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Carrier Air Wing 11 Super Hornets Join the War Early

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030331-17
Release Date: 3/31/2003 3:08:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class Steve Owlsey, USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

ABOARD USS NIMITZ (NNS) -- Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), is lending four of its F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14, currently aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), to provide a mix of fighter/tanker capabilities to support coalition forces on the ground in Iraq.

"The request for sending four Super Hornets to Lincoln came about the same time that the media was reporting that the Super Hornet squadron on Lincoln was reconfiguring several of their strike aircraft to the tanker mission," said Deputy Commander Carrier Air Wing 11 Capt. Jim Greene. "There was significant evidence that the coalition's ability to support troops on the ground was being hampered due to a lack of airborne fuel, which allows armed strike aircraft to loiter in the vicinity of enemy forces and attack them when called upon.

"It was determined that two F/A-18Es and two F/A-18Fs would provide the best mix of capability for Lincoln's air wing," explained Greene.

Once the aircraft were selected, Greene left the decision of who would fly the craft to Cmdr. Pat Cleary, commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41 and Cmdr. A.E. Ross, commanding officer of VFA-14.

"Every aviator in my ready room would have jumped at the opportunity to get to the fight early, but Lt. Cmdr. Hal Schmitt and Lt. Cmdr. Jason Norris were ultimately selected because of their overall strike credentials and their ability to fulfill any mission tasked in theater," said Ross.

The night before launching, Norris said, "We're both ready for the mental aspect of flying. We're just preparing for the administrative side."

Norris said he was a little nervous - not so much about flying over Iraq, but flying over 4,000 miles of open water.

The first day, the Super Hornets will fly 1,700 miles with drop tanks and be refueled from tankers aboard Nimitz. The second leg of the trip will be 2,300 miles long and involve an in-flight refueling before the Super Hornets will touch down aboard Lincoln.

Lt. Cmdr. Brian Garrison, Lt. Cmdr. Mark Weisgerber, Lt. Tom Poulter and Lt. Tom Bodine from VFA-41 will fly the latest version of the Super Hornet, the F/A-18F.

Garrison spoke for all of VFA-41 when he said, "Everyone in the ready room would have wanted to go. I'm just looking to contribute in any way I can."

The enthusiasm for this mission isn't only at the aviator level. It includes the squadron's blues shirts, as well.

"The Tophatters are fully supportive of anything that gets our platforms to the fight sooner," said Ross. "We just wish we could transport Nimitz to the theater as quickly."

Everyone involved in the planning is aware of just how significant this mission is and how important a role these Super Hornets will play in theater.

"Being able to forward deploy these assets from the middle of the Indian Ocean isn't easy," admitted Greene, "but it represents the great capability and flexibility inherent naval aviation."