the term Military Aviator used in the Army, is not altogether suitable for our
enlisted men; also in view of the present wording of the law there may be some complications.
However, I think we have the sense of what you desire in this line of work regardless of titles and
that is a maer that can be straightened out later. In the meantime, we are going ahead with the
rst class of enlisted men and they are taking hold of the ying part of it very well.
From these two leers we can be fairly certain the rst pilot training class for enlisted men began in January
1916 at NAS Pensacola, Fla. e question regarding the designation of an enlisted pilot appears to have been le up
in the air. Mustin does make a reference to using the old title “Navy Air Pilot” that had been used for ocers prior to
March 1913. However, Bristol le his position as Director of Naval Aeronautics in March 1916 before a decision was
made on the subject.
e Bureau of Navigation’s January 1916 “Course of Instruction . . .” mentioned above, identies enlisted
categories of Student Airman; Airman; Quartermaster, aeroplane; Quartermaster, dirigible; and Machinist,
aeronautic. Just like the designations involving Naval Aviator, the Navy had two organizations (the Bureau of
Navigation and the CNO’s Director of Naval Aeronautics) that were dealing with aviation training and issuing
directives that sometimes had conicting uses for designations. e Bureau of Navigation’s January 1916 “Course of
Instructions and Required Qualications of Personnel for the Air Service of the Navy” also set up a “Certicate of
Qualication for Airman.”
us, in 1916, NAS Pensacola, Fla., began issuing “Certicates of Qualication as Airman” to enlisted
personnel meeting the requirements set up by the Bureau of Navigation. From a handwrien logbook maintained
at Pensacola, the certicates were numbered, beginning with 1 and ending at 358. e Number 1 Certicate of
Qualication as Airman was issued to CMM Harry E. Adams on 15 December 1916, with a course completion date
of 27 November 1916. is airman certicate should not be confused with the enlisted qualications for a pilot;
there is no connection between the two designations. A note in the logbook indicates the issuance of a Certicate of
Qualication from the Aeronautic School at Pensacola for Airman was discontinued on 1 October 1917. It is believed
Pensacola discontinued the enlisted certicate program because of the changes in the “Course of Instructions,” the
addition of other training stations, and the inux of a large number of enlisted men during WWI. However, the name
Airman continued to be applied to enlisted personnel in the aviation eld. Needless to say, there were other qualied
enlisted men in naval aeronautics who preceded the establishment of this list of designated “Airman.”
e forgoing discussion about “Airman” is provided here to clarify the fact that “Airmen” were not being
dened as enlisted pilots. However, some enlisted men who received “Certicates” as Airman did become qualied
pilots, and this is where the confusion begins. e rst ocial class of enlisted men to undergo pilot training in
January 1916 included:
P. J. Dunleavy, CBM F. Grompe, CMAA A. A. Bressman, CTC
L. A. Welty, CTC A. Hayes, CTC A. P. Bauer, GM1c
J. Makolin, 1stSgt, USMC W. E. McCaughtry, GunSgt, USMC A. F. Dietrich, BM2c.
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e last man to join this class was Walter D. Bonner, BM2c, and he appears on the 1 March 1916 Flying School’s
list of Enlisted Personnel undergoing Flying Instruction.
Capt. Mark Bristol, Director of Naval Aeronautics, sent a memo to the Secretary of the Navy on 4 March 1916,
which stated, “On the 1st of January, 1916, a class of 10 enlisted men was formed and placed under instruction in
ying. ese men were selected from the bluejackets and marines already on duty at the station or on board North
Carolina. ese men are making excellent progress. ere will be a class of them ordered every three months
hereaer.” Records do not indicate any succeeding classes of enlisted pilot training groups every three months as
indicated by Bristol’s leer. e next reference to a class of enlisted men undergoing ight training at NAS Pensacola
is 15 May 1916, in a “Semi-Monthly Report of Aviators (Enlisted Personnel).” is lists the following personnel
undergoing training as aviators:
A. A. Bressman L. A. Welty A. Hayes
A. F. Dietrich W. D. Bonner J. Makolin
W. E. McCaughtry C. L. Allen J. Sunderman
W. Diercks J. Salsman A. Ward
T. H. Murphy G. Verini
In the fall of 1917 several changes were implemented in the pilot training program that aected enlisted
personnel. In a CNO leer to the Commandant, Pensacola Aeronautic Station, Fla., dated 8 August 1917, paragraph 2
states “It is desired to train no more enlisted personnel as pilots. Excellent Ocer material in enlisted personnel will
be treated in accordance with reference (c).” Reference (c) was the Bureau of Navigation’s circular leer #9879-495,
of 2 August 1917. In a leer from the Commandant, NAS Pensacola, Fla., dated 30 November 1917, to the Bureau of
Navigation, clarication was requested regarding aviation designations for 10 enlisted personnel who had qualied and
were given orders as Quartermaster Seaplane. is designation identied these personnel as qualied enlisted pilots.
e leer goes on to ask whether new orders should be issued to these men designating them as Naval Aviators.
e ten men were:
CBM A. F. Dietrick CQM J. T. Sunderman CGM G. Enos
QM2c(A) John H. Bunt QM2c(A) James A. Whied CTC A. Feher
CE Carlton D. Palmer QM2c George W. Stone CBM Robert H. Kerr
QM2c(A) C. A. Suber
e Bureau of Navigation’s response, dated 8 December 1917, states, “Men mentioned in this enclosure (the
enclosure was a copy of NAS Pensacola’s 30 November 1917 leer listing the 10 men) will have their designations
changed to Naval Aviators, but no new orders are necessary.” e second paragraph of this leer indicated a new
policy was being issued with regard to enlisted pilots, it stated, “In separate correspondence, instructions are being
issued concerning future designations as Naval Aviators for enlisted men who qualify for pilot duty, and new blanks
(Navigation Form N. Nav. 442, October 1917) are being sent out on which reports should be made in the future.”
It appears the Bureau of Navigation, in its Aviation Circular dated 1 January 1913, set up the policy that
identied the course of ight training instruction and the passing of ight tests for ocers, and later on applied it to
enlisted men who could qualify for pilot duty. However, it also appears that the Bureau of Navigation did not make
any modications in its circulars to reect the changes that occurred in pilot designations between 1913 and 1915,
such as Navy Air Pilot and Naval Aviator and the appropriate references to enlisted men who became pilots. All ten
enlisted men referenced in NAS Pensacola’s 30 November 1917 leer were eventually commissioned. However,
several of them maintained their enlisted pilot status for more than a year before receiving their commission.
In the laer part of 1917, as a result of the great need to increase the number of aviation personnel, the
Navy instituted a policy of taking enlisted men for pilot training and then qualifying them for a commission and
designation as a Naval Aviator. Many of the regular enlisted men who could qualify for the pilot training program
would be discharged from the regular Navy and enrolled in the Naval Reserve for training and commission in the
Naval Reserve Flying Corps. e majority of the personnel entering naval aviation service during the war came from
the civilian community and joined the Naval Reserve for duty with the Naval Reserve Flying Corps. Needless to say,
there were exceptions to these policies during WWI. is was particularly true for enlisted personnel who received
pilot training in Europe.
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On 5 June 1917, the Navy’s First Aeronautic Detachment, and the rst U.S. military unit sent to Europe in
WWI, arrived at Pauillac, France. e second section of the detachment arrived on 8 June at St. Nazaire, France. e
First Aeronautic Detachment was commanded by Lt. Kenneth Whiting and consisted of 7 ocers and 122 enlisted
men. Only four of the ocers were pilots, two were supply ocers, and one a doctor. e majority of the enlisted
personnel were students in the aviation eld. Aer a meeting between American and French ocers, the French
agreed to train the detachment’s personnel. Approximately 50 enlisted men were to be trained as seaplane pilots at
Tours while another 50 would be trained as “mechanicians” at St. Raphael.
On 22 June 1917, preliminary ight training for the enlisted men began in Caudron aircra under French
instructors at the École d’Aviation Militaire at Tours. One of the French procedures for ight training was to teach
their pilots land ying rst, hence, Lt. Whiting had to deal with the French Army, as well as with the Navy. Changes
were made to the ight training plans and 14 of the enlisted men were redirected to ll the requirement for observer
training. Under French training, an observer was a prototype of aircrewmen whose duties involved observing, acting
as bombardier, and handling such armament as existed on the plane. On 7 July 1917, Lt. Whiting reported that 50
persons were undergoing pilot instruction at Tours, with 38 taking machinist and 14 observer training at St. Raphael.
e French required a ratio of 10 enlisted men for each pilot under its aviation program. Consequently, the
American Navy representative in France, along with Lt. Whiting, requested an increase in personnel for aviation
training in France. e Navy Department again found itself divided, some wanted to continue sending men to
France for aviation training, while others wanted to conduct the training in the United States and have some nal,
on-site training conducted in France. By the early summer months of 1918 many of the problems of training,
organization, and movement of aviation personnel abroad had begun to be solved. However, all aviation training
maers were not smoothed out prior to the signing of the Armistice.
e policy regarding the enlisted pilots that were trained in Europe, either in France, Britain, or Italy, generally
followed the same procedures adhered to in the United States at the end of 1917. Many of the enlisted pilots would
receive commissions once they had completed ight training and been certied as pilots. ey did not, however,
always receive their commissions immediately aer pilot qualication. Some ew many patrol missions before the
administrative system authorized their commissioning in the Naval Reserve Flying Corps. When the Armistice
was signed, the total strength of the U.S. Naval Aviation Force, Foreign Service (those serving overseas) was 1,147
ocers and 18,308 enlisted men. e majority of them were assigned to air stations in France, followed by those in
England, Ireland, and Italy.
With the end of WWI, naval aviation, along with other elements of the Navy, underwent a major demobilization
that drastically reduced its size. Some of the ocers and enlisted men on active duty in the Naval Reserve were
oered a chance to convert to a regular status in the Navy. In some cases, enlisted men who had received their
commissions following their completion of pilot training reverted to an enlisted status. is, of course, presented a
problem for the Navy since they no longer had a program for enlisted personnel with pilot designations.
Following the massive demobilization, naval aviation again experienced the problems of maintaining an
adequate supply of qualied aviation personnel, both enlisted men and ocers. In 1919, various aviation issues
were discussed by the Navy’s General Board; the Commander in Chief Atlantic Fleet, Admiral H. T. Mayo; and
various oces of the Chief of Naval Operations and the bureaus. On 23 June 1919, the General Board forwarded its
nal recommendations on aviation policy to the Secretary of the Navy, via the Chief of Naval Operations. One of
those recommendations was “as many enlisted men as possible should be trained and used as pilots.” Capt. omas
T. Craven, the Director of Naval Aviation, submied his comments on the General Board’s recommendations
on 17 July 1919. He stated, “It is believed that a limited number of enlisted men should be trained as pilots.” On
24 July 1919, the Secretary of the Navy added his endorsement on the board’s recommendations. However, his
comments on personnel were very brief, stating, “Study will be made with regard to Aviation personnel.” While these
developments were important, they were eventually superseded by other events that occurred in 1919 between NAS
Pensacola, Fla., other naval aviation organizations in the eet, the CNO, and the Bureau of Navigation. ese events
set in motion the eventual establishment of the designation Naval Aviation Pilot (enlisted pilots).
During 1919, signicant correspondence took place between the Commandant, NAS Pensacola, Fla., and
various upper echelon commands regarding ight training and designations for aviation personnel. In a 12 February
1919 leer from the Commandant to the Supervisor Naval Reserve Flying Corps (a CNO oce), a request was
made to continue ight training and give Naval Aviator designations to four enlisted men. ese four—CBM(A)
Edwin Nirmaier, CQM(A) George R. Groh, CMM(GE) Lamont C. Fisher, and CQM(A) Percy M. Fuller—all had
had foreign duty and had either qualied as pilots on active service or were undergoing pilot training when the war
ended. None wanted to be discharged from the regular Navy and reenrolled with a commission in the Reserves.
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e Bureau of Navigation returned the request on 31 March 1919 recommending reconsideration and further
recommendation for the four enlisted men.
A 17 April 1919 leer from CNO (Aviation) to a wide range of commands, reconsidered the position on
training of enlisted personnel and stated,
1. It has been decided to consider the ight training, or continuance of the interrupted ight
training, of enlisted ratings of the regular service who, in addition to being unquestionable ocer
material, can successfully meet the following requirements: (a) at had been regularly enlisted
in the Navy, and obtained the rating of second class pey ocer prior to April 6, 1917, or that
enlisted for Aviation duty only, in accordance with Enclosure (a).
However, the leer also indicated that these men would be commissioned in the Naval Reserve Force and
retained on active duty until the issue of transferring Naval Reserve ocers to the regular Navy had been denitely
decided.
A Bureau of Navigation leer of 18 June 1919 modied BuNav’s Circular Leer No. 57-19 and authorized
the enlisted pilot training policy as stated in the CNO’s leer of 17 April 1919. is BuNav circular leer was
instrumental in seing in motion the third class of enlisted men authorized for pilot training at NAS Pensacola, Fla.
A 20 August 1919 leer from the Bureau of Navigation to the Commandants of All Naval Districts, All Naval Air
Stations and Aviation Detachments, set forth the requirements for training of enlisted pilots. e leer indicated
that enlisted men would be designated Naval Aviators upon successfully completing the course. However, it made no
references to a requirement for commissioning in the Naval Reserves.
is omission resulted in a leer from the Commanding Ocer of NAS Pensacola, Fla., dated 15 September
1919, requesting Naval Aviator Appointments for warrant ocers. e leer made a reference to Bureau of
Navigation’s 20 August leer, stating, “1. Reference (b) species that enlisted men are to be trained as Naval Aviators
and, without commissioning, are to be given Naval Aviator Appointments and Insignia.” In the Bureau’s leer of 22
September 1919, it disapproved designating warrant ocers as Naval Aviators, instead they were to be commissioned
and then designated. However, this leer made no mention of commissioning enlisted pilots as ocers. It did not
take long for NAS Pensacola to send another leer, dated 3 October 1919, questioning the Bureau of Navigation’s
policy on Naval Aviator Appointments for Warrant Ocers. In a 14 October 1919 leer from the Bureau of
Navigation, the policy for training of enlisted and warrant ocer Aviation Pilots was set forth. is leer cancelled
the Bureau of Navigation leer dated 20 August 1919. It stated,
1. In the future it will be the policy of the Bureau to select a certain number of warrant ocers and
enlisted men for ight training and duty as pilots of large heavier-than-air cra and directional
pilots of dirigibles. . . . 3. Warrant ocers and men who are selected in accordance with this leer
will be given the complete course of instruction for qualication as pilot. Upon successfully
completing the course, they will be issued certicates of qualication as ‘Naval Aviation Pilots’
by the Navy Department. Such certicates will entitle the pilots to wear the aviation insignia
authorized for Naval Aviators. Warrant Ocers and men who hold certicates as Naval Aviation
Pilots will, while detailed for duty involving actual ying be entitled to y percent additional pay.
is is the rst ocial reference to the designation “Naval Aviation Pilot” and it set in motion the beginning of
the enlisted pilot program. us, the initial program for Naval Aviation Pilots was done without authorization from
Congress. e Congressional program involving enlisted pilots was not developed until the mid-1920s.
In the October and November 1919 leers from the Bureau of Navigation, the bureau notied appropriate
commands of its intention to detail classes of approximately 25 enlisted men to begin ight training in heavier-than-
air and lighter-than-air. e CNO Daily Aviation News Bulletin for 10 December 1919 stated “A class of twenty-ve
enlisted men has been ordered to Pensacola, Fla., to take the course preliminary to appointment as Naval Aviation
Pilots.” An NAS Pensacola leer of 9 December 1919 to the Bureau of Navigation stated, “is Station can start the
Heavier-than-Air Course of Training for a class of twenty-ve (25) enlisted men on February 1st, 1920.” is was the
third class of enlisted men to undergo ight training at Pensacola, Fla., but the rst class whereby the graduates were
identied as Naval Aviation Pilots and retained their enlisted status.
A 5 February 1920 NAS Pensacola memorandum listed classes undergoing instruction in aviation. Enlisted
Class No. 1 (Heavier-than-Air) has the following personnel listed:
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CMM(A) Floyd Benne CMM(A) Chas P. Brenner CMM(A) Kenneth D. Franklin
CMM(A) Anthony Iannucci CMM(A) Leo C. Sullivan CMM George N. Tibbes
CMM(A) Jacob W. Utley CMM(A) omas P. Wilkinson CMM(A) Francis C. Barb
CMM(G) John W. Green CMM(A) Clarence I. Kessler CMM(A) R. B. Lawrence
CMM(A) Francis E. Ormsbee CMM(A) Eugene T. Rhoads CMM(A) Bert Strand
CMM(A) Harry A. Rossier CMM(A) N. Wayne L. Carleto CCM(A) Chas. I. Ellio
CGM(A) Ralph A. Jury CCM(A) Herbert L. Hoobler CE(G) William B. Livingston
CQM(A) Owen J. O’Connor CGM George N. Strode CEL(A) Clyde O. Switzer
BTSN(A) Lamont C. Fisher CCM(A) Cecil H. Gurley CEL(R) Claude G. Alexander
CGM(A) Henry Brenner CQM(A) William August Clutne CQM Owen J. Darling
CCM(A) Garre H. Gibson BM2c Harvey A. Griesy CEL(R) Arthur E. LaPorte
CGM(A) Cyrus L. Sylvester GM1c(A) W. T. Sweeny CBM Stephen J. Williamson.
e list for students (Lighter-than-Air) included the following enlisted men:
BTSN William L. Buckley MACH William L. Coleman Gunner Ralph T. Bundy
Gunner Willfred H. Smart CMM(A) L. E. Crowl CQM(D) Horace M. Finch
CBM S. R. Soulby CQM(A) G. K. Wilkinson.
A second class of enlisted men began undergoing heavier-than-air pilot training on 1 August 1920 at NAS
Pensacola, Fla., and consisted of 33 enlisted men. A third class of enlisted pilot training was scheduled to begin on 1
March 1921.
Designation List of Early Naval Aviation Pilots (NAPS)
e program for Naval Aviation Pilot designation numbers produced the same type of situation and confusion that
surrounded the numbering of Naval Aviators. e Navy Department, once a policy was decided upon in late 1919 to
designate enlisted men as Naval Aviation Pilots, started issuing certicates of qualication as Naval Aviation Pilots
to some enlisted personnel who had qualied as pilots during WWI. Hence, the precedence list for Naval Aviation
Pilots includes personnel not part of the enlisted class that began training in February 1920. It appears a number
of these enlisted personnel were instructors at NAS Pensacola, Fla., in late 1919 and early 1920. CQM(A) Harold
H. Karr received a leer, dated 9 March 1920, from the Bureau of Navigation that certied him as a qualied pilot
and designated a Naval Aviation Pilot. Naval Aviation Pilot designation numbers were placed on a handwrien
ledger maintained at NAS Pensacola, Fla. Karr is listed with Naval Aviation Pilot number 1 with the date of issue
as 22 January 1920. It is believed the dierence between the 22 January date and the 9 March 1920 date is the time
dierence between the reporting from NAS Pensacola, Fla., to the Bureau of Navigation and its response to Karr.
e enlisted men who were part of the rst two classes to receive training as aviators in 1916 may be considered
the forerunners of the enlisted men who were designated Naval Aviation Pilots. However, because the program
and designation for Naval Aviation Pilots was not established at the time of their training or because most of them
received commissions and designations as Naval Aviators, they are not included in this list of early Naval Aviation
Pilots. Discrepancies in the sources listing Naval Aviation Pilots made it impossible to resolve all the numbering
problems. For this reason, only the rst 69 Naval Aviation Pilots are listed.
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Naval Aviation Pilot Designations
Pilot No. Name Rate Date Designated
1 Karr, Harold H. CQM(A) 1/22/20
2 Lee, Robert E. NM1C(A) 1/22/20
3 Niramaier, Edwin CBM(A) 4/14/20
4 Lovejoy, Francis E. CQM(A) 11/22/20
5 Seiler, Walter L. CQM(A) 1/22/20
6 Woods, Clarence CQM(A) 1/22/20
7 Alexander, Claud G. CE(R) 10/7/20
8 Barb, Francis C. CMM(A) 10/8/20
9 Bennett, Floyd CMM(A) 10/7/20
10 Byrne, Patrick J. CMM(A) 10/8/20
11 Carleton, Wayne L. CBM(A) 10/8/20
12 Cluthe, William A. CQM(A) 10/8/20
13 Darling, Owen M. CQM(A) 10/8/20
14 Elliott, Charles I. CCM(A) 10/7/20
15 Fisher, Lawrence C. CMM(A) 10/7/20
16 Franklin, Kenneth D. CMM(A) 10/7/20
17 Graham, Paul E. CMM(A) 10/8/20
18 Griesy, Harvey A. BM2C 10/8/20
19 Hoobler, Herbert L. CCM(A) 10/8/20
20 Insley, Cecil H. CCM(A) 10/7/20
21 Kesler, C. I. CMM(A) 10/8/20
22 LaPorte, Arthur E. CE(R) 10/7/20
23 Lawrence, K. B. CMM(A) 10/7/20
24 O’Conner, Owen J. CQM(A) 10/7/20
25 Ormsbee, Frank E. CMM(A) 10/8/20
26 Peterson, Allen K. Ch.Ptr.(A) 10/8/20
27 Rhoads, Eugene S. CMM(A) 10/8/20
28 Rossier, Harry A. CMM(A) 10/8/20
29 Stinson, John H. CMM(A) 10/7/20
30 Sullivan, Leo C. CMM(A) 10/7/20
31 Tibbetts, George N. CMM(A) 10/7/20
32 Utley, Jacob W. CMbl(A) 10/7/20
33
Wilkinson, Thomas P. CMM(A) 10/7/20
34 Williamson, S. J. CBM(A) 10/8/20
35 Demshock, John J. CE(G)A 3/8/21
36 Baker, H. T. CMM(A) 3/8/21
37 Buckley, James W. CMM 3/8/21
38 Elmore, William L. CGM 3/8/21
39 Griggs, Herbert B. CE(G) 3/8/21
40 Grobe, C. H. MM1C 3/8/21
41 Gustafson, R. F. MM1C(A) 3/8/21
42 Hill, William F. CMM(A) 3/8/21
43 Jackson, Willard B. CMM(A) 3/8/21
44 Kirkeby, C. D. MM1C(A) 3/8/21
45 Linder, Frank M. CE 3/8/21
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Naval Aviation Pilot Designations
Pilot No. Name Rate Date Designated
46 McPeak, N. B. MM1C 3/8/21
47 Markham, E. L. MM2C 3/8/21
48 Merritt, R. J. GM1C 3/8/21
49 Miller, Joseph H. CMM 3/8/21
50 McLean, M. C. CMM 3/8/21
51 McIntosh, Enoch B. QM1C 3/8/21
52 O’Brien, John J. CMM 3/8/2l
53 Preeg, Felix F. CY 3/8/21
54 Raney, Charles B. CY 3/8/21
55 Rawlings, John E. CMM 3/8/21
56 Stultz, W. L. MM1C 3/8/21
57 Steelman, Charlie CQM(D)* 3/23/21
58 Tobin, Frederick J. CMM(A)* 3/23/21
59 Andrews, Walter J. ACMM 8/15/21
60 Dunn, Stephen AMM1C 8/15/21
61 Frank, Edwin George ACMM 8/15/21
62 Flynn, Elliott J. AMM1C 8/15/21
63 Heinz, Edward A. AMM1C 8/15/21
64 Holdredge, Herman J. ACMM 8/15/21
65 Krueger, Charley E. ACMM 8/15/21
66 Muller, Leo G. AMM1C 8/15/21
67 Smith, Sidney N. ACMM 8/15/21
68 Sylvester, Cyrus L. CGM 8/15/21
69 Harrigan, John J. ACR 8/15/21
* Airship
Enlisted to Warrant Naval Aviator and NFO Program
e CNO issued NavAdmin 031/06 on 19 January 2006 to establish the Active Duty Flying Chief Warrant Ocer
Pilot and Naval Flight Ocer Program. e Navy designed the program to take highly qualied and “hard-
charging” enlisted sailors in paygrades E-5 through E-7 and commission them as chief warrant ocers. When they
completed training as naval aviators or naval ight ocers they would be “winged” and designated naval aviators or
naval ight ocers.
e targeted communities for Warrant Naval Aviator and Naval Flight Ocers included HSC, HSL, VP,
and VQ squadrons, from whom the service sought an initial 30 applicants. Vice Admiral John C. Harvey Jr., Chief
of Naval Personnel, noted that “e CWO program is intended to create ying specialists unencumbered by the
traditional career paths of the unrestricted line community.” e rst group of Aviator Chief Warrant Ocers
commissioned on 1 December 2006, and included ten pilots and four naval ight ocers, four of whom possessed
civilian pilot’s licenses, and seven already served as naval aircrew.
e rst group that completed ight training and “winged” as naval aviators were:
Adams, Michael S., Jr. Chandler, Mahew P. Clements, Joshua A.
Ditamore, Stephen J. Haller, Daniel R. Holland, Kevin R.
Jacobson, Brandon R. Kleparek, Anton K. Miltner, Keith P.
Reyes, Robert
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e rst group that completed ight training and “winged” as naval ight ocers were:
Courtney, Jerry D., Jr. Greteman, Bernard G. Langschied, Jason R.
Riierodt, Joseph A.
In addition, the July 2007 board selected the remaining 10 pilots and six naval ight ocers. ree enlisted
sailors—AW1 Robert Antonucci and AD1 John Fuller assigned to HSL-43, and AW2 John Barile of HSL-45—
commissioned on 1 December 2007, at NAS North Island, Calif. On the 20th of that month, CWO2s Dale Courtney
and Adam Riierodt of VP-30 received their wings as naval ight ocers as two of the initial applicants, at NAS
Jacksonville, Fla. Two German ocers, Lts. 2nd Grade Christian Hegemann and Patrick Leisner, also received naval
ight ocer wings.
General Background on Training
e story of naval aviator training is complex, and involved many changes in the various programs and where
students received their training. Training of naval aviators rst began with the assignment of Lt. eodore G. Ellyson
to the Glenn Curtiss camp at San Diego, Calif., (North Island) in December 1910. He arrived there in January 1911.
is established the Navy policy of using the facilities of private aircra manufacturers to train its aviators, which
was tied to contracts that purchased aircra for the Navy Department. e rst aircra contracts were with Curtiss
Aeroplane Company and the Wright Company. So the early naval aviators were trained at San Diego, Calif., and
Hammondsport, N.Y., used by the Curtiss company; Dayton, Ohio, used by the Wrights; and Marblehead, Mass.,
used by the Burgess Company for training in Wright Company aircra.
With the acquisition of aircra and the training of several naval aviators, the Navy was able to terminate its
dependence on private manufacturers for training. In August 1911 the Navy set up an Engineering Experiment
Station and aviation school at Greenbury Point, Annapolis, Md. During the winter of 1912–1913, the aviation camp
moved to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for its rst exercises with the Fleet. Capt. Washington I. Chambers’ report to the
Chief of the Bureau of Navigation in 1913 identied the following naval aviators:
eodore G. Ellyson John Rodgers John H. Towers
Victor C. Herbster Patrick N. L. Bellinger Bernard L. Smith
Godfrey de C. Chevalier Alfred A. Cunningham William D. Billingsley
Laurance N. McNair Holden C. Richardson Isaac F. Dortch
Henry C. Mustin J. D. Burray
e last seven in this list of naval aviators were Navy-trained.
In accordance with the recommendations from the Board on Naval Aeronautic Service, the aviation school at
Greenbury Point, Md., was moved to Pensacola, Fla. On 20 January 1914 the Greenbury Point aviation unit arrived
at Pensacola to set up a ying school. It consisted of nine ocers, 23 men, seven aircra, portable hangars, and other
equipment.
e training of naval aviators at Pensacola was conducted using the same informal methods that had been
used at Greenbury Point. Students were taught how to y, and instructed in the rudiments of the construction
and maintenance of their planes. Every man was given as much time as necessary to master his ground and ight
instruction. No one washed out.
e Bureau of Navigation issued a formal training syllabus in June 1914, BUNAV Bulletin No. 532. is
syllabus established a one-year course for pilots. Revised in January 1916, the new syllabus, “Courses of Instruction
and Required Qualication of Personnel of the Air Service of the Navy,” outlined courses for Naval Aviation Pilots,
Naval Aviators, Student Airmen, Quartermasters (Aviation), Quartermasters (Deck), and Machinists Mates
(Aviation). During summer 1916, a syllabus was also established for the training of lighter-than-air pilots (dirigible
and balloon). Flight instruction procedures were altered by a constant stream of suggestions from the pioneers at
Pensacola.
In 1916 the Naval Appropriation Act provided for the establishment of a Naval Flying Corps. It also provided
for the establishment of a Naval Reserve Force of six classes, including a Naval Reserve Flying Corps. One of the rst
groups to organize under the corps was the First Yale Group/Unit. Most of the men in this organization received
their training independently of the Navy and were later qualied as Naval Aviators. Training for many of the corps
personnel fell on the shoulders of Pensacola until a training system evolved and was established during WWI.
History of the Naval Aviator and Designations and Numbers
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With the U.S. entry into WWI, numerous changes occurred in the training of naval pilots. Besides the
training in England, France, and Italy, a group of 24 Americans reported at the University of Toronto on 9 July
1917 to begin ight instruction under the Canadian Royal Flying Corps. In the United States, training expanded
from the site at NAS Pensacola, Fla., to include preliminary ight training at Squantum, Mass.; Bay Shore (Long
Island), N.Y.; Miami, Fla.; Key West, Fla.; and San Diego, Calif. By late January 1918, the following air stations
were conducting aviation training: Chatham, Mass.; Montauk, N.Y.; Bay Shore, N.Y.; Rockaway, N.Y.; Cape May,
N.J.; Hampton Roads, Va.; Miami, Fla.; Key West, Fla.; Pensacola, Fla.; and San Diego, Calif. ere were also naval
aviation detachments scaered around the country that were involved in aviation training. ese included MIT
at Cambridge, Mass.; Great Lakes Training Station, Ill.; Goodyear at Akron, Ohio; Curtiss Aeroplane at Bualo,
N.Y.; Aeromarine Company at Keyport, Mass.; the Naval Aircra Factory at Philadelphia, Pa.; Packard Motor Car
Company in Detroit, Mich.; Delco Ignition Laboratories in Dayton, Ohio; Lincoln Motor Company in Detroit,
Mich.; and Savage Arms Corporation in Utica, N.Y. With the end of WWI, most of these stations ended their
aviation training programs and NAS Pensacola, Fla., again became the primary training location.
With the beginning of WWII the training of Naval Aviators again became decentralized and expanded across
the country, just as it had done during WWI. Following the end of WWII, the dierent phases of training for Naval
Aviators continued to be conducted at several dierent air stations. at situation continues to exist today.
Number of Naval Aviators Designated (Trained)
Obviously, the variances in the naval aviator training program and its decentralization as described above make it
very dicult to provide an infallible number for the output of naval aviators since 1911. Personnel trained by the
Navy are designated naval aviators, whether they serve in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard. e list
below also includes foreign personnel trained by the U.S. Navy Department as naval aviators, as well as a few U.S.
military and civilian personnel from other federal agencies. In some cases these special groups were included in
the number count, but in other cases they were not. It is extremely dicult to identify the years in which special
groups were included and the years in which they were not. Hence, the following list identifying the number of
naval aviators trained (and ocially designated as naval aviators) is the best available. e numbers for the more
recent years are by scal year. In 1976 the government changed its scal year from 1 July–30 June to 1 October–30
September. Consequently, there is an additional entry for 1976 covering the 1 July to 30 September time frame.
Year
Number Trained
(Designated)
1911 to 1919 2,834
1920 82
1921 72
1922 106
1923 25
1924 32
1925 35
1926 35
1927 123
1928 140
1929 66
1930 348
1931 321
1932 168
1933 138
1934 35
1935 100
1936 212
1937 527
1938 543
Year
Number Trained
(Designated)
1939 450
1940 708
1941 3,112
1942 10,869
1943 20,842
1944 21,067
1945 8,880
1946 2,635
1947 1,646
1948 446
1949 688
1950 1,691
1951 1,288
1952 932
1953 1,701
1954 2,338
1955 2,851
1956 2,571
1957 2,951
1958 2,513
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Year
Number Trained
(Designated)
1959 1,785
1960 1,602
1961 1,478
1962 1,413
1963 1,701
1964 1,701
1965 1,715
1966 1,907
1967 2,046
1968 2,334
1969 2,559
1970 2,450
1971 1,809
1972 1,853
1973 1,650
1974 1,447
1975 1,337
1976 1,375
Jul-Sep 1976 314
1977 1,196
1978 934
1979 871
1980 1,471
1981 1,482
1982 1,515
1983 1,424
1984 1,366
Year
Number Trained
(Designated)
1985 1,343
1986 1,439
1987 1,482
1988 1,454
1989 1,528
1990 1,483
1991 1,342
1992 1,216
1993 865
1994 874
1995 1,155
1996 983
1997 978
1998 1,156
1999 1,183
2000 1,218
2001 1,109
2002 1,237
2003 1,243
2004 1,170
2005 1,271
2006 1,251
2007 1,231
2008 1,187
2009 1,209
2010 1,191
Total 170,654
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Chapter 9
Evolution of Naval Wings (Breast Insignia)
Naval Aviator Wings
e origin of a distinctive device for naval aviators is somewhat obscure, but the idea was undoubtedly inuenced by
outside forces. It appears that the need for a distinguishing mark was voiced by the aviators themselves, particularly
aer Army aviators began wearing “badges” in 1913. Other inuence outside the naval service also appears to have
provided some of the initial impetus.
A review of the records indicates a lack of coordination within the Navy during the process to develop a naval
aviation device. e dated correspondence of the Bureau of Navigation (BuNav) and the Chief of Naval Operations
(CNO) Aviation Section relating to the “wings” does not coincide with the dated changes to the uniform regulations.
e change to the uniform regulations that rst identied the new “wings” was issued before the CNO’s Aviation
Section and BuNav had agreed upon a nal design. Several separate evolutions occurred in 1917.
A 29 June 1917 leer from the G. F. Hemsley Co., stating that the sender “takes the liberty” of forwarding a
design for an aviation cap and collar ornament, may well have started ocial action. e rst ocial correspondence
on the subject appears to have been a CNO leer to BuNav dated 19 July 1917. is leer, which forwarded the
suggestion from the G. F. Hemsley Co., rejected the ornaments but went on to say that since foreign countries and
the U.S. Army had adopted an aviation device, naval aviators also should be given “some form of mark or badge to
indicate their qualication, in order that they have standing with other aviation services.” e leer, prepared in the
Aviation Section of CNO, enclosed a representative design for wings. From that date, the subject was kept alive by
the exchange of correspondence concerning the design and production of the insignia by interested rms.
