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VFA 131 "Wildcats" Change Command

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100220-19
Release Date: 2/20/2010 5:51:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amy Kirk, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Public Affairs

USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, At Sea (NNS) -- Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131, the "Wildcats," held an airborne change of command ceremony Feb. 16 while deployed aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).

Cmdr. Thomas D. Bush turned over command to Cmdr. Benjamin L. Hewlett during a fly-by ceremony in F/A-18C Hornets.

They were joined in the air by Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 Commander Capt. Roy Kelley, flying an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the "Jolly Rogers" of VFA 103.

Both Bush and Hewlett read their orders to Kelley over the 5MC before Bush broke formation and did a fly-by to signal he was turning over command to Hewlett.

"To say that I am incredibly proud of the service to the nation the Wildcats have provided would be an understatement," Bush said. "Of course, I'm biased, but I think Wildcat Sailors are the best our Navy has to offer. Despite the hardships inherent in being gone well over 50 percent of the time these past few years, they managed to maintain our fleet of 10 F/A-18C aircraft to perfection."

Bush joined the squadron in September 2007 and got underway aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73)(GW) in early 2008.

"We were even on board during the epic fire she suffered," said Bush "Several Wildcat Sailors distinguished themselves as hose team members while battling the blaze."

After the deployment in June 2008, Bush said the team continued its high operational tempo with workups for the 2009 deployment aboard Ike.

"I actually calculated the distance we've traveled as a squadron while aboard both GW and Ike, and it amounts to a staggering 41,000 nautical miles," Bush said. "Remarkably, this number is a low estimate of transit mileage alone, and does not account for daily steaming and flight operations. Simply put, the Wildcats have 'been there, done that' these past few years."

Bush's pride in VFA 131's Sailors was apparent in his comments to the crowd.

"Their efforts enabled our pilots to fly over 9,210 hours in both training and combat from September 2007 to date," he said. "It was their professionalism that garnered us the 2007 Battle "E," 2008 Safety "S," and numerous Retention Excellence and individual awards.

Bush said that one of the most enjoyable parts of his job as commanding officer has been watching the Sailors grow – both individually and as a team.

"I will miss them terribly, but feel good knowing that it's a small Navy and many of our paths will cross again," he said.

Bush will return to GW and serve as the operations officer.

"The Wildcats have a great legacy and I plan to do my best to uphold that tradition. I feel very fortunate to be taking the reins of the best Hornet Squadron in the Navy," said Hewlett.