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Naval Reserve Fighter Squadron Adds a Chapter to the History Books

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS030602-13 Release Date: 6/2/2003 4:12:00 PM

By Lt. j.g. Bryan Kost, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Forth Worth, Texas

FORT WORTH (NNS) -- It hasn't been done in 50 years. Not since the Korean War has an entire Naval Reserve strike fighter squadron been activated and deployed at sea.

Yet history has a tendency to repeat itself.

The "Hunters" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 201 returned to Texas May 29, after an impressive six-month performance in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. From the decks of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the Hunters flew more than 1,000 sorties, seamlessly joining active-duty counterparts in the war on terrorism.

Hundreds of family members, relatives, federal and local dignitaries, and other base personnel greeted the "Hunters" with waving flags, cheers and tears, as the two C-40A aircraft carrying most of the squadron members taxied closer and closer to the waiting throng. Minutes later, the squadron's returning pilots flew directly overhead in their F/A-18 Hornets, and again, the waving flags and cheers erupted. It was a news media field day, as families and friends rushed forward, as the returning Sailors and pilots left their planes.

"The Navy was in dire need of a fighter squadron to do this assignment, and 201 was the team to do it," says Capt. Stanley O'Connor Jr., commander of Carrier Air Wing Reserve 20.

O'Connor says the Hunters validated the role a Reserve strike squadron can perform, saying, "There's so much to tell about the great things they accomplished."

Lt. Cmdr. David "Sluggo" Moore, a pilot for VFA-201, says that any success in the air was due to the work on deck. "Personally, I'm most proud of the maintenance effort our Reservists put forth," he said.

Preparing the Hunters' F/A-18A Hornets by adding mission-specific equipment and keeping the planes in top shape came naturally to VFA-201 crew members, who've already earned three "Golden Wrench Awards" for best air wing maintenance.

Taking their Reserve show on the road was apparently no problem for the Hunters, as the pilots earned Top Hook honors for the cruise, winning all three "line periods" - grading periods that rate the squadrons' landings. The squadron as a whole earned a fourth Battle "E" Efficiency Award for combat readiness.

Still, no success at sea compares to the joy of coming home.

"It's great to be home. Home's where my heart is," sighs Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 2nd Class Vickie Meriwether, minutes after landing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.

"It's good to be home!" echoes Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st Class Travis Redenbaugh, adding, "I'd really like to say thanks for all the support from back home - all the letters, the e-mails. It really helped."