Fighter Squadron 41 (VF-41) the “Black Aces”, and The Duxford Airshow: Meet the Fighters 11th September 2016

Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41) also known as the “Black Aces”, is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet. They are attached to Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9), which are currently deployed aboard the USS John C. Stennis. Their radio call sign is “Fast Eagle” and their tail code is NG.

The “Fighting Forty-One” began on June 1, 1945 when it was commissioned at NAS Chincoteague, Virginia, flying the Vought F4U-4 Corsair. In July 1948, the squadron was designated Fighter Squadron 3B (VF-3B), only to be re-designated VF-41 in September of the same year. The squadron made early deployments to the Mediterranean aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt and USS Midway.

VF-41 was established on 1st September 1950 at NAS Oceana, it is the fourth US Navy squadron to be designated VF-41. The Black Aces began flying the F2H-3 Banshee in 1953, deploying to the Mediterranean and Far East aboard USS Independence. On January 24th, 1956, VF-41 embarked on ATG-181 for the shakedown cruise of USS Forrestal (CVA-59) near Guantanamo Bay Cuba, returning to NAS Oceana on March 31st 1956. VF-41 again attached to ATG-181 embarked aboard USS Bennington (CVA-20) on October 3rd 1956 for a Western Pacific deployment. The crew observed the 15th anniversary of “Battle of the Coral Sea” with ceremony at location of the battle conducted by veterans of the battle. ATG-181 returned to NAS Oceana on May 23rd 1957. In 1959, the Banshee was replaced by the F3H-2 Demon.

In February 1962, VF-41 transitioned to the F-4B Phantom II and made a special deployment to NAS Key West, Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In May 1965, the squadron deployed to the western Pacific for seven months of combat operations during the Vietnam War. They flew a wide range of missions: fighter cover, reconnaissance escort, flak suppression and day/night interdiction.

The next five deployments (flying the F-4J,B,N) were on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt with CVW-6 tail code AE (awarded the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation for period March 9th 1972 through December 1st 1972). VF-41 transitioned from the F-4J to the F-4B in 1973 and (as an 18 aircraft squadron) was on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Yom Kippur War providing escorts for Operation Nickel Grass and were part of the peacekeeping force that helped keep the truce after the war.

In 1974, VF-41 transitioned from the F-4B to the F-4N and conducted their last cruise with the Phantom aboard Roosevelt in 1975. During that year VF-41 was awarded the COMNAVAIRLANT Safety “S”, which they also would receive in 1981, 1989 and 1992. In April 1976 VF-41 transitioned to the F-14A Tomcat and their first cruise began in September 1979 as part of CVW-8 on the USS Nimitz. Another cruise followed in 1980 to the Mediterranean.
In 1980, Nimitz and VF-41 took part in a round the Horn cruise. While on this cruise, the carrier served as the seaborne base in response to the Iran hostage crisis and the subsequent attempted rescue of the U.S. Embassy hostages from Iran. VF-41 (and the rest of the battle group) spent 144 continuous days at sea, the longest period the squadron had spent at sea without break since World War II.

During workups for the 1981–1982 Mediterranean cruise, an EA-6B Prowler piloted by Marine Lieut. Steven E. White, crashed on the deck of the Nimitz. Upon crashing onto the deck, the Prowler rammed broadside into six fuelled F-14 Tomcats causing a fuel fire and ordnance to explode, including an AIM-7 Sparrow missile. The incident, which caused only superficial damage to the Nimitz, resulted in three F-14s destroyed, 45 injured sailors and fourteen casualties with VF-41 losing three shipmates.

While on deployment in the Mediterranean on August 19th 1981, during a routine combat air patrol mission over the Gulf of Sidra, two Libyan Su-22 “Fitter” aircraft were shot down by squadron aircraft. The incident marked the first Navy air combat confrontation since the Vietnam War and the first ever for the F-14A Tomcat. It was the first time a variable wing geometry aircraft shot down another variable wing geometry aircraft. 1981 was also the first year in which the squadron won the COMNAVAIRLANT Battle Efficiency “E”, signifying them as the most efficient squadron in the Atlantic Fleet. VF-41 was also awarded the Battle “E” in 1985 and 1989.

In November 1982, the squadron embarked on an extended deployment off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon, in support of the Multinational Force in Lebanon.

During 1985, VF-41 spent 68 days off the coast of Lebanon in response to the hijacking of TWA Flight 847.
The 1986 cruise was the last with Nimitz; it began in December and ended in June 1987 when Nimitz got to her new home in San Diego. In October that year, CVW-8 was deployed with USS Theodore Roosevelt and the first cruise was in the North Atlantic for Exercise Teamwork ’88 which involved operations with the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the first Mediterranean deployment was in December.

On December 28th 1990, VF-41 embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt to support Operation Desert Shield, arriving in the Persian Gulf shortly after hostilities with Iraq began. By the end of the war, the squadron had amassed over 1,500 combat flight hours. After the war, the squadron remained in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea as part of a military presence enforcing the ceasefire until late April 1991, when the squadron was tasked with providing air support for ground forces assisting Kurdish refugees in Northern Iraq during Operation Provide Comfort.
VF-41 was soon training for the F-14’s new role: air-to-ground bombing.

In late 1991, VF-41 had flown over 46,500 hours without an accident over a period of 11 years.

