by Barrertt Tillman
Some of those who attended the first Tailhook get-together at Rosarita Beach 50 years ago were present at Tailhook '06 as guests of the Association.
The Tailhook Association celebrated its 50th anniversary in grand style 7-10 September 2006, again enjoying the fabled hospitality of John Ascuaga's Nugget in Reno.
It was a landmark event in other ways, as attendance topped 3,500; the previous record established at Las Vegas in 1991. At the very least, records were set for the awards luncheon and the banquet.
Once again, numerous other reunion groups piggybacked on Tailhook including VAH-2, VT-23, VF-74, VF-51, VA-164 and NavCad Class 38-53. The "Type A personalities" had their own suite as the Skyhawk and Intruder Associations joined forces in the A for Attack category. (Concluded Youthly Puresome, "We entertained some young Naval Aviators who had just spent six months staring at a CRT waiting clearance to fire. They envied us guys who have killed the enemy by actually eyeballing the target.")
As before, industry and private businesses occupied most of the second floor with 105 booths advertising everything from books to stealth fighters.
After the usual reunion groups welcome reception on Thursday night and the golf tourney Friday morning, the programs began Friday afternoon when RADM Fred Lewis (Ret) convened the most popular event of the year. Recalling the first Tailhook gathering in 1956, Bad Fred assembled a panel of five survivors of the Rosarita Beach inaugural. In all, 23 plankowners attended this year's celebration, demonstrating the dedication of individual members to the Tailhook cause.
Honoring the aviators who launched Tailhook, Lewis cited CDRs Dallas Runion, Ralph Smyle and Cody Payne with LT Marty Kinkade (a multi-engine type who was declared an honorary Tailhooker for his admin skills). CDR Bob Elder, then on AirPac staff, ran the proposal up the ladder and, with AirPac and CNO approval, the "air plan" was executed.
The panelists described an eye-opening variety of tailhooking experiences, representing World War II through Vietnam. CDR Alex Vraciu (Ret), the reigning top shooter, provided a gunsight view of the Pacific War. (Some historical context: Vraciu splashed 19 planes in less than nine months. The Navy and Marine Corps combined have downed eight in the past 32 years.) Having learned the VF trade from LCDR Butch O'Hare, the Navy's first ace and a Medal of Honor recipient, Vraciu logged his first kill at Wake Island in October 1943 and finished his combat days in the Philippines in 1945. He was also the Navy's last individual gunnery champion from the FAGU era.
At that gunnery meet, Vraciu's VF-51 exec was fellow panel member, CDR Bill Hardy (Ret), another ace in a day who splashed five kamikazes off Okinawa in April 1945. A prewar aviation machinist's mate, he flew with VF-17, pushing his ammo, fuel and luck to the limit in protecting radar picket destroyers. Gifted with a passel of bandits, he allowed his wingman to participate, explaining, "I was young and democratic then, so I shared." Of the Rosarito Beach evolution, Hardy quipped, "We had three or four flight surgeons and I think they kept pretty busy."
RADM Don Shelton (Ret) got into the night carrier business early on, flying F4U-5Ns in Korea. He described a bone-chilling experience from March 1951 -- a night trap with almost no power. When his engine quit 8,000 feet over Wonsan, he manually primed the R-2800 all the way back to the ship, arriving overhead at 3,200 feet. The operative factors were "A strong pucker factor, ready deck and an outstanding LSO." He trapped with the engine making 1,000 rpm, and concluded, "Bill Spell is my very favorite LSO." Describing the protocol at Hook '56, he said, "Tell a story, drink some beer, listen to other stories, dive into the water and repeat the process."
A NavCad, CDR Jim Ryan was winged in 1955, becoming a direct input to VF-123 at North Island. In recalling Rosarita, he asked, "Marge [his wife], would you please leave the room?" The squadron's four delegates drew straws to see who would drive to Mexico, and upon arrival the hosts took everyone's car keys. "That's about all I remember!" In comparing then and now, he concluded, "We've come a long way. It's a different world now, there was little quality control then."
CAPT Doug Coleman was another NavCad who made a career in attack squadrons -- A-1s, A-3s and RA-5s. Including civilian time, he retired with an impressive 17,000 hours and 928 traps. His first lesson in squadron leadership came from the parachute loft's chief who informed him, "Ensign, I only need you to sign papers." Speaking fondly of the RA-5C Vigilante, Coleman said, "Without pictures the attack guys wouldn't know where the target was or where their bombs hit." Speaking of recce escorts, he quipped, "If there was a MiG call, the fighters usually left!"
After the heritage panel, RADM George E. "Rico" Mayer conducted the safety brief, noting that the mandated 50 percent reduction in mishaps from last year had not occurred. As was stressed in last year's brief, the hazard reports are not being used, resulting in unsafe conditions not being properly reported.