Lt. Cmdr. John H. Towers, assigned to the aviation desk under CNO, requested the assistance of Lt. Henry
Reuterdahl in designing the naval aviator wings. Reuterdahl played an important part in the design development. He
was later assigned as an artist to record the rst transatlantic ight in May 1919, which was planned to be made by
four NC aircra. In a 28 September 1917 leer to Bailey, Banks, and Biddle Company, he recommended simplifying
the wings by bolder chasing (engraving) and a reduction in the number of feathers, noting that “most naval
ornaments are too ne and not broad enough in character.” He also recommended changes in the anchor and rope
and the introduction of a slight curve to conform to the shape of the body. He summarized his remarks by saying,
“My idea has been to reduce all corners so that there will be no points which might catch in the clothing.”
Several dierent designs were proposed and submied for approval. e sample pins passed through a number
of changes. Bronze, the rst metal suggested, was quickly rejected in favor of a gold and silver combination. is, in
turn, was changed to all silver and nally, in October 1917, all gold was selected. e size changed from more than
three inches to the nal of 2 inches. e “U.S.” was dropped from the design and stars on the shield were proposed
and rejected as violating the laws of heraldry.
By October 1917 the Bailey, Banks, and Biddle Company took the lead over its competitors and on 24 October
submied its rst sample pin. In early November it submied other samples and was ready to make “prompt delivery
of such number of devices as you may desire.” It is believed these various sample pins added to the confusion regarding
the existence of ocial naval aviator wings. On the nal decision to place an order, the record is obscure but it may have
been a BuNav leer to the supply ocer at NAS Pensacola, Fla., dated 21 November 1917, selecting “the higher priced
pin” ($1.15 each). e company was not named, but it seems fairly certain that it was Bailey, Banks, and Biddle. Its leer
to BuNav dated 19 December 1917 conrms a telegram stating: “balance aviator insignia shipped tomorrow.”
e rst wings, made by Bailey, Banks, and Biddle of Philadelphia, Pa., were received by the Navy in December
1917 and issued early in the following year. e fact that the rst pins were delivered in this month is also conrmed
in a 26 December leer from BuNav to NAS Pensacola reporting that the new pins had been received and “will be
sent out as soon as they can be engraved to show the Aviator’s number, his name and branch of service.” e bureau
asked the jeweler not to sell the wings to individuals.
e requirement to engrave the aviator’s number posed a problem concerning the precedence list of trained naval
aviators. is was solved by the preparation of an aviators’ precedence list, covering numbers 1 through 282, by the
CNO Aviation Section. us, the development of wings was responsible for the rst precedence list and, in addition,
was a factor in the later assignment of fractional numbers to many aviators omied from this rst compilation.
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When forwarded to BuNav on 19 January 1918, distribution of the rst wings could begin. Aer almost eight
years of naval aviation and nine months of war, naval aviators had wingsa badge of qualication that would set
them apart. It seems likely that Cmdr. Towers, senior naval aviator in Washington at the time, was an earlyif
not the rstrecipient. e engraving of the individual’s name, naval aviator number, and branch of service was
discontinued sometime during WWI.
e ocial approval for naval aviator wings was announced before a nal design had been agreed upon. On
7 September 1917, the Secretary of the Navy approved Change 12 to the 1913 uniform regulations. e pertinent
portion stated: “A Naval Aviator’s device, a winged foul anchor with the leers ‘U.S.’, is hereby adopted to be worn by
qualied Naval Aviators. is device will be issued by the Bureau of Navigation (BuNav) to ocers and men of the
Navy and Marine Corps who qualify as Naval Aviators, and will be worn on the le breast.”
However, before any such wings were issued, the design was modied by Change 14, approved 12 October 1917
and issued in BuNav Circular Leer 40-17 of 20 November 1917: “e device for Naval Aviators will be a winged
foul anchor, but the leers ‘U.S.’ given in Change in Uniform Regulations No. 12, have been omied.” Several other
changes to the 1913 uniform regulations occurred regarding the wings before the design was nalized. Uniform
Regulations, Change Number 18 of 1 April 1918, states “Naval Aviator’s DeviceDevice for naval aviators will be a
winged foul anchor, to be worn by qualied naval aviators. is device will be issued . . . and worn on the le breast.”
Change number 20 (undated) has the following pertinent information:
Chapter 10 and changes 11, 12, 14, 16, and 18 of Uniform Regulations, 1913, are annulled and in
lieu thereof this chapter is substituted: NAVAL AVIATOR’S DEVICEDevice for naval aviators
will be a winged foul anchor, to be worn by qualied naval aviators. is device will be issued by
the Bureau of Navigation to ocers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps who qualify as naval
aviators, and will be worn on the le breast.
Another modication to the 1913 uniform regulation was made by Change 29, dated 13 May 1920. In Article
262, under “Naval Aviator’s Device” the title of the paragraph was changed to read “Naval Aviation Insignia” and the
rst sentence read: “Insignia to be worn by qualied naval aviators and by warrant ocers and enlisted men holding
certicate of qualication as naval aviation pilots, is a winged foul anchor.”
e 1922 uniform regulations, approved on 20 September 1922, described the wing design in more detail: “A
gold embroidered or bronze gold-plated metal pin, winged, foul anchor surcharged with a shield inch in height,
2 inches from tip to tip of wings; length of foul anchor 1 inch.” Except for a reduction in the length of the foul
anchor from 1 to inch, made by Change 1 to the above regulations, and an elaboration of the description in 1951
which added dimensions for the shield ( inch high and at its widest point) and for the width of the anchor (
inch at the ukes and at the stock), the original design has changed very lile since 1922.
e design pictured below was published by the Air Service Journal on 27 September 1917. A short article in
the journal identied it as a “Naval Aviator’s Device” of gold and silver metal as described by a change in Uniform
Regulations No. 10. It is believed the article may have been referring to Change 12 in the uniform regulations, which
was issued on 7 September 1917. is published design, most likely an artist’s rendition, also failed to take into
account the shield.
e following artist’s rendition is most likely the design referenced in Change 12 of Uniform Regulations, 1913,
and issued on 7 September 1917:
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e photograph below is of the original design authorized by Change 14 of the 1913 uniform regulations,
approved 12 October 1917, and quoted in BuNav Circular Leer 40-17 of 20 November 1917. is is the ocially
approved design made by Bailey, Banks, and Biddle and issued to naval aviators in early 1918.
e following photographs trace the evolution of the wings during the 1920s, 30s, and early 40s:
During World War II, the wings began showing a series of dots, or circles in the upper part of the design where
the wings break. e original design shows these as small feathers, not dots or circles.
On most Naval Aviator wings there is a small dot or circle on one of the anchor ukes. at design is part of the
normal structure of an anchor called a becket, which is an eye with a line aached used for securing the anchor to the
side of the ship to keep it from moving when the ship is underway.
is wing design in gold or a gold nish has
been the standard design since the 1950s.
Aircrew (Air Crew)/Combat Aircrew Wing Insignia
During WWII a new aviation breast insignia was designed in response to numerous recommendations from the eet
to recognize the job done by enlisted aircrew personnel ying in combat. In a Navy Department press release of 18
May 1943, the new Air Crew insignia was described as follows: “e Air Crew insignia consists of silver wings with
a center disk surcharged with fouled anchor. Below the disk is a scroll with the legend ‘Air Crew,’ and above it is a bar
on which gold stars can be placed.”
e Bureau of Naval Personnel (BuPers) Circular Leer Number 90-43 of 29 May 1943 announced the
approval of an air crew insignia, recognizing the air-ghting ability of ight crews. It was intended primarily for
enlisted ratings in the ight crews of naval aircra. However, any commissioned or warrant ocer, other than pilots
or designated naval aviation observers, who met the qualication requirements, were eligible to wear the insignia.
e initial requirements were:
a. Having served, subsequent to 7 December 1941, for a total of three months as a regularly
assigned member of the Air Crew of a combatant cra.
1. “Combat aircra” shall be considered as all operating aircra of the Fleet or Frontier
Forces, and excepts utility aircra, which are neither designed nor ed out for oensive (or
defensive) operations.
2. e term “regularly assigned member of the Air Crew” shall be interpreted literally, and shall
be substantiated by the bale station bill of the unit, under such instructions that may be
approved and promulgated by the Bureau of Naval Personnel.
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b. Having suered injuries or other physical impairment, while engaged in combatant operations
since 7 December 1941, as a regularly assigned member of a combatant aircra, which precludes
the possibility of fulllment of the time requirements, stated in subparagraph (a) above, and is
recommended by the Commanding Ocer of the Unit in which injury or physical impairment
was received.
c. Individual combat stars will be authorized by Unit Commanders, in conformance with
instructions issued by Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet, to those members of Air Crews
who:
1. Engage enemy aircra, singly or in formation.
2. Engage armed enemy combatant vessels with bombs, torpedoes, or machine guns.
3. Engage in bombing oensive operations against enemy fortied positions.
4. A maximum of three combat stars shall be awarded for display on the Air Crew Insignia;
combat actions reports in excess of three will be credited only in the record of the individual
concerned.
d. Personnel qualied by provisions of subparagraphs (a) and (b) above may wear the Air Crew
Insignia permanently.
e qualication requirements to wear the insignia were modied several times. BuPers Circular Leer
Numbers 173-43 of 8 September 1943, 22-44 of 29 January 1944, and 174-44 of 16 June 1944 all make modications
to the qualications but do not give a detailed description of the insignia.
BuPers Circular Leer Number 395-44, dated 30 December 1944, provided a comprehensive description of the
wings:
e Aircrew Insignia is a silver-plated or silver-color, winged, metal, pin, with gold-
color circular shield with surcharged foul anchor, superimposed on wing roots, with words
“AIRCREW” below circular shield; a silver-color bar over the circular shield with three threaded
holes to receive three gold-color combat stars when ocially awarded. e insignia will measure
two inches from tip to tip of the wings: circle on shield "; total depth of the shield from the top
of the circle to the boom of the shield ".
e uniform regulations of 2 May 1947 provided a modied description of the wings:
A silver-plated or silver color, winged, metal pin, with gold circular shield surcharged with foul
anchor, superimposed on wing roots, with word “AIRCREW” in raised leers on a silver-color
background below the circular shield; above the shield there shall be a silver-color scroll; the insignia
to measure 2" from tip to tip of the wings; circle on shield " in diameter; total height of the shield
and silver background beneath the shield ". e scroll shall be " wide and " long and shall be
centered over the wings. Gold stars to a total of three, as merited, shall be mounted on the scroll,
necessary holes being pierced to receive them. A silver star may be worn in lieu of three gold stars.
is drawing of an early Aircrew Insignia
without stars was published in the April
1943 issue of Naval Aviation News.
In 1958 there was a major change in the insignia. On 10 April 1958 Change 5 to the 1951 uniform regulations
was issued. e name Aircrew or Air Crew insignia was redesignated Combat Aircrew insignia. Beside the
redesignation, there were a few minor changes to the breast insignia. e new description read:
A silver color, metal pin; winged, with gold color circular shield surcharged with a foul anchor,
superimposed on wing roots; with word “AIRCREW” in raised leers on a silver background
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below the shield. Above the shield there shall be a silver color scroll. e insignia shall measure
2" from tip to tip of wings; the circular shield shall be " in diameter; height of anchor " with
other dimensions proportionate; total height of shield and silver background beneath "; the
scroll shall be " long and " wide; centered over the shield, each end to rest on top of wings.
Gold stars of a size to be inscribed in a circle " in diameter, to a total of three, as merited, shall be
mounted on the scroll, necessary holes being pierced to receive them. A silver star may be worn in
lieu of three gold stars.
In 1958 the Navy redesignated the Aircrew Wing Insigniathat had been approved in 1943 to recognize and
be awarded to personnel who ew in combat on naval aircrato the new designation Combat Aircrew Wings and
then created a new design for Aircrew Wings Insignia. e new aircrew insignia was worn by naval aviation person
who ew as crewmembers on board naval aircra but had nothing to do with whether they ew in combat or non-
combat missions.
Following the 1958 redesignation, the Navy continued to allow the wearing of the redesignated Aircrew
insignia for those Navy individuals who had previously been authorized to wear the device.
With the establishment of a new aircrew wing insignia the Navy no longer awarded or issued the combat
aircrew wing insignia that had been created in 1943 to Navy personnel. e 1978 U.S. Navy uniform regulations
removed the Combat Aircrew insignia from the authorized list of aviation breast insignia. However, the Marine
Corps continued to use the 1943 aircrew insignia design, now called Combat Aircrew Wings, and awarded the wings
to personnel who met the qualication requirements.
A Bureau of Naval Personnel Memorandum, approved by Chief of Naval Operations on 7 November 1994,
authorized Navy personnel, who ew as aircrew with Marine Corps units in combat, to wear the combat aircrew
wings. However, they are not authorized for Navy personnel ying in combat on board Navy aircra. ey are only
authorized to wear the aircrew wings. e appropriate change was made to the Navy uniform regulations.
Aircrew Insignia Wings
Change 5 to the 1951 Uniform Regulations, dated 10 April 1958, redesignated the 1943 designed Aircrew insignia to
Combat Aircrew insignia and also established a new Aircrew insignia design. e new aircrew insignia was paerned
along the basic lines of the Naval Aviation Observer insignia and was described as: “Shall be a gold color metal
pin; winged, with a circular center design and anchor upon which the block leers AC are superimposed. Width
between tips of wings shall be 2"; circle diameter shall be "; height of anchor shall be " with other dimension
proportionate.”
On 11 August 1965, BuPers Notice 1020 authorized the wearing of the aircrew breast insignia on a permanent
basis. From the establishment of the newly designed Aircrew insignia in 1958 and until 1965, the insignia could only
be worn by qualied personnel serving in an aircrew position. If an individual was assigned to a shore billet and not
involved in aircrew duties, then they were not authorized to wear the insignia. Under the new guidance, a person
who qualied to wear the Aircrew insignia could continue to wear the breast device at anytime during their military
service or unless the person was disqualied for aircrew duty.
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Naval Aviation Experimental Psychologists and Naval Aviation Physiologists Wings
On 12 April 1967, the Under Secretary of the Navy approved a change to the Navy uniform regulations that
authorized a new wing insignia for aviation experimental psychologists and aviation physiologists. In February 1966,
both were designated as crew members and ordered to duty involving ying. ese individuals were assigned to
duties such as in-ight analysis of human performance in eet and training operations covering a myriad of weapons
systems and tactics, providing extensive training for all aircrew personnel in airborne protective equipment and
egress systems, and test and evaluation of new and improved aircra systems.
eir gold wings are similar to those worn by ight surgeons, except the gold oak leaf does not have the acorn.
e photo below shows the wings of the naval aviation experimental psychologists and physiologists.
Naval Aviation Supply Wings
Plans began in 1982 for the establishment of a naval aviation supply ocer program and the authorization for a
breast insignia for qualifying Supply Corps ocers. On 8 May 1984, during the 73rd annual Aviation Ball, the rst
naval aviation supply wings were presented by Vice Adm. Robert F. Schoultz, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
(Air Warfare), to Vice Adm. Eugene A. Grinstead Jr., SC, USN; Rear Adm. Andrew A. Giordano, SC, USN (Ret);
and Commo. John H. Ruehlin, SC, USN, Commanding Ocer, Aviation Supply Oce, Philadelphia, Pa. Ocers
qualied to wear the naval aviation supply wings must complete a demanding qualication program that requires
approximately 350 hours of study and practical experience. ey must also pass an oral examination administered by
supply and aviation maintenance ocers at their operating sites.
e naval aviation supply wings consist of the traditional naval aviator wing style with an oak leaf cluster in the
center. e photograph below is a line drawing depicting the wings.
Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist Wings
In order to recognize enlisted personnel serving in naval aviation who were not aircrew members, a new program
and set of wings was established. e Operational Navy Instruction (OPNAVINST) 1412.5 of 19 March 1980
established the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Qualication Program and the new wing insignia. e enlisted aviation
warfare specialist wings are issued to enlisted personnel who acquired the specic professional skills, knowledge,
and military experience that resulted in unique qualication for service in the aviation activities of the Navy.
e 1981 uniform regulations described the aviation warfare wings as follows: “A silver embroidered or silver
color metal pin (for enlisted); winged, with a central device consisting of a shield with an anchor superimposed
thereon and a scroll at the boom of the insignia.”
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Balloon Pilot Wing Insignia
e exact date the balloon pilot wing device was approved is not clear. However, the description of the wing rst
appeared in the uniform regulations of 20 September 1922. In this regulation the following statement appears:
“Enlisted men holding certicates of qualication as balloon pilots shall wear the same insignia as in paragraph
(a) but with the right wing removed.” Paragraph (a) was a description of the naval aviator wings. ere were no
changes between 1922 and 1947. In the uniform regulations of 2 May 1947, the words “Enlisted men” are replaced by
“Persons” in the above statement. e 1978 U.S. Navy uniform regulations removed the Balloon Pilot insignia from
the authorized list of aviation breast insignia.
Flight Nurse Wing Insignia
BuPers Circular Leer Number 86-45 of 30 March 1945 announced the Secretary of the Navy had approved an
insignia for naval ight nurses on 15 March 1945. e change to the 1941 uniform regulations read:
Aviation Insignia, Naval Flight NursesNurses who have been designated as Naval Flight
Nurses shall wear the following insignia: Gold-plated metal pin, wings, with slightly convex oval
crest with appropriate embossed rounded edge and scroll. e central device shall be surcharged
with gold anchor, gold spread oak leaf and silver acorn, symbol of the Nurse Corps insignia. e
insignia shall measure 2" from tip to tip of the wings; oval crest " in vertical dimension and
" in width; oak leaf " in length, " in width, to be diagonally mounted surcharged on the
anchor; silver acorn " in length surmounted on oak leaf.
e insignia was to be worn until the designation “Flight Nurse” was revoked.
ese are the 1945 Flight Nurse Wings.
On 11 August 1952, the Secretary of the Navy approved a revision to the insignia. e BuPers Change Memo
1-2 of 6 February 1953 described the new version as: “e insignia shall consist of a gold color metal pin of the same
design as that prescribed for Flight Surgeons . . . except that the acorn shall be omied, and the width between wing
tips shall be 2"; oval width " vertical and " horizontal axis; thickness at leaf center, ".”
is version of the Flight Nurse Wing
Insignia was approved in 1952.
Flight Surgeon Wing Insignia
On 18 May 1942, the Chief of Naval Personnel approved an insignia for naval ight surgeons. BuPers Circular Leer
Number 107-42 of 29 July 1942 announced changes to the 1941 uniform regulations. ese, as approved by the
Secretary of the Navy, included the establishment of the new ight surgeon wings. e change read:
Ocers of the Medical Corps who have qualied as Naval Flight Surgeons shall wear the following
insignia on the le breast: A gold plated metal pin, winged, with slightly convex oval crest, with
appropriate embossed rounded edge and scroll. e central device to be surcharged with gold
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oak leaf and silver acorn, symbol of Medical Corps insignia. e metal pin shall be of dull nish.
Dimensions: 2 inches between wing tips, central device 1 inch in vertical dimension to lower
edge of fringe. Lateral width of oval crest, inch. Oak leaf inch in length, inch in width, to
be vertically mounted surcharged on oval. Silver acorn inch in length surmounted on oak leaf.
A Navy Press Release issued a few days earlier, on 27 July 1942, noted, “It will consist of wings which are a
modication of the Perian Feroher with a central design consisting of convex oval crest with appropriate scroll and
rounded edge. e central device is to be surcharged with the gold leaf and silver acorn that serves as the Medical
Corps symbol.”
ese are the Flight Surgeon Wings
approved in 1942.
On 11 August 1952, the Secretary of the Navy approved a major revision to the ight surgeon wings. e new
design superimposed the Medical Corps device (gold oak leaf and silver acorn) on the style of wings used for the
naval aviator wing insignia. BuPers Memo 1-2 of 6 February 1953 and the change to the 1951 uniform regulations
describes the new design:
A gold embroidered or gold color metal pin; winged; with an oval center design upon which the
Medical Corps device (a gold oak leaf and silver acorn) is superimposed. Width between tips of
wings shall be 2"; oval with " vertical and " horizontal axis; thickness with acorn ";
acorn and cup " long; acorn width "; cup depth "; cup width ".
ese are the revised Flight Surgeon
Wings of 1952.
Naval Astronaut (Naval Flight Ocer) Wings
e 1984 uniform regulations, issued on 6 February 1984, authorized the wearing of the new naval astronaut (naval
ght ocer) wings. e regulations described them as: “Naval Astronaut (NFO) Insignia. A gold embroidered or
solid gold metal pin; winged and containing a shooting star with an elliptical ring surrounding the trailing shas;
superimposed diagonally from boom right to top le, on the shield of the traditional Naval Flight Ocer’s Wings.”
A naval ight ocer or an active duty ocer qualied as a Naval Astronaut (Specialist), who is not a Navy
pilot or NFO, may wear the naval astronaut (NFO) wings if they are designated by the CNO or Commandant of the
Marine Corps aer meeting the following qualications:
a. Currently on ying status as a naval ight ocer or a payload specialist as a shule astronaut
(but not qualied as a Navy pilot or NFO) in either the Navy, Marine Corps, or their Reserve
components.
b. Trained, qualied, and certied to y as a mission or payload specialist in powered vehicles
designed for ight above 50 miles from the earth’s surface.
c. Have completed a minimum of one ight as a mission or payload specialist aboard an
extraterrestrial vehicle in a ight above 50 miles from the earth’s surface.
Evolution of Naval Wings (Breast Insignia)
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Naval Astronaut (Pilot) Wings
e Navy’s rst naval astronaut (pilot) wings were presented to Cmdr. Alan B. Shepard Jr. on 6 December 1961 by the
Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. George W. Anderson. On 18 December 1962, the Secretary of the Navy ocially
approved the Uniform Board’s recommendation to include a description and photograph of the naval astronaut wing
insignia in the 1959 uniform regulations. e naval astronaut (pilot) wings are identical to the Navy pilot wings with the
addition of a shooting star superimposed over the shield. e shooting star symbolized the astronaut’s spatial environment.
e Naval Military Personnel Manual states the criteria for designation as a Naval Astronaut (Pilot). A naval
pilot may wear the wings upon designation by the CNO or Commandant of the Marine Corps aer meeting the
following qualications:
a. Currently on ying status as a naval pilot in either the Navy, Marine Corps, or their reserve
components.
b. Trained, qualied, and certied to y a powered vehicle designed for ight above 50 miles from
the earth’s surface.
c. Completed a minimum of one ight as a pilot or mission specialist aboard an extraterrestrial
vehicle in a ight above 50 miles from the earth’s surface.
Naval Aviation Observer Wings
e Naval Aviation Observer (NAO) designation had its origin in an act of Congress on 12 July 1921, which created
the Bureau of Aeronautics and provided that its chief qualify within one year of his appointment as an “aircra pilot
or observer.” e functions and qualications for an observer were rst dened on 27 March 1922; on 17 June of the
same year, Rear Adm. William A. Moe became the rst to qualify for the designation as a Naval Aviation Observer.
e 1922 uniform regulations, approved 20 September, provided that ocers designated as Naval Aviation
Observer wear the same insignia as that worn by naval aviators, except with the right wing and shield removed and
an “O” superimposed on the foul anchor.
is, the rst Naval Aviation Observer
Wing Insignia, was used from 1922 to
January 1927.
A 26 January 1927 change to the 1922 uniform regulations (Change Number 3) modied the design and
changed it to the same insignia worn by naval aviators except that it was to be in silver.
Between January 1927 and October 1929 the
design of Naval Aviation Observer Wings
was identical to the gold Naval Aviator Wings
except the observer wings were silver.
Bureau of Navigation Circular Leer 71-29 of 19 October 1929 (Change Number 7 to the 1922 uniform
regulations) directed another change. is described the new design as: “an insignia the same as for naval aviators
as to gold wings, but that the central device shall be an ‘O’ circumscribing an erect plain anchor, both in silver.
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e ‘O’ and anchor to be in bold relief, the center of the ‘O’ being lled in gold.” e 1941 uniform regulations, of
31 May 1941, repeated the previous description and added dimensions: “. . . outer diameter of ‘O’ shall be inch,
inner diameter inch. Height of anchor shall be inch.”
is Naval Aviation Observer Wing
design was used by the Navy between
1929 to 1968.
e wings made the same transition that occurred to the naval aviator wings during WWII. A change to the
1951 uniform regulations, issued on 6 February 1953 as BuPers Change Memorandum 1-2, directed the wing style
used by the naval aviator breast insignia be adopted for the Naval Aviation Observer insignia. Hence, the series of
dots, or circles were incorporated into the upper-part of the design where the wings break.
is detailed description of the insignia is from the uniform regulations of 6 April 1959:
A gold embroidered or gold color metal pin, winged, with a central device consisting of an O
circumscribing an erect, plain anchor, both in silver; the O and the anchor to be in bold relief, the
center of the O being lled with gold. e insignia shall measure 2" between wing tips; outer
diameter of O shall be "; inner diameter of O shall be "; height of anchor shall be " with
other dimensions proportionate.
is Naval Aviation Observer Insignia
shows the dots in the upperpart of the wing.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the naval aviation observer wings were worn by ocers who were radar intercept
operators (RIOs), bombardier/navigators (BNs), and airborne electronic countermeasures operators (AECMs).
ey were also worn by enlisted personnel who were qualied navigators, airborne electronic countermeasures
operators, airborne radio operators, VG jet aircra ight engineers, and qualied observers.
On 18 July 1968, the CNO approved a new qualication breast insignia for Navy and Marine Corps personnel
designated as Naval Flight Ocers (NFOs). BuPers Notice 1020 of 24 August 1968 issued the change to the uniform
regulations (NavPers 15665) for the new naval ight ocer wings: “is new insignia will replace the Naval Aviation
Observer insignia currently worn by Naval Flight Ocers and will be authorized for wear upon source availability.
e Naval Aviation Observer insignia will become obsolete aer 31 December 1968.” is ended the old naval
aviation observer wings for a short period of time. However, they were destined for continued use by naval aviation.
Naval Aviation Observer and Flight Meteorologist Wings
On 21 May 1969, the CNO approved the use of the naval aviation observer wings for wear by ight meteorologists
and for those ocers formerly entitled but not selected as naval ight ocers. is change was incorporated into the
1959 uniform regulations by Bureau of Personnel Notice 1020 of 16 June 1969.
e 1969 uniform regulations, issued on 17 October 1969, did not mention the Flight Meteorologist insignia.
However, the 1975 uniform regulations, which replaced the 1969 edition, listed the naval aviation observers and
ight meteorologist wings. e 1975 regulations state:
Naval Aviation Observer and Flight Meteorologist Insignia. A gold embroidered or gold color metal
pin; winged, with a central device consisting of an O circumscribing an erect, plan anchor, both
in silver; the O and the anchor to be in bold relief, the center of the O being lled with gold. e
embroidered device shall be on a background to match the color of the uniform on which worn.
Qualications to wear the naval aviation observer wings, the second oldest wings in the Navy, are outlined
Evolution of Naval Wings (Breast Insignia)
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in the Naval Military Personnel Manual. Although not aeronautically designated, the following types of ocers are
authorized to wear NAO wings upon initial qualication: Flight Meteorology and Oceanography Ocer; Special
Evaluator (ocers and warrant ocers from the cryptologic community); Aviation Operations Limited Duty Ocer
(632X); Aviation Operations Technician Warrant Ocer (732X); and other ocers assigned by the Chief of Naval
Personnel to duty involving ying as technical observers and airborne command post crew members.
e Marine Corps authorized the use of the old naval aviation observer wings for personnel completing the
Naval Aviation Observer School at Marine Corps Air Station New River. Qualied aerial observers were to provide
commanders with information of intelligence value not readily available from normal ground sources regarding
enemy forces; procure information concerning terrain, and to supplement operational information of friendly forces;
direct supporting res for ground forces to include artillery, naval gunre, and close air support; to perform utility
and liaison missions as directed from an observation aircra and to advise commanders of ground units on maers
pertaining to aerial observation.
See the section on Naval Aviation Observer Wings for a photograph of the device.
Naval Aviation Observer (Navigation) Wings
BuPers Circular Leer 88-45 of 31 March 1945 announced the Secretary of the Navy had approved an insignia for Naval
Aviation Observers (Navigation) on 30 March 1945. It revised the 1941 uniform regulations by adding the following:
Ocers designated as Naval Aviation Observers (Navigation) by the Chief of Naval Personnel
shall wear the following insignia: A gold-embroidered or bronze gold-plated metal pin, winged,
with silver center device superimposed upon crossed gold-color foul anchors. e centerpiece
shall have superimposed upon it, in bold relief and in gold color, one gold disc with eight
intercardinal points of the compass; superimposed upon this gold disc will be a second disc,
in bold relief and in gold color, with four cardinal points and four intercardinal points of the
compass. e insignia shall measure 2" from tip to tip of wings; silver center device shall be
approximately " in diameter; crossed foul anchors shall be of a size to be inscribed in a circle
" in diameter; the inner gold disc shall be approximately " in diameter, and the outer gold
disc shall be approximately " in diameter. Naval Aviators and Naval Aviation Observers will not
wear the Naval Aviation Observer (Navigation) insignia.
A Bureau of Naval Personnel leer dated 18 March 1947 abolished the Naval Aviation Observer (Navigation)
insignia and authorized all ocers designated as Naval Aviation Observer (Navigation) to wear the same insignia as
that worn by Naval Aviation Observers.
Naval Aviation Observers (Radar) Wings
e Secretary of the Navy approved the Naval Aviation Observer (Radar) insignia on 29 August 1945. BuPers
Circular Leer Number 313-45 of 17 October 1945 announced the insignia and a subsequent change was made to
the 1941 uniform regulations. e leer described the wings as follows: “Naval Aviation Observers (Radar) shall
wear a gold embroidered or bronze gold-plaed metal pin, winged, with silver center device superimposed upon
crossed gold-color foul anchors. e center piece shall have superimposed upon it, in bold relief and in gold color,
a symbolic radar manifestation. e insignia shall measure 2” from tip to tip of wings; silver center device shall
be approximately
15
/
32
" in diameter; crossed foul anchors shall be of a size to be inscribed in a circle
3
/
4
" in diameter.
Naval Aviation Observers (Radar) shall not wear any other aviation breast insignia.”
A Bureau of Naval Personnel leer dated 18 March 1947 abolished the Naval Aviation Observers (Radar)
insignia, and authorized all ocers designated as Naval Aviation Observers (Radar) to wear the same insignia
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prescribed for Naval Aviation Observers.
Naval Aviation Observers (Tactical) Wing
On 19 January 1946, the Secretary of the Navy approved the naval aviation observers (tactical) wings for Navy and
Marine Corps ocers performing duty as gunre and artillery spoers and general liaison operations. A BuPers
Circular Leer Number 28-46 of 5 February 1946 changed the 1941 uniform regulations to reect that Naval
Aviation Observers (Tactical) would wear a device similar to the Naval Aviation Observer (Navigation) insignia
except “the centerpiece shall have two crossed guns superimposed upon it, in bold relief and in gold color.” e
BuPers leer provided the following description:
Naval Aviation Observers (Tactical) shall wear a gold embroidered or bronze gold-plated metal
pin, winged, with silver center device superimposed upon crossed gold-color foul anchors. e
center piece shall have two crossed guns superimposed upon it, in bold relief and in gold color. e
insignia shall measure 2
3
/
4
" from tip to tip of wings; silver center device shall be approximately
15
/
32
" in diameter; crossed foul anchors shall be of a size to be inscribed in a circle
3
/
4
" in diameter
and the crossed guns shall be of a size to be inscribed in a circle
13
/
32
" in diameter.
A Bureau of Naval Personnel leer dated 18 March 1947 abolished the Naval Aviation Observers (Tactical)
insignia and authorized all ocers designated as Naval Aviation Observers (Tactical) to wear the same insignia
prescribed for Naval Aviation Observers.
Naval Aviation Observer (Aerology)
BuPers Circular Leer Number 87-47 of 15 May 1947 established the designation Naval Aviation Observer
(Aerology). Besides establishing the qualications necessary for the designation, the circular leer also stated that:
“Ocers designated naval aviation observers (aerology) by the Chief of Naval Personnel will be authorized to wear
the insignia already established for naval aviation observers . . .” BuPers leer (Pers-329-MEB A2-3) of 24 February
1948 issued Change 1 to the 1947 uniform regulations and states:
Naval Aviation Observer Insignia. Ocers who have been designated as naval aviation observers,
Naval Aviation Observers (Aerology), Naval Aviation Observers (Navigation), Naval Aviation
Observers (Radar), or Naval Aviation Observers (Tactical) by the Chief of Naval Personnel shall wear
the following insignia: A gold embroidered or bronze gold-plated metal pin, winged, with a central
device consisting of an “O” circumscribing an erect, plan anchor, both in silver; the “O” and the
anchor to be in bold relief, the center of the “O” being lled with gold. e insignia shall measure 2"
between wing tips; the outer diameter of the “O” shall be ", the inner diameter "; height of anchor
shall be ". e embroidered device shall be on a background to match the color of the uniform.
See the Naval Aviation Observer Wing section for a photograph of the Naval Aviation Observer wing.
Naval Flight Ocer Wings
On 8 February 1965, a change to Bureau of Personnel Instruction 1210.4C authorized a new designator and name,
Naval Flight Ocer (NFO). e new designator was appropriate for “an unrestricted line ocer, a member of the
aeronautical organization . . . who may ll any billet not requiring actual control knowledge of an aircra.” Eight
subspecialties were available at the time: bombardier, controller, electronic countermeasures evaluator, navigator,
interceptor, photographer-navigator, tactical coordinator, and reconnaissance navigator. e new NFOs continued
wearing the naval aviation observer wings.
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On 18 July 1968, the CNO approved a new qualication breast insignia for Navy and Marine Corps personnel
designated as Naval Flight Ocers (NFOs). BuPers Notice 1020 of 24 August 1968 changed the uniform regulations
(NAVPers 15665). e notice stated: “is new insignia will replace the Naval Aviation Observer insignia currently
worn by Naval Flight Ocers and will be authorized for wear upon source availability. e Naval Aviation Observer
insignia will become obsolete aer 31 December 1968.” In this change to the uniform regulations (NAVPERS
15665) all references to Naval Aviation Observers were changed to Naval Flight Ocer. Article 0157.2d. of the
uniform regulations read: “Naval Flight Ocer Insignia. A gold embroidered or gold color metal pin; winged, with a
central device consisting of a shield superimposed on a set of small, crossed, fouled anchors. e embroidered device
shall be on a background to match the color of the uniform on which worn.”
e naval ight ocer wings were approved to keep pace with the changes to the designators and new titles for
personnel that had been designated Naval Aviation Observers. Flight ocers are more closely aligned with pilots as
opposed to meteorologists and other scientists. Also, the ying ocer/crewmen were line ocers who were allowed
to compete for and earn any command assignment for which they qualify by demonstrated performance and ability,
with the exception of a billet that required actual control knowledge of an aircra. Hence, naval ight ocers were
line ocers who could qualify for command of a ship or carrier or commanding ocer of a squadron just like naval
aviators.
