Four Naval Aviators Missing
Navy Newsstand
Story Number: NNS040810-04
Release Date: 8/10/2004 1:14:00 PM
From U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs
USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- Four naval aviators were listed as missing after failing to return to the carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) on the evening of Aug. 10.
The plane was an S-3B Viking assigned to the Sea Control Squadron (VS) 35 "Blue Wolves" stationed at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
The S-3B Viking aircraft was conducting a routine training mission in the western Pacific Ocean as part of the Joint Air-Sea Exercise (JASEX) '04 with the Stennis and USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) carrier strike groups (CSG).
JASEX focuses on integrated joint training among U.S. military forces, enabling real-world proficiency in detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, and on land, in response to a range of mission areas. This type of training is a rare opportunity for these forces to work together in a maritime environment and to improve operational proficiency.
The Viking's overall mission is defined as "sea control," which involves searching, tracking and coordinating attacks on surface contacts that may threaten the strike group or allied forces.
Search-and-rescue and support efforts are currently under way by both Stennis and Kitty Hawk CSGs.
An investigation into the cause of the incident is underway.
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