The annual business meeting was chaired by CAPT Roy Rogers (Ret) in the absence of RADM(Sel) Scott "Notso" Swift, whose father recently passed away.
Membership remains fairly evenly divided among active duty (30 percent), retired (32 percent) and civilians (38 percent), with the active-duty members accounting for three-quarters of those eligible. JO strike teams are targeting the remaining 25 percent of their colleagues who have held out thus far. Meanwhile, total members remain steady at 11,142 as of reunion time with eight Tailhook Association Ready Rooms operating from D.C. to Hawaii.
The association remains comfortably solvent and Jim Oliver returned as treasurer after a five-year leave.
Some 2,550 attendees were preregistered for Hook '06, including 28 flags, but attendance was still growing Friday afternoon. Seventeen hospitality suites were recognized, most being manned round-the-clock.
Personnel changes on the Board of Directors included CAPT Gil Rud (Ret) for the outgoing CAPT William G. "Whiskey" Bond (Ret). President-elect CAPT Russ "Gladys" Knight would shake the stick to relieve Scott Swift immediately after the convention.
VADM Mike Bowman (Ret) noted tremendous increases in the Tailhook Educational Foundation coffers, partly due to deeds and living trusts as well as donations to the Combined Federal Campaign (number 2965). The latest scholarship was an annual $4,500 contribution from West Star Aviation. Fifty-one scholarships were awarded in 2006, two at the $10,000 level, and for the first time scholarships for grandchildren of Tailhookers are available. After five years as foundation president, Bowman was relieved by RADM Ham Tallent (Ret).
Chairman RADM Jay Campbell (Ret) discussed priorities set by the board of directors including closer ties with the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola and the USS Midway museum (San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum), plus serving as a conduit for other Naval Aviation organizations such as MCAA and NHA. The Association seeks a more active public relations program, and in that vein, the leadership acknowledged the extra effort by managing editor CDR Jan Jacobs (Ret) for keeping The Hook afloat between editors.
Friday activities concluded with the Bug Roach flight deck mixer featuring wall-to-wall Tailhookers from the 1930s to tomorrow.
The panels convened at 0900 Saturday with a personnel update from CAPT Mark Guadanini of Pers 43 and current events discussions by RDML Rick Wren and his crew from OpNav N780. Topics included new weapons, new aircraft (EA-18G, F-35 and E-2D) and new advancements in aircraft carriers including the CVN-21 program. The new carrier will manifest itself in CVN-78, the carrier after USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), which is being built at Northrop Grumman Newport News.
The RADM Jig Dog Ramage Recognition Luncheon drew a capacity crowd. Somehow CDR "Tick" McCabe shoehorned 12 pounds into a 10 pound bag. Other Tailhook logistic wizards included Mike Borich, Marc Ostertag and Beth Rollins whose efforts made the Bug Roach mixer, the RADM James D. "Jig Dog" Ramage Awards Luncheon and the Saturday banquet events to remember.
Outgoing Educational Foundation chairman Mike Bowman announced a $1.2 million treasury to support the growing number of scholarships. The Association's first $10,000 grants were awarded to Jerry Johnson, now studying at Embry Riddle, and Lauren King, a biochemistry major. At the same time the Hampton Roads Ready Room tailhookers donated $1,800 to the scholarship fund, inviting other ready rooms to do likewise.
The most enjoyable awards every year are those recognizing the "earliest and straightest" attendees. The earliest trapper was CAPT Don Gordon (Ret), an Enterprise (CV-6) fighter pilot of October 1942 vintage. The most landings on straight-deck ships was claimed by Duane Bartlet, with 580 dating from his days as an SBD pilot. The lowest hull number in the logbook was three, with CDR Bill Hardy (Ret) receiving the available plaque. Other plaques will be sent to the additional Saratoga (CV-3) aviators present.
The Association's star recruiter is LT Scott Wastak who signed up an impressive 73 new members en route to the Top Hooker award. (For products of outcome-based education, that's six a month; the rest of us need to get six a year.)
This year's outstanding industrial sponsor was Lockheed Martin, and the plaque was accepted by Steve Weatherspoon, Jon Otto and John O'Brien.
CDR Boom Powell (Ret), perennial scribe and Vigi driver deluxe, was recognized with The Hook Contributor's award for his article on MACships in the Fall 2005 issue.
There are very few indispensable players on any team, but two devoted Tailhookers received Lifetime Achievement Awards this year.
CAPT Steve Millikin,USN(Ret) and CDR Jan Jacobs, USNR(Ret) have kept The Hook at the tip of the publishing spear far longer than most people have been members. "Cap'n Steve" used to make a poor but honest living pulling carrier pilots out of Haiphong Harbor, then retired and became The Hook's editor in 1990. Forced to step down with a still undiagnosed neurological malady, he received a vastly well-deserved award that was delivered to him in San Diego.