Professional Aviation Maintenance Ocer Wing Insignia
NAVADMIN 051/09 issued by CNO message of 10 February 2009 (102033Z FEB 09) approved the Professional
Aviation Maintenance Ocer (PAMO) designation and wing insignia that had been recommended for approval
by the Navy Uniform Board in November 2008. Qualication requirements for the PAMO were outlined in
OPNAV Instruction 1412.11 of 19 May 2009. e designation and wings are designed to recognize the signicant
contributions made by aviation ground ocers in support of the Navy’s aviation mission and warghting
capabilities.
e PAMO wing insignia is 2 inches by 1 inches. It is a gold and silver metal device showing the silver eagle
and shield superimposed over gold aviation wings with a gold banner depicting “AERO MAINTENANCE”. It will
have either an anodized or oxidized nish.
Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Wing Insignia
BuPers Notice 1020 of 12 July 1963 issued information on a change to the 1959 uniform regulations concerning the
adoption of a new wing insignia for Navy and Marine Corps parachutists. is notice stated: “e old parachutist
insignia . . . shall be renamed the ‘Basic Parachutist Insignia’ in conformance with the Army and Air Force
nomenclature. e subject insignia shall be referred to as the ‘Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia’.” e
insignia was described as:
A gold embroidered (Navy only) or gold-colored metal pin, same as that provided for Naval
Aviator’s insignia, except that a gold-colored open parachute shall be centered on the wings vice
the shield and foul anchor; width of the wings from tip to tip shall be 2"; width of the parachute
" at the widest part; length of the parachute from top to boom ".
General qualications for wearing the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Wings were:
1. Have previously qualied for the Basic Parachutist insignia by completing formal parachutist
training at an armed services installation.
2. Have completed a minimum of ve additional parachute jumps, under competent orders, with a
Navy or Marine Corps organization whose mission includes parachute jumping.
Once a person qualied for the Navy and Marine Corps parachutist insignia it will be worn in lieu of the basic
parachutist insignia.
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Basic Parachutist Wing Insignia
e rst mention of a parachutist designation and qualication badge is found in a change to the 1941 uniform
regulations issued by a BuNav Circular Leer Number 51-42 of 31 March 1942. It stated:
e following Parachute Regulations, having been approved by the Secretary of the Navy on 6
February 1942, are published herewith for the information of all concerned:
1. (2) DESIGNATION: e designation (ratings) of “Parachutist” and “Student Parachutist” are
hereby established for ocers, warrant ocers, and enlisted men of the Navy and Marine Corps
of the United States, which designations (ratings) shall be in addition to such military or Naval
ratings or ranks as are now or may hereaer be authorized by law.
(5) RETENTION OF DESIGNATION AS PACHUTIST OR STUDENT PACHUTIST:
An ocer, warrant ocer or enlisted man of the Navy . . . who has aained a designation (rating)
as a parachutist or student parachutist . . . provided, that ocers, warrant ocers, and enlisted
men . . . who have been designated as parachutists pursuant to these regulations are authorized to
retain permanently and to wear such qualication badge as parachutists as may be prescribed by
competent authority.
However, the Secretary of the Navy did not authorize the parachutist badge, even though the above change
to the 1941 uniform regulation references the wearing of such a qualication badge. ere is no description of a
parachutist insignia until January 1947. A BuPers leer (Pers-329-MEB A2-3) of 17 January 1947 issued changes to
the 1941 uniform regulations as approved by the Secretary of the Navy. is leer states:
(j) A parachutist insignia, enclosure (B), has been authorized for enlisted personnel who have
been designated as parachutists in accordance with the Bureau of Naval Personnel Manual. is
insignia is the same as the parachutist insignia authorized by the Marine Corps and the Army.
2. e wearing of the parachutist insignia, enclosure (B), by ocers and warrant ocers who have
been designated as parachutists in accordance with the Bureau of Naval Personnel Manual has
also been authorized. Pending a revision of Chapters II and III, U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations,
1941, ocers and warrant ocers who are eligible to wear the parachutist insignia may do so
under similar regulations contained in Art. 8-8 of enclosure (A).
A 14 February 1947 leer from BuPers issued the new Chapter II to the 1941 uniform regulations and included
the parachutist insignia.
e 1951 uniform regulations described the parachutist insignia as: “An open parachute, in silver, anked on
each side by wings, curved upward; the device to be 1" wide and " high.” A BuPers Notice 1020 of 12 July 1963
issued information on a change to the 1959 uniform regulations concerning the adoption of a new wing insignia for
Navy and Marine Corps Parachutists. is notice stated: “e old parachutist insignia . . . shall be renamed the ‘Basic
Parachutist Insignia’ in conformance with the Army and Air Force nomenclature.”
Marine Aerial Navigator Wings
In June 1976, the Marine Corps approved the use of the old WWII Naval Aviation Observer (Navigation) wings
for use by Marine Corps personnel who qualied as Marine Aerial Navigators. See the section on Naval Aviation
Observer (Navigation) wings for a description and photograph of the wings.
Marine Aerial Observer Wings
See the section on Naval Aviation Observer and Flight Meteorologist Wings. ese are the wings worn by Marine
aerial observers.
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Chapter 10
Aviation Ratings
Enlisted men have served in naval aviation since its inception. e rst men reported for duty with Lt. eodore G.
Ellyson and Lt. John Rodgers when they began ight training in 1911. eir numbers increased as the number of
aviators and aircra on hand increased. Despite the specialties involved in aviation, it was a number of years before
these men were required to meet special qualications beyond those of their basic rating. Such special courses as
enlisted men received in the 1916–1917 period gave them a certicate to prove satisfactory completion and made
them beer qualied to carry out aviation duty. However, it had no eect on their basic ratings, the qualications for
which were still based on the requirements of the regular naval service.
Greater emphasis on aviation requirements accompanied the expansion for WW I and with it the basic
requirements of the pre‑war period were somewhat relaxed but not completely forgoen. One indication of change
was a parenthetical addition to the rating to indicate aviation duty, as for example, Machinist’s Mate (Aviation) or
MM (A). But it was not until 1921 that aviation ratings received recognition as a special branch and the rst strictly
aviation ratings were established. Since then, adjustments to the rating structure have been frequent. ese produced
a number of changes and additions to the original basic ratings as well as a great variety of subdivisions within them,
some representing a mere change in title, others reecting changing technology.
e following list covers the aviation basic ratings, shown in alphabetical order.
Aerographer
Rating (Aerog) established eective 1 Jul 1924 by CL 99‑23 of Dec 1923; distinguishing mark approved by CL
62‑26 of 29 Oct 1926
*
; See Aerographer’s Mate.
Aerographer’s Mate
Aerographer rating (Aerog) redesignated Aerographer’s Mate (AerM) by CL 113‑42 of 8 Aug 1942, abbreviation
changed to (AG) by CL 106‑48 of 9 Jun 1948.
Air Controlman
Rating (SP) established eective 2 Apr 1948 by CL 40‑47 of 21 Feb 1947; abbreviation changed to (AC) by CL
106‑48 of 9 Jun 1948; See Air Trac Controller.
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Aircra Maintenanceman
A master chief’s rating (AFCM) approved by SecNav, 5 Nov 1963. See Aviation Machinist’s Mate.
Aircrew Survival Equipmentman
Parachute Rigger rating (PR) redesignated Aircrew Survival Equipmentman eective 7 Dec 1965 by BuPers Note
1440 of 2 Feb 1966, without change of abbreviation.
Airship Rigger
Rating (AR) established by CL 205‑43 of 12 Oct 1943; distinguishing mark approved by CL 58‑44 of 29 Feb 1944
*
;
abolished eective 2 Apr 1948 by CL 246‑47 of 15 Dec 1947.
Air Trac Controller
Air Controlman rating (AC) redesignated Air Trac Controller by BuPers Note 1220 of 10 December 1977, without
change in abbreviation.
Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Operator
Rating (AW) established eective 1 Sep 1968 by BuPers Note 1440 of 29 Feb 1968. e Aviation Antisubmarine
Warfare Operator rating was redesignated Aviation Warfare Systems Operator by BuPers Note 1440 of 16 November
1993 without change of abbreviation; See Aviation Warfare Systems Operator.
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Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technician
Rating (AX) was established eective 1 Dec 1962 by BuPers Note 1440 of 29 Jun 1962. e AX rating was
absorbed into the (AT) rating by amendments to NAVOP 075/89 of 23 Aug 1990, eective 1 Jan 1991; See Aviation
Electronics Technician.
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate
Rating (ABM) established by CL 268‑44 of 14 Sep 1944; distinguishing mark approved CL 363‑44 of 30 Nov
1944
*
; abbreviation changed to (AB) by CL 106‑48 of 9 Jun 1948. ree sub‑ratings were created for the Aviation
Boatswain’s Mate. Responsibilities for the (ABH) rating (Aviation Boatswain’s Mate–Aircra Handler) include
movement, spoing and securing of aircra and equipment ashore and aoat; performing crash rescue, re ghting,
crash removal, and damage control duties in connection with launching and recovery of aircra. e (ABF)
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate–Fuels responsibilities include operating, maintaining, and performing organizational
maintenance on aviation fueling and lubricating oil systems on CVs, CVNs, LPHs, and LPDs; observing and
enforcing handling safety precautions and maintaining fuel quality surveillance and control in aviation fuel systems;
supervising the operation and servicing of fuel farms and equipment associated with the fueling and defueling of
aircra ashore and aoat; and training, directing, and supervising re ghting crews, re rescue teams, and damage
control parties in assigned fuel and lubricating oil spaces. Aviation Boatswain’s Mate–Launch/Recovery (ABE)
responsibilities include maintaining and performing organization maintenance on hydraulic and steam catapults,
barricades, arresting gear, and arresting gear engines; operating catapult launch and arresting consoles, ring panels,
water brakes, blast deectors, and cooling panels; and performing aircra‑handling duties related to the operation of
launching and recovery of naval aircra. e (AB) designation is used only for the pay grade E‑9 (Master Chief).
Aviation Bombsight Mechanic
Rating (AOMB) established as a sub‑rating of Aviation Ordnanceman by CL 205‑43 of 12 Oct 1943; See Aviation
Bombsight and Fire Control Mechanic.
Aviation Bombsight And Fire Control Mechanic
Aviation Bombsight Mechanic rating (AOMB) renamed Aviation Bombsight and Fire Control Mechanic by CL
355‑44 of 27 Nov 1944, without change in abbreviation. e Aviation Bombsight and Fire Control Mechanic
(AOMB) was redesignated Aviation Fire Controlman (AFC) and was designated a basic rate by CL 39‑45 of 15 Feb
1945; See Aviation Fire Controlman.
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Aviation Carpenter’s Mate
e Aviation Carpenter’s mate rating (ACM) was established eective 1 Jul 1921 by CL 9‑21 of 24 Mar 1921;
distinguishing mark approved by CL 62‑26 of 29 Oct 1926
*
; the (ACM) rating was abolished eective 30 Jun 1940
by CL 36‑40 of 21 May 1940 and redesignated Aviation Metalsmith (AM); See Aviation Metalsmith.
Aviation Electrician’s Mate
e Aviation Electrician’s Mate rating (AEM) was established by CL 129‑42 of 4 Sep 1942; abbreviation changed to
(AE) by CL 106‑48 of 9 Jun 1948.
Aviation Electronicsman
e Aviation Radioman rating (ARM) was redesignated Aviation Electronicsman eective 2 Apr 1948 by CL 40‑47
of 21 Feb 1947, without change in abbreviation; abbreviation changed to (AL) by CL 106‑48 of 9 Jun 1948; abolished
by BuPers Instruction 1440.10B of 18 Dec 1959.
Aviation Electronics Technician
Aviation Electronics Technician’s Mate rating (AETM) was redesignated Aviation Electronics Technician (AET)
eective 2 Apr 1948 by CL 40‑47 of 21 Feb 1947; abbreviation changed to (AT) by CL 106‑48 of 9 Jun 1948.
Ratings (AQ), (AX), and (AV) were scheduled to merge and be redesignated (AT) by NAVOP 075/89 of 27 Jun
1989; the (AV) rating was removed so only ratings (AQ) and (AX) were absorbed into the already existing rate of
(AT) by amendments to NAVOP 075/89 of 23 Aug 1990, eective 1 Jan 1991. e Master Chief rating for Aviation
Electronics Technician (Intermediate) and (Organization) remained (AVCM). See Avionics Technician.
Aviation Electronics Technician’s Mate
Aviation Radio Technician rating (ART) redesignated Aviation Electronics Technician’s Mate (AETM) by CL
325‑45 of 31 Oct 1945. e Aviation Electronics Technician’s Mate rating (AETM) was redesignated Aviation
Electronics Technician (AET) eective 2 Apr 1948 by CL 40‑47 of 21 Feb 1947; See Aviation Electronics
Technician.
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Aviation Fire Controlman
Aviation Bombsight and Fire Control Mechanic (AOMB) was redesignated Aviation Fire Controlman (AFC) and
became a basic rate by CL 39‑45 of 15 Feb 1945; abolished eective 2 Apr 1948 by CL 40‑47 of 21 Feb 1947; See
Aviation Fire Control Technician.
Aviation Fire Control Technician
e Aviation Fire Control Technician rating (AQ) was established in 1954 from sub‑ratings of the former Aviation
Fire Controlman and in a sense a revival of that rating; under amendments to NAVOP 075/89 of 23 Aug 1990 the
(AQ) rating was absorbed into the (AT) rating; See Aviation Electronics Technician.
Aviation Guided Missileman
e Aviation Guided Missileman rating (GF) was established and approved by SecNav 23 Jan 1953; abolished by
BuPers Instruction 1440.25 of 10 Jun 1960, eective 1 Jul 1960.
Aviation Machinist’s Mate
e Aviation Machinist’s Mate rating (AMM) was established eective 1 July 1921 by CL 9‑21 of 24 Mar 1921;
distinguishing mark approved by CL 17‑41 of 11 Feb 1941
*
; abbreviation changed to (AD) by CL 106‑48 of 9 Jun 1948.
Aviation Maintenance Administrationman
e Aviation Maintenance Administrationman rating (AZ) was established eective 1 Jan 1964 by BuPers Note
1440 of 22 Jan 1963.
228
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Personnel
Aviation Metalsmith
e Aviation Metalsmith rating (AM) was established eective 1 Jul 1921 by CL 9‑21 of 24 Mar 1921; the Aviation
Carpenter’s Mate rating (ACM) was abolished and incorporated into the Aviation Metalsmith (AM) rating by
CL 36‑40 of 21 May 1940; the Aviation Metalsmith rating (AM) was redesignated Aviation Structural Mechanic
eective 2 Apr 1948 by CL 40‑47 of 21 Feb 1947, without change in abbreviation. See Aviation Structural Mechanic.
Aviation Ordnanceman
e Aviation Ordnanceman rating (AOM) was established by CL 14‑26 of 2 Mar 1926; abbreviation changed to
(AO) by CL 106‑48 of 9 Jun 1948.
Aviation Photographer’s Mate
See Photographer’s Mate.
Aviation Pilot
Rating (AP) established by CL 18‑24 of 13 Mar 1924, changed to Chief Aviation Pilot and Aviation Pilot First Class
by CL 66‑27 of 21 Sep 1927, and abolished by a change from a rating to a designation by CL 10‑33 of 28 Mar 1933;
distinguishing mark approved by CL 24‑33 of 30 June 1933
*
; reestablished as a rating by CL 43‑42 of 17 Mar 1942,
and again abolished by a change to a designation, eective 2 Apr 1948 by CL 40‑47 of 21 Feb 1947. See Chapter 8 for
more information on Naval Aviation Pilots.
Aviation Quartermaster (Quartermaster, Aviation)
e Quartermaster, Aviation rating was established by BuNav Leer N9H/B‑5690 of 16 October 1918; the
Quartermaster, Aviation rating was redesignated Aviation Rigger (AR) eective 1 Jul 1921 by CL 9‑21 of 24 Mar
1921; See Aviation Rigger.
Aviation Ratings
|
229
Aviation Radioman
e Aviation Radioman rating (ARM) was established by CL 5‑42 of 13 Jan 1942; the distinguishing mark for the
Aviation Radioman (ARM) and Aviation Radio Technician (ART) are identied as the same specialty marking used
by both in the 1944 edition of e Bluejackets Manual; See Aviation Electronicsman.
Aviation Radio Technician
Rating (ART) established by CL 169‑42 of 11 Dec 1942, according to the 1944 edition of e Bluejackets Manual
the same specialty marking was used for Aviation Radioman (ARM) and Aviation Radio Technician (ART); See
Aviation Electronics Technician’s Mate.
Aviation Rigger
Aviation Quartermaster rating was redesignated Aviation Rigger (AR) eective 1 Jul 1921 by CL 9‑21 of 24 Mar
1921; abolished eective 30 Jun 1927 by CL 13‑26 of 25 Feb 1926.
Aviation Storekeeper
e Aviation Storekeeper rating (SKV) was established and approved by SecNav on 28 Sep 1943; distinguishing
mark approved by CL 65‑45 of 15 Mar 1945
*
; abbreviation changed to (AK) by CL 106‑48 of 9 Jun 1948. Aviation
Storekeeper rate (AK) was abolished NAVADMIN 023/00 dated 10 Feb 2000 with nal conversion of all AKs to
Storekeeper (SK) by 1 Jan 2003.
Aviation Structural Mechanic
Aviation Metalsmith rating (AM) redesignated Aviation Structural Mechanic eective 2 Apr 1948 by CL 40‑47 of
21 Feb 1947, without change in abbreviation. ree sub‑ratings for (AM) were created: (AME) Aviation Structural
Mechanic–Safety Equipment, (AMH) Aviation Structural Mechanic–Hydraulics, and (AMS) Aviation Structural
Mechanic–Structures. NAVADMIN dated 21 Jun 2000 announced the merger of the sub‑ratings (AMS) and
(AMH) into the general (AM) rating using the regular (AM) rating badge. e eective date for the completion of
this action was 1 Mar 2001.
230
|
Personnel
Aviation Support Equipment Technician
e Aviation Support Equipment Technician rating (AS) was established eective 1 Sep 1966 by BuPers Note 1440
of 24 Feb 1966.
Aviation Warfare Systems Operator
Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Operator rating (AW) was established on 1 Sep 1968 by BuPers Note 1440 of
29 Feb 1968 and redesignated Aviation Warfare Systems Operator by BuPers Note 1440 of 16 Nov 1993, without
change of abbreviation. NavAdmin 092/05 of 2 May 2005 directed the consolidation of Enlisted Naval Aircrew
(NAC) ratings into Naval Aircrewman (AW) with ve subspecialities and eliminated the Aviation Warfare Systems
Operator designation. See Naval Aircrewman.
Avionics Technician
A master chief’s rating (AVCM) established and approved by SecNav, 5 Nov 1963, this rating applies to the functional
areas of Aviation Electronics Technician (Intermediate) and (Organizational); See Aviation Electronics Technician.
Naval Aircrewman
e Naval Aircrewman (AW) rating was established by NavAdmin 092/05 of 2 May 2005 and eliminated the rating
Aviation Warfare Systems Operator but maintained the (AW) designation. e (AW) designation is only for Master
Chief Naval Aircrewman eective 1 October 2008. ere are ve subspecialities of Naval Aircrewman: (AWF) for
Naval Aircrewman Mechanical, (AWO) for Naval Aircrewman Operator, (AWS) for Naval Aircrewman Helicopter,
(AWR) for Naval Aircrewman Tactical Helicopter, and (AWV) for Naval Aircrewman Avionics. Naval Aircrewman
will continue to use the Aviation Warfare Systems Operator rating badge.
Aviation Ratings
|
231
Parachute Rigger
e Parachute Rigger rating (PR) was established by CL 33‑42 of 24 Feb 1942; the Parachute Rigger rating was
redesignated Aircrew Survival Equipmentman eective 7 Dec 1965; See Aircrew Survival Equipmentman.
Photographer
Rating (P) established in the Aviation Branch eective 1 Jul 1921 by CL 9‑21 of 24 Mar 1921, apparently later
transferred to Special Branch, but returned to the Aviation Branch by CL 14‑26 of 2 Mar 1926; See Photographer’s Mate.
Photographer’s Mate
Photographer’s rating (P) redesignated Photographer’s Mate (PhoM) by CL 113‑42 of 8 Aug 1942 and removed
from the Aviation Branch; rating split into Photographer’s Mate and Aviation Photographer’s Mate (both PhoM)
eective 2 Apr 1948 by CL 40‑47 of 21 Feb 1947; abbreviation changed to (AF) by CL 106‑48 of 9 Jun 1948; ratings
combined to become Photographer’s Mate (PH) of the Aviation Group by CL 116‑50 of 31 Jul 1950. e (PH), (JO),
(LI), and (DM) ratings were merged to form a new rating called Mass Communications Specialist (MC) as directed
by NAVADMIN 339/05 OF 28 Dec 2005.
Photographic Intelligenceman
e Photographic Intelligenceman rating (PT) was established by BuPers Note 1223 of 2 Oct 1957. e (PT) rate
merged with (YN) NEC 2505 to form Intelligence Specialist (IS) (not an aviation rating) by BuPers Note 1440 of 6
Dec 1974.
232
|
Personnel
Tradevman (Training Devices Repairman and Instructor)
e Tradevman rating (TD) was established by CL 106‑48 of 9 Jun 1948; rate slated for disestablishment by BuPers
Note 1440 of 22 Jul 1982 beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 1984 with all conversions of personnel in this rate to be
completed by the end of FY 1988.
*
Distinguishing marks are for non‑rated qualied as striker in a particular aviation rating (e.g. Aviation Machinist’s Mate). e mark is worn
midway between the wrist and elbow of the le sleeve. Distinguishing marks were superseded by the introduction of group rates used with
striker marks by non‑rated men in 1948.
Aviation Personnel on Active Duty
|
233
Chapter 11
Aviation Personnel on Active Duty
Navy Marine Corps
Officers Enlisted Officers Enlisted
1 July Pilots NFO Other Pilots
Aviation
Rates Pilots NFO Other Pilots
Aviation
Rates
1920 630 243 4,404
1921 370 108 3,494
1922 314 220 2,209
1923 326 241 1,612
1924 328 161 1,788
1925 382 137 1,711
1926 426 173 1,722
1927 472 177 108 1,984
1928 466 196 141 2,644
1929 520 207 173 2,894
1930 614 221 244 2,651 82 17 24 1,112
1931 737 427 330 2,806 98 15 33 999
1932 803 396 355 2,958 101 17 32 917
1933 826 450 337 11,949 103 15 30 913
1934 834 496 306 11,6 67 104 16 34 938
1935 867 559 280 12,129 110 15 28 985
1936 963 502 297 13,055 113 20 29 978
1937 1,002 530 355 15,091 135 20 41 1,093
1938 1,059 580 447 19,463 171 23 46 1,082
1939 1,068 609 533 19,907 180 16 47 1,091
1940 2,203 145 349 5,924 304 17 45 1,677
1941 3,483 963 629 10,640 453 27 52 3,051
1942 9,059 5,716 732 27, 286 1,284 345 85 12,583
1943 20,847 20,958 774 105,445 4,898 2,419 132 50,485
1944 37,367 26,596 475 183,886 10,416 4,406 41 91,246
1945 49,380 27,946 439 241,364 10,229 5,080 47 96,354
1946 Data not available
1947 10,052 3,054 537 44,201
1948 10,232 2,475 629 56,767 1,955 213 352 11,629
1949 11,50 9 2,343 622 73,631 1,975 221 269 14,631
1950 9,481 1,906 920 63,505 1,922 214 255 12,017
1951 14,079 3,936 775 114,0 38 3,127 785 237 25,025
1952 15,774 4,633 715 129,412 4,169 1,472 210 38,359
1953 17,612 4,403 684 137, 218 4,484 1,475 131 49,742
1954 16,722
4,078 631 125,102 3,848 1,647 123 39,748
1955 16,448 3,823 622 115,011 4,208 1,976 120 38,173
1956 17,19 3 4,209 264 135,600 4,399 1,778 109 36,232
1957 17,993 4,662 243 140,283 4,348 1,780 101 39,433
1958 18,236 4,683 210 134,212 4,225 1,697 102 37,027
234
|
P
Navy Marine Corps
Officers Enlisted Officers Enlisted
1 July Pilots NFO Other Pilots
Aviation
Rates Pilots NFO Other Pilots
Aviation
Rates
1959 17, 813 4,572 179 127,811 3,937 1,281 105 32,900
1960 17,09 0 4,977 124 121,985 3,958 1,329 96 30,326
1961 17, 354 4,475 87 123,134 4,031 1,349 66 34,253
1962 18,301 6,436 70 135,453 4,087 1,437 51 41,476
1963 17,613 6,567 59 132,538 4,131 1,594 27 41,834
1964 17,074 7,0 6 9 51 130,742 4,234 2,132 23 41,791
1965
§
16,570 7,9 3 2 43 126,988 4,372 2,346 17 41,563
1966 16,469 8,649 37 133,359 4,541 2,963 13 36,232
1967 15,973 8,985 35 139,742 4,401 3,987 12 60,192
1968 15,767 9,633 30 141,713 4,440 3,887 9 63,361
1969 15,274 10,220 27 147,679 4,648 3,973 5 62,858
1970 14,594 8,433 22 135,945 4,892 4,241 4 62,032
1971 14,890 8,215 13 120,301 4,917
3,569 4 54,672
1972 14,245 7,978 5 114,136 4,787 2,124 3 53,605
1973 13,665 7,701 3 111,329 4,384 3,126 48,110
1974 13,236 7,6 9 0 1 108,203 4,042 2,927 32,527
1975
*
13,056 7,643 1 105,619 3,921 2,671 32,454
1976
||
12,560 4,128 2,302 1 101,058 3,712 2,744 30,338
1977
†
11,6 0 8 3,970 2,343 1 102,445 3,644 2,679 30,499
30 Sep
1978 10,632 4,268 2,271 1 10 8,180 3,429 2,850 28,176
1979 9,707 4,327 2,123 1 107, 6 6 9 3,219 2,856 29,369
1980 9,487 4,377 2,012 1 107,99 6 2,312
#
61
#
34,059
#
1981 9,828 4,666 1,954 109,915 2,532
#
66
#
33,832
#
1982 10,203 4,819 1,891 112,209 2,780
#
73
#
35,532
#
1983 10,483 5,160 2,223 114,722 2,991
#
82
#
37,972
#
1984 10,479 5,280 2,425 115,325 3,086
#
85
#
41,408
#
1985 10,559 5,566 2,685 114,866 3,119
#
99
#
42,050
#
1986 10,516 5,734 2,796 117, 8 8 6 3,056
#
96
#
39,846
#
1987 10,748 5,966 2,749 122,563 3,357
#
120
#
38,163
#
1988 10,835 6,111 2,723 123,428 3,423
#
145
#
36,523
#
1989 11,022 6,241 2,641 123,651 3,429
#
154
#
36,136
#
1990 11,018 6,340 2,534 118,611 3,492
#
193
#
37,0 24
#
1991 10,491 6,109 2,487 114,056 3,582
#
223
#
37,114
#
1992 10,338 6,060 2,443 113,943 3,536
#
259
#
36,644
#
1993 9,162 5,222 1,116 72,182
#
3,556
#
303
#
34,365
#
1994 8,287 4,537 977 69,725
#
3,473
#
324
#
33,260
#
1995 7,751 4,079 939 63,309
#
3,579
#
353
#
32,605
#
1996
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
3,552
#
361
#
32,680
#
1997 7,915 4,050 4,10 9
**
69,085
#
3,467
#
360
#
32,843
#
1998 7,4 31 3,848 4,313
**
67,179
#
3,401
#
371
#
33,851
#
1999 7, 276 3,759 4,195
**
67,583
#
3,441
#
384
#
34,942
#
2000 7,28 6 3,741 4,254
**
68,654
#
3,475
#
403
#
35,401
#
Aviation Personnel on Active Duty
|
235
Navy Marine Corps
Officers Enlisted Officers Enlisted
30 Sep Pilots NFO Other Pilots
Aviation
Rates Pilots NFO Other Pilots
Aviation
Rates
2001 7,3 48 3,871 4,030
**
79,345
# ‡ ‡
35,580
#
2002 7,46 9 3,871 4,233
**
82,293
# ‡ ‡
36,327
#
2003 7,686 3,838 4,308
**
82,725
# ‡ ‡
36,735
#
2004 7,8 5 9 3,801 4,016
**
80,967
#
4,006
#
458
#
37,675
#
2005 7,82 3 3,738 3,860
**
78,871
#
3,965
#
469
#
37,768
#
2006 7,779 3,618 3,789
**
74,132
#
3,924
#
461
#
36,824
#
2007 7, 8 0 8 3,540 4,020
**
70,525
#
3,956
#
465
#
37,531
#
2008 7,0 2 2 3,273 4,080
**
62,684
#
3,913
#
444
#
39,345
#
2009 7,014 3,236 4,064
**
62,184
#
3,978
#
429
#
40,372
#
2010 6,929 3,191 4,208
**
62,604
#
4,088
#
401
#
40,378
#
*
Navy gures are for 31 Mar 1975. USMC gures are for 30 Jun 1975.
†
Navy gures are for 30 Jun 1977. USMC gures are for 30 Sep 1977.
‡
Data not available.
§
Naval Aviation Observers (NAO) redesignated Naval Flight Ofcers (NFO) by BuPers Instruction 1210.4C of 8 Feb 1965, effective 1 May 1965.
||
NFO designation separated from other non-pilots.
#
Annual Report, Bureau of Naval Personnel Statistics (Report 15658), discontinued in mid FY 1993. Figures for Navy enlisted personnel in aviation rates
provided directly from BuPers. Figures for Marine Corps Pilots, NFO and Aviation Rates from 1980 to 2010 provided by HQMC Aviation.
**
These gures include Pilot or NFO rating that has been terminated, training to be a pilot or NFO, Aeronautical Engineering and Maintenance Specialties, LDO
for Aviation Deck, Aviation Operations, Aviation Maintenance, Aviation Ordnance, Avionics, and Air Trafc Control.
Note: Does not include men in training. Aviation rates under Navy for years 1933–39 include general service ratings assigned to aviation duty. Enlisted pilots
for 1920–26 are included under aviation rates. All Navy gures for WWII period, 1940–45, include Coast Guard. Figures not available for Marine Corps,
1920–29.
Medal of Honor Awards in Naval Aviation
|
237
Chapter 12
Medal of Honor Awards in Naval Aviation
To Naval Aviators and Naval Aviation Pilots in Connection with Aviation
Name Rank/Service N.A. Number Occasion for Award
Bauer, Harold W.
*
Lt. Col., USMC 4189
Action in air combat, South Pacic area; 28
Sep–3 Oct 1942
Bennett, Floyd CWO, USN NAP-9
Piloted plane on rst ight over North Pole; 9
May 1926
Boyington, Gregory Maj., USMC 5160
Action in air combat, Central Solomons area;
12 Sep 1943–3 Jan 1944
Byrd, Richard E. Lt. Cmdr., USN 608
Commanded plane on rst ight over North
Pole; 9 May 1926
Corry, William M.
*
Lt. Cmdr., USN 23
Attempted rescue of pilot from burning aircraft;
2 Oct 1920
DeBlanc, Jefferson J. Capt., USMC 12504
Action as leader of a ghter mission in air
combat off Kolombangara Island, South
Pacic; 31 Jan 1943
Elrod, Henry T.
*
Capt., USMC 4093
Action in air and ground combat in defense of
Wake Island; 8–23 Dec 1941
Estocin, Michael J.
*
Lt. Cmdr., USN
Action as leader of air attack against enemy
targets in North Vietnam; 20 and 26 Apr 1967
Fleming, Richard E.
*
Capt., USMC 6889
Action as leader of dive bombing attack, Battle
of Midway; 4–6 Jun 1942
Foss, Joseph J. Capt., USMC 7290
Action in air combat in defense of Guadalcanal;
9 Oct–19 Nov 1942
Galer, Robert E. Maj., USMC 5197
Action in air combat, South Pacic area; Aug–
Sep 1942
Gordon, Nathan G. Lt., USN 11421
Rescue of 15 ofcers and men under re in
Kavieng Harbor; 15 Feb 1944
Hall, William E. Lt. j.g., USN 6072
Determined attacks on enemy carrier, Battle of
Coral Sea; 7–8 May 1942
Hammann, Charles H. Ens., USNRF 1494
Rescue of fellow pilot under re during raid on
Pula, Austria; 21 Aug 1918
Hanson, Robert M.
*
1st Lt., USMC
Action in air combat at Bougainville; 1 Nov
1943, and New Britain; 24 Jun 1944
Hudner, Thomas J., Jr. Lt. j.g., USN
Attempted rescue of squadron mate downed
behind enemy lines in Korea; 4 Dec 1950
Hutchins, Carlton B. Lt., USN 3435
Remained at controls of his aircraft after a
mid-air collision to allow his crew to escape; 2
Feb 1938
Koelsch, John K.
*
Lt. j.g., USN
Attempted rescue by helicopter during heavy
overcast and under re, Korea; 3 Jul 1951
Lassen, Clyde E. Lt. j.g., USN
Night helicopter rescue under enemy re of two
downed aviators in North Vietnam; 19 Jun 1968
McCampbell, David Cmdr., USN 5612
Action in air combat during Battle of Philippine
Sea and Leyte Gulf; June and Oct 1944
O’Hare, Edward H. Lt., USN 6405
Action in air combat in defense of carrier off
Rabaul; 20 Feb 1942
Pless, Stephen W. Capt., USMC
Helicopter rescue under enemy re of four
American soldiers beset by a large group of
Viet Cong; 19 Aug 1967
Powers, John J.
*
Lt., USN 6880
Determined attacks on enemy ships during
Battle of Coral Sea; 4–8 May 1942
238
|
Personnel
Name Rank/Service N.A. Number Occasion for Award
Schilt, Christian F. 1st Lt., USMC 2741
Air evacuation of wounded under re, Qualili,
Nicaragua; 6–8 Jan 1928
Smith, John L. Maj., USMC 5978
Action in air combat in defense of Guadalcanal;
21 Aug–15 Sep 1942
Swett, James E. 1st Lt., USMC 11893
Action in air combat, Solomon Islands area; 7
Apr 1943
Talbot, Ralph 2d Lt., USMC 802 Action in air combat, Europe; 8 and 14 Oct 1918
Van Voorhis, Bruce
*
Lt. Cmdr., USN 3859
Determined low-level heavy bomber attack,
Battle of the Solomon Islands; 6 Jul 1943
Walsh, Kenneth A. 1st Lt., USMC
Action in air combat at Vella Lavella; 15 and 30
Aug 1943
To Naval Aviators for Action not Associated with Aviation
Name Rank/Service N.A. Number Occasion for Award
Antrim, Richard N. Lt., USN 6750
Action on behalf of fellow prisoners while
POW; April 1942
Edson, Merritt A. Col., USMC 3026
Leading ground action in defense of the aireld
at Guadalcanal; 13–14 Sep 1942
Stockdale, James B. Capt., USN
Action on behalf of fellow prisoners while
POW; 4 Sep 1969
To Officers and Men later Designated Naval Aviator, NAP, Naval Aviation Observer, and NFO
Name Rank/Service N.A. Number Occasion for Award
Commiskey, Henry A. 2d Lt., USMC
Leading ground attack on strong enemy
position near Yongdungpo, Korea; 20 Sep 1950
McDonnell, Edward Ens., USN 18
Establishing signal station ashore and
maintaining communications while under re at
Veracruz; 21–22 Apr 1914
Moffett, William A. Cmdr., USN NAO-1
Action in command of a ship at Veracruz;
21–22 Apr 1914
Ormsbee, Francis, Jr. CMM(A), USN
†
NAP-25
Rescuing enlisted men and attempted
rescue of pilots downed in seaplane crash in
Pensacola Bay; 25 Sep 1918
To Non-Aviators for Action Associated with Aviation
Name Rank/Service N.A. Number Occasion for Award
Clausen, Raymond M. PFC, USMC
Repeated rescues by helicopter of men
trapped by enemy re and mineeld, South
Vietnam; 30 Jan 1970
Finn, John W. AOC, USN
‡
Action under re under the attack NAS
Kaneohe; 7 Dec 1941
Gary, Donald A. Lt. j.g., USN
Repeated rescues of trapped men on board
Franklin (CV 13), severely damaged by enemy
attack; 19 Mar 1945
McGunigal, Patrick SF1c, USN
§
Rescue of a kite balloon pilot entangled
underwater in the balloon rigging, Huntington
(ACR 5); 17 Sep 1917
O’Callahan, Joseph T. Lt. Cmdr., USN (CHC)
Inspiration, leadership, and repeated rescues
on board Franklin (CV 13) damaged by air
attack; 19 Mar 1945
Ricketts, Milton E.
