In 1995 the Tailhook Association moved into its permanent home in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego. The genesis of the current Tailhook Association was the first Tailhook Reunion held at Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Republic of Mexico, in 1956. From this small gathering, our annual reunions and the Association have grown in size and professional stature. In 1968, in order to ensure its continuous growth, The Tailhook Association was incorporated in the state of California as a non-profit organization with the general purposes of engaging in a continuing series of activities, assemblages, conferences, symposia, and meetings designed to foster, encourage, support, develop, study, and educate interested persons in the aircraft carrier, carrier aircraft, carrier pilots and carrier aircrewmen, by creating an appropriate intellectual climate for all interested persons, and to carry on other educational and scientific activities.
The first formal membership drive was started late in 1972. With the inception of the formal membership came our quarterly publication. The Hook is the official journal of The Tailhook Association and as such is the only publication in the world that is dedicated to telling the story of U.S. Navy carrier aviation, both past and present.
In 1995 the Tailhook Association moved into its permanent home in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego.
In addition to The Hook, a scholarship program was established to assist students studying in the many fields of aviation science.
Regular Tailhook Association membership is open to anyone who has made an arrested carrier landing. Additionally, Associate Membership is open to anyone who has the desire to support U.S. Naval Carrier Aviation and the goals of the Tailhook Association. Associate Members have all privileges of regular members with the exception of voting rights. Regular and Associate life memberships are available. The same provisions and benefits of Regular and Associate Annual Memberships apply. Individuals not desiring full membership may subscribe to The Hook. Members desiring to give gift subscriptions or memberships may do so by informing The Tailhook Association. Subscriptions do not include membership privileges or obligations.