"Jake" was an F-4 and F-14 RIO and one-time honcho of the F-4 Phantom II Society, but he's been contributing to The Hook as a volunteer, part-time or full-time employee since its transition from a newsletter into a slick-cover magazine in 1977. As only the second managing editor in the magazine's history, he brought world-class computer literacy to the position, prematurely moving the magazine into the 21st century.
Honorary Tailhooker of the Year is presented in memory of CAPT Zeke Cormier, and it went to AVCM John E. Porter (Ret) for his work with the Tailhook Educational Foundation and his sponsorship of two perpetual scholarships.
In recent history there have been only 26 Honorary Naval Aviators and Hook '06 added one to the list. Hank Caruso was accorded the distinction for his decades of entertaining, innovative renderings of naval aircraft. His Seabirds series has long been a staple of book covers and calendars, an accomplishment recognized by CNO. OpSec was such that Hank had no idea " and thought that his wife and son were back home until they appeared at the presentation.
Concluding the luncheon program was RADM Lloyd "Doc" Abbot who again regaled the audience with a flight of fancy. This year's revelation broke the surly bonds of earth, raising the venue literally to cloud nine, describing the ethereal tribulations of Louie the Lobster and Sam the Clam. (In the interest of brevity, we'll just say, "You had to be there.")
Saturday's panels resumed with VADM Jim Zortman, (ComNavAirForces) who looks barely old enough for three stripes, let alone three stars. With him on the dais were VADM Mark Fitzgerald (Com2ndFlt), RADM Marc "Waldo" Emerson (NSAWC), BGen(Sel) Robert Walsh (HQ Marine Corps), VADM Wally Massenberg (NavAirSysCom), RADM Denby Starling (ComNavAirLant), RDML Don Qunn (CNATra), RDML Jeff Lemmons (CNAFR) and CAPT Mark Guadanini (Pers 43). After each panel member spent a minute or two summarizing current events in his area of expertise, the floor was opened to questions. As usual, most of the questions were well thought-out, and in some cases, brought problem areas or potential solutions to the attention of the panel members. After a few years of no questions to the folks on the personnel side of the house, there were several this time. Most had to do with difficulties with filling in the "Joint" block in the new career path map and hardships with personnel going on Individual Augmentation stints to the "sandbox," sometimes right after a major deployment. Other questions dealt with new weapons systems and the aging of the current fleet assets and their replacements. The bottom line is that air wings may get smaller, and replacements may be longer in getting into the hands of the fleet. The age-old problem of not enough money is a huge issue today. Another major problem is the legacy Hornet fleet reaching airframe and trap life limits.
Roy Rogers again took the conn to introduce the head table and notable attendees. He recognized 23 Tailhook plankowners among the 1,490 at dinner, and also paid tribute to Vern Sohrt of The Nugget Hotel for coordinating the largest banquet in Association history.
Awards kicked off with the Jig Dog Ramage Carrier-Air Wing Team Award, sponsored by Northrop Grumman Newport News. This year's recipient is USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and CVW-8 for the best mission integration between an aircraft carrier and an embarked air wing.
Marine Tailhooker of the Year is LtCol John "Dog" Jansen, skipper of VMFA-251. The Association's Navy Tailhooker of the Year went to CAPT Kevin "Kid" Donegan of Carl Vinson (CVN-70).
VCNO ADM Robert F. Willard introduced Senator John McCain, R.-Ariz., as the banquet speaker. It was McCain's first appearance at Tailhook in many years. While attributing the Association's survival to "staying power greater than the number of individuals" he cited RADM Tom Brown, CAPT Lonny McClung, CAPT Bill Knutson and RADM Jig Dog Ramage as those who saved Tailhook from destruction. At that point a murmur coursed through the audience, as veteran Tailhookers knew that, among others, CAPTs Wynn Foster (director and secretary) and Cal Swanson (treasurer) also had been instrumental in keeping the Association afloat.
McCain spoke briefly of his experience as a POW in Hanoi 1967-1973, saying, "We learned to dread dishonor among all things." He lauded two other Tailhookers -- the late VADMs Jim Stockdale and Bill Lawrence -- as pillars of the POW community, maintaining morale and discipline amid conditions that most people can only imagine.
Speaking of the continuing War on Terror, the senator described Islamic fundamentalists as "a ruthless, unconventional, fanatic enemy who brings poverty, ignorance and oppression." Meeting within days of the fifth anniversary of 9/11, Hook '06 drew hundreds of aircrew who have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and McCain emphasized, "We must be willing to pay the price to defeat Islamic fascism."
Tailhook '07 will convene at The Nugget on 6 September 2007, when more Hookers will report their continuing service to the nation -- and starting "the next 50 years."