*
Lt., USN
Leading damage control party on board
Yorktown (CV 5) damaged during Battle of
Coral Sea; 8 May 1942
Robinson, Robert G. Gy. Sgt., USMC
Action during air combat as gunner to Lt.
Ralph Talbot, USMC; 8 and 14 Oct 1918
Medal of Honor Awards in Naval Aviation
|
239
To Aviators for Participating in the Space Program
e Congressional Space Medal of Honor, rst awarded to former astronauts by President Jimmy Carter on
1 October 1978, was authorized by Congress on 29 September 1969 to recognize “any astronaut who in the
performance of his duties has distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious eorts and contributions to the
welfare of the Nation and mankind.”
Name Rank/Service N.A. Number Occasion for Award
Armstrong, Neil A.
Participated in the Gemini 8 and Apollo
11 space ight missions. On Apollo 11, he
became the rst person to walk on the moon;
1 Oct 1978
Conrad, Charles, Jr. Capt., USN
Participated in four space ight missions:
Gemini 5, Gemini 11, Apollo 12, and Skylab
2. Commanded the crew of the rst manned
Skylab mission that conducted repairs on the
orbital workshop; 1 Oct 1978
Glenn, John H., Jr. Col., USMC
One of the original Mercury Astronauts and the
rst American to orbit the Earth; 1 Oct 1978
Lovell, James A., Jr. Capt., USN
Participated in four space ight missions:
Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, and Apollo 13.
Commanded the crew of Apollo 13; 26 July
1995
Shepard, Alan B., Jr. Rear Adm., USN
One of the original Mercury Astronauts and
the rst American into space. Commanded the
Apollo 14 mission; 1 Oct 1978
Young, John W. Capt., USN
Participated in ve space ight missions:
Gemini 3, Gemini 10, Apollo 10, and Apollo 16,
and STS-1 (Space Shuttle Columbia) beneting
human progress in space; 19 May 1981
*
Received award posthumously
†
Chief Machinist’s Mate (Aviation)
‡
Aviation Ordnance Chief; later promoted to commissioned status
§
Shiptter 1st Class
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aces
|
241
Chapter 13
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aces
e Navy Department has never ocially compiled or issued a list of “Aces”. During WWII, the period with the
largest number of aerial shoot-downs for naval yers, the Navy did not keep an overall record of individual scores in
aerial combat; hence, there is no ocial list of conrmed shoot-downs.
e most comprehensive work done on Navy and Marine Corps WWII aces was wrien and published by
Frank Olynyk. His two books are USN Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircra in Air-to-Air Combat World War
II, Victory List No. 2, published in 1982, and USMC Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircra in Air-to-Air Combat
World War II, published in 1981. In 1986 Naval Aviation News magazine published a list of U.S. Navy and Marine
Corps aces that had been compiled by Olynyk. e following list of aces, as published by the magazine in 1986,
includes his WWII list and also those from WWI, Korea, and Vietnam.
Name Service Time Frame
§
* Aldrich, Donald N. USMC
Alley, Stuart C., Jr. USMC
Amsden, Benjamin C. USN
Anderson, Alexander L. USN
Anderson, Robert H. USN
‡ Andre, John W, USMC
Axtell, George C. USMC
Bailey, Oscar C. USN
Baird, Robert USMC
* Baker, Douglas USN
Baker, Robert M. USMC
Bakutis, Fred E. USN
Balch, Donald L. USMC
Baldwin, Frank B. USMC
Balsiger, Henry W. USN
Banks, John L. USN
Barackman, Bruce M. USN
Bardshar, Frederic A. USN
Bare, James D. USN
Barnard, Lloyd G. USN
Barnes, James M. USN
Bartol, John W. USN
† Bassett, Edgar R. USN
Bate, Oscar M., Jr. USMC
Batten, Hugh N. USN
Bauer, Harold W. USMC
Beatley, Redman C. USN
Beaudry, Paul H. N. USN
Beebe, Marshall U. USN
Berkheimer, Jack S. USN
Berree, Norman R. USN
Bertelson, Richard L. USN
† Billo, James D. USN
Bishop, Walter D. USN
Blackburn, John T. USN
Name Service Time Frame
§
† Blair, Foster J. USN
Blair, William K. USN
Blaydes, Richard B. USN
Blyth, Robert L. USN
Bolduc, Alfred G. USN
Bolt, John F., Jr. USMC
Bolt, John F., Jr. USMC Korea
Bonneau, William J. USN
Bordelon, Guy P. USN Korea
Borley, Clarence A. USN
* Boyington, Gregory USMC
Boyle, Gerald F. USN
Brasseld, Arthur J. USN
Braun, Richard L. USMC
Brewer, Charles W. USN
Bridges, Johnnie J. USNR
Bright, Mark K. USN
Brocato, Samuel J. USN
Brown, Carl A., Jr. USN
Brown, William P., Jr. USMC
Bruneau, Paul J. USN
Brunmier, Carland E. USN
Bryce, James A. USN
Buchanan, Robert L. USN
Buie, Paul D. USN
Burckhalter, William E. USN
Burley, Franklin N. USN
Burnett, Roy O., Jr. USN
Burriss, Howard M. USN
† Bushner, Frances X. USN
* Byrnes, Matthew S., Jr. USN
Cain, James B. USN
Carey, Henry A., Jr. USN
Carl, Marion E. USMC
Carlson, Robert B. USN
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§
Carlton, William A. USMC
Carmichael, Daniel A., Jr. USN
Carr, George R. USN
Carroll, Charles H. USN
Case, William N. USMC
Caswell, Dean USMC
Chambers, Cyrus J. USN
Champion, Henry K. USN
Chandler, Creighton USMC
Check, Leonard J. USN
Chenoweth, Oscar I., Jr. USN
Clark, Lawrence A. USN
Clark, Robert A. USN
Clarke, Walter E. USN
Clements, Robert E. USN
Clements, Donald C. USN
Coats, Robert C. USN
Coleman, Thaddeus T., Jr. USN
Coleman, William M. USN
Collins, William M., Jr. USN
Conant, Arthur R. USMC
Conant, Edwin S. USN
Conger, Jack E. USMC
Conroy, Thomas J. USN
Copeland, William E. USN
Cordray, Paul USN
Cormier, Richard L. USN
† Cornell, Leland B. USN
Cowger, Richard D. USN
Cozzens, Melvin USN
Craig, Clement M. USN
Cronin, Donald F. USN
Crosby, John T. USN
Crowe, William E. USMC
Cunningham, Daniel G. USN
Cunningham, Randall H. USN Vietnam
Cupp, James N. USMC
Dahms, Kenneth J. USN
Davenport, Merl W. USN
Davidson, George H. USN
Davies, Clarence E. USN
Davis, Leonard K. USMC
Davis, Robert H. USN
Dean, William A., Jr. USN
Dear, John W., Jr. USN
De Blanc, Jefferson J. USMC
De Cew, Leslie USN
‡ Delong, Philip C. USMC
Denman, Anthony J. USN
Name Service Time Frame
§
Denoff, Reuben H. USN
Devine, Richard O. USN
Dewing, Lawrence A. USN
Dibb, Robert A. M. USN
Dillard, Joseph V. USMC
Dillow, Eugene USMC
Dobbin, John F. USMC
Donahue, Archie G. USMC
Doner, Landis E. USN
Dorroh, Jefferson D. USMC
Doyle, Cecil J. USMC
Drake, Charles W. USMC
Driscoll, Daniel B. J. USN
Driscoll, William P. (NFO) USN Vietnam
Drury, Frank C. USMC
Drury, Paul E. USN
Duffy, James E. USN
Duncan, George C. USN
Duncan, Robert W. USN
Dungan, Fred L. USN
Dunn, Bernard USN
Durnford, Dewey F. USMC
Eastmond, Richard T. USN
Eberts, Byron A. USN
† Eccles, William G USN
Eckard, Bert USN
Eder, William E. USN
Edwards, William C., Jr. USN
Elliott, Ralph E., Jr. USN
Elwood, Hugh M. USMC
Enman, Anthony J. USN
Erickson, Lyle A. USN
Evenson, Eric A. USN
Everton, Loren D. USMC
Fair, John W. USN
Farmer, Charles D. USN
Farnsworth, Robert A., Jr. USN
Farrell, William USMC
Fash, Robert P. USN
Fecke, Alfred J. USN
Feightner, Edward L. USN
Ferko, Leo M. USN
Finn, Howard J. USMC
Fisher, Don H. USMC
† Flatley, James H., Jr. USN
Fleming, Francis M. USN
Fleming, Patrick D. USN
Flinn, Kenneth A. USN
Foltz, Frank E. USN
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aces
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243
Name Service Time Frame
§
Foltz, Ralph E. USN
Fontana, Paul J. USMC
Ford, Kenneth M. USMC
Formanek, George, Jr. USN
Forrer, Samuel W. USN
* Foss, Joseph J. USMC
Foster, Carl C. USN
Fowler, Richard E., Jr. USN
Franger, Marvin J. USN
Franks, John M. USN
Fraser, Robert B. USMC
Frazier, Kenneth D. USMC
Freeman, Doris C. USN
Freeman, William B. USMC
French, James B. USN
Frendberg, Alfred L. USN
Funk, Harold N. USN
Gabriel, Franklin T. USN
Galer, Robert E. USMC
Galt, Dwight B., Jr. USN
Galvin, John R. USN
Gayler, Noel A. M. USN
Gildea, John T. USN
Gile, Clement D. USN
Gillespie, Roy F. USN
Godson, Lindley W. USN
Gordon, Donald USN
Graham, Vernon E. USN
Gray, James S., Jr. USN
Gray, John F. USN
Gray, Lester E., Jr. USN
Gregory, Hayden A. USN
Grifn, Richard J. USN
Gustafson, Harlan I. USN
Gutt, Fred E. USMC
Haas, Walter A. USN
Haberman, Roger A. USMC
Hacking, Albert E., Jr. USMC
Hadden, Mayo A., Jr. USN
Hall, Sheldon O. USMC
Hamblin, Lewis R. USN
Hamilton, Henry B. USMC
Hamilton, Robert M. USN
Hanks, Eugene R. USN
Hansen, Herman, Jr. USMC
* Hanson, Robert M. USMC
Hardy, Willis E. USN
Hargreaves, Everett C. USN
Harman, Walter R. USN
Name Service Time Frame
§
* Harris, Cecil E. USN
Harris, Leroy E. USN
Harris, Thomas S. USN
Harris, William H., Jr. USN
Haverland, Charles H., Jr. USN
Hawkins, Arthur R. USN
Hayde, Frank R. USN
Hearrell, Frank C., Jr. USN
Heath, Horace W. USN
Hedrick, Roger R. USN
Heinzen, Lloyd P. USN
Henderson, Paul M., Jr. USN
Henry, William E. USN
Hernan, Edwin J., Jr. USMC
Hibbard, Samuel B. USN
Hildebrandt, Carlos K. USN
Hill, Harry E. USN
Hills, Hollis H. USN
Hippe, Kenneth G. USN
Hoag, John B. USN
Hoel, Ronald W. USN
Hollowell, George L. USMC
Hood, William L., Jr. USMC
Houck, Herbert N. USN
Hudson, Howard R. USN
Huffman, Charles W., Jr. USN
Humphrey, Robert J. USN
Hundley, John C. USMC
Hurst, Robert USN
Ingalls, David S. USN WWI
Ireland, Julius W. USMC
Jaques, Bruce D. USN
Jennings, Robert H., Jr. USN
Jensen, Hayden M. USN
Jensen, Alvin J. USMC
Johannsen, Delmar K. USN
Johnson, Byron M. USN
Johnson, Wallace R. USN
Johnston, John M. USN
Jones, Charles D. USMC
Jones, James M. USN
Kaelin, Joseph USN
Kane, William R. USN
Keith, Leroy W. J. USN
Kendrick, Charles USMC
* Kepford, Ira C. USN
Kerr, Leslie H., Jr. USN
Kidwell, Robert J. USN
Kincaid, Robert A. USN
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Name Service Time Frame
§
Kingston, William J., Jr. USN
Kinsella, James J. USN
Kirk, George N. USN
Kirkpatrick, Floyd C. USMC
Kirkwood, Philip L. USN
Knight, William M. USN
Kostik, William J. USN
Kunz, Charles M. USMC
Laird, Dean S. USN
Laird, Wayne W. USMC
Lake, Kenneth B. USN
‡ Lamb, William E. USN
Lamoreaux, William E. USN
Laney, Willis G. USN
Langdon, Ned W. USN
Leonard, William N. USN
Leppla, John A. USN
Lerch, Alfred USN
Lillie, Hugh D. USN
Lindsay, Elvin L. USN
Loesch, Gregory K. USMC
Long, Herbert H. USMC
Lundin, Walter A. USN
Lynch, Joseph P. USMC
Maas, John B. USMC
Maberry, Lewin A. USN
Magee, Christopher L. USMC
Mahe, Thomas R., Jr. USMC
Mallory, Charles M. USN
Mankin, Lee P., Jr. USN
Mann, Thomas H., Jr. USMC
Manson, Armand G. USN
March, Harry A., Jr. USN
Marontate, William P. USMC
Martin, Albert E., Jr. USN
Masoner, William J., Jr. USN
Maxwell, William R. USN
May, Richard H. USN
May, Earl, Jr. USN
Mazzocco, Michele A. USN
* McCampbell, David USN
McCartney, Henry A. USMC
McClelland, Thomas G. USN
McClure, Edgar B. USN
McClurg, Robert W. USMC
McCormick, William A. USN
McCuddin, Leo B. USN
McCuskey, Elbert S. USN
McGinty, Selva E. USMC
Name Service Time Frame
§
McGowan, Edward C. USN
McGraw, Joseph D. USN
McKinley, Donald J. USN
McLachlin, William W. USN
McManus, John USMC
McPherson, Donald M. USN
McWhorter, Hamilton, III USN
Mehle, Roger W. USN
Menard, Louis A., Jr. USN
Mencin, Adolph USN
† Merritt, Robert S. USN
Michaelis, Frederick H. USN
Miller, Johnnie G. USN
Milton, Charles B. USN
Mims, Robert USN
Mitchell, Harris E. USN
Mitchell, Henry E., Jr. USN
Mollard, Norman W., Jr. USN
Mollenhauer, Arthur P. USN
Montapert, John R. USN
Moranville, Horace B. USN
Morgan, John L., Jr. USMC
Morris, Bert D., Jr. USN
Moseley, William C. USN
Mulcahy, Douglas W. USN
Mullen, Paul A. USMC
Munsen, Arthur H. USN
Murray, Robert E. USN
Narr, Joseph L. USMC
Nelson, Robert J. USN
Nelson, Robert K. USN
Noble, Myrvin E. USN
* Nooy, Cornelius N. USN
Novak, Marvin R. USN
Null, Cleveland L. USN
O’Hare, Edward H. USN
O’Keefe, Jeremiah J. USMC
O’Mara, Paul, Jr. USN
Olander, Edwin L. USMC
Olsen, Austin L. USN
Orth, John USN
Ostrom, Charles H. USN
Outlaw, Edward C. USN
Overend, Edmund F. USMC
Overton, Edward W., Jr. USN
Owen, Donald C. USMC
Owen, Edward M. USN
Owens, Robert G., Jr. USMC
Parrish, Elbert W. USN
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aces
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245
Name Service Time Frame
§
Paskoski, Joseph J. USN
Payne, Frederick R., Jr. USMC
Pearce, James L. USN
Percy, James G. USMC
Philips, David P., III USN
Phillips, Edward A. USN
Phillips, Hyde USMC
Picken, Harvey P. USN
Pierce, Francis E., Jr. USMC
Pigman, George W., Jr. USN
Pittman, Jack, Jr. USMC
Plant, Claude W., Jr. USN
Pond, Zenneth A. USMC
Pool, Tilman E. USN
Pope, Albert J. USN
Porter, Robert B. USMC
Poske, George H. USMC
Post, Nathan T., Jr. USMC
Pound, Ralston M., Jr. USN
Powell, Ernest A. USMC
Prater, Luther D., Jr. USN
Presley, Frank H. USMC
Prichard, Melvin M. USN
Quiel, Norwald R. USN
† Ramlo, Orvin H. USMC
Reber, James V., Jr. USN
Redmond, Eugene D. USN
Register, Francis R. USN
Rehm, Dan R., Jr. USN
Reidy, Thomas H. USN
Reinburg, Joseph H. USMC
Reiserer, Russell L. USN
Rennemo, Thomas J. USN
Reulet, Joseph E. USN
Revel, Glenn M. USN
Rhodes, Thomas W. USN
Rieger, Vincent A. USN
Rigg, James F. USN
Roach, Thomas D. USN
Robbins, Joe D. USN
Robinson, Leroy W. USN
Robinson, Ross F. USN
Rosen, Ralph J. USN
Ross, Robert P. USN
Rossi, Herman J., Jr. USN
Ruhsam, John W. USMC
Runyon, Donald E. USN
Rushing, Roy W. USN
Sapp, Donald H. USMC
Name Service Time Frame
§
Sargent, John J., Jr. USN
Savage, Jimmie E. USN
Scales, Harrell H. USN
Scarborough, Hartwell V., Jr. USMC
Schecter, Gordon E. USN
Schell, John L. USN
Scherer, Raymond F. USMC
Schiller, James E. USN
Schneider, Frank E. USN
Seckel, Albert, Jr. USN
See, Robert B. USMC
Segal, Harold E. USMC
Self, Larry R. USN
Shackford, Robert W. USN
Shands, Courtney USN
Shaw, Edward O. USMC
Sherrill, Hugh V. USN
Shields, Charles A. USN
Shirley, James A. USN
Shuman, Perry L. USMC
Sigler, Wallace E. USMC
Silber, Sam L. USN
Singer, Arthur, Jr. USN
Sipes, Lester H. USN
Sistrunk, Frank USN
Skon, Warren A. USN
Slack, Albert C. USN
Smith, Armistead B., Jr. USN
Smith, Carl E. USN
Smith, Clinton L. USN
Smith, Daniel F., Jr. USN
* Smith, John L. USMC
Smith, John M. USN
Smith, Kenneth D. USN
Smith, Nicholas J., III USN
Snider, William N. USMC
Sonner, Irl V., Jr. USN
Southerland, James J., III USN
* Spears, Harold L. USMC
Spitler, Clyde P. USN
Stanbook, Richard E. USN
Stanley, Gordon A. USN
Starkes, Carlton B. USN
Stebbins, Edgar E. USN
Stewart, James S. USN
* Stimpson, Charles R. USN
Stokes, John D. USN
Stone, Carl V. USN
Stout, Robert F. USMC
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Name Service Time Frame
§
Strane, John R. USN
Strange, Johnnie C. USN
Streig, Frederick J. USN
Sturdevant, Harvey W. USN
Sutherland, John F. USN
* Swett, James E. USMC
Swinburne, Harry W., Jr. USN
Swope, James S. USN
Symmes, John C. C. USN
Synar, Stanley T. USMC
Taylor, Ray A., Jr. USN
Taylor, Will W. USN
Terrill, Francis A. USMC
Thach, John S. USN
Thelen, Robert H. USN
Thomas, Franklin C., Jr. USMC
Thomas, Robert F. USN
* Thomas, Wilbur J. USMC
Toaspern, Edward W. USN
Topliff, John W. USN
Torkelson, Ross E. USN
Townsend, Eugene P. USN
Tracey, Fredrick W. USN
Troup, Franklin W. USN
Trowbridge, Eugene A. USMC
Traux, Myron M. USN
Turner, Charles H. USN
Turner, Edward B. USN
Twelves, Wendell V. USN
Ude, Vernon R. USN
Umphfres, Donald E. USN
* Valencia, Eugene A. USN
Valentine, Herbert J. USMC
Van Der Linden, Peter J., Jr. USN
Van Dyke, Rudolph D., Jr. USN
Van Haren, Arthur, Jr. USN
Vedder, Milton N. USMC
Vejtasa, Stanley W. USN
Vineyard, Merriwell W. USN
Vita, Harold E. USN
Voris, Roy M. USN
Vorse, Albert O., Jr. USN
* Vraciu, Alexander USN
Wade, Robert USMC
* Walsh, Kenneth A. USMC
Ward, Lyttleton T. USN
Warner, Arthur T. USMC
Watson, Jack O. USN
Watts, Charles E. USN
Name Service Time Frame
§
Webb, Wilbur B. USN
Weissenberger, Gregory J. USMC
Wells, Albert P. USMC
Wesolowski, John M. USN
West, Robert G. USN
White, Henry S. USN
Williams, Bruce W. USN
Williams, Gerard M. H. USMC
Wilson, Robert C. USN
Wineld, Murray USN
Winston, Robert A. USN
Winters, Theodore H., Jr. USN
Wirth, John L. USN
Wolf, John T. USN
Wood, Walter A. USN
Wooley, Millard J. USN
Woolverton, Robert C. USN
Wordell, Malcolm T. USN
Wrenn, George L. USN
Yeremain, Harold USN
Yost, Donald K. USMC
Yunck, Michael R. USMC
Zaeske, Earling W. USN
Zink, John A. USN
* Ace with 15 kills or more.
† Unconrmed as ace in WWII.
‡ Ace status acquired from combined kills of WWII and Korea.
§ Timeframe is WWII unless indicated otherwise.
Early Naval Jet Pilots
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Chapter 14
Early Naval Jet Pilots
e rst ight in a turbojet aircra in the United States was made at Muroc, Calif., on 1 October 1942, by Robert M.
Stanley, chief test pilot of the Bell Aircra Corporation. e next day Col. Lawrence C. Craigie of the U.S. Army Air
Forces, took up the same plane for its rst ight by a military pilot. e rst jet ight by a naval aviator was made in
the same plane at the same location on 21 April 1943 by Capt. Frederick M. Trapnell of Flight Test, NAS Anacostia,
D.C. In each instance, the plane was a Bell XP‑59A powered by two General Electric 1A turbojet engines. It was the
rst jet aircra built in the United States and a prototype of the rst jet aircra acquired by the United States Navy.
Before the end of the war, the Navy had acquired three of the Bell Airacomets and in the rst year aer the
war acquired two more. All were obtained from the Army Air Forces and assigned to NAS Patuxent River, Md.
eir purpose was to provide a means of testing the adaptability of jet aircra to naval requirements and a means of
training pilots to y the new aircra type. ey served through 1947.
Even before their acquisition, the Navy’s interest in jet propulsion had been evident as it not only monitored
the progress of jet programs in the Army Air Forces and took part in certain joint studies, but also initiated a study
contract, which led to the development of the rst Westinghouse jet engines. As early as 1943, two carrier ghter
designs employing jet engines were initiated. e rst with Ryan Aeronautical Company had the immediate
objective of developing a ghter capable of operating from escort carriers as a replacement for the FM Wildcat. It
resulted in the XFR‑1 Fireball, which was powered by a Wright Cyclone engine in the nose, and a General Electric
I‑16 in the aer section of the fuselage. Its development and production were handled on a crash basis and the rst
model ew in June 1944. Within a year it was assigned to a eet squadron. Limited operations from escort carriers
for short periods in the immediate post‑war period uncovered numerous bugs and by July 1947 the decision to
withdraw them from service had been made and carried out. A similar concept of composite power, carried out with
the XF15C was abandoned aer experimental models had been evaluated at Patuxent, Md.
e second contract of 1943 authorized the McDonnell Aircra Corporation to design a twin‑jet carrier ghter.
To avoid disrupting wartime production and to meet the not‑so‑urgent objective of using the plane to explore the
feasibility of jet operations on carriers, progress was intentionally slow. Even so, the airplane—the XFD‑1 Phantom,
powered by two Westinghouse 19B jets—took to the air for the rst time on 26 January 1945. Aer another year and
a half of ight testing, a production FD‑1 was taken on board Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB 42) and on 21 July 1946 the
rst jet operations from a U.S. carrier were conducted. A year later, the Phantom became the rst jet aircra assigned
to a eet squadron when two FDs were delivered to VF‑17A at NAS Quonset Point, R.I.
In the meantime, studies and contracts had been let for other jet aircra, which were to become operational.
One of these, made in January 1945 with North American Aviation, produced the FJ‑l Fury equipped with a single
Allison/GE jet. Claimed by some to be the hoest, straight‑wing jet ever built, this airplane made its rst ight in
September 1946 and, in November of the next year, was delivered to VF‑5A at NAS San Diego, Calif. On 10 March
1948, the squadron commanding ocer and executive ocer took the Fury on board Boxer (CV 21) for carrier
suitability tests, conducting a number of takeos and landings. Shortly aer, VF‑17A completed carrier qualications
in the Phantom, by then redesignated FH, on board Saipan (CVL 48). e Navy’s transition to jet aircra had
denitely begun.
By 1948, the number of naval aviators qualied to y jets had assumed fairly generous proportions. Because
it appeared desirable to have a list of the men who pioneered the Navy’s eort in this eld in the historical record,
a project to obtain their names was initiated in October 1961 by Adrian O. Van Weyn, head of the Naval Aviation
History Oce.
It soon became apparent that there was no ready‑made list and, further, that no ocial records had been kept
from which one could be compiled. Even the ight logs from Patuxent, where the rst jet aircra had been assigned,
seemed to have disappeared. It was then that a general appeal for help was made through a leer in the March 1962
issue of Naval Aviation News.
Help came from many sources. Twenty men in all answered this call giving not only the particulars of their
rst ights but also the names of others who had own in the early period. One pilot sent a list of 73 men awarded
Phantom Jockey Certicates by McDonnell Aircra Corporation commemorating their ights in the Phantom jet.
Perhaps the most unexpected, but no less useful, was a report from an ocer assigned to the Aviation Safety Center
listing all men involved in accidents in jet aircra through 1948. From these replies and from other sources, a list was
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made up of another 80 men who had probably qualied in the period 1943–48. Each was sent a leer asking for the
particulars of his qualication as well as for the names of others who should be questioned. e project developed
quickly into a leer writing campaign as almost every third answer added more names, which in turn spawned yet
other possibilities.
When these leads had been exhausted, the project seemed about complete and preparations were made to put
the list in order for publication. It was then that the earlier search for the Patuxent ight logs produced results. ey
were found at the Federal Records Center in Alexandria. With some interest but only a lile expectancy of nding
any more than conrmation of what was already known, a few were called over for leisurely perusal. e rst one
dispelled all dreams of the project being nished.
About two months and 31 logs later, another 200 names had been added to the probables list. But what
names! Almost without fail, the log entries identied the pilot by last name only, giving no initials, no rank, and no
indication of service aliation. is should have presented no diculty with the more unusual names but experience
proved quickly that no names are unusual. Reference to unit rosters and Navy Registers helped some, and the Bureau
of Personnel contributed its share, but when all available sources had been used, there were still about 100 names
lacking identity.
Some of these were cleared up by a day spent at NATC Patuxent, Md., and the follow‑up assistance of dm. Paul
H. Ramsey’s sta. Some remain only names, some of those identied could not be found, and many were not heard
from. Several were no longer living. Others were separated from their logs by vacation or change of duty and could
not give exact information. Still others reported their logs as lost or destroyed by re and had no means of conrming
their recollections. In spite of these diculties, the list was compiled and because publication might resolve some still
unanswered questions, it was printed in the March 1963 issue of Naval Aviation News as a tentative list.
Tabulation of the replies revealed interesting elements of history. e early date at which many qualied
was perhaps most surprising, but under the circumstances should not have been. All aspects of early jet aircra
were highly classied. During the war years, the interests of security dictated that early jet engines be called
superchargers. Even the XP‑59A designation for the rst jet airplane had a security angle. e original XP‑59 was a
conventional experimental ghter, and it was thought that use of the same designation with a sux leer would hide
the true identity of the new model. Its early operations at Muroc were also conducted under the veil of secrecy—if jet
ight can be kept a secret. Admiral Frederick M. Trapnell wrote: “When own, this aircra was towed well out onto
the lake bed, with tarpaulins covering most of the fuselage and with a fake wooden propeller on the nose. is, of
course, was removed prior to run‑up.”
is airplane, relatively unknown even today as the Navy’s rst jet, was for obvious reason the one in which
most Navy pilots made their rst jet ights. In the period of its use through 1947, by which time 262 ights are listed,
196 were in the P‑59. Because Patuxent was the center of ight testing and the rst station to which jet aircra were
assigned, it topped all other locations as the scene of rst ights through 1948. A number of pilots received their rst
indoctrination from the Army Air Forces and made their rst ights at AAF bases in the southwest. Others aended
F schools at Hullavington and Craneld, England, and made their rst ights there. When delivery of the FD
Phantoms and FJ Furies began in 1947, the location of rst ights extended to St. Louis, Mo.; Quonset Point, R.I.;
Cherry Point, N.C.; and San Diego, Calif.
e rst Navy pilot to qualify in jets was also the rst Navy pilot to y seven post‑war jets, which he listed as
the XFJ, XF2H, XF9F, XF3D, XF6U, XF‑86, and the XF7U. Only ve men with ag rank qualied and, prior to
1948, only three qualied while holding the rank of ensign. e majority qualied as lieutenant commanders (major
for the Marines) and lieutenants (captain for the Marines), with the former leading the pack. e pilots of VF‑5A
and VF‑17A, on board at the time the squadrons were being equipped with jets, are all members of this early group
although some that were not heard from do not appear on the list.
e replies included many interesting comments supplementing the basic information. e somewhat naive
aitude of the historian was rudely jolted very early in the project. Under the assumption that some training was
necessary to y a radically dierent airplane, he provided a place on the questionnaire to report the extent of training
received. e answers, when they were given at all, were unanimously in the vein of one report, which stated: “In
contrast to present practice, training consisted of looking at handbook, cockpit checkout, then go.” Its elaboration
by another qualier was: “Your request for information on training is amusing. Training was very informal, to put it
politely. It consisted of: ‘is is the low pressure fuel cock; this is the high pressure fuel cock; it ies real easy.’” Even
in the later period when the rst squadrons were being equipped with jets, the training does not appear to have been
extensive. One pilot reported, “VF‑17A trained itself. Checkout consisted of reading the handbook and watching a
movie on compressibility.”
Early Naval Jet Pilots
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One pilot told of winning third place in the 1948 Bendix Trophy Race from Long Beach, Calif., to Cleveland,
Ohio, in which he “landed at Cleveland dead stick, out of fuel the last 50 miles.” Another reported ferrying an FH‑1
from Patuxent, Md., to Pensacola, Fla., in 1948 with the comment: “I daresay the only jet ever to use Station Field.”
In a similar vein, one told of his work with another pilot on chase ights out of Point Mugu, Calif., in which they,
“operated P‑80s o a 5,000‑foot Marston mat with full ammo and fuel, for two years without incident. e P‑80 was
not supposed to be landed in this conguration (we later found out).”
e men who qualied in ag rank had some toppers. e rst of these, Adm. Alfred M. Pride, gave the
following account of events leading to his qualication: “I had been ordered to relieve [Harold B.] Sallada as Chief
and to report a month before the turnover date of 1 May. at gave me considerable time to look around. It then
dawned on me that I would be up to my neck in jet procurement and that I had beer nd out a lile about them at
rst hand. Furthermore, since no ag ocer seemed to have soloed the things, it seemed appropriate that the Chief
of the Bureau set the pace. So I went down and asked for a McDonnell but the Patuxent boys were not taking any
chances with their new pet, I guess, and were ‘so sorry, but it was out of commission.’ I looked around and saw the
P‑59 siing there and asked how about that one. ey admied it was ‘up’ and so I said that I would take it. It worked
fair enough except that one engine gave out aer I got out over the Bay and I had to yell for a clear runway and come
on home. Never did nd out what the trouble really was.”
Adm. Daniel V. Gallery reported: “Rear Admirals Apollo Soucek, Edgar A. ‘Bat’ Cruise and I checked out
in Phantoms and ew a section formation at the opening of Idlewild and also at the Cleveland Air Races. Called
ourselves the Gray Angels.” To that somewhat noncommial statement, Adm. Edgar A. Cruise provided a footnote
quoted here in full. He wrote:
For your information Admirals Soucek and Gallery ew with me, with Gallery leading, as
the Gray Angels in both the Idlewild, N.Y., dedication and later at the National Air Races in
Cleveland, Ohio, in September 1948. In Idlewild on one ight I ran out of fuel on one tank
resulting in a ame‑out. Inasmuch as our formation was only at 2600 feet and directly over the
eld, I elected to land dead stick on Idlewild. I never made a more precise approach and landing in
my whole life.
At Cleveland the Gray Angels caused some consternation by passing the reviewing stand
simultaneously with, but in the opposite direction from, a 90‑plane Air Group. e Air Group
leader was ying low (about 4–500 feet) which forced us down to 75–100 feet. Needless to say
ying wing, I was somewhat perturbed.
Adm. Cruise, who was Head of the Air Warfare Division in DCNO (Air) when he was making the above ights,
also reported that his forced landing at Idlewild was directly involved in the subsequent installation of a positive
cross connection which would prevent future ame‑outs from the same cause.
As might be expected, this list of early jet pilots includes several men who later achieved other prominence in
ight. Turner Caldwell set a world speed record in the D‑558‑1 in August 1947, the rst held by the Navy since Al
Williams’ record in 1923. Marion Carl broke that record one week later in the same plane and later soared to a new
altitude record for research aircra in the D‑558‑2. Carl and Caldwell were also the rst of their respective services
to y faster than sound in level ight. Larry Flint took the Phantom II to a new world altitude record in 1959 and
F. Taylor Brown set a time‑to‑climb record to 20,000 meters in 1962, also in the Phantom II. omas H. Miller
set a new speed record for 500 kilometers in the Phantom II in September 1960. e rst U.S. Navy jet operations
on a carrier were own by James J. Davidson; Marion Carl ew tests of the P‑80 on the same ship later in the year.
Najeeb Halaby, former head of the FAA, was the rst to y a jet on continuous ight across the United States from
Muroc, Calif., to Patuxent, Md., which he did in a P‑80A on 28 June 1945. On the other side of the ledger, the list also
includes the rst pilot to bail out of a jet and the rst to crash‑land a jet in the water, both of whom shall be nameless.
