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Wallbanger Logs 4,000 Flight Hours

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091110-05
Release Date: 11/10/2009 9:12:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman (SW) Amara R. Timberlake, USS Nimitz Public Affairs

GULF OF OMAN (NNS) -- The commanding officer of the Wallbangers of Carrier Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 117 reached a new career milestone by logging 4,000 flight hours in an E-2C Hawkeye Oct. 18.

Cmdr. Valerie Overstreet logged her 4,000th hour with VAW-117 flying a 5-hour-combat mission over northern Afghanistan. VAW-117, assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN 68), are currently deployed to the 5th Fleet maintaining an air presence in the region that deters destabilizing activities while safeguarding the region's vital links to the global economy.

Overstreet attributes the success in her squadron's missions and her own accomplishment to being able to remain in the cockpit as much as possible.

"It's more a blessing than an achievement, I think," said Overstreet after landing. "It's pretty cool to be able to fly this long and to be around all the different people that I've been able to fly with through the last 18 years."

Very few active duty Navy pilots can say they have over 4,000 hours in one air-frame.

"Four thousand hours, if you look at it, that's 166.6 days, 24 hours a day for that period of time," said Lt. Cmdr. Richard Carnicky. "It's a testament of her devotion to the squadron and the community to put that much effort and that much time into getting an aircraft airborne for that long," said Carnicky. "It's a milestone that not many achieve."

Although she is excited to have achieved this career-milestone, Overstreet is most proud of her Wallbangers.

"The coolest part of my job is going up to the flight deck and seeing all my maintainers up there, who are working there butts off to make sure that we've got airplanes and they're ready to go," said Overstreet. "And to see their faces when we get out of there on time is the best part and then coming back and having everybody standing there after we do a successful mission."

After landing on the flight deck, Overstreet was congratulated by the ship's flight deck crew and some fellow Wallbangers. Following her landing, she personally thanked everyone in a cake cutting ceremony in the squadron's ready room.

"Thank you to everyone who made this day possible," said Overstreet. "They went overboard for me, but it's something that I'll have for the rest of my life. I really appreciate it."

For more news from USS Nimitz, visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn68/.