In regard to the following list itself, words of explanation and caution are necessary. In explanation of the
order, ights made on the same day are in the order of time of day when known, and alphabetical when not known.
When only the month and year could be given for date, the ight appears aer all others made during the month.
Rank is that held at the time of rst ight, and all are naval aviators on active duty at the time. Designations for the
McDonnell Phantom appear as FD initially and as FH aer the change made 21 August 1947.
e cautions are particularly important. First, qualication as a jet pilot was dened loosely. For this purpose, it
was considered simply as the rst ight on which complete command of the aircra was held. Whether the rst ight
was also the last made in a jet by a particular pilot or the beginning of a whole career of jet ying, it was accepted as
meeting the requirement. Second, only ights in pure jet aircra were considered. e question of what to do about
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the Ryan FR‑1 Fireball came up early in the project. Several facts of its early existence give weight to its importance
in the Navy’s transition to jet aircra. Yet the fact that it was equipped with a reciprocating engine for use in normal
operations and with a turbojet engine for use as a booster during takeo and maximum performance ights, removes
it from the jet aircra class. For this reason, justied or not, ights in the FR are not included.
irdly, only those men with whom we could make contact or about whom we could gain specic knowledge
appear in the list. ose found in log books or otherwise reported as having own jets in the early period who could
neither be identied nor located had to be omied. ose who died aer their rst jet ight (indicated by
*
) could
be included only if the necessary information was available from another source. eir ight dates are generally the
earliest found in Patuxent ight logs and may not be the actual rst ight. Others deceased, reported as having own
in the period but for whom no specic information was found, had to be omied from the order of precedence. ey
are: John E. Darden Jr., Ralph Fuoss, Bud B. Gear, John Magda, Alfred E. Nauman Jr., Albert D. Pollock Jr., Horatio
G. Sickel, Warren P. Smith, and Conrad J. Wigge.
For the above reasons, the list is the best that could be updated and compiled. On the basis of evidence
available, it is concluded that the completeness and accuracy of the list is best at the beginning and decreases as the
precedence numbers increase.
e following is a list of the Early Jet Pilots in Order of First Jet Flight:
No. Name Rank Date Plane Place
1 Trapnell, Frederick M. Capt. 21 Apr 43 XP‑59A Muroc
2 Pearson, John B., Jr. Cmdr. 27 May 43
XP‑59 Muroc
3 Ramsey, Paul H. Cmdr. 29 Jul 43 XP‑59A Muroc
4 Gayler, Noel A. M. Lt. Cmdr. 13 Jan 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
5 Booth, Charles T. Cmdr. 14 Jan 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
6 Halaby, Najeeb E. Lt. j.g. 21 Jan 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
7 Ferguson, John A. Lt. 14 Feb 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
8 Drewelow, Robert W. Lt. 21 Apr 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
9 Owen, Edward M. Lt. Cmdr. 15 May 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
10 Brown, Ira W., Jr. Lt. Cmdr. 28 Jun 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
11 Burroughs, Sherman E. Capt. 11 Jul 44
XP‑59 Muroc
12 Hayward, John T. Cmdr. 11 Jul 44
XP‑59 Palmdale
13 Storrs, Aaron P. Capt. 17 Jul 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
14 Canavan, Desmond E. Lt. Col. 18 Jul 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
15 Rozamus, Michael J. Lt. Cmdr. 20 Jul 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
16 Davenport, M. W. Lt. 21 Jul 44
XP‑59A Patuxent
17 Runyon, Donald E. Lt. 21 Jul 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
18 Gerberding, Jas. H.
*
Lt. Cmdr. 30 Aug 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
19 Elder, Robert M. Lt. 28 Sep 44 XP‑80 Dayton
20 Milner, Robert M. Lt. Cmdr. 24 Oct 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
21 Soule, Ernest D. Lt. 24 Oct 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
22 Kelly, William W. Lt. 30 Oct 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
23 Flint, Lawrence E. Lt. 30 Oct 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
24 Guerrieri, Mario A. Lt. Cmdr. 31 Oct 44
YP‑59A Patuxent
25 Harrington, Daniel J. Lt. Cmdr. 01 Nov 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
26 Davidson, James J. Lt. 02 Nov 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
27 Christofferson, F. E. Lt. 02 Nov 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
28 Caffey, Kenneth W. Lt. Cmdr. 07 Nov 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
29 Miller, Kenneth W., Jr. Lt. 08 Nov 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
30 McNeely, Henry E. Lt. Cmdr. 08 Nov 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
31 Wood, Charles R., Jr. Lt. Cmdr. 08 Nov 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
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251
No. Name Rank Date Plane Place
32 Tuttle, Magruder H. Cmdr. 08 Nov 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
33 Palmer, Fitzhugh L., Jr. Cmdr. 09 Nov 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
34 Andrews, Clyde C. Lt. 09 Nov 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
35 Gough, William V., Jr. Lt. Cmdr. 09 Nov 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
36 Hollar, Frank E. Maj. 09 Nov 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
37 Bauer, Louis H. Cmdr. 11 Nov 44 YP‑59A Patuxent
38 Sutherland, John F. Lt. Cmdr. 24 Nov 44 XP‑80 Palmdale
39 Carl, Marion E. Maj. 14 Feb 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
40 Wheatley, John P. Lt. 15 Feb 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
41 Kenna, William E. Cmdr. 15 Feb 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
42 Connolly, Thomas F. Cmdr. 24 Feb 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
43 Neefus, James L. Lt. Col. 10 Mar 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
44 Sallenger, Asbury H. Lt. 14 Mar 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
45 Cleland, Cook Lt. – Mar 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
46 Schickel, Norbert H. Lt. 25 Apr 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
47 Brown, Robert M. Lt. 05 May 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
48 Schrefer, John F. Lt. Cmdr. 09 May 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
49 Ellenburg, George W. Lt. Cmdr. 23 May 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
50 Bakutis, Fred E. Cmdr. 11 Jun 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
51 Schroeder, F. J. Lt. Cmdr. 12 Jun 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
52 Larsen, Leif W.
*
Lt. 12 Jun 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
53
McClelland, T. G.
*
Lt. 27 Jun 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
54 Schiller, James E. Lt. 27 Jun 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
55 Beveridge, Richard A. Lt. Cmdr. 18 Jul 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
56 Thomas, John M. Lt. 19 Jul 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
57 Hannegan, Edward A. Capt. 21 Jul 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
58 Billett, Dudley S., Jr. Lt. Cmdr. 23 Jul 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
59 Thawley, Charles B. Lt. j.g. 08 Aug 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
60 May, Richard H. Lt. 20 Aug 45 YP‑59A Patuxent
61 Houck, Herbert N. Cmdr. 27 Oct 45 P‑59B Patuxent
62 Rees, Joseph R. Lt. 27 Oct 45 P‑59B Patuxent
63 Tavernetti, Thomas F. Lt. Cmdr. 29 Oct 45 P‑59B Patuxent
64 Mooty, Alfred F. Lt. 30 Oct 45 P‑59B Patuxent
65 Franks, John M. Lt. 30 Oct 45 P‑59B Patuxent
66 Earnest, Albert K. Lt. Cmdr. 31 Oct 45 P‑59B Patuxent
67 Standring, Frank E. Lt. – Oct 45 Meteor England
68 MacGregor, Robert A. Lt. Cmdr. 03 Nov 45 P‑59B Patuxent
69 Hackett, Hugh J. Lt. 29 Nov 45 P‑59B Patuxent
70 Callan, Allie W., Jr. Lt. 02 Jan 46 P‑59B Patuxent
71 Myers, Raymond F. Lt. Cmdr. 05 Jan 46 P‑59B Patuxent
72 Friesz, Robert P.
*
Lt. Cmdr. 11 Jan 46 P‑59B Patuxent
73 Leonard, William N. Cmdr. 23 Jan 46 P‑59B Patuxent
74 Martin, William I. Cmdr. 28 Jan 46 P‑59B Patuxent
75
Bolt, William H., Jr. Lt. Cmdr. 07 Feb 46 P‑59B Patuxent
76 Morrison, Jack W. Maj. 08 Feb 46 P‑59B Patuxent
77 Umphfres, Donald E.
*
Lt. 09 Feb 46 P‑59B Patuxent
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No. Name Rank Date Plane Place
78 Holley, Edward B. Lt. Cmdr. 11 Feb 46 P‑59B Patuxent
79 Quilter, Charles J. Lt. Col. 13 Feb 46 P‑59B Patuxent
80 Davis, Leslie D. Lt. Cmdr. 19 Feb 46 P‑59B Patuxent
81 Jorgensen, John B. Lt. Cmdr. 19 Feb 46 P‑59B Patuxent
82 Reedy, James R. Cmdr. 20 Feb 46 P‑59B Patuxent
83 Sim, Vincent M.* Lt. Cmdr. 21 Feb 46 P‑59B Patuxent
84 Sollenberger, Robert L. Lt. Cmdr. 21 Feb 46 P‑59B Patuxent
85 Burnett, Robert G. Lt. Cmdr. 26 Feb 46 P‑59B Patuxent
86 Somerville, Henry B. Lt. Cmdr. 27 Feb 46 P‑59B Patuxent
87 Pugh, Paul E. Lt. Cmdr. 01 Mar 46 P‑59B Patuxent
88 Smith, James W. Lt. Cmdr. 01 Mar 46 Meteor England
89 Fleming, Francis M. Lt. 09 Mar 46 P‑59B Patuxent
90 Hey, Richard J. Capt. 20 Mar 46 P‑59B Patuxent
91 Clarke, Robert A. Lt. 21 Mar 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
92 Murray, Thomas O. Cmdr. 22 Mar 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
93 Hanks, E. Ralph Lt. 23 Mar 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
94 Smith, Francis A. Lt. 26 Mar 46
YP‑59A Patuxent
95 Jackson, Mercer L. Lt. j.g. 27 Mar 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
96 Guillory, Troy T. Lt. Cmdr. 27 Mar 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
97 Kunz, Melvin M. Lt. 27 Mar 46 P‑59B Patuxent
98 Kanze, Robert F. Lt. 27 Mar 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
99 Mehle, Roger W. Lt. Cmdr. 27 Mar 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
100 Tracy, Lloyd W. Lt. 28 Mar 46 P‑59B Patuxent
101 Rodenburg, Eugene E. Lt. 28 Mar 46 P‑59B Patuxent
102 Thoms, Joseph I. Lt. j.g. 28 Mar 46 P‑59B Patuxent
103 Weaver, Victor H. Lt. 01 Apr 46 P‑59B Patuxent
104 McHenry, Robert E. Lt. Cmdr. 01 Apr 46 P‑59B Patuxent
105 Hoerner, Helmuth E. Lt. Cmdr. 01 Apr 46 P‑59B Patuxent
106 Alford, William L.
*
Lt. 02 Apr 46 P‑59B Patuxent
107 Hine, Thomas L. Lt. 03 Apr 46
P‑59B Patuxent
108 Cain, Mahlon E. Lt. Cmdr. 03 Apr 46 P‑59B Patuxent
109 Deitchman, Richard P. Lt. j.g. 05 Apr 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
110 Ness, Dwight O. Lt. Cmdr. 05 Apr 46
YP‑59A Patuxent
111 Colvin, Louis E. Lt. j.g. 09 Apr 46 P‑59B Patuxent
112 Westover, Roland W. Lt. 09 Apr 46 P‑59B Patuxent
113 Daniel, Walter E. 1st Lt. 09 Apr 46
YP‑59A Patuxent
114 Fitzgerald, Joseph W. Lt. j.g. 09 Apr 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
115 Valencia, Eugene A. Lt. 19 Apr 46 P‑59B Patuxent
116 Adair, Robert F. Lt. 23 Apr 46 P‑59B Patuxent
117 Alley, C. John Lt. Cmdr. 23 Apr 46 P‑59B Patuxent
118 David, Edmonds Lt. Cmdr. 23 Apr 46 P‑59B Patuxent
119 Junk, Wineld H. Lt. Cmdr. 24 Apr 46
P‑80A March Field
120 Blackburn, John T. Cmdr. 13 May 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
121 Miller, Thomas H. Capt. 17 May 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
122 Foley, Walter A. Lt. j.g. 17 May 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
123 Candler, William R. Lt. 17 May 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
Early Naval Jet Pilots
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253
No. Name Rank Date Plane Place
124 Mechling, Wallace B. Capt. 21 May 46 P‑59B Patuxent
125 Sanders, Roger M. 1st Lt. 21 May 46
P‑59 Patuxent
126 Matthews, Herbert S. Lt. j.g. 22 May 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
127 Johnson, D. H. Capt. 22 May 46
YP‑59A Patuxent
128 Aurand, Evan P. Cmdr. 07 Jun 46 P‑59B Patuxent
129 Empey, Robert E. Lt. 12 Jun 46 P‑59B Patuxent
130 Shryock, William A. Lt. Cmdr. 13 Jun 46 P‑59B Patuxent
131 Giblin, Robert B. Lt. 20 Jun 46 Meteor England
132 Giese, Carl E. Capt. 28 Jun 46 P‑59B Patuxent
133 Metsger, Alfred B. Cmdr. 10 Jul 46 P‑59B Patuxent
134 Grifn, Edwin C. Lt. 11 Jul 46 P‑80A Inyokern
135 Hyland, John J. Cmdr. 15 Aug 46 P‑59B Patuxent
136 Pearce, James L. Lt. 15 Aug 46 P‑59B Patuxent
137 Cram, Jack E. Lt. Col. 19 Aug 46 P‑59B Patuxent
138 Ruee, William J. Lt. Cmdr. – Aug 46 YP‑59 Patuxent
139 Rembert, John P., Jr. Capt. 04 Sep 46 P‑59B Patuxent
140 Larson, Vernon H. Lt. Cmdr. 25 Sep 46 P‑59B Patuxent
141 Vatcher, Walter W. 1st Lt. 26 Sep 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
142 Rand, Herbert C. Lt. Cmdr. 27 Sep 46 P‑59B Patuxent
143 Harris, Floyd L. Lt. 03 Oct 46 P‑59B Patuxent
144 Byng, John W. Cmdr. 07 Oct 46 P‑59B Patuxent
145 Arnold, James T. Lt. 22 Oct 46 P‑59B Patuxent
146 Deasy, Charles J. Lt. j.g. 22 Oct 46 YP‑59A Patuxent
147 Puckett, Ronald G. Lt. 19 Nov 46 P‑59B Patuxent
148 Lee, Earl C. Lt. j.g. 21 Nov 46 P‑59B Patuxent
149 Chapman, Melvin L. Lt. 29 Jan 47 FD‑1 St. Louis
150
Garton, Norman F. Capt. 29 Jan 47 FD‑1 St. Louis
151 Kneeland, Kenneth P. Lt. j.g. 31 Jan 47
FD‑1 St. Louis
152 Turner, Frank Capt. 06 Feb 47 P‑59B Patuxent
153 Caldwell, Turner F. Cmdr. 15 Feb 47 P‑80 Muroc
154 Weems, George T.
*
Lt. Cmdr. 04 Mar 47 P‑59B Patuxent
155 Mulvihill, Francis
*
Lt. Cmdr. 17 Mar 47 P‑59B Patuxent
156 Pahl, Herschel A. Lt. 21 Mar 47 P‑80A Chandler
157 Baumall, John F. Lt. 27 Mar 47 P‑59B Patuxent
158 Nelson, Robert J. Lt. 29 Mar 47 P‑59B Patuxent
159 Doeringer, Carl Cmdr. 31 Mar 47 P‑59B Patuxent
160 Crocker, John A. Lt. 31 Mar 47 P‑59B Patuxent
161 Provost, Thomas C.
*
Lt. Cmdr. 31 Mar 47 P‑59B Patuxent
162 Danbury, William T. Lt. Cmdr. 01 Apr 47 FD ‑1 St. Louis
163 O’Connor, Harry N. Lt. j.g. 01 Apr 47 P‑59B Patuxent
164 Thompson, Harley F. Lt. Cmdr. 03 Apr 47 P‑59A Patuxent
165 Whillans, Jack E.
*
Lt. 04 Apr 47 P‑59A Patuxent
166 Wood, Robert B. Lt. Cmdr. 07 Apr 47 P‑59A Patuxent
167 Krantz, William F. Lt. Cmdr. 10 Apr 47 Vampire England
168 Reeves, Roy S. Lt. Cmdr. 10 Apr 47 P‑59B Patuxent
169 McKinley, Charles E. Lt. 10 Apr 47 P‑59B Patuxent
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No. Name Rank Date Plane Place
170 Coats, Robert C. Lt. Cmdr. 15 Apr 47 P‑59B Patuxent
171 Hamilton, Chas. B., Jr. Lt. j.g. 17 Apr 47 P‑59B Patuxent
172 Pride, Alfred M. Rear Adm. 24 Apr 47 YP‑59A Patuxent
173 Clifton, Joseph C. Capt. 01 May 47 P‑59B Patuxent
174 Ballinger, Richard R. Capt. 01 May 47 P‑59A Patuxent
175 Bott, Alan R. Lt. j.g. 08 May 47 P‑59B Patuxent
176 Franger, Marvin J. Lt. Cmdr. 09 May 47
FD‑1 Patuxent
177 McGinty, William G. Lt. 19 May 47 P‑80 Williams AFB
178 Cousins, Ralph W. Cmdr. 20 May 47 P‑59B Patuxent
179 Simpler, Leroy C. Capt. 21 May 47
FD‑1 St. Louis
180 Billo, James D. Lt. Cmdr. 04 Jun 47
P‑59 Patuxent
181 Timmes, Francis X. Lt. Cmdr. 12 Jun 47 P‑59B Patuxent
182 Neddo, Donald N. Lt. Cmdr. 13 Jun 47 P‑59B Patuxent
183 Stapler, Charles R.
*
Lt. Cmdr. 16 Jun 47 YP‑59A Patuxent
184 Bates, Richard S. Lt. 18 Jun 47 YP‑59A Patuxent
185 Smith, Joseph G. Lt. Cmdr. 24 Jun 47 YP‑59B Patuxent
186 Weatherup, Robert A. Lt. Cmdr. 25 Jun 47
P‑59 Patuxent
187 Nester, Robert G. Lt. Cmdr. 30 Jun 47 YP‑59A Patuxent
188 Dibble, Edgar J. Lt. 30 Jun 47 YP‑59A Patuxent
189 Minter, Chas. S., Jr. Cmdr. 02 Jul 47 YP‑59B Patuxent
190 Campbell, Robert K. Lt. Cmdr. 03 Jul 47 YP‑59A Patuxent
191 Gates, Clark H. Lt. Cmdr. 09 Jul 47 P‑59B Patuxent
192 Weymouth, Ralph Lt. Cmdr. 11 Jul 47 P‑59B Patuxent
193 Collins, Francis L. Lt. j.g. 12 Jul 47
FD‑1 St. Louis
194 Russell, Hawley Cmdr. 15 Jul 47
FD‑1 Patuxent
195 Brehm, William W. Lt. Cmdr. 17 Jul 47
FD‑1 Patuxent
196 Miller, Charles G.
*
Lt. 17 Jul 47 P‑59B Patuxent
197 Dace, Carl C. Lt. j.g. 17 Jul 47 P‑59B Patuxent
198 Perry, Adrian H. Cmdr. 18 Jul 47
FD‑1 Patuxent
199 Phillips, Thomas A. Capt. 23 Jul 47
P‑59 Patuxent
200 Clasen, William E. Maj. 25 Jul 47 P‑59B Patuxent
201 Glover, John W. Lt. j.g. 26 Jul 47
FD‑1 Patuxent
202 Greenslade, John F. Capt. 05 Aug 47 P‑59B Patuxent
203 Raposa, William C. Lt. j.g. 06 Aug 47
FD‑1 St. Louis
204 Mryo, Robert A. Lt. Cmdr. 07 Aug 47
FD‑1 Patuxent
205 Bicknell, John R. Lt. j.g. 07 Aug 47 P‑59B Patuxent
206 Payne, Paul E. Lt. 07 Aug 47
FD‑1 Patuxent
207 Buxton, Elliott A.
*
Lt. 08 Aug 47 FD‑1 Patuxent
208 Sullivan, John
*
Lt. 08 Aug 47 FD‑1 Patuxent
209 Long, John O., Jr.
*
Ens. 08 Aug 47 FD‑1 Patuxent
210 Cauble, Lawrence M. Lt. 08 Aug 47 P‑59B Patuxent
211 Biggers, William D.
*
Lt. Cmdr. 09 Aug 47 FD‑1 Patuxent
212 Davis, William V. Capt. 10 Aug 47 P‑59B Patuxent
213 Taylor, Donald C. Lt. 12 Aug 47 P‑59B Patuxent
214 Genta, John L.
*
Lt. Cmdr. 12 Aug 47 P‑59B Patuxent
215 McGowan, Edward C. Lt. 12 Aug 47 XFD‑1 NAS Mustin
Early Naval Jet Pilots
|
255
No. Name Rank Date Plane Place
216 Jensen, Alvin J. Capt. 19 Aug 47 P‑59B Patuxent
217 Heath, Thomas W. Lt. Cmdr. 23 Aug 47
FH‑1 Patuxent
218 Ellis, Paul B. Lt. Cmdr. 23 Aug 47 FH‑1 Patuxent
219 Kimak, Charles Maj. 26 Aug 47 P‑59B Patuxent
220 Newell, James H. Cmdr. 29 Aug 47
FH‑1 Patuxent
221 Fox, Frank A. Lt. 10 Sep 47
FH‑1 Quonset
222 Laird, Dean S. Lt. 10 Sep 47
FH‑1 Quonset
223 Wiktorski, Peter A. Capt. 16 Sep 47 FH‑1 Patuxent
224 Turner, Frederick G. Lt. j.g. 18 Sep 47
FH‑1 Quonset
225 Roberts, Carson A. Col. 01 Oct 47 P‑59B Patuxent
226 McElroy, Richard S. Lt. Cmdr. 02 Oct 47 P‑59B Patuxent
227 Werner, Ralph L. Lt. Cmdr. 10 Oct 47 P‑59B Patuxent
228 James, George S., Jr. Cmdr. 14 Oct 47
FH‑1 St. Louis
229 Torry, John A., Jr. Lt. Cmdr. 14 Oct 47 P‑59B Patuxent
230 Parker, Chester A. Lt. 16 Oct 47
FH‑1 Quonset
231 Helms, Jonee L. 1st Lt. 16 Oct 47
P‑80 Williams AFB
232 Blackmun, Arvid W. Maj. 23 Oct 47 P‑59B Patuxent
233 Barnett, Marvin E. Lt. Cmdr. 04 Nov 47
FH‑1 Quonset
234 Sedaker, Thomas S. Lt. 04 Nov 47
FH‑1 Quonset
235 Sells, Warren H. Ens. 04 Nov 47
FH‑1 Quonset
236 Couch, Eugene Ens. 07 Nov 47
FH‑1 Quonset
237 Oelrich, Martin E. W. Maj. 12 Nov 47
FH‑1 Cherry Point
238 Domina, Walter E. 1st Lt. 17 Nov 47
FH‑1 Cherry Point
239 Panchision, Walter 1st Lt. 17 Nov 47 FH‑1 Cherry Point
240 Connelly, Frederick G. 1st Lt. 18 Nov 47
FH‑1 Cherry Point
241 Jeter, Manning T., Jr. 1st Lt. 18 Nov 47
FH‑1 Cherry Point
242 Conner, Andrew B. Lt. Cmdr. 19 Nov 47 P‑59B Patuxent
243 Gordon, Donald Lt. Cmdr. 19 Nov 47 P‑59B Patuxent
244 Lindley, Johnny D. Capt. 25 Nov 47
FH‑1 Cherry Point
245 Green, Robert D. 1st Lt. 26 Nov 47
FH‑1 Cherry Point
246 Iglehart, Louis T., Jr. 1st Lt. 26 Nov 47 FH‑1 Cherry Point
247 Mars, William G., Jr. 1st Lt. 26 Nov 47
FH‑1 Cherry Point
248 Seaman, Milford V. 1st Lt. 28 Nov 47
FH‑1 Cherry Point
249 Blass, Lytton F. MSgt. 05 Dec 47
FH‑1 Cherry Point
250 Tate, Hugh J. Lt. j.g. 07 Dec 47 P‑59B Patuxent
251 Schilt, C. Frank Brig. Gen. 09 Dec 47
FH‑1 St. Louis
252 Kinser, Dick R. 1st Lt. 09 Dec 47
FH‑1 Cherry Point
253 Ramsay, Thomas W.
*
Lt. Cmdr. 16 Dec 47 FH‑1 Patuxent
254 Ives, Donald A. MSgt. 18 Dec 47 FH‑1 Cherry Point
255 Bortz, William H. 1st Lt. 19 Dec 47
FH‑1 Cherry Point
256 Roark, Walter N., Jr. 1st Lt. 19 Dec 47
FH‑1 Cherry Point
257 McDaniel, James 1st Lt. 23 Dec 47
FH‑1 Cherry Point
258 Bosee, Roland A. Cmdr. 29 Dec 47
FH‑1 Patuxent
259 Kibbe, Richard L. Cmdr. 29 Dec 47
FH‑1 Patuxent
260 Rockwell, John H.
*
Lt. Cmdr. 29 Dec 47 FH‑1 Patuxent
261 Speirs, Carl L. Lt. Cmdr. 30 Dec 47 FH‑1 Patuxent
256
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Personnel
No. Name Rank Date Plane Place
262 Morton, Wilbur Y. Lt. Cmdr. 31 Dec 47
FH‑1 Patuxent
263 Armstrong, Alan J. Maj. 08 Jan 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
264 Morton, Wilbur Y. Maj. 08 Jan 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
265 Stefan, Karl H. Lt. Cmdr. 11 Jan 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
266 Beatle, Ralph H. Lt. 15 Jan 48 P‑59B Patuxent
267 Vail, Malcolm E. Ens. 15 Jan 48 P‑80A Williams AFB
268 Brown, Nelson E. 1st Lt. 15 Jan 48
FH‑1
269 Jones, Charles D. Capt. 15 Jan 48 FH‑1
270 Brown, F. Taylor Ens. 16 Jan 48 P‑80A Williams AFB
271 Hansen, Dale W. 1st Lt. 16 Jan 48 FH‑1
272 Pierozzi, C. Nello Ens. 18 Jan 48 P‑80A Williams AFB
273 Davis, Donald C. Lt. 19 Jan 48 P‑80A Williams AFB
274 Pickett, Phillip G. 1st Lt. 22 Jan 48
FH‑1
275 Mooney, Thomas G. MSgt. 26 Jan 48 FH‑1
276 McLean, Carl T. Capt. 26 Jan 48 FH‑1
277 Schoch, Edwin F.
*
Lt. Cmdr. 29 Jan 48 FJ‑1 Patuxent
278 Firebaugh, Gordon E. Lt. Cmdr. 30 Jan 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
279 Nifong, James M. Lt. 31 Jan 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
280 Bayers, Edward H. Lt. Cmdr. 02 Feb 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
281 Cotariu, Alan R. Ens. 02 Feb 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
282 Stetson, Thomas H. Lt. Cmdr. 02 Feb 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
283 Folsom, Samuel B. Capt. 03 Feb 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
284 Kelly, Vincent F. Lt. 04 Feb 48
FJ‑1 San Diego
285 Thompson, Lewis E. Lt. 06 Feb 48 FJ‑1 N. Island
286 Roach, Walter, Jr. Lt. 09 Feb 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
287 Capriotti, Anthony Lt. 11 Feb 48
FJ‑1 San Diego
288 Ritchie, James Lt. 11 Feb 48
FJ‑1 San Diego
289 Davidson, Paul D. Lt. j.g. 12 Feb 48
FJ‑1 N. Island
290 Smith, Robert R. MSgt. 16 Feb 48
FH‑1 Cherry Point
291 Wehmeyer, Wilbur J. Cmdr. 17 Feb 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
292 Stacy, James M. Lt. 19 Feb 48 FH‑1
293 Nemoff, Alfred J. Ens. 20 Feb 48 FJ‑1 San Diego
294 Oeschlin, Robert E. Ens. 24 Feb 48
FJ‑1 San Diego
295 Pettiet, Rudolph L. Lt. Cmdr. 24 Feb 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
296 Coppola, Earnest J. Lt. j.g. 25 Feb 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
297 Bell, William R.
*
Lt. Cmdr. 06 Mar 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
298 Meyersburg, R. B. Maj. 10 Mar 48 Meteor
299 Yunck, Michael R. Maj. 11 Mar 48
P‑80 Williams AFB
300 Jackson, Dewey H. 1st Lt. 12 Mar 48 P‑80A Williams AFB
301 Martin, Benjamin G. 1st Lt. 12 Mar 48
P‑80A Williams AFB
302 Ellis, James W.
*
Lt. 13 Mar 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
303 Poulson, George W. 1st Lt. 13 Mar 48
P‑80A Williams AFB
304 Condon, John P. Lt. Col. 16 Mar 48
P‑80A Williams AFB
305 Galer, Robert Col. 16 Mar 48
FH‑1
306 Starkes, C. B. Lt. Cmdr. 22 Mar 48 FH‑1
307 Pankurst, Paul L. Capt. 23 Mar 48 FH‑1
Early Naval Jet Pilots
|
257
No. Name Rank Date Plane Place
308 Whitaker, James L. Capt. 30 Mar 48
FH‑1
309 Gibson, Charles E. Cmdr. 05 Apr 48 FH‑1 Quonset
310 Durand, Paul H. Lt. Cmdr. 06 Apr 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
311 Ruehlow, Standley E. Cmdr. 07 Apr 48
FH‑1
312 Severson, Martin A. Lt. Col. 09 Apr 48 FH‑1
313 Houser, William D. Lt. Cmdr. 15 Apr 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
314 Spiess, Morris K. Lt. j.g. 16 Apr 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
315 McNeil, Wilfred J.
*
Lt. 26 Apr 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
316 Gray, James S., Jr. Cmdr. 11 May 48
P‑80B Okinawa
317 Dawson, Marion L. Col. 12 May 48 FH‑1
318 Manchester, B. B., III Lt. Col. 26 May 48 FH‑1
319 Roush, Martin B. Capt. 29 May 48 FH‑1
320 Soucek, Apollo
*
Rear Adm. 01 Jun 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
321 Millington, W. A. Lt. Col. 03 Jun 48
FH‑1
322 Gallery, Daniel V. Rear Adm. 09 Jun 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
323 Peterson, Harry W. Lt. 18 Jun 48
FJ‑1 San Diego
324 McManus, John 1st Lt. 23 Jun 48 FH‑1
325 Cruise, Edgar A. Rear Adm. 02 Jul 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
326 Pawka, E. J. Cmdr. 02 Jul 48
TO‑1 San Diego
327 Weissenberger, G. J. Lt. Col. 07 Jul 48
FH‑1
328 Johnson, Robert J. Lt. Col. 07 Jul 48 FH‑1
329 Beebe, Marshall U. Cmdr. 12 Jul 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
330 Harris, Thomas S. Lt. 15 Jul 48
FH‑1 Quonset
331 Mueller, Richard C. Lt. Cmdr. 22 Jul 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
332 Spears, Paul H. A. Lt. — Jul 48
TO‑1 Burbank
333 Billings, Thomas C. 1st Lt. 27 Jul 48
TO‑1
334 Fiegener, Kenneth G. 1st Lt. 03 Aug 48 TO‑1 El Toro
335 Rafferty, Edgar L. 1st Lt. 04 Aug 48
TO‑1
336 Harrison, Patrick Capt. 04 Aug 48 TO‑1
337 Case, William N. Capt. 04 Aug 48 TO‑1
338 Perry, Jack E. 1st Lt. 04 Aug 48 TO‑1
339 Smith, Stanley E. Lt. j.g. 05 Aug 48 FH‑1 Quonset
340 Guss, William F. 1st Lt. 05 Aug 48
TO‑1
341 Klingman, Robert R. 1st Lt. 05 Aug 48 TO‑1
342 Abbott, Edwin W., II Lt. j.g. 05 Aug 48 FH‑1
343 Gourley, Norman W. 1st Lt. 05 Aug 48 TO‑1
344 Mitchell, Weldon R. 1st Lt. 06 Aug 48 TO‑1
345 Jarrett, Clyde R. 1st Lt. 06 Aug 48 TO‑1
346 Wolfe, Ted E., Jr. Lt. Cmdr. 09 Aug 48 FH‑1 Atlantic City
347 Brown, John B. Capt. 09 Aug 48
FH‑1
348 Wilder, James H. Ens. 09 Aug 48 FH‑1
349 Ganschow, Edward F. Capt. 11 Aug 48 FH‑1 Cherry Point
350 Parker, Elwin A. Lt. Cmdr. 12 Aug 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
351 Moro, Albert J. Lt. j.g. 16 Aug 48
FH‑1 Quonset
352 Furney, Maynard M. Lt. Cmdr. 17 Aug 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
353 Prahar, T. F. Lt. 17 Aug 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
258
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Personnel
No. Name Rank Date Plane Place
354 Macomber, Brainard Lt. Cmdr. 18 Aug 48
FH‑1 Patuxent
355 Widhelm, William J.
*
Cmdr. 19 Aug 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
356 Cloud, Guy M. 1st Lt. 30 Aug 48 TO‑1
357 Carter, Frank B. Ens. 17 Sep 48 FH‑1 Quonset
358 Nye, Robert D. Lt. Cmdr. 17 Sep 48
FH‑1 Quonset
359 Pugh, Edward L. Col. 17 Sep 48
FH‑1
360 Ingalls, Chas. E., Jr. Cmdr. 22 Sep 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
361 Everton, Loren D. Maj. 29 Sep 48
FH‑1
362 Brtek, F. C. Lt. j.g. 06 Oct 48 FH‑1 Quonset
363 Trammel, Thomas B. Capt. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1 El Toro
364 Stuckey, Harry B. 1st Lt. 14 Oct 48
TO‑1
365 Haley, Harold L. 1st Lt. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1
366 Robinson, Robert B. 1st Lt. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1
367 Austin, Marshall S. 1st Lt. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1
368 Pottinger, William K. Lt. Col. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1
369 Grey, Jack R. 1st Lt. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1
370 Read, Robert R. Maj. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1 El Toro
371 Sharp, James, II 1st Lt. 14 Oct 48
TO‑1
372 Houser, Fred C. Capt. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1
373 Connell, Herschell G. 1st Lt. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1
374 Johnson, Danny W. 1st Lt. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1
375 Schroeder, Charles 1st Lt. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1
376 Rutledge, Rockwell M. 1st Lt. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1
377 Frankovic, Boris J. 1st Lt. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1
378 Hemstad, Robert S. 1st Lt. 14 Oct 48 TO‑1
379 Davis, Leonard K. Lt. Col. 14 Oct 48 FH‑1
380 Bright, Cruger L. Maj. 15 Oct 48 FH‑1
381 Jernigan, Curtis 1st Lt. 22 Oct 48 FH‑1
382 McCullough, William F. Lt. j.g. 26 Oct 48 F‑80
383 Stapp, Donald H. Maj. 26 Oct 48 TO‑1 El Toro
384 Holloway, Harding H. 1st Lt. 28 Oct 48 FH‑1
385 Russell, Allard G. Lt. Cmdr. 04 Nov 48 TO ‑1 San Diego
386 Conger, Jack E. Maj. 04 Nov 48
FH‑1
387 Jackson, Billy Lt. j.g. 04 Nov 48 TO‑1 San Diego
388 Plog, Leonard H. Lt. j.g. 04 Nov 48
TO‑1 San Diego
389 Lizotte, Wesley E. Lt. j.g. 04 Nov 48
TO‑1 San Diego
390 Freeman, Dewitt L. Lt. j.g. 04 Nov 48
TO‑1 San Diego
391 Lloyd, Marshall O. Lt. 04 Nov 48
TO‑1
392 Sears, Harry E. Cmdr. 05 Nov 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
393 Johnson, James 1st Lt. 14 Nov 48
FH‑1
394 Jensen, Harvey 1st Lt. 15 Nov 48 TO ‑1 El Toro
395 King, George J. 1st Lt. 15 Nov 48
TO‑1
396 Oster, Eugene M. 1st Lt. 15 Nov 48 TO ‑1
397 Meyer, Eugene W. 1st Lt. 15 Nov 48 TO‑1
398 Turcotte, Edward 1st Lt. 15 Nov 48 TO‑1
399 Toups, Thaddeus J. 1st Lt. 15 Nov 48 TO‑1
Early Naval Jet Pilots
|
259
No. Name Rank Date Plane Place
400 Harper, Edwin A. Capt. 15 Nov 48
TO‑1
401 Hamilton, John 1st Lt. 15 Nov 48 TO‑1
402 Thornbury, Donald S. Capt. 15 Nov 48 TO ‑1
403 Croyle, Fred K. 1st Lt. 16 Nov 48 TO‑1
404 Keller, Harold F. 1st Lt. 19 Nov 48 TO‑1
405 Logan, Thomas B. Lt. 01 Dec 48 TO‑1 Patuxent
406 Wattenburger, Robert Lt. j.g. 06 Dec 48
TO‑1 Patuxent
407 Adams, Allan M., Jr. Lt. j.g. 06 Dec 48
TO‑1 Patuxent
408 Bunger, Samuel J. Ens. 06 Dec 48
TO‑1
409 Smith, Mercer R. 1st Lt. 10 Dec 48 FH‑1 Cherry Point
410 Regan, Robert F. Lt. 13 Dec 48
FH‑1 Quonset
411 Gilman, George L. 2nd Lt. 14 Dec 48
FH‑1
412 Campbell, Donald L. Lt. j.g. 15 Dec 48 FH‑1 Quonset
413 Davis, Judson C. Lt. 15 Dec 48
FH‑1 Quonset
414 Quilty, Joseph F. Maj. 21 Dec 48
TO‑1
415 Funk, Harold N. Cmdr. 22 Dec 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
416 Hill, John S. Lt. Cmdr. 23 Dec 48 FH‑1 Patuxent
417 Penne, Harold B. Maj. 28 Dec 48
FH‑1
418 Wenzell, R. M. Lt. 28 Dec 48 FH‑1
Early Helicopter Pilots
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261
Chapter 15
Early Helicopter Pilots
e Bureau of Aeronautics issued a planning directive on 24 July 1942 calling for procurement of four Sikorsky
helicopters for study and development by Navy and Coast Guard aviation forces. However, this was not the Navy’s
rst interest in helicopters. at may be traced back to 5 December 1917 when the policy regarding helicopter
development was established by the Secretaries of the Navy and War Departments on the basis of recommendations
made by the Joint Technical Board on Aircra. At that time, it was stated there was a need for improvements in
power plants and propellers if a successful helicopter was to be obtained. Actual support of development eorts was
to be limited to moral encouragement until a vendor had demonstrated a helicopter of military value.
e Navy’s rst rotary-wing vehicle was the XOP-1 autogiro ordered on 25 February 1931 from Pitcairn
Aircra. is machine was not a true helicopter because it had xed wings and could not rise vertically. On 12
March 1935, the Navy issued a contract to Pitcairn Autogiro Company to remove the wings from the XOP-1, thereby
converting it to the XOP-2, which thus became the Navy’s rst heavier-than-air aircra without wings. Tests were
conducted with the XOP-1, including landings on Langley (CV 1) in September 1931. However, conclusions from
the tests, which compared the autogiros with xed-wing aircra, indicated the advantages were not great enough to
override the disadvantages of payload, range, and the diculties of ying. Personnel involved in the testing of the
XOP-1 included future naval aviation greats such as Alfred Pride, Ralph A. Ofstie, Robert B. Pirie, and Frederick M.
Trapnell. Other aempts were made between 1932 and 1937 to improve rotary-wing capabilities, but they were not
successful. e Marine Corps used the OP-1 autogiro in Nicaragua in 1932 with the comment that its chief value
in expeditionary duty was in inspecting small elds recommended by ground troops as landing areas, evacuating
medical “siing” cases, and ferrying of important personnel. In 1937 the Navy also experimented with the XOZ-1, a
modied N2Y-1 with a cyclic controlled rotor, but the tests were not successful.
In the early 1940s, a class desk was established in the Bureau of Aeronautics for the Navy’s helicopter program
and staed by a small group of individuals who saw the potential for rotary-wing development. ey included Capt.
Clayton C. Marcy, Cmdr. James W. Klopp, and Cmdr. Raymond Doll. e impetus for more Navy involvement in
helicopters was spearheaded by the Coast Guard, which was very interested in its ASW and rescue capabilities. eir
vision for the use of the helicopter, whose development responsibility had been assigned to the Army Air Corps,
resulted in a 15 February 1943 directive from the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet that assigned responsibility for
sea-going development of helicopters and their operation in convoys to the Coast Guard. Tests were to be carried out
to determine if helicopters operating from merchant ships would be of value in combating submarines. On 4 May
1943, to expedite the evaluation of the helicopter in antisubmarine operations, the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet,
directed that a “joint board” be formed with representatives from the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet; the Bureau
of Aeronautics, the Coast Guard, the British Admiralty, and the Royal Air Force. e resulting Combined Board for
the Evaluation of the Ship-Based Helicopter in Antisubmarine Warfare was later expanded to include representatives
of the Army Air Forces (AAF), the War Shipping Administration, and the National Advisory Commiee for
Aeronautics (NACA). A few days later, on 7 May, Navy representatives witnessed landing trials in Long Island
Sound of the XR-4 helicopter on board the merchant tanker SS Bunker Hill in a demonstration sponsored by the
Maritime Commission. e pilot, Col. R. F. Gregory, AAF, made about 15 ights, some of which he landed on
the water before returning to the platform on the deck of the ship. On 10 June 1943, Lt. Cdmr. Frank A. Erickson,
USCG, proposed that helicopters be developed for antisubmarine warfare, “not as a killer cra but as the eyes and
ears of the convoy escorts.” To this end he recommended that helicopters be equipped with radar and dunking sonar.
With the foregoing proposals and developments, the Navy ordered and received its rst helicopter—a Sikorsky
YR-4B, Navy designation HNS-1—on 16 October 1943. It was accepted at Bridgeport, Conn., following a 60-minute
acceptance test ight by Lt. Cdmr. Erickson. Cmdr. Charles T. Booth, USN, delivered this helicopter to NAS
Patuxent River, Md., on 22 October 1943. As stated by a memo from Cmdr. Booth, he had arrived at Bridgeport “to
continue instructions and to deliver to NAS Patuxent the rst Navy helicopter . . . Six hours additional ight time
was obtained by Commander Booth prior to his return to NAS Patuxent, Md., on 22 October.”
On the basis of his belief that tests indicated the practicability of ship-based helicopters, the Chief of Naval
Operations, on 18 December 1943, separated the pilot training from test and development functions in the
helicopter program. He directed that, eective 1 January 1944, a helicopter pilot training program be conducted
by the U.S. Coast Guard at Floyd Benne Field, N.Y., under the direction of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
262
|
Personnel
(Air). is planning directive of 18 December 1943, also named Rockaway, N.Y., as an outlying eld for training
and stated that three Coast Guard and two Navy ocers had qualied as helicopter pilots to date. e directive also
indicated “It has been determined that aer 25 hours of dual and solo ight time, a xed-wing pilot is qualied as a
helicopter pilot.” us, during WWII, the Coast Guard, at Floyd Benne Field, N.Y., was responsible for pilot and
enlisted mechanic training in helicopter aviation for the Navy. Helicopter pilots trained by the Coast Guard unit also
included personnel from the Army Air Forces, the Civil Aeronautics Administration, and NACA.
Following the end of WWII, the Navy established VX-3 on 1 July 1946 at NAS New York (Floyd Benne Field).
is squadron took over the helicopter pilot training duties that had been done by the Coast Guard unit at Floyd
Benne Field, N.Y. VX-3 moved to NAS Lakehurst, N.J., on 10 September 1946 and continued training helicopter
pilots until they were disestablished on 1 April 1948.
Helicopter Utility Squadron 2 (HU-2) was established on 1 April 1948 and took over the responsibility for
training helicopter pilots at NAS Lakehurst, N.J. Many of the personnel from VX-3 helped form HU-2 when it was
established. On 11 June 1948, the Chief of Naval Operations issued standards for training aviators as helicopter
pilots and provided that helicopter pilots previously trained by the Coast Guard or VX-3 would retain their
qualication. However, not all personnel received their qualication as a helicopter pilot from VX-3 or HU-2,
even though they had been assigned the mission of training helicopter pilots. HU-2 would issue helicopter pilot
qualications to an individual that may have received training at NATC Patuxent River, Md., from HU-1, or from
Connally Air Force Base in Texas.
HU-2 was not only responsible for training helicopter pilots but was also involved in providing helicopter
detachments for utility services and search and rescue missions. Due to an increased demand for these services,
as well as a need for more helicopter pilots, the Chief of Naval Operations decided to transfer the helicopter pilot
training mission to the Naval Air Training Command at Ellyson Field, Pensacola, Fla. Helicopter Training Unit
1 (HTU-1) was established on 3 December 1950 at Pensacola, Fla. HU-2 shied its responsibility for training
helicopter pilots to HTU-1 in January 1951. HTU-1 was redesignated HTG-1 in March 1957. e HTG-1
designation was changed to HT-8 on 1 July 1960. HT-8 is still training helicopter pilots in the Pensacola area.
When a new program is established, especially one that entails listing personnel who are designated or
qualied for a particular job code, the records for the evolution of that new program can be very sketchy. at is
precisely what happened in the training program for helicopter pilots. e early helicopter pilots did not have a
formal Navy training program to follow or the correct procedures in place to record and preserve their helicopter
pilot qualications. In fact, in 1943 the rst group to qualify was sent to East Hartford, Conn., and trained by the
Sikorsky Aircra Company. ey included Lt. Cmdr. Frank Erickson, USCG; Lt. A. N. Fisher, USCG; Lt. Stewart
R. Graham, USCG; and Cmdr. Charles T. Booth, USN. None of these individuals were placed on the list of early
helicopter pilots. In fact, the list, which appears to originate from VX-3 and HU-2 records, does not list any Coast
Guard ocers. e following list is the best that could be compiled from the available records on helicopter pilot
qualication and training. It does not include the Coast Guard aviators.
Helicopter
Pilot Number Name Rank Service
Date of Qualification
Designation
1 Knapp, William G. Lt. USNR 15 Apr 1944
2 Doll, Raymond E. Cmdr. USN 26 Sep 1944
3 Wood, Charles R. Cmdr. USNR 26 Sep 1944
4 Brown, Percy Lt. USNR 6 Feb 1945
5 Kembro, Marerie D. Capt. USN 9 Aug 1945
6 Long, Richard J. Lt. USN 9 Aug 1945
7 Marcy, Clayton C. Capt. USN 10 Oct 1945
8 Runyon, Joseph W. Cmdr. USN 31 Oct 1945
9 Houston, Charles E. Cmdr. USN 18 Dec 1945
10 Hoover, George Lt. USN 27 Dec 1945
11 Lawrence, M. Lt. USNR 28 Dec 1945
12 Wilcox, Donald E. Capt. USN 3 Jun 1946
13 Kosciusko, Henry M. Lt. Cmdr. USN 17 Jul 1946
14 Kubicki, Edward Lt. USN 26 Jul 1946
15 Schauer, William G. Lt. j.g. USN 26 Jul 1946
Early Helicopter Pilots
|
263
Helicopter
Pilot Number Name Rank Service
Date of Qualification
Designation
16 Delalio, Armand H. Maj. USMC 8 Aug 1946
17 Rullo, Guiseppe J. Lt. USN 28 Aug 1946
18 Reeves, George J. Lt. USN 28 Aug 1946
19 Lammi, James W. Lt. USN 27 Sep 1946
20 Junghans, Robert L. Lt. Cmdr. USN 1 Nov 1946
21 Sessums, Walter M. Lt. Cmdr. USN 5 Nov 1946
22 Tanner, Charles S. Lt. Cmdr. USN 9 Nov 1946
23 Fink, Christian Lt. Cmdr. USN 18 Dec 1946
24 Bott, Alan Lt. USN 18 Dec 1946
25 Tracy, Lloyd W. Lt. USN 23 Jun 1947
26 Glenzer, Hubert Lt. j.g. USN 14 Oct 1947
27 Anderson, Roy L. 1st Lt. USMC 20 Nov 1947
28 Strieby, Robert A. Capt. USMC 20 Nov 1947
29 Garber, C. O. Capt. USMC 20 Nov 1947
30 Riley, Russell R. Maj. USMC 20 Nov 1947
31 Peters, Maurice A. Cmdr. USN 21 Nov 1947
32 Shawcross, William H. Lt. USN 24 Nov 1947
33 Bagshaw, James R. Lt. j.g. USN 24 Nov 1947
34 Montgomery, Marvin D. Lt. j.g. USN 24 Nov 1947
35 Morrison, Gene W. 1st Lt. USMC 1 Dec 1947
36 Carleton, R. D. Lt. j.g. USN 20 Dec 1947
37 Arnold, E. A. Lt. Cmdr. USN 21 Dec 1947
38 Moseley, R. H. Ens. USN 22 Dec 1947
39 Higbee, J. Capt. USN 22 Dec 1947
40 Billett, Dudley S. Lt. Cmdr. USN 15 Jan 1948
41 Camp, R. W.
ADC(NAP)
*
USN 21 Feb 1948
42 McVicars, A. L. 1st Lt. USMC 11 Mar 1948
43 Meshier, C. W. Lt. USN 12 Mar 1948
44 Blatt, W. D. Capt. USMC 17 Mar 1948
45 Polen, R. A. 1st Lt. USMC 17 Mar 1948
46 Ward, C. E. 1st Lt. USMC 19 Mar 1948
47 Pope, E. J. 1st Lt. USMC 22 Mar 1948
48 Sebach, H. U. Lt. Cmdr. USN 31 Mar 1948
49 Fisher, A. G. MSgt. USMC 1 Apr 1948
50 Schmucker, S. Ens. USN 7 Apr 1948
51 Math ewso n, F. F. Lt. USN 16 Apr 1948
52 Hanies, G. D. Lt. USN 16 Apr 1948
53 Matthews, J. H. Capt. USN 20 Apr 1948
54 Mounts, L. J. MSgt. USMC 26 Apr 1948
55 Fox, J. E. Lt. USN 29 Apr 1948
56 Leary, W. Lt. j.g. USN 29 Apr 1948
57 Grassi, J. Ens. USN 29 Apr 1948
58 Longstaff, R. 1st Lt. USMC 12 May 1948
59 Hamilton, D. E. ADC(AP)
*
USN 12 May 1948
60 Mitchell, G. D. ADC(NAP)
*
USN 18 May 1948
61 Finn, L. A. ADC(NAP)
*
USN 19 May 1948
62 Collins, V. W. Lt. USN 21 May 1948
63 Nebergall, M. 1st Lt. USMC 19 Jun 1948
264
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Personnel
Helicopter
Pilot Number Name Rank Service
Date of Qualification
Designation
64 Grifn, M. C. Lt. j.g. USN 7 Jul 1948
65 Brender, B. W. Lt. j.g. USN 8 Jul 1948
66 Hutto, C. H. AC1(NAP)
*
USN 8 Jul 1948
67 Lynch, R. E. Ens. USN 9 Jul 1948
68 Milner, F. D. Lt. USN 13 Jul 1948
69 Matthews, W. R. Ens. USN 22 Jul 1948
70 Torry, J. A. H. Lt. Cmdr. USN 6 Aug 1948
71 Nickerson, R. L. Maj. USMC 6 Aug 1948
72 Dyer, E. C. Col. USMC 6 Aug 1948
73 Ellis, W. Y. Lt. Cmdr. USNR 6 Aug 1948
74 Leonard, W. R. Lt. Cmdr. USN 16 Aug 1948
75 Cunha, G. D. M. Cmdr. USN 19 Aug 1948
76 Cox, W. J. Ens. USN 24 Aug 1948
77 Fridley, D. C. Ens. USN 24 Aug 1948
78 Dixon, W. C. Lt. USN 24 Aug 1948
79 Granger, R. P. ADC(NAP)
*
USN 26 Aug 1948
80 Crofoot, A. E. Lt. j.g. USN 27 Aug 1948
81 Johnson, F. E. Ens. USN 2 Sep 1948
82 Carey, J. F. Lt. Col. USMC 2 Sep 1948
83 Kilcore, W. H. Lt. Cmdr. USN 3 Sep 1948
84 Miller, R. A. Lt. j.g. USN 8 Sep 1948
85 Wrenn, E. Lt. j.g. USN 13 Sep 1948
86 Wheat, N. L. Ens. USN 14 Sep 1948
87 Garrison, R. G. Ens. USN 24 Sep 1948
88 Wiskirchen, R. L. Lt. USN 24 Sep 1948
89 Cabell, J. B. Lt. USN 24 Sep 1948
90 Zoecklein, W. O. Lt. Cmdr. USN 19 Oct 1948
91 Connolly, T. F. Cmdr. USN 15 Sep 1948
92 Sherby, S. S. Cmdr. USN 15 Sep 1948
93 Hyland, J. J. Cmdr. USN 15 Sep 1948
94 Rand, N. C. Lt. Cmdr. USN 15 Sep 1948
95 Davis, W. V., Jr. Capt. USN 15 Sep 1948
96 Timmins
‡
Lt. Cmdr. USNR 8 Oct 1948
97 Reilly, J. L. Lt. j.g. USN 20 Oct 1948
98 Denk, H. J. Ens. USN 20 Oct 1948
99 Little, J. C. Lt. USN 9 Nov 1948
100 Nash, D. E. Lt. j.g. USN 9 Nov 1948
101 Blades, J. L. Lt. j.g. USN 12 Nov 1948
102 Gauthier, A. C. Lt. USNR 12 Nov 1948
103 McMullen, B. E. Lt. j.g. USN 12 Nov 1948
104 Peterson, M. C. ADC(NAP)
*
USN 12 Nov 1948
105 Rust, D. T. Lt. j.g. USN 19 Nov 1948
106 Hamilton, R. C. Ens. USNR 23 Nov 1948
107 McCarthy, J. R. CAA
†
1 Dec 1948
108 Fisher, F. J. Ens. USNR 24 Nov 1948
109 Johnson, C. R. Lt. USN 6 Dec 1948
110 Berree, N. R. Lt. USN 7 Dec 1948
111 Schmeltzer, L. B. Lt. j.g. USN 7 Dec 1948
Early Helicopter Pilots
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265
Helicopter
Pilot Number Name Rank Service
Date of Qualification
Designation
112 Moore, B., Jr. Cmdr. USN 10 Dec 1948
113 Lieske, J. M. ALC(NAP)
*
USN 13 Dec 1948
114 Staples, C. CAA
†
14 Jan 1949
115 Olmsted, P. S. Ens. USNR 20 Jan 1949
116 Miller, H. M. Lt. j.g. USNR 21 Jan 1949
117 Hilton, J. J., Jr. Cmdr. USN 1 Feb 1949
118 Montgomery, W. G. Lt. USN 9 Feb 1949
119 Brown, H. F. Lt. USN 10 Feb 1949
120 Armstrong, J. G. Lt. USN 23 Feb 1949
121 Starr, M. R. Ens. USN 24 Feb 1949
122 Reed, M. Lt. USN 24 Feb 1949
123 Case, R. C. 1st Lt. USMC 9 Mar 1949
124 Blackwood, R. R. Ens. USNR 11 Mar 1949
125 Cole, J. S. Lt. USN 14 Mar 1949
126 Mitchell, W. P. Maj. USMC 17 Mar 1949
127 Gill, R. J. Lt. j.g. USNR 15 Mar 1949
128 Pledger, W. G. Lt. j.g. USN 30 Mar 1949
129 Lueddeke, G. F. Lt. j.g. USN 5 Apr 1949
130 Marshall, A. R. Lt. USN 13 Apr 1949
131 Farwell, J. M. Lt. j.g. USN 13 Apr 1949
132 Tucci, F. A. Lt. USN 20 Apr 1949
133 Logan, I. C. Lt. j.g. USNR 21 Apr 1949
134 McClanan, F. H. Lt. Cmdr. USN 21 Apr 1949
135 Mayeld, A. Lt. j.g. USN 21 Apr 1949
136 Raddatz, R. W. Lt. USN 29 Apr 1949
137
Braun, J. F. Lt. j.g. USN 29 Apr 1949
138 Wrigley, G. R. Lt. j.g. USN 29 Apr 1949
139 Kaylor, J. O. 1st Lt. USMC 29 Apr 1949
140 Sullivan, R. J. 1st Lt. USMC 4 May 1949
141 Bolt, G. W. Lt. Cmdr. USN 6 May 1949
142 Duffey, H. J. CAA
†
9 May 1949
143 Kelley, F. E., Jr. Ens. USN 9 May 1949
144 Rohrich, W. H. Lt. j.g. USN 9 May 1949
145 Grifn
‡
CAA
†
15 Mar 1949
146 Titterud, S. V. Capt. USMC 11 May 1949
147 Lammi, W. S. Lt. USN 19 May 1949
148 Holmgren, A. F. Ens. USN 15 Apr 1944
149 Crowe, G. T. AD1(AP)
*
USN 19 May 1949
150 Taylor, C. B. ADC(AP)
*
USN 20 May 1949
151 Mullen, J., Jr. Lt. j.g. USN 23 May 1949
152 Larkin, H. J. Lt. USN 26 May 1949
153 Close, R. A. Lt. j.g. USN 31 May 1949
154 Drinkwater, H. T. Lt. j.g. USN 31 May 1949
155 Williams, D. L. Ens. USNR 31 May 1949
156 Mundy, E. M. Lt. Cmdr. USNR 10 Jun 1949
157 Pennington, B. D. Lt. j.g. USN 15 Jun 1949
158 Highsmith, F. L. Ens. USNR 15 Jun 1949
159 Crowell, L. T. Ens. USNR 15 Jun 1949
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Helicopter
Pilot Number Name Rank Service
Date of Qualification
Designation
160 Buerckholtz, H. M. Ens. USNR 15 Jun 1949
161 Banks, W. F. Lt. j.g. USN 15 Jun 1949
162 Price, W. J. Lt. j.g. USNR 23 Jun 1949
163 Marchand, J. L. Lt. Cmdr. USNR 23 Jun 1949
164 Heibr, W. D. Capt. USMC 1 Jul 1949
165 Bancroft, A. R. 1st Lt. USMC 8 Jul 1949
166 Moran, F. P. 1st Lt. USMC 8 Jul 1949
167 Ford, A. Lt. USN 28 Jun 1949
168 Deitrich, V. S. Cmdr. USN 14 Jul 1949
169 Neuman, A. E. Lt. USNR 15 Jul 1949
170 Bromka, A. C. Lt. j.g. USNR 19 Jul 1949
171 Leedom, H. E. Lt. Cmdr. USN 20 Jul 1949
172 Seay, G. W. Lt. j.g. USN 20 Jul 1949
173 Chagnon, W. G. PRC(AP)
*
USN 26 Jul 1949
174 Butler, W. C. Lt. USN 26 Jul 1949
175 Dally, F. E. Cmdr. USN 4 Aug 1949
176 Clabaugh, C. L. Lt. Cmdr. USNR 4 Aug 1949
177 Farish, G. B. 1st Lt. USMC 8 Aug 1949
178 Armstrong, V. A. Capt. USMC 9 Aug 1949
179 Noble, E. V. Cmdr. USN 25 Aug 1949
180 Horn, F. H. 1st Lt. USMC 7 Sep 1949
181 Vest, J. P. W. Capt. USN 16 Sep 1949
182 Tuffanelle, G. T. Lt. j.g. USN 17 Sep 1949
183 Marr, R. AO1(AP)
*
USN 23 Sep 1949
184 Woolley, S. R. MSgt USMC 26 Sep 1949
185 Barnes, R. O. Lt. j.g. USN 27 Sep 1949
186 Anderson, W. A. AD1(AP)
*
USN 27 Sep 1949
187 Dennison, G. E. Lt. j.g. USN 30 Sep 1949
188 Fisher, C. E. Lt. j.g. USN 5 Oct 1949
189 Treon, H. J. Lt. USN 6 Oct 1949
190 Foley, F. D. Cmdr. USN 7 Oct 1949
191 Asbury, D. A. Lt. USN 14 Oct 1949
192 Percy, G. Maj. USMC 17 Oct 1949
193 Rozier, W. R. Capt. USMC 17 Oct 1949
194 Cozine, M. E. ADC(AP)
*
USN 20 Oct 1949
195 Holman, E. D. ADC(AP)
*
USN 25 Oct 1949
196 Connant, E. S. Lt. Cmdr. USN 30 Sep 1949
197 Hudson, W. N. Cmdr. USNR 2 Oct 1949
198 Moody, J. T. AO1(AP)
*
USN 2 Nov 1949
199 Voss, C. M. Lt. j.g. USNRV 4 Nov 1949
200 Scott, E. A. Lt. j.g. USN 4 Nov 1949
201 Stokes, W. E. Ens. USN 8 Nov 1949
202 Russell, J. B. Lt. USN 9 Nov 1949
203 Milburn, K. F. AD1(AP)
*
USN 19 Nov 1949
204 Romer, R. D. Lt. j.g. USN 14 Nov 1949
205 Collup, W. D. Capt. USMC 30 Nov 1949
206 Koelsch, J. H. Lt. j.g. USN 9 Dec 1949
207 Proper, W. F. Lt. j.g. USN 14 Oct 1949
Early Helicopter Pilots
|
267
Helicopter
Pilot Number Name Rank Service
Date of Qualification
Designation
208 Harrigan, D. W. Capt. USN 10 Dec 1949
209 Jenks, R. F. AMC(AP)
*
USN 14 Oct 1949
210 Hamilton, C. B. Lt. j.g. USN 20 Jan 1950
211 Brown, S. H. Lt. Cmdr. USN 23 Nov 1949
212 Bayers, E. H. Lt. Cmdr. USN 23 Nov 1949
213 Bach, H. A. Lt. Cmdr. USN 23 Nov 1949
214 Kurtz, L. A. Lt. USN 23 Nov 1949
215 Browneld, R. H. ADC(AP)
*
USN 16 Jan 1950
216 Thorin, D. W. AMC(AP)
*
USN 16 Jan 1950
217 Scroggs, F. W., Jr. TSgt USMC 8 Feb 1950
218 Mullkoff, E. Lt. USNR 8 Feb 1950
219 Herring, G. W. Lt. Col. USMC 10 Feb 1950
220 Davis, R. O. Lt. j.g. USN 17 Feb 1950
221 Swinburne, H. W. Lt. USN 20 Mar 1950
222 Sundberg, H. J. Lt. USN 20 Mar 1950
223 Young, R. E. Lt. j.g. USN 20 Mar 1950
224 Cardoza, H. AD1(AP)
*
USN 9 Mar 1950
225 Marsh, E. D. AD1(AP)
*
USN 9 Mar 1950
226 Harbour, C. C. Lt. USN 31 Mar 1950
227 Om a r a , P. Lt. j.g. USN 31 Mar 1950
228 Huggins, J. C. Lt. USN 20 Apr 1950
229 Jones, C. C. Lt. j.g. USN 21 Apr 1950
230 Boegel, W. T. AOC(AP)
*
USN 21 Apr 1950
231 Larson, C. S. Lt. j.g. USNR 24 Apr 1950
232 Kakol, J. F. ADC(AP)
*
USN 25 Apr 1950
233 Smolen, F. E. Lt. USN 24 Apr 1950
234 Maghan, R. I. Lt. USN 28 Apr 1950
235 Richards, F. D. Lt. USN 4 May 1950
236 Felten, R. E. Lt. USN 4 May 1950
237 Jansen, T. E. Lt. USNR 4 May 1950
238 Bowen, J. B. Capt. USN 27 Apr 1950
239 Brock, M. A. Lt. USN 16 May 1950
240 Falabella, J. J. Lt. USNR 17 May 1950
241 Widmar, J. R. Lt. USNR 22 May 1950
242 Jensen, E. O. Lt. USNR 25 May 1950
243 Stearns, W. G. Lt. USN 2 Jun 1950
244 Hudson, F. W. ACCA(AP)
*
USN 9 Jun 1950
245 McFarlane, H. Capt. USAF 9 Jun 1950
246 Erwin, W. L. Lt. j.g. USN 13 Jun 1950
247 Englehardt, L. J. 1st Lt. USMC 13 Jun 1950
248 Scott, J. L. 1st Lt. USMC 13 Jun 1950
249 Waring, E. S. Cmdr. USN 27 Jun 1950
250 Albert, W. H. Lt. j.g. USNR 1 Jul 1950
Notes:
* NAP and AP: Naval Aviation Pilot, an enlisted pilot.
† Civil Aeronautics Administration
‡ Initials unknown
Naval Astronauts
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269
Chapter 16
Naval Astronauts
Sailors have long studied the sky and have used the movements of celestial bodies to guide them across the trackless
seas. Realizing the need to observe the movements of the stars and planets, the U.S. Navy established the Depot of
Charts and Instruments on 6 December 1830. is is the Navy’s oldest scientic institution. e Depot later became
the U.S. Naval Observatory. Today it continues to provide the astronomical data necessary for navigation at sea, on
land as well as in space.
In 1923 the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) began operation. e idea for a U.S. Government–supported
research laboratory was suggested by the American inventor omas Alva Edison during World War I. Secretary
of the Navy Josephus Daniels seized the opportunity and invited Edison to become head of the Naval Consulting
Board. e board made plans to create a modern scientic research facility, which became the Naval Research
Laboratory. Robert Morris Page who was at NRL from the late 1920s to the mid-1960s invented the technology
for pulse radar. During WWII his invention assisted the Allies in detecting enemy planes and ships. Without radar,
today’s space program would be impossible.
Over the nearly two decades since the Navy bought its rst aircra—the Curtiss A-1 Triad—in 1911, aviation
advances had aircra ying ever higher. On 8 May 1929 Lt. Apollo Soucek set the world altitude record for
landplanes by ying a Wright Apache to 39,140 feet. Barely a month later, on 4 June, he set the altitude record for
seaplanes, also in an Apache, reaching 38,560 feet.
At nearly 40,000 feet, the thin air and decreased pressure made it dicult for human beings to function and
survive, but the airplane was a poor vehicle in which to study the upper reaches of the atmosphere. e balloon proved
to be more suitable and, in the end, resulted in the rst space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
On 4 August 1933 Lt. Cmdr. omas Sele ascended alo in the sealed life-support gondola of a balloon, but
the aempt failed. A similar aempt in a balloon by Soviet aeronauts the following September, achieved the height of
62,230 feet.
Two months later, on 20 November, Sele and Maj. Chester L. Fordney, USMC, ying a 600,000 cubic-foot
free balloon, set the world’s altitude record of 61,237 feet. While it was an ocial world’s record, it fell 1,000 feet shy
of the actual Soviet achievement.
In December 1941, the United States entered WWII with no rocket weapons, while Germany was puing a
great deal of eort into rocket development, basing much of its technology on the research of American scientist
Robert H. Goddard.
By the end of the war, the U.S. rocket budget was $1.3 million. Research in the use of rockets in jet-assisted
takeo (JATO) had been carried out by rocket pioneer Goddard, assisted by the Navy’s Robert Truax. is program
laid the groundwork for the use of rocket power in Navy guided missiles. JATO could reduce a takeo run by 33 to
60 percent, or permit greater payloads.
Aer WWII, U.S. interest in high-altitude research experiments resumed. e Oce of Naval Research (ONR)
made plans for a manned balloon ight into the upper atmosphere through Project Helios, which called for the
construction of plastic balloons with a gondola equipped with scientic observation instruments. is ambitious
plan was replaced in 1947 by Project Skyhook, which used polyethylene balloons to carry instrument packages to
extreme altitudes. ousands of these balloons were sent into the stratosphere for basic research.
In 1952 a new technique was developed in which Deacon rockets were lied above 70,000 feet by Skyhook
balloons and then launched into space. e experiments proved to be so successful that in 1954 plans were made to
entrust the lives of men to the Skyhook balloons.
Project Stratolab, a laboratory in the stratosphere, began in 1955. On 8 November 1956, Stratolab I, manned
by Lt. Cmdrs. Malcolm D. Ross and Morton Lee Lewis reached a record altitude of 76,000 feet. Balloons, however,
could not put a man in space; that would require rocket power.
Naval Research Laboratory scientists had been conducting experiments on the Aerobee and Viking sounding
rockets during the early 1950s. An NRL study in 1954 indicated the feasibility of successfully placing a satellite in
orbit, using a vehicle based on the Viking as a rst stage and the Aerobee as the second.
In 1955 President Eisenhower announced that the United States would launch “small, unmanned, earth-
circling satellites” as a part of the U.S. contributions to the International Geophysical Year, 1957–1958. e Naval
Research Laboratory proposed that the Vanguard rocket, based on Viking technology, be used to launch the satellite.
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|
Personnel
e proposal was accepted with Project Vanguard having three missions: place at least one satellite in orbit during
1957–1958, accomplish a scientic experiment in space, and track the ight to demonstrate that the satellite had
actually aained orbit.
Before Vanguard could launch a satellite into space, however, the Soviets announced that they had put Sputnik
into orbit on 4 October 1957. Sputnik, the Russian word for travelling companion, was the earth’s rst articial
satellite. e perception by the United States that it was the leader in space technology was shaered, and the
capability of Soviet rockets to re weapons from space became apparent.
On 31 January 1958, the Army’s Jupiter-C, a development of the Redstone rocket, put the rst U.S. satellite,
Explorer I, into orbit. On 31 March 1958, a Vanguard rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., put a second earth
satellite into orbit.
In response to the Soviet challenge in space, the United States established the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) in July 1958, and initiated Project Mercury, which would put a man into orbit. On 15 May
1961, President John F. Kennedy went even further and stated in an address that the United States should commit
itself to landing a man on the moon by the end of the decade. is goal was named Project Apollo.
e steps to the moon were incremental. First, NASA lobbed a chimpanzee into space on 31 January 1961.
Aer this experiment proved successful, it was then believed possible to put a man into a similar sub-orbital ight.
Cmdr. Alan B. Shepard Jr., was chosen to be the rst American sent into space. On 5 May 1961, Shepard le earth’s
atmosphere in his space capsule, Freedom 7. It was a ballistic “cannon shot” atop an Army Redstone rocket. e
capsule was recovered at sea by an HUS-1 helicopter from Marine Corps squadron HMR(L)-262, which transported
it and the astronaut to the carrier Lake Champlain (CVS 39).
Subsequent Mercury missions successfully put other men in space and safely recovered each. On 20 February
1962, Lt. Col. John H. Glenn Jr., USMC, and his spacecra, Friendship 7, made three orbits around the earth. In all,
six men ew lone missions into space on board Mercury capsules. is program was followed by two-seat Project
Gemini missions in 1965 and 1966. Many of these astronauts were naval aviators.
Aer having succeeded in demonstrating man’s capability for surviving in space for extended periods, the
ability to change and modify orbits, and of rendezvousing and docking, the moon was the next step. In December
1968, Lt. Cmdr. James A. Lovell Jr., was on the Apollo 8 ight that rst ew to the moon and circled it, becoming
among the rst three men to view the side that is never seen from earth. Seven months later, on 20 July 1969 Neil A.
Armstrong, a naval aviator, became the rst man to walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 ight. In all, 11 missions
were own in the Apollo moon program, and of the 29 men who ew them, 14 were naval aviators. And of the 12 who
walked on the moon, 7 were Navy.
e next U.S space goal was to work and live in space. Skylab was the vehicle, a space laboratory in which the
astronauts could live a fairly normal life, work on scientic experiments, eat, sleep, and have regular periods of
recreation. ree separate crews of Skylab astronauts were launched into space during 1973; two were all-Navy crews.
One last Apollo mission was launched on 15 July 1975. Vance D. Brand, a former Navy pilot, was the command
module pilot of this mission to dock with a Soviet Soyuz spacecra. is was the rst meeting between American
astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts in space. e two crews then conducted scientic experiments before Apollo
splashed down in the Pacic near Hawaii and was recovered by New Orleans (LPH 11). is was the last splashdown
recovery of a manned space capsule by a Navy amphibious ship. e next American manned space vehicle, the Space
Shule, would make such recoveries unnecessary.
e Space Shule was launched by rocket engines, but could land like an airplane, albeit an unpowered glider,
thus it could make multiple trips into space. Columbia was the rst shule and was launched on 12 April 1981 with
an all Navy-aviator crew. It was followed by Space Shules Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. Subsequent
shule ights were able to take up to ten astronauts on a single ight into space and stay there for longer periods of
time and continued to conduct scientic experiments. Limited cooperation with the Russian Republic, part of the
former Soviet Union, also continued. In 1995, Atlantis transported two Russian cosmonauts to the Russian space
station Mir where American astronaut Norman agard, a former naval aviator, had been living for three months.
Atlantis docked with Mir and returned the American to earth.
Naval aviation continues to play an important role in space. e following three sections provide statistical data
on its contributions or involvement in the manned space program.
Naval Astronauts
|
271
Members of Naval Aviation Who Have Become Astronauts
(is list includes naval aviators or naval aviation personnel and does not distinguish whether they were on active
duty or separated from the Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard when involved in space ights.)
Andrew M. Allen Sco D. Altman Dominic A. Antonelli
Neil A. Armstrong Jeery Ashby Michael A. Baker
Alan L. Bean Charles F. Bolden Jr. Stephen G. Bowen
Kenneth D. Bowersox Vance D. Brand Daniel C. Brandenstein
Randolph J. Bresnik David M. Brown James F. Buchli
John S. Bull Daniel C. Burbank Daniel W. Bursch
Robert D. Cabana Kenneth D. Cameron Malcolm Sco Carpenter
Gerald P. Carr Manley L. Carter Jr. Eugene A. Cernan
Roger B. Chaee Michael L. Coats Kenneth D. Cockrell
Charles Conrad Jr. John O. Creighton Robert L. Crippen
Frank L. Culbertson R. Walter Cunningham Robert Curbeam Jr.
Joe F. Edwards Jr. Ronald E. Evans Christopher J. Ferguson
Michael J. Foreman Stephen N. Frick Dale A. Gardner
Jake E. Garn Robert L. Gibson John H. Glenn Jr.
Richard F. Gordon Jr. Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie S. David Griggs
Fred W. Haise Jr. Ken Ham Frederick H. Hauck
John Herrington Kathryn P. Hire David C. Hilmers
Charles O. Hobaugh Douglas G. Hurley Brent W. Je Jr.
Gregory C. Johnson Mark E. Kelly Sco J. Kelley
Joseph P. Kerwin Wendy B. Lawrence David C. Leestma
Don L. Lind
Michael E. Lopez-Alegria John M. Lounge
John R. Lousma James A. Lovell Jr. Jon A. McBride
Bruce McCandless II William McCool Michael J. McCulley
omas K. Maingly II Bruce E. Melnick Edgar D. Mitchell
Franklin S. Musgrave Carlos I. Noriega Lisa M. Nowak
Bryan D. O’Connor William Oefelein Stephen S. Oswald
Robert F. Overmyer John L. Phillips Alan G. Poindexter
William F. Readdy Kenneth S. Reightler Jr. Richard N. Richards
Kent V. Rominger Walter M. Schirra Jr. Winston E. Sco
Elliot M. See Alan B. Shepard Jr. Michael John Smith
Robert C. Springer Susan L. Still Frederick W. Sturckow
Joseph R. Tanner Norman E. agard Stephen D. orne
Pierre J. uot Richard H. Truly James D. van Hoen
David M. Walker Paul J. Weitz James D. Wetherbee
Terrence W. Wilcu Clion C. Williams Donald E. Williams
Sunita Williams Barry E. Wilmore John W. Young
George D. Zamka
272
|
Personnel
Members of Naval Aviation Who Have Made Trips Into Space as of March 2011
(is list includes naval aviators or naval aviation personnel and does not distinguish whether they were on active
duty or separated from the Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard when involved in space ights.)
One Flight
Randolph J. Bresnik David M. Brown Malcolm Sco Carpenter
Gerald P. Carr Manley L. Carter Jr. R. Walter Cunningham
Joe F. Edwards Jr. Ronald E. Evans Michael J. Foreman
Stephen N. Frick Jake E. Garn S. David Griggs
Fred W. Haise Jr. Ken Ham John Herrington
Douglas G. Hurley Gregory C. Johnson Sco J. Kelley
Joseph P. Kerwin Don L. Lind Jon A. McBride
William McCool Michael J. McCulley Edgar D. Mitchell
Lisa M. Nowak William Oefelein Alan G. Poindexter
Michael John Smith Sunita Williams Barry E. Wilmore
Two Flights
Dominic A. Antonelli Neil A. Armstrong Alan L. Bean
Stephen G. Bowen Daniel C. Burbank Frank L. Culbertson
Christopher J. Ferguson Dale A. Gardner John H. Glenn Jr.
Richard F. Gordon Jr. Kathryn P. Hire John R. Lousma
Bruce McCandless II Bruce E. Melnick Carlos I. Noriega
Bryan D. O’Connor Robert F. Overmyer John L. Phillips
Kenneth S. Reightler Jr. Winston E. Sco Alan B. Shepard Jr.
Robert C. Springer Susan L. Still Joseph R. Tanner
Richard H. Truly James D. van Hoen Paul J. Weitz
Donald E. Williams George D. Zamka
ree Flights
Andrew M. Allen Jeery Ashby Daniel W. Bursch
Kenneth D. Cameron Eugene A. Cernan Michael L. Coats
John O. Creighton Robert Curbeam Jr. Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie
Frederick H. Hauck Charles O. Hobaugh Mark E. Kelly
David C. Leestma Michael E. Lopez-Alegria John M. Lounge
omas K. Maingly II William F. Readdy Stephen S. Oswald
Walter M. Schirra Jr. Pierre J. uot Terrence W. Wilcu
Four Flights
Sco D. Altman Michael A. Baker Charles F. Bolden Jr.
Kenneth D. Bowersox Vance D. Brand Daniel C. Brandenstein
James F. Buchli Robert D. Cabana Kenneth Cockrell
Charles Conrad Jr. Robert L. Crippen David C. Hilmers
Brent W. Je Jr. Wendy B. Lawrence James A. Lovell Jr.
Richard N. Richards Frederick W. Sturckow David M. Walker
Naval Astronauts
|
273
Five Flights
Robert L. Gibson Kent V. Rominger Norman E. agard
Six Flights
Franklin S. Musgrave James D. Wetherbee John W. Young
U.S. Space Flights with Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard Pilots/Astronauts Aboard (As of March 2011 )
Order
*
Date Designation Crew
†
Duration
1 5 May 61
Mercury Redstone
3 (Freedom 7)
Alan B. Shepard Jr.
15 min 22 sec; 1st American into space,
sub-orbital
3 20 Feb 62
Mercury Atlas 6
(Friendship 7)
John H. Glenn Jr., USMC
4 hrs 55 min; 1st American to orbit the
earth
4 24 May 62
Mercury Atlas 7
(Aurora 7)
Malcolm Scott Carpenter 4 hr 56 min 5 sec
5 3 Oct 62
Mercury Atlas 8
(Sigma 7)
Walter M. Schirra Jr. 9 hrs 13 min 11 sec
7 23 Mar 65 Gemini 3 John W. Young 4 hrs 53 min
9 21–29 Aug 65 Gemini 5 Charles Conrad Jr. 190 hrs 56 min 1 sec
10 4–18 Dec 65 Gemini 7 James A. Lovell Jr. 330 hrs 35 min 13 sec
11 15–16 Dec 65 Gemini 6 Walter M. Schirra Jr. 25 hrs 51 min 24 sec
12 16 Mar 66 Gemini 8 Neil A. Armstrong 10 hrs 42 min 6 sec
13 3–6 Jun 66 Gemini 9 Eugene A. Cernan 72 hrs 20 min 56 sec
14 18–21 Jul 66 Gemini 10 John W. Young 70 hrs 46 min 45 sec
15 12–15 Sep 66 Gemini 11
Richard F. Gordon Jr., Charles
Conrad Jr.
71 hrs 17 min 8 sec
16 11–15 Nov 66 Gemini 12 James A. Lovell Jr. 94 hrs 34 min 31 sec
17 11–22 Oct 68 Apollo 7
Walter M. Schirra Jr., R. Walter
Cunningham
206 hrs 9 min
18 21–27 Dec 68 Apollo 8 James A. Lovell Jr.
147 hrs 0 min 42 sec; 1st ight to the
moon
20 18–26 May 69 Apollo 10 John W. Young, Eugene A. Cernan 192 hrs 3 min 23 sec
21 16–24 Jul 69 Apollo 11 Neil A. Armstrong 195 hrs 18 min 35 sec; 1st moon landing
22 14–24 Nov 69 Apollo 12
Charles Conrad Jr., Richard F.
Gordon Jr., Alan L. Bean
244 hrs 36 min 25 sec
23 11–17 Apr 70 Apollo 13 James A. Lovell Jr., Fred W. Haise Jr. 142 hrs 54 min 41 sec
24 31 Jan–9 Feb 71 Apollo 14 Alan B. Shepard Jr., Edgar D. Mitchell 216 hrs 1 min 57 sec
26 16–27 Apr 72 Apollo 16 John W. Young, Thomas K. Mattingly II 265 hrs 1 min 5 sec
27 7–19 Dec 72 Apollo 17
Eugene A. Cernan, Ronald E. Evans 301 hrs 51 min 59 sec
28 25 May–22 Jun 73 Skylab 2
Charles Conrad Jr., Joseph P.
Kerwin, Paul J. Weitz
672 hrs 49 min 49 sec; 1st U.S. manned
orbiting space station; all-Navy crew
29 28 Jul–25 Sep 73 Skylab 3 Alan L. Bean; John R. Lousma, USMC 1,427 hrs 9 min 4 sec
30 16 Nov 73–8 Feb 74 Skylab 4 Gerald P. Carr, USMC 2,017 hrs 15 min 32 sec
31 15–24 Jul 75
Apollo-Soyuz Test
Project
Vance D. Brand 217 hrs 28 min 24 sec
Space Shuttle Missions
Flight
*
Date Orbiter Crew
†
Notes
STS-1 12–14 Apr 1981 Columbia John W. Young, Robert L. Crippen 1st ight, all-Navy crew
STS-2 12–14 Nov 1981 Columbia Richard H. Truly
STS-3 22–30 Mar 1982 Columbia John R. Lousma, USMC
STS-4 27 Jun–4 Jul 1982 Columbia Thomas K. Mattingly II
STS-5 11–16 Nov 1982 Columbia Vance D. Brand; Robert F. Overmyer, USMC
STS-6 4–9 Apr 1983 Challenger Paul J. Weitz; Franklin S. Musgrave, USMC
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Personnel
Space Shuttle Missions
Flight
*
Date Orbiter Crew
†
Notes
STS-7 18–24 Jun 1983 Challenger
Robert L. Crippen, Frederick H. Hauck, Norman E.
Thagard
STS-8 30 Aug–5 Sep 1983 Challenger Richard H. Truly, Daniel C. Brandenstein, Dale A. Gardner
STS-9 28 Nov–8 Dec 1983 Columbia John W. Young
STS-41-B 3–11 Feb 1984 Challenger Vance D. Brand, Robert L. Gibson, Bruce McCandless II
1st untethered walk in
space
STS-41-C 6–13 Apr 1984 Challenger Robert L. Crippen, James D. van Hoften
STS-41-D 30 Aug–5 Sep 1984 Discovery Michael L. Coats
STS-41-G 5–13 Oct 1984 Challenger Robert L. Crippen, Jon A. McBride, David C. Leestma
STS-51-A 8–15 Nov 1984 Discovery Frederick H. Hauck, David M. Walker, Dale A. Gardner
STS-51-C 24–27 Jan 1985 Discovery Thomas K. Mattingly II; James F. Buchli, USMC
STA-51-D 12–19 Apr 1985 Discovery Donald E. Williams, S. David Griggs, Jake E. Garn
STS-51-B 29 Apr–6 May 1985 Challenger
Robert F. Overmyer, USMC; Don L. Lind; Norman E.
Thagard
STS-51-G 17–24 Jun 1985 Discovery Daniel C. Brandenstein, John O. Creighton
STS-51-F
29 Jul 85–6 Aug
1985
Challenger Franklin S. Musgrave, USMC
STS-51-I
27 Aug 85–3 Sep
1985
Discovery James D. van Hoften, John M. Lounge
STS-51-J 3–7 Oct 1985 Atlantis David C. Hilmers, USMC
STS-61-A 30 Oct–6 Nov 1985 Challenger James F. Buchli, USMC
STS-61-B 26 Nov–3 Dec 1985 Atlantis Bryan D. O’Connor, USMC
STS-61-C 12–18 Jan 1986 Columbia Robert L. Gibson; Charles F. Bolden Jr., USMC
STS-51-L 28 Jan 1986 Challenger Michael J. Smith
Shuttle destroyed, all
on board killed
STS-26 29 Sep–3 Oct 1988 Discovery
Frederick H. Hauck; John M. Lounge; David C. Hilmers,
USMC
STS-27 2–6 Dec 1988 Atlantis Robert L. Gibson, William M. Shepherd
‡
STS-29 13–18 Mar 1989 Discovery Michael L. Coats, James Buchli, Robert Springer
STS-30 4–8 May 1989 Atlantis David M. Walker, Norman E. Thagard
STS-28 8–13 Aug 1989 Columbia Richard N. Richards, David C. Leestma
STS-34 18–23 Oct 1989 Atlantis Donald E. Williams, Michael J. McCulley
STS-33 22–27 Nov 1989 Discovery Manley L. Carter Jr.; Franklin S. Musgrave, USMC
STS-32 9–20 Jan 1990 Columbia Daniel C. Brandenstein, James D. Wetherbee
STS-36 28 Feb–4 Mar 1990 Atlantis
John O. Creighton; David C. Hilmers, USMC; Pierre J.
Thuot
STS-31 24–29 Apr 1990 Discovery
Charles F. Bolden Jr., USMC; Bruce McCandless II
STS-41 6–10 Oct 1990 Discovery
Richard N. Richards; Robert D. Cabana, USMC; Bruce E.
Melnick, USCG; William M. Shepherd
‡
STS-38 15–20 Nov 1990 Atlantis Frank L. Culbertson; Robert C. Springer, USMC
STS-35 2–6 Dec 1990 Columbia Vance D. Brand, John M. Lounge
STS-37 5–11 Apr 1991 Atlantis Kenneth D. Cameron, USMC
STS-39 28 Apr–6 May 1991 Discovery Michael L. Coats
STS-40 5–14 Jun 1991 Columbia Bryan D. O’Connor, USMC
STS-43 2–11 Aug 1991 Atlantis Michael A. Baker
STS-48 12–18 Sep 1991 Discovery
John O. Creighton; Kenneth S. Reightler Jr.; James F.
Buchli, USMC
STS-44 24 Nov–1 Dec 1991 Atlantis Franklin S. Musgrave, USMC; Mario Runco Jr.
‡
STS-42 22–30 Jan 1992 Discovery
Stephen S. Oswald; Norman E. Thagard; William F.
Readdy; David C. Hilmers, USMC
STS-45 24 Mar–2 Apr 1992 Atlantis Charles F. Bolden Jr., USMC; David C. Leestma
Naval Astronauts
|
275
Space Shuttle Missions
Flight
*
Date Orbiter Crew
†
Notes
STS-49 7–16 May 1992 Endeavour
Daniel C. Brandenstein; Bruce E. Melnick, USCG; Pierre
J. Thuot
STS-50 25 Jun–9 Jul 1992 Columbia Richard N. Richards, Kenneth D. Bowersox
STS-46 31 Jul–8 Aug 1992 Atlantis Andrew M. Allen, USMC
STS-47 12–20 Sep 1992 Endeavour Robert Gibson
STS-52 22 Oct–1 Nov 1992 Columbia
James D. Wetherbee, Michael A. Baker, William M.
Shepherd
‡
STS-53 2–9 Dec 1992 Discovery David M. Walker; Robert D. Cabana, USMC
STS-54 13–19 Jan 1993 Endeavour Mario Runco Jr.
‡
STS-56 8–17 Apr 1993 Discovery
Kenneth D. Cameron, USMC; Stephen S. Oswald;
Kenneth D. Cockrell
STS-51 12–22 Sep 1993 Discovery
Frank L. Culbertson Jr., William F. Readdy, Daniel W.
Bursch
STS-61 2–13 Dec 1993 Endeavour Kenneth D. Bowersox; Franklin S. Musgrave, USMC
STS-60 3–11 Feb 1994 Discovery Charles F. Bolden Jr., USMC; Kenneth S. Reightler Jr.
STS-62 4–18 Mar 1994 Columbia Andrew M. Allen, USMC; Pierre J. Thuot
STS-65 8–23 Jul 1994 Columbia Robert D. Cabana, USMC
STS-64 9–20 Sep 1994 Discovery Richard N. Richards, Jerry M. Linenger
‡
STS-68 30 Sep–11 Oct 1994 Endeavour
Michael A. Baker; Terrence W. Wilcutt, USMC; Daniel W.
Bursch
STS-66 3–14 Nov 1994 Atlantis Joseph R. Tanner
STS-63 2–11 Feb 1995 Discovery James D. Wetherbee
STS-67 2–18 Mar 1995 Endeavour Stephen S. Oswald, Wendy B. Lawrence
STS-71 27 Jun–7 Jul 1995 Atlantis Robert L. Gibson
STS-69 7–18 Sep 1995 Endeavour David M. Walker, Kenneth Cockrell
STS-73 20 Oct–5 Nov 1995 Columbia
Kenneth D. Bowersox, Kent V. Rominger, Michael E.
Lopez-Alegria
STS -74 12–20 Nov 1995 Atlantis Kenneth D. Cameron, USMC
STS-72 11–20 Jan 1996 Endeavour Brent W. Jett Jr., Winston E. Scott
STS-75 22 Feb–9 Mar 1996 Columbia Andrew M. Allen, USMC
STS-77 19–29 May 1996 Endeavour Daniel W. Bursch, Mario Runco Jr.
‡
STS-78 20 Jun–7 Jul 1996 Columbia Charles E. Brady Jr.
‡
STS-79 16–26 Sep 1996 Atlantis William F. Readdy; Terrence W. Wilcutt, USMC
STS-80 19 Nov–7 Dec 1996 Columbia
Kenneth D. Cockrell; Kent V. Rominger; Franklin S.
Musgrave, USMC
STS-81 12–22 Jan 1997
Atlantis Michael A. Baker, Brent W. Jett Jr., Jerry M. Linenger
‡
STS-82 11–21 Feb 1997 Discovery Kenneth D. Bowersox, Joseph R. Tanner
STS-83 4–8 Apr 1997 Columbia Susan L. Still
STS-84 15–24 May 1997 Atlantis Carlos I. Noriega, USMC
STS-94 1–17 Jul 1997 Columbia Susan L. Still
STS-85 7–19 Aug 1997 Discovery Kent V. Rominger, Robert L. Curbeam Jr.
STS-86 25 Sep–6 Oct 1997 Atlantis James D. Wetherbee, Wendy B. Lawrence
STS-87 19 Nov–5 Dec 1997 Columbia Winston E. Scott
STS-89 22–31 Jan 1998 Endeavour
Terrence W. Wilcutt, USMC; Joe F. Edwards Jr.; James F.
Reilly
‡
STS-90 17 Apr–3 May 1998 Columbia Scott D. Altman, Kathryn P. Hire
STS-91 2–12 Jun 1998 Discovery Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie, Wendy B. Lawrence
STS-95 29 Oct–7 Nov 98 Discovery John H. Glenn Jr., USMC
§
STS-88 4–15 Dec 1998 Endeavour Robert D. Cabana, USMC; Frederick W. Sturckow, USMC
STS-96 27 May–6 Jun 1999 Discovery Kent V. Rominger
STS-93 23–27 Jul 1999 Columbia Jeffrey S. Ashby
276
|
Personnel
Space Shuttle Missions
Flight
*
Date Orbiter Crew
†
Notes
STS-103 19–27 Dec 1999 Discovery Scott J. Kelly
STS-99 11–22 Feb 2000 Endeavour Dominic L. Pudwill Gorie
STS-106 8–20 Sep 2000 Atlantis
Terrence W. Wilcutt, USMC; Scott D. Altman; Daniel C.
Burbank, USCG
STS-92 11–24 Oct 2000 Discovery Michael Lopez-Alegria
STS-97 30 Nov–11 Dec 2000 Endeavour Brent W. Jett Jr.; Joseph Tanner; Carlos Noriega, USMC
STS-98 7–20 Feb 2001 Atlantis Kenneth Cockrell, Robert Curbeam Jr.
STS-102 8–21 Mar 2001 Discovery James Wetherbee
STS-100 19 Apr–1 May 2001 Endeavour Kent Rominger, Jeffrey Ashby, John L. Phillips
STS-104 12–24 Jul 2001 Atlantis Charles O. Hobaugh, USMC
STS-105 10–22 Aug 2001 Discovery Frederick W. Sturckow, USMC
STS-108 5–17 Dec 2001 Endeavour Dominic L. Gorie, Mark E. Kelly
STS-109 1–12 Mar 2002 Columbia Scott D. Altman
STS-110 8–19 Apr 2002 Atlantis Stephen N. Frick, Lee M. E. Morin
‡
STS-111 5–19 Jun 2002 Endeavour Kenneth Cockrell
STS-112 7–18 Oct 2002 Atlantis Jeffrey Ashby
STS-113 23 Nov–7 Dec 2002 Endeavour Jim Wetherbee, Michael Lopez-Alegria, John Herrington
STS-107 16 Jan–1 Feb 2003 Columbia William C. McCool, David M. Brown, Laurel B. S. Clark
‡
Shuttle destroyed, all
on board killed
STS-114 26 Jul–9 Aug 2005 Discovery Wendy Lawrence
STS-121 4–17 Jul 2006 Discovery Mark E. Kelly, Lisa M. Nowak
STS-115 9–21 Sep 2006 Atlantis
Brent W. Jett Jr.; Christopher J. Ferguson; Daniel C.
Burbank, USCG; Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper
‡
;
Joseph R. Tanner
STS-116 9–22 Dec 2006 Discovery William Oefelein, Robert Curbeam Jr., Sunita Williams
STS-117 8–22 Jun 2007 Atlantis Frederick W. Sturckow, USMC; James F. Reilly
‡
STS-118 8–21Aug 2007 Endeavor Scott J. Kelley; Charles O. Hobaugh, USMC
STS-120 23 Oct–Nov 2007 Discovery George D. Zamka, USMC
STS-126 14–30 Nov 2008 Endeavour Christopher J. Ferguson
STS-119 15–28 Mar 2009 Discovery John L. Phillips, Dominic A. Antonelli
STS-125 11–24 May 2009 Atlantis Scott D. Altman, Gregory C. Johnson
STS-127 15–31 Jul 2009 Endeavour Douglas G. Hurley, USMC
STS-128 28 Aug–11 Sep 2009 Discovery Frederick W. Sturckow, USMC
STS-129 16–27 Nov 2009 Atlantis
Charles O. Hobaugh, USMC; Randolph J. Bresnik, USMC;
Michael J. Foreman; Barry E. Wilmore
STS-130 8–21 Feb 2010 Endeavour George D. Zamka, USMC; Kathryn P. Hire
STS-131 5–20 Apr 2010 Discovery Alan G. Poindexter
STS-132 14–26 May 2010 Atlantis Ken Ham, Dominic A. Antonelli, Stephen G. Bowen
STS-133 24 Feb–9 Mar 2011 Discovery Stephen G. Bowen
STS-134 16 May–1 June 2011 Endeavour Mark E. Kelly, Roberto Vittori
||
STS-135 8–21 July 2011 Atlantis Christopher J. Ferguson, Douglas G. Hurley
*
Flight is by mission date, not mission number. Only ights with naval aviation personnel, active and former, on board are listed.
†
Only naval aviation personnel on board the ight are listed.
‡
Navy but not connected with naval aviation.
§
Passenger.
||
Italian Air Force, USN Test Pilot School graduate.
Naval Aviation Hall of Honor
|
277
Chapter 17
Naval Aviation Hall of Honor
e Naval Aviation Hall of Honor was established in 1980 to recognize those individuals who by their actions
or achievements made outstanding contributions to naval aviation. A bronze plaque of the individual and their
contributions is cast and placed in Naval Aviation Hall of Honor located in the National Museum of Naval Aviation
at Pensacola, Fla. e rst group to be inducted was in 1981. Aer 1984, enshrinement in the Naval Aviation Hall of
Honor was placed on a two-year cycle with no more than a maximum of eight inductees. e selection commiee,
consisting of seven to 11 members appointed by the Chief of Naval Operations, Director Air Warfare, is responsible
for making the nal nominee recommendations. Final approval is done by the Chief of Naval Operations.
Personnel eligible for nomination to the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor include civilian or uniformed individuals
no longer employed by the federal government or on active duty. Criteria for nomination include:
• Sustained superior performance in or for naval aviation.
• Superior contributions in the technical or tactical development of naval aviation.
• Unique and superior ight achievement in combat or non-combat ight operations.
e following are enshrined in the Naval Aviation Hall of Honor:
Enshrinee Year
Vice Adm. Patrick N. L. Bellinger, USN 1981
CWO Floyd Benne, USN 1981
Rear Adm. Richard E. Byrd Jr., USN 1981
Lt. Cmdr. Godfrey de C. Chevalier, USN 1981
Lt. Col. Alfred A. Cunningham, USMC 1981
Mr. Glenn H. Curtiss, Civilian 1981
Cmdr. eodore G. Ellyson, USN 1981
Mr. Eugene Ely, Civilian 1981
Rear Adm. William A. Moe, USN 1981
Rear Adm. Albert C. Read, USN 1981
Capt. Holden C. Richardson, USN 1981
Adm. John H. Towers, USN 1981
Gen. Roy S. Geiger, USMC 1983
Mr. Glenn Martin, Civilian 1983
Adm. Marc A. Mitscher, USN 1983
Adm. Arthur W. Radford, USN 1983
Vice Adm. Charles E. Rosendahl, USN 1983
Cmdr. Elmer F. Stone, USCG 1983
Vice Adm. James H. Flatley Jr., USN 1984
Mr. Leroy R. Grumman, Civilian 1984
Adm. John S. ach, USN 1984
Capt. Kenneth Whiting, USN 1984
Maj. Gen. Marion E. Carl, USMC 1986
Fleet Adm. William F. Halsey, USN 1986
Mr. Edward H. Heinemann, Civilian 1986
278
|
Personnel
Enshrinee Year
Rear Adm. David S. Ingalls, USNR 1986
Capt. Donald Bantram MacDiarmid, USCG (Ret) 1986
Vice Adm. Robert B. Pirie, USN (Ret) 1986
Gy. Sgt. Robert G. Robinson, USMCR 1986
Vice Adm. Frederick M. Trapnell, USN (Ret) 1986
Capt. Washington I. Chambers, USN 1988
Dr. Jerome C. Hunsaker, Civilian 1988
Capt. David McCampbell, USN (Ret) 1988
Gen. Keith B. McCutcheon, USMC (Ret) 1988
Adm. omas H. Moorer, USN (Ret) 1988
Adm. Alfred M. Pride, USN 1988
Capt. Frank A. Erickson, USCG 1990
Capt. Henry C. Mustin, USN 1990
Adm. James S. Russell, USN (Ret) 1990
Rear Adm. Alan B. Shepard Jr., USN (Ret) 1990
Mr. Igor I. Sikorsky, Civilian 1990
Mr. George A. Spangenberg, Civilian 1990
Vice Adm. Gerald F. Bogan, USN 1992
Adm. Austin Kelvin Doyle, USN (Ret) 1992
Lt. Edward H. O’Hare, USN 1992
Vice Adm. William A. Schoech, USN (Ret) 1992
Mr. Lawrence Sperry, Civilian 1992
Col. Gregory Boyington, USMC 1994
Brig. Gen. Joseph Jacob Foss, ANG (Ret) 1994
Capt. Ashton Graybiel, Medical Corp, USN (Ret) 1994
Adm. Frederick H. Michaelis, USN 1994
Vice Adm. Apollo Soucek, USN (Ret) 1994
Rear Adm. Joseph C. Clion, USN 1996
Mr. Charles H. Kaman, Civilian 1996
Gen. Christian F. Schilt, USMC 1996
Adm. Forrest P. Sherman, USN 1996
Vice Adm. James B. Stockdale, USN (Ret) 1996
Adm. Maurice F. Weisner, USN (Ret) 1996
Adm. Arleigh A. Burke, USN 1998
Sen. John H. Glenn Jr. 1998
Vice Adm. omas F. Connolly, USN 1998
Vice Adm. John T. Hayward, USN 1998
Vice Adm. omas G. W. Sele, USN 1998
Mr. Rex Beisel, Civilian 2000
Gen. William O. Brice, USMC 2000
Vice Adm. William I. Martin, USN 2000
Capt. Walter M. Schirra Jr., USN 2000
Fleet Adm. Ernest J. King, USN 2002
Naval Aviation Hall of Honor
|
279
Enshrinee Year
Adm. Joseph M. Reeves, USN 2002
Capt. Roy M. Voris, USN 2002
Lt. Col. Kenneth A. Walsh, USMC 2002
Adm. James L. Holloway, USN 2004
Brig. Gen. Robert E. Galer, USMC 2004
Capt. James A. Lovell, USN 2004
Cmdr. Stewart R. Graham, USCG 2004
Capt. Eugene A. Cernan, USN 2006
Capt. Arthur Ray Hawkins, USN 2006
Capt. Robert E. Mitchell, MC, USN 2006
Vice Adm. Donald D. Engen, USN 2006
Adm. Stanley R. Arthur, USN 2008
Lt. Col. Harold W. Bauer, USMC 2008
Rear Adm. Clarence Wade McClusky Jr., USN 2008
Rear Adm. James D. Ramage, USN 2008
Capt. Robert L. Rasmussen, USN 2008
Mr. Neal A. Armstrong, Civilian 2010
Lt. Gen. omas H. Miller, USMC 2010
Vice Adm. William P. Lawrence, USN 2010
Capt. Richard P. Bordone, USN 2010
Gray Eagle Award
|
281
Chapter 18
Gray Eagle Award
e Gray Eagle trophy made its rst appearance in 1961 during the celebration of the Fiieth Anniversary of Naval
Aviation.
In 1959, while serving as Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe, Adm. Charles R. Brown, wrote
to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air), Vice Adm. Robert B. Pirie, telling of certain discussions he had with
Vice Adm. George W. Anderson, then serving as Commander, Sixth Fleet. “We suggest that it be determined from
ocial records who, at all times, is the senior aviator in point of service in ying; that a baton or similar token be
awarded him, and that, with due ceremony, this symbol be handed on down to the next man with the passing years.”
Adm. Pirie took the maer from there. For a time the title “Bull Naval Aviator” was a leading contender for the
choice of names for the senior aviator’s title. Various cups, statuees, plaques, and medals were proposed. Finally, a
competition was conducted among aircra companies desiring to sponsor the award. e Chance Vought Aircra
Company’s (later LTV Corporation, Ling Temco Vought) design was selected and the Gray Eagle Award became a
reality.
On 5 January 1961, at naval aviation’s Fiieth Anniversary Ball, Sheraton Park Hotel, Washington, D.C., Adm.
Charles R. Brown received the Gray Eagle trophy from Adm. James S. Russell, then serving as Vice Chief of Naval
Operations.
While Adm. Brown was the rst “active” aviator to receive the trophy, replicas of the award were presented to all
previous holders of the distinction, or their representative, during the ceremony. e recipients included Mrs. T. G.
Ellyson, widow of Naval Aviator Number One, Cmdr. eodore G. Ellyson. Cmdr. Ellyson would have held the Gray
Eagle title from 1911 to 1928, if the award had been in existence.
e trophy, donated by Chance Vought Aircra (now Ling Temco Vought) depicts a silver eagle landing into
the arresting gear of the Navy’s rst aircra carrier, Langley (CV 1). e inscription reads: “e Venerable Order of
the Gray Eagle. e Most Ancient Naval Aviator on Active Duty. In recognition of a clear eye, a stout heart, a steady
hand, and a daring deance of gravity and the law of averages.” Names of those who have held the title, either actively
or prior to the 1961 ceremony, are inscribed on the trophy’s plaque.
Eligibility for the Gray Eagle Award is determined by the ocial active duty precedence list for naval aviators,
on continuous service, not recalled, who has held that designation for the longest period of time. e date of
designation as a Naval Aviator is the governing factor for determining who will receive the award from the list of
active duty ocers. In the event that two or more aviators on active duty have been designated on the same date,
the senior one qualied as the Gray Eagle. e award is passed down from the previous holder of the award on his or
her retirement, or in case of death. A miniature replica is presented to each incumbent as a personal memento. e
Gray Eagle trophy may be kept in possession of and displayed by the command to which the Gray Eagle is assigned.
Otherwise, it may be placed in the custody of the National Museum of Naval Aviation on a temporary basis until
required for presentation to the successor. It should be noted that the ceremony date for the presentation of the Gray
Eagle Award and the retirement date are not always the same.
Gray Eagle Award Recipients
Name
Rank Upon Retirement
or Death
Naval Aviator
Number
Date Designated
Naval Aviator
†
Dates as Gray Eagle
Theodore G. Ellyson Cmdr. 1 2 Jun 1911
*
2 Jun 1911–27 Feb 1928
John H. Towers Adm. 3 14 Sep 1911
*
27 Feb 1928–1 Dec 1947
George D. Murray Vice Adm. 22 20 Sep 1915 1 Dec 1947–1 Aug 1951
William W. Townsley Capt. 320 13 Feb 1918 1 Aug 195l–1 Jul 1955
Alvin O. Preil Capt. 538 11 Mar 1918 1 Jul 1955–1 Jan 1959
Irving M. McQuiston Rear Adm. 905 12 Jun 1918 1 Jan 1959–1 Jul 1959
Alfred M. Pride Vice Adm. 1119 17 Sep 1918 1 Jul 1959–1 Oct 1959
Thomas S. Combs Vice Adm. 3064 21 Dec 1922 1 Oct 1959–1 Apr 1960
[The above list of naval aviators was designated retroactively following the establishment of the award in 1961.]
Charles R. Brown Adm. 3159 15 Aug 1924 1 Apr 1960–2 Jan 1962
282
|
Personnel
Gray Eagle Award Recipients
Name
Rank Upon Retirement
or Death
Naval Aviator
Number
Date Designated
Naval Aviator
†
Dates as Gray Eagle
Frank Akers Rear Adm. 3228 11 Sep 1925 2 Jan 1962–1 Apr 1963
Wallace M. Beakley Rear Adm. 3312 24 Nov 1926 1 Apr 1963–31 Dec 1963
Robert Goldthwaite Rear Adm. 3364 20 May 1927 31 Dec 1963–1 Oct 1965
Richard C. Mangrum Lt. Gen. (USMC) 4447 20 May 1929 1 Oct 1965–30 Jun 1967
Fitzhugh Lee Vice Adm. 3512 16 Sep 1929 30 Jun 1967–31 July 1967
Charles D. Grifn Adm. 3647 6 Jun 1930 31 Jul 1967–1 Feb 1968
Alexander S. Heyward Jr. Vice Adm. 3867 23 Nov 1931 1 Feb 1968–1 Aug 1968
Robert J. Stroh Rear Adm. 3888 25 Jan 1932 1 Aug 1968–28 Nov 1969
George P. Koch Rear Adm. 4085 2 Jan 1935 28 Nov 1969–31 Jul 1971
Alfred R. Matter Rear Adm. 4164 30 Oct 1935 31 Jul 1971–29 Feb 1972
Francis D. Foley Rear Adm. 4178 1 Feb 1936 29 Feb 1972–29 Jun 1972
Thomas H. Moorer Adm. 4255 12 Jun 1936 29 Jun 1972–30 Jun 1974
Leroy V. Swanson Rear Adm. 5921 9 Dec 1938 30 Jun 1974–29 Aug 1975
Noel A. M. Gayler Adm. 6879 14 Nov 1940 29 Aug 1975–31 Aug 1976
Martin D. Carmody Rear Adm. 10911 22 Jan 1942 31 Aug 1976–27 May 1977
George L. Cassel Rear Adm. 11262 3 Feb 1942 27 May 1977–31 Aug 1977
Henry Wildfang CWO4 (USMC) 12766 16 Apr 1942 31 Aug 1977–31 May 1978
Frank C. Lang Maj. Gen. (USMC) 12 Mar 1943 31 May 1978–30 Jun 1978
Thomas H. Miller Jr. Lt. Gen. (USMC) 24 Apr 1943 30 Jun 1978–28 Jun 1979
Maurice F. Weisner Adm. May 1943 28 Jun 1979–31 Oct 1979
Andrew W. O’Donnell Lt. Gen. (USMC) 8 Jul 1944 31 Oct 1979–26 Jun 1981
Robert F. Schoultz Vice Adm. 26 Jun 1981–17 Feb 1987
Cecil J. Kempf Vice Adm. 25 Feb 1987–6 June 1987
James E. Service Vice Adm. 6 Jun 1987–21 Aug 1987
Frank E. Peterson Jr. Lt. Gen. (USMC) 21 Aug 1987–15 Jun 1988
Ronald J. Hays Adm. 15 Jun 1988–15 Sep 1988
Robert F. Dunn Vice Adm. 15 Sep 1988–25 May 1989
Huntington Hardisty Adm. 25 May 1989–1 Mar 1991
Jerome L. Johnson Adm.
1 Mar 1991–26 Jul 1992
Edwin R. Kohn Vice Adm. Jun 1956 26 Jul 1992–1 Jul 1993
Jerry O. Tuttle Vice Adm. 1 Jul 1993–19 Nov 1993
Stanley R. Arthur Adm. 19 Nov 1993–21 Mar 1995
David R. Morris Rear Adm. 21 Mar 1995–28 Feb 1996
Walter Davis Vice Adm. 28 Feb 1996–1 Jan 1997
Luther Schriefer Rear Adm. 1 Jan 1997–1 Feb 1997
Andrew Granuzzo Rear Adm. 1 Feb 1997–24 Mar 2000
James I. Maslowski Rear Adm. 24 Mar 2000–20 Dec 2000
Arthur K. Cebrowski Vice Adm. 1 Dec 1965 20 Dec 2000–16 Aug 2001
Robert M. Nutwell Rear Adm. 16 Aug 2001–26 Sep 2001
Michael D. Haskins Vice Adm. 26 Sep 2001–21 Nov 2002
Charles W. Moore Jr. Vice Adm. 21 Nov 2002–1 Oct 2004
Gregory G. Johnson Adm. 1 Oct 2004–29 Nov 2004
Robert Magnus Lt. Gen. (USMC) 29 Nov 2004–17 Jul 2008
James F. Amos Gen. (USMC) 1971 17 Jul 2008–
* Dates qualied for Pilot Certicate under Aero Club of America; Navy Air Pilot numbers were rst assigned in January 1915 and Naval
Aviator numbers were assigned in January 1918.
† In many cases this date was not provided with the award announcement.
Honorary Naval Aviator Designations
|
283
Chapter 19
Honorary Naval Aviator Designations
e ocial Honorary Naval Aviator Program was initiated in 1949 to honor individuals for certain extraordinary
contributions and/or outstanding performance for service to naval aviation. In recognition of their service, an
Honorary Naval Aviator designation is bestowed on the individual with the right to wear the “Wings of Gold.”
e program is managed by the Chief of Naval Operations, Director Air Warfare (previously designated
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Air Warfare and Assistant Chief of Naval Operations, Air Warfare). Final
approval of the nomination is made by the Chief of Naval Operations.
e honor designating an individual an Honorary Naval Aviator has not been bestowed lightly. e following is
a list of those individuals who have received the honor:
No Name Presented By
Date
Received Reason
1
Capt. Richard (Dick)
Schram (Stunt Pilot)
Chief, Naval Air
Reserve
Oct 1949
“Flying Professor.” Outstanding contribution to aviation since
the early 1930s.
2
Sgt. Clifford Iknokinok
(Alaskan National Guard)
James H. Smith Jr.,
Asst. Secy. Navy
21 Nov 1955
Rescued 11 Navy men shot down by Soviet MiGs over
international waters, Bering Strait, Alaska.
3
Sgt. Willis Walunga
(Alaskan National Guard)
James H. Smith Jr.,
Asst. Secy. Navy
21 Nov 1955
Rescued 11 Navy men shot down by Soviet MiGs over
international waters, Bering Strait, Alaska.
4 Dr. Herman J. Schaefer
Vice Adm. Robert
Goldwaite
Jun 1960
Received ight surgeon wings. As a scientist, made
outstanding contributions to aerospace research while at the
Naval School of Aviation Medicine.
5 Dr. Dietrich E. Beischer
Vice Adm. Robert
Goldwaite
Jun 1960
Received ight surgeon wings. As a scientist, made
outstanding contributions to aerospace research while at the
Naval School of Aviation Medicine.
6
Mr. F. Trubee Davison (Asst.
Secy. of War for Air)
Vice Adm. Paul H.
Ramsey, DCNO (Air)
Jul 1966
Organized the 1st Yale Unit in 1916. Served as Asst. Secy. of
War for Air for 6 years, from late 1920s to 1930s.
7
Mr. Jackie Cooper (Navy
Reserve commander)
Vice Adm. Bernard
M. Strean, Chief,
Naval Air Training
10 Jul 1970
Active in Navy’s PAO program, recruiting and promoting since
World War II.
8
Vice Adm. Hyman G.
Rickover
Vice Adm. Thomas F.
Connolly, DCNO (Air
Warfare)
21 Jul 1970
Vigorously supported naval aviation and achieved great
advancements in nuclear propulsion for aircraft carriers.
9
Lt. Col. Barry R. Butler,
USAF
Vice Adm. Bernard
M. Strean, Chief,
Naval Air Training
19 Aug 1970
Made signicant contributions as Advanced Training Ofcer,
Naval Air Training Command. He ew several hundred hours
in Navy aircraft and made six landings on board Lexington
(CVT 16).
10
Mr. John Warner (Secretary
of the Navy)
Vice Adm. William D.
Houser, DCNO (Air
Warfare)
14 Oct 1972
Vigorously supported naval aviation. Presented at
establishment of VF‑l and VF‑2 (rst F‑14 squadrons) at NAS
Miramar.
11 Mr. Robert G. Smith
Vice Adm. William D.
Houser, DCNO (Air
Warfare)
8 May 1973
Artist, McDonnell Douglas Corp. National recognition as an
outstanding aviation artist.
12
Mr. George Spangeberg
(NAVAIRSYSCOM)
Vice Adm. William D.
Houser, DCNO (Air
Warfare)
Sep 1975
Recognized for his many years of service as a Navy aircraft
designer.
13 Mr. Jay R. Beasley
Vice Adm. E. C.
Waller III, Director of
Weapons Sys. Eva.
Grp. for Vice Adm.
Houser
25 Jul 1977
Presented in recognition of 23 years of exceptionally dedicated
and valuable service to naval aviation as production test pilot
with Lockheed and P‑2/P‑3 instructor.
14 Mr. Robert Osborne
Vice Adm. Frederick
C. Turner, DCNO (Air
Warfare)
21 Jan 1977
Presented for contributions to naval aviation safety; created
Dilbert, Spoiler, and Grampaw Pettibone illustrations.
15 Capt. Virgil J. Lemmon
Vice Adm. Wesley L.
McDonald, DCNO
(Air Warfare)
23 Feb 1981
“Mr. Naval Aviation Maintenance.” Awarded for 40 years of
distinguished service to naval aviation and the naval aviation
maintenance establishment.
16 Adm. Arleigh A. Burke
Vice Adm. Wesley L.
McDonald, DCNO
(Air Warfare)
13 Oct 1981
Outspoken supporter of naval aviation; made decisions that
shaped the Navy’s air arm as it is known today.
284
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Personnel
No Name Presented By
Date
Received Reason
17 Gen. James H. Doolittle
Adm. Thomas B.
Hayward, CNO
11 Dec 1981 In recognition of many years of support of military aviation.
18 Mr. Paul E. Garber
Vice Adm. Edward
H. Martin, DCNO (Air
Warfare)
26 Mar 1985
Made signicant contributions to naval aviation spanning the
age of manned powered ight. Including service in World Wars
I and II and impressive contributions in maintaining the history
of naval aviation as the Ramsey Fellow and Historian Emeritus
of the National Air and Space Museum.
19 Mr. Bob Hope
Vice Adm. Edward
H. Martin, DCNO
(Air Warfare) and
the Secretary of
the Navy, Mr. John
Lehman
8 May 1986
Presented in recognition of 45 years of seless dedication
to the well‑being of those serving their nation in the Navy,
Marine Corps, and Coast Guard and for making remarkable
contributions to the morale of those in naval aviation.
20 Mr. Edward H. Heinemann
Vice Adm. Edward
H. Martin, DCNO (Air
Warfare)
18 Oct 1986
Contributed to major achievements in the technical
development of naval aircraft and as one of aviation’s most
highly regarded aircraft designers. The majority of the aircraft
he designed served in naval aviation and he has become
known as “Mr. Attack Aviation.” A man whose professional life
has been dedicated largely to designing a superb series of
carrier‑based aircraft.
21
Capt. Robert E. Mitchell,
MC, USN
Rear Adm. E. D.
Conner, Deputy,
CNET
25 Jun 1990
Recognized for 43 years of contributions in the eld of
aerospace medicine. Conducted extensive research in the
Thousand Aviator Program; worked with the Navy and Marine
Corps Vietnam Prisoners of War (Repatriated); wrote and
published numerous medical papers; and his operational
work as a naval ight surgeon has helped shape the course of
naval aviation.
22 Mr. Harold (Hal) Andrews
Vice Adm. Richard
M. Dunleavy, ACNO
(Air Warfare)
29 Apr 1991
Outstanding contributions to naval aviation as a civilian
engineer with 30 years of service to the Navy; provided
technical advice and support for the 50th and 75th naval
aviation anniversary celebrations; volunteered support to Naval
Aviation News magazine as technical advisor since the 1950s
and his vast knowledge of naval aviation events, both technical
and operational, have contributed to the advancement of naval
aviation since his association with it beginning in World War II.
23 Mr. Corwin H. (Corky) Meyer
Adm. Jay L.
Johnson, CNO
9 May 1997
A legendary test pilot with a career at Grumman’s “Iron Works”
that spanned 55 years. His contributions as a project pilot for
Navy aircraft from Hellcats to Super Tigers helped provide the
Navy with excellent aircraft. He was also the rst civilian pilot
to carrier qualify and be inducted into the Carrier Aviation Test
Pilot Hall of Honor. Throughout his career as a test pilot and
administrator, Corky Meyer’s dedication contributed to the
continued success of naval aviation.
24 Mr. Harry Gann
Adm. Jay L.
Johnson, CNO
24 May
1997
A photographer, historian, writer, and engineer, Mr. Gann was
a xture in the world of naval aviation for more than 40 years.
His photographs of the Blue Angels are classics and have been
shown around the world. His work in naval aviation, especially
his photography, was important in disseminating information
about naval aviation to the American public. In 1987 he was
recognized for his photography skills by being presented the
annual award for Continuing Excellence in Aviation/Space
Photography by the Aerofax Publishing Company.
25 Gen. James L. Jones, USMC
Adm. William J.
Fallon, USN VCNO
10 Jan 2003
General Jones’s extraordinary contributions to Navy and
Marine Corps aviation included his efforts ensuring the success
of Navy and Marine tactical air integration, supporting the
Osprey, Joint Strike Fighter, and KC‑130J, and upgrading
legacy aircraft to bridge the gap between today’s and
tomorrow’s aviation eet.
26 Adm. Vern Clark, USN
Vice Adm. Mike
Malone, CNAF
12 Jun 2004 For his support of naval aviation during his tenure as CNO.
27 Mr. Henry (Hank) Caruso
Vice Adm. Wally
Massenburg,
USN COMNAVAIR
9 Sep 2006
In recognition of his years of service as an engineer in support
of various naval aviation programs and, even more signicantly,
for his unique aerocatures artwork. His artistic efforts have
been far reaching and have conveyed a positive image of naval
aviation.
Navy and Marine Corps Air Stations and Fields Named for Aviators
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Chapter 20
Navy and Marine Corps Air Stations
and Fields Named for Aviators
Including Temporary Advanced Air Bases and Fields
Admiral A. W. Radford Field
At NAS Cubi Point, Philippines. Dedicated 21 December 1972, in honor of former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Sta, Adm. Arthur W. Radford. (Field inactive)
Alvin Callender Field
At NAS JRB New Orleans, La. Dedicated 26 Apr 1958, in honor of Capt. Alvin A. Callender, RFC, native of New
Orleans, killed in aerial combat during WWI while ying with the Royal Flying Corps of Canada. He was not a U.S.
naval aviator. (Active)
Archibald Field
At Managua, Nicaragua. A Marine Corps eld named in late 1928 or early 1929 for Capt. Robert J. Archibald,
USMC, who directed the location of aireld sites in Nicaragua and was killed in line of duty in November 1928.
(Inactive)
Armitage Field
At China Lake, Calif. Name apparently assigned locally; dedicated 30 May 1945, in honor of Lt. John M. Armitage,
USNR, killed 21 August 1944, while conducting air ring tests of a Tiny Tim rocket. (Active)
Ault Field
At NAS Whidbey Island, Wash. Named in honor of Commo. William B. Ault, who lost his life in the Bale of Coral
Sea. Designated by the Secretary of the Navy on 25 February 1943. (Active)
Barin Field
At Foley, Ala. Name assigned 2 July 1942, prior to establishing as a NAAS, in honor of Lt. Louis T. Barin (Naval
Aviator No. 56), test pilot extraordinaire and co-pilot of NC-1 on the 1919 transatlantic aempt. e former NAAS
now an ALF to NAS Sauey Field. (Inactive)
Bauer Field
On Vila, New Hebrides Islands. Named in June 1943, for Lt. Col. Harold W. Bauer, commanding ocer of VMF-
212, who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for action in South Pacic, 28 September–3 October 1942.
(Inactive)
Bordelon Field
At NAS Hilo, Hawaii. Named for Sgt. William J. Bordelon, USMC, killed in the invasion of Tarawa. A Medal of
Honor recipient, he was not an aviator. (Inactive)
Bourne Field
At MCAS St. omas, U.S.V.I. Named in late 1930s for Maj. Louis T. Bourne, rst to y nonstop from the United
States to Nicaragua. (Inactive)
Brewer Field
At NAS Agana, Guam, in honor of Cmdr. Charles W. Brewer Jr. Dedicated 15 February 1973. (Inactive)
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Bristol Field
At NAS Argentia, Newfoundland. Named 1 June 1943 for Rear Adm. Arthur L. Bristol, who as Commander Support
Force, Atlantic, contributed much toward plan ning and building the station. (Inactive)
Bronson Field
A NAAS at Pensacola, Fla. Name assigned 2 July 1942, prior to establishing of the station, in honor of Lt. j.g.
Clarence K. Bronson (Naval Aviator No. 15) killed by premature explosion of a bomb during early bomb dropping
tests, 8 November 1916. (Inactive)
Brown Field
A NAAS at Chula Vista, Calif. Named in honor of Cmdr. Melville S. Brown kill ed in an airplane crash in 1936.
Assigned 1 June 1943, to the eld at NAAS Otay Mesa and became the station name 11 Jun 1943. (Inactive)
Brown Field
At MCAF Quantico, Va. Name assigned in 1922 in honor of 2d Lt. Walter V. Brown, killed at Quantico in an
operational crash. (Inactive)
Byrd Field
A Marine Corps eld at Puerto Pabezao, Nicaragua, named in the late 1920s for Capt. William C. Byrd, USMC,
killed in airplane crash. (Inactive)
Cabaniss Field
At NAS Corpus Christi, Tex. Dedicated 9 July 1941, in honor of Cmdr. Robert W. Cabaniss (Naval Aviator No. 36)
killed in a plane crash in 1927. e former NAAS now an OLF to NAS Corpus Christi. (Active)
Carney Field
On Guadalcanal. Named in the fall of 1942 for Capt. James V. Carney, killed early in World War II. (Inactive)
Cecil Field
A NAS near Jacksonville, Fla. Station established 20 February 1943; named in honor of Cmdr. Henry B. Cecil (Naval
Aviator No. 42) lost in the crash of the rigid dirigible Akron (ZRS 4) 4 April 1933. (Inactive)
Chambers Field
At NAS Norfolk, Va. Named 1 June 1938, in honor of Capt. Washington I. Chambers, rst ocer-in-charge of
aviation and director of early eorts to nd a place for aviation in the eet although he was not an aviator. (NAS
Norfolk no longer active but eld still active and under control of NAS Oceana).
Chase Field
A NAS at Beeville, Tex. Named 27 April 1943, in honor of Lt. Cmdr. Nathan B. Chase (Naval Aviator No. 37) killed
in 1925 in an air collision while exercising his squadron in ghter tactics. (Inactive)
Chevalier Field
At NAS Pensacola, Fla. Name assigned 30 December 1936, to old Station Field, in honor of Lt. Cmdr. Godfrey de C.
Chevalier (Naval Aviator No. 7). (Inactive)
Corry Field
A NAAS at Pensacola, Fla. Name in itially assigned 1 November 1922, to a tem porary eld and reassigned to the new
station 8 December 1934, in honor of Lt. Cmdr. William M. Corry (Naval Aviator No. 23) who was awarded the
Medal of Honor posthumously. (Inactive)
Cuddihy Field
A NAAS at Corpus Christi, Tex. Station established 3 Sep 1941; named in honor of Lt. George T. Cuddihy, test pilot
and speed record holder, killed in a 1929 crash. (Inactive)
Navy and Marine Corps Air Stations and Fields Named for Aviators
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287
Cunningham Field
At MCAS Cherry Point, N.C. Dedicated 4 Sep 1941, in honor of Lt. Col. Alfred A. Cunningham, (Naval Aviator No.
5), the rst Marine Corps aviator. (Active)
Dowdell Field
A Marine Corps eld at Apali, Nicaragua, named in the late 1920s for Sgt. Frank E. Dowdell, USMC, a non-aviator
missing in ac tion aer a forced landing with Lt. Earl A. omas on Sapotilla Ridge, Nicaragua. (Inactive)
Dyess Field
On Roi Island, Kwajalein Atoll. Named 16 April 1944, for Lt. Col. Aquilla J. Dyess, USMCR, killed leading the
assault on Roi-Namur. A non-aviator, Dyess was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. (Inactive)
Ellyson Field
A NAS at Pensacola, Fla. Station established 20 January 1943; named in honor of Cmdr. eodore G. Ellyson, the
rst naval aviator. (Inactive)
Finucane Field
On Efate, New Hebrides. Named for 2d Lt. Arthur E. Finucane, a pilot with VMF-212 who was killed in a 1942
training accident o New Caledonia. (Inactive)
Flatley Field
At NAS Olathe, Kans. Dedicated 20 May 1962, in honor of Vice Adm. James H. Flatley, ghter pilot, carrier
commander, Director of Air Warfare Division, and former commanding ocer of the sta tion. (Inactive)
Fleming Field
An auxiliary eld to NAS Minneapolis, Minn. Named 20 July 1943, in honor of Capt. Richard E. Fleming, USMC,
killed leading an aack on an enemy cruiser in the Bale of Midway; Medal of Honor awarded posthumously.
(Inactive)
Floyd Benne Field
At NAS New York, N.Y. Originally assigned to New York Municipal Airport, dedicated 23 May 1931, and retained as
station name upon its establishing 2 June 1941. For Floyd Benne (Naval Aviation Pilot No. 9) who with Rear Adm.
Richard E. Byrd was rst to y over the North Pole. (Inactive Navy eld.)
Forrest Sherman Field
At NAS Pensacola, Fla., formerly Fort Barrancas Aireld. Dedicated 2 November 1951, in honor of Adm. Forrest P.
Sherman, Chief of Naval Operations, 1949–1951. (Active)
Frederick C. Sherman Field
At San Clemente Island, Calif. Dedicated 11 January 1961, in honor of Vice Adm. Frederick C. Sherman, three-time
recipient of the Navy Cross and renowned leader of carrier task groups during WWII. (e former NAAS now an
active NALF).
Frederick M. Trapnell Field
At NAS Patuxent River, Md. Dedicated 1 April 1976 in honor of naval aviator Vice Adm. Frederick M. Trapnell.
(Active)
Frankforter Field
A Marine Corps eld at Esteli, Nicaragua. Named in late 1920s for Pvt. Rudolph A. Frankforter, USMC, a non-
aviator killed with Capt. William C. Byrd, USMC, in an airplane crash. (Inactive)
Halsey Field
At NAS North Island, Calif. Dedicated 20 August 1961, in honor of Fleet Adm. William F. Halsey, Commander
ird Fleet in the advance across the Pacic during World War II. Ocially named Admiral Halsey Field. (Active)
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Personnel
Haring Field
On Efate, New Hebrides. Named for 2d Lt. Richard Z. Haring, USMCR. (Inactive)
Harvey Field
At NAF Inyokern, Calif. Name assigned to eld formerly known as Inyokern Air eld, 10 May 1944, in honor of Lt.
Cmdr. Warren W. Harvey, for his contributions to the development of aviation ordnance and ghter tactics. (Inactive)
Hawkins Field
On Betio Island, Tarawa. Named for Lt. William D. Hawkins, USMCR, killed while lan ding his platoon during
assault on Tarawa; a non-aviator, he was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. (Inactive)
Henderson Field
At NS Midway Island. Named 19 August 1942, in honor of Maj. Loen R. Henderson, lost in action during the Bale of
Midway. (Active) Field on Guadalcanal, also named in honor of Maj. Henderson in August 1942. (Inactive)
Hensley Field
At NAS Dallas, Tex. Named for Col. William N. Hensley Jr., a non-aviator prominent in the reserve program during
the 1920s. (NAS Dallas is inactive.)
Isley Field
A NAS on Saipan, Marianas Island. Named 30 June 1944, prior to its designa tion as NAS, for Cmdr. Robert H.
Isely, who lost his life leading his squadron in an aack on the then enemy installation known as Aslito Aireld. e
incorrect spelling of the station name became ocial through usage. (Inactive)
John Rodgers Field
At NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii. Dedicated on 10 September 1974 in honor of Cmdr. John Rodgers for his exploits in
early naval aviation. (Inactive)
Lee Field
At NAS Green Cove Springs, Fla. Named in September 1940 in honor of Ens. Ben jamin Lee, who lost his life in a
crash at Killingholme, England, during WWI. Originally assigned as the station name, but reassigned to the landing
eld when station name changed to Green Cove Springs, 8 August 1943. (Inactive)
Maxeld Field
At NAS Lakehurst, N.J. Named 6 January 1944, in honor of Cmdr. Louis H. Maxeld (Naval Aviator No. 17) who
lost his life in the crash of the dirigible R-38, 24 August 1921. (Inactive)
Max Kiel Aireld
At Lile America, Antarctica. Named in early 1956 in honor of non-aviator Max Kiel, who lost his life while bridging
a crevasse in Marie Byrd Land. (Inactive)
McCain Field
At NAS Meridian, Miss. Dedicated with the establishing of the station 14 July 1961, in honor of Adm. John S.
Mc Cain, carrier task force commander, Chief of BuAer, and Deputy Chief Naval Operations (Air). (Active)
McCalla Field
At NAS Guantanamo, Cuba. Named for Capt. Bowman H. McCalla, non-aviator skipper of Marblehead (Crusier
No. 11) participating in the cap ture of Guantanamo Bay, and com mander of a base established there, dur ing the
Spanish-American War. (NAS Guantanamo disestablished but NS Guantanamo still active along with the aireld.)
McCutcheon Field
At MCAS New River, N.C. Named in honor of Gen. Keith B. McCutcheon, a pioneer in Marine Corps helicopter
assault tactics. Dedicated 1972. (Active)
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Merri Field
At MCAS Beaufort, S.C., in honor of Maj. Gen. Lewis G. Merri. Dedicated on 19 September 1975. (Active)
Mitchell Field
At NS Adak, Alaska. Named 2 February 1944, in honor of Ens. Albert E. Mitchell, who lost his life in the Aleutians
earlier in the war. Ocially named Albert Mitchell Field. (Inactive)
Mitscher Field
At NAS Miramar, Calif. Named 14 June 1955, in honor of Adm. Marc A. Mitscher (Naval Aviator No. 33), leader of
fast carrier task forces in WWII and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air). NAS Miramar redesignated MCAS
Miramar on 1 October 1997. (Active)
Moe Field
At NAS at Sunnyvale, Calif. Named in honor of Rear Adm. William A. Moe, naval aviation observer, rst Chief of
BuAer and leader of naval aviation through the 1920s who lost his life in the crash of the rigid dirigible Akron (ZRS 4)
4 April 1933. Name rst assigned 17 May 1933, to the landing eld at NAS Sun nyvale, Calif., and remained in use aer
the sta tion was transferred to the U.S. Army in 1935 and aer station was returned to the Navy and established as a
NAS, 16 April 1942; became station name 20 April 1942. (Inactive)
Moret Field
On Zamboanga, Philippines. Named for Lt. Col. Paul Moret, USMC, killed in a crash in 1943. (Inactive)
Mullinnix Field
On Buota Island, Tarawa. Named in December 1943 in honor of Rear Adm. Henry M. Mullinnix, carrier division
commander, lost in sinking of Liscome Bay (CV E 56), during the Gilbert Islands campaign, 24 November 1943.
(Inactive)
Munn Field
At MCAS Camp Pendleton, Calif. e aireld was designated Munn Field on 12 January 1987 in honor of Lt. Gen.
John C. Munn. e general had been Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and the rst Marine Aviator to
command Camp Pendleton. (Active)
Mustin Fieid
A NAF at Philadelphia, Pa. Dedicated 17 September 1926, in honor of Capt. Henry C. Mustin (Naval Aviator No.
11), an early exponent of aviation as the striking arm of the eet. (Inactive)
Nimitz Field
At NAS Alameda, Calif. Dedicated 26 January 1967, in honor of non-aviator Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz,
Commander-in-Chief of the Pacic during WWII and Chief of Naval Operations. (Inactive)
Ofstie Field
At NS Roosevelt Roads, P.R. Dedicated 21 May 1959, in honor of Vice Adm. Ralph A. Ofstie, test pilot, eet
commander and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air). (Inactive)
O’Hare Field
On Abemama, Gilbert Islands. Named in December 1943 in honor of Lt. Cmdr. Ed ward H. O’Hare, air group
commander, pioneer in night carrier operations, and Medal of Honor recipient, killed in action during the Gilberts
Campaign, 26 November 1943. (Inactive)
Page Field
At MCAS Parris Island, S.C. Named 19 September 1938, prior to station establishing, in honor of Capt. Arthur H.
Page Jr., USMC, pioneer in instrument ying and racing pilot, who crashed to his death while leading in the 1930
ompson Trophy Race. (Inactive)
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Ramey Field
At NAS Sanford, Fla. Dedicated 6 February 1959, in honor of Lt. Cmdr. Robert W. Ramey, who lost his life by
electing to guide his crippled plane away from a residential area. (Inactive)
Ream Field
At NAS Imperial Beach, Calif. Named in 1943 for Maj. William R. Ream, MC, USA, who was a non-aviator medical
ocer at Rockwell Field on North Island in the WWI period. Initially the station name when the station was
renamed Im perial Beach, 1 January 1968. (Inactive)
Reeves Field
At NAS Lemoore, Calif. Dedicated 20 November 1961, in honor of Rear Adm. Joseph M. Reeves, naval aviation
observer and farseeing pioneer in the tactical employ ment of aircra carriers. Ocially, Joseph Mason Reeves Field.
(Active) Field at NAB San Pedro (later NAS Terminal Island), Calif., also named in honor of Adm. Reeves in the
1930s. (Inactive)
Rodd Field
A NAAS at Corpus Christi, Tex. Station established 7 June 1941; named in honor of Lt. Herbert C. Rodd, radio
ocer in NC-4 on the 1919 transatlantic ight. (Inactive)
Sailer Field
On Guadalcanal. Named for Maj. Joseph Sailer, who lost his life leading his squadron in an aack on enemy
destroyers. (Inactive)
Sauey Field
A NAS at Pensacola, Fla. Named prior to station establishing 22 August 1940, in honor of Lt. j.g. Richard C. Sauey
(Naval Aviator No. 14), killed in a crash while on a record endurance ight. NAS Sauey Field no longer an active air
station, however, the eld may be used as an auxiliary landing eld.
Shea Field
At NAS South Weymouth, Mass. In honor of Lt. Cmdr. John J. Shea, killed in action while serving on board Wasp
(CV 7) in 1942. Name assigned rst to the eld at NAS Squantum, Mass., 15 March 1946, and upon clos ing of that
station in 1954 was transferred to the eld at South Weymouth. (Inactive)
Smar Field
An outlying eld to NAS St. Louis, Mo. Named in June 1943 in honor of Ens. Joseph G. Smar, who lost his life 7
December 1941, while serving with VP-11 at Kaneohe, Hawaii. (Inactive)
Soucek Field
At NAS Oceana, Va. Dedicated 4 June 1957, in honor of Vice Adm. Apollo Soucek, world altitude record holder, test
pilot, task force commander, and Chief of BuAer. Ocially named Apollo Soucek Field. (Active)
Stickell Field
On Eniwetok, Marshall Islands. Named early in 1944 in honor of Lt. John H. Stickell, naval aviator and former F
pilot, who died from wounds received in action during a low-level aack on Jaluit in the Marshalls. (Inactive)
Taylor Field
On Efate, New Hebrides. Named for Lt. Lawrence C. Taylor, USMCR, killed while intercepting an air aack on
Guadalcanal. (Inactive)
omas Field
A Marine Corps eld at Ocotal, Nicaragua. Named in the late 1920s for Lt. Earl A. omas, USMC, missing in ac tion
aer a forced landing on Sapotilla Ridge, Nicaragua. (Inactive)
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Titcomb Field
On Mindanao, Philippines. Named in February 1945 in honor of Capt. John A. Titcomb, USMCR, a non-aviator
killed while directing a close air support mission in northern Luzon. (Inactive)
Towers Field
At NAS Jacksonville, Fla. Dedicated 14 October 1960, in honor of Adm. John H. Towers (Naval Aviator No. 3),
an outstanding leader in naval aviation from 1911 to his retirement in 1947. O cially named John Towers Field.
(Active)
Turner Field
At MCAF Quantico, Va. Named in honor of Col. omas C. Turner, USMC, naval aviator and Director of Marine
Aviation. Name was rst assigned 1 July 1936, to the eld at Marine Barracks, Quantico. (Active)
Van Voorhis Field
At NAS Fallon, Nev. Dedicated 1 November 1959, in honor of Cmdr. Bruce A. Van Voorhis, a posthumous Medal of
Honor recipient who lost his life on a low-level bombing aack on enemy positions dur ing the Bale of the Solomon
Islands. (Active)
Waldron Field
At NAS Corpus Christi, Tex. Named 5 March 1943, prior to establishing of station, in honor of Lt. Cmdr. John C.
Waldron, killed in action leading the aack of Torpedo Squadron 8 in the Bale of Midway, 4 June 1942. e former
NAAS is now an OLF to NAS Corpus Christi. (Active)
Webster Field
A ight test eld at Priest Point, Md., auxiliary to NAS Patuxent River. Named 1 June 1943 for Capt. Walter W.
Webster, one-time head of Naval Aircra Factory and long associated with test and development work. (Active)
Whiting Field
NAS Whiting Field at Milton, Fla. Named 1 June 1943, prior to establishing of station, in honor of Capt. Kenneth
Whiting (Naval Aviator No. 16), rst to command naval aviation units overseas in WWI, rst acting commander of
the Navy’s rst carrier, and leader in the development of carriers. (Active)
Wigley Field
On Engebi Island, Eniwetok Atoll. Nam ed in March 1944 for Lt. Col. Roy C. Wigley, USAAF, a pilot killed in an
aack on Jaluit, Marshall Islands. (Inactive)
Williams Field
At McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Named 16 February 1956, for non-aviator Richard Williams, killed when his
vehicle broke through the bay ice. (Inactive)