In 1995 VF-84 was disestablished and VF-41 picked up the TARPS mission. The disestablishment of VF-84 was the only occasion in which a TARPS capable unit was disestablished instead of a non-TARPS capable unit.
In early 1995 VF-41 deployed on a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf and the Adriatic Sea. During this cruise VF-41 conducted combat operations in support of Operation Deliberate Force and Operation Deny Flight over Bosnia and Herzegovina and Operation Southern Watch over Iraq. On September 5th 1995, two VF-41 F-14A’s dropped laser-guided bombs for the first time in combat during Operation Deliberate Force. The target was an ammunition dump in eastern Bosnia. The bombs were guided by F/A-18s. VF-41 adopted the slogan “First To Fight, First To Strike” in recognition of being the first F-14 squadron to score air-to-air kills and drop bombs in combat. During this deployment VF-41 logged over 600 combat hours and 530 sorties.

In 1996, VF-14 joined VF-41 in CVW-8 and thus CVW-8 was one of few air wings in the US Navy with two F-14 squadrons, rather than one. CVW-8 deployed on board USS John C. Stennis in February 1996, for a Joint Fleet Exercise. This was followed by deployed operations to the North Atlantic while embarked on USS John F. Kennedy with port calls to Dublin, Ireland and Portsmouth, England.

In April 1997, CVW-8 embarked on USS John F. Kennedy for a Mediterranean/Persian Gulf deployment. During this deployment, CVW-8 participated in numerous exercises and detachments including Infinite Acclaim, Beacon Flash and Invitex. During Invitex the Air Wing completed over 350 sorties including 203 sorties in a single day of surge operations. This deployment also included operations over Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Deliberate Guard and over Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch.

In 1999, USS Theodore Roosevelt departed for the Mediterranean and joined NATO forces for Operation Allied Force. VF-41’s first strike was against an ammunition storage facility in Pristina, Kosovo on April 6th. In July, Theodore Roosevelt was ordered to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, where VF-41 became the first squadron to expend ordnance in two theatres on a single deployment. VF-41 logged over 1,100 combat hours during 384 sorties and dropped over 160 tons of laser-guided munitions with an unprecedented 85% success rate in support of Operation Allied Force and Operation Southern Watch.

The squadron won the RADM Wade McClusky Award in 1999, which previously been given only to A-6 and F/A-18 units. This marked the first time an F-14 squadron won the award.

In April 2001, VF-41 embarked on their final F-14 cruise aboard USS Enterprise, supporting Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). As the carrier headed for home, they were given order to head to the Gulf of Oman after the September 11th attacks. During the build-up to war, VF-41 conducted several TARPS missions near the Pakistani/Afghani-border.

Shortly after their return in late 2001, VF-41 transitioned to the F/A-18F Super Hornet and was re-designated VFA-41.

In May 2005 VFA-41 again deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this deployment the squadron was featured in the PBS documentary “Carrier” with a heavy focus on Commander David Fravor.

In 2007 VFA-41 deployed aboard Nimitz for a WESTPAC cruise and participated in Operation Valiant Shield, a joint-force exercise in the vicinity of Guam.

The USS Enterprise/CVW-8 were the night carrier during OEF and thus didn’t see action until October 8th, when VF-41 attacked several cave complexes. One of the first target hit was the Shindand airbase, in western Afghanistan, where the Taliban were storing aircraft, radar and vehicles. By the end of the deployment in November, VF-41 had dropped over 200,000 lbs of ordnance (202 laser-guided bombs).

In January 2008 the squadron surge-deployed to the Nimitz in the Pacific. On February 13th 2008, it was reported that several Russian Tu-95 bombers were intercepted over the Pacific by F/A-18s from Nimitz while on a surge deployment in the region. One Tu-95 was escorted and flew directly over the carrier at 2000 feet, escorted by VFA-41 Hornets. The Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Gary Roughead called the incident “benign” and said: “they came out to look. We joined up (and) flew with them until they went home”. A total of four Russian bombers were involved; two remained about 500 miles east of the carrier strike group, and another orbited about 50 miles away as one Tu-95 did two low passes over the Nimitz carrier group.

After their return to the United States, VFA-41 began trading in their Lot 26 F/A-18Fs for Lot 30 F/A-18Fs which are fitted with AESA radar technology.

During 2009 CVW-11 and the Nimitz Strike Group conducted several training exercises off the coast of Southern California including composite unit training and joint task force training in anticipation for their 2009–2010 deployment. On July 28th it was reported that CVW-11 and the Nimitz Strike Group was to depart for an eight-month deployment.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, two F/A-18Fs were forward deployed to USS Abraham Lincoln in late March 2003. These F/A-18s were requested to boost the aerial refuelling capabilities of CVW-14, as well as to provide additional qualified Forward Air Controllers. The F/A-18s flew from Nimitz to Lincoln, a 2700-mile trip. On April 6th the Hornets returned to Nimitz. During the war VFA-41 expended laser-guided bombs, as well as JDAM and AGM-65 Maverick missiles.

By January 2010 VFA-41 had flown over 2,500 combat hours in 400 combat missions supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. VFA-41 joined CVW-9 in 2010 and started workups for a WESTPAC deployment in 2011.

From July 27th 2011 to February 26th 2012, CVW-9 deployed aboard USS John C. Stennis to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, counter-piracy and maritime security operations. VFA-41 supported Operation Enduring Freedom and the final combat missions of Operation New Dawn.

Following a short six-month turnaround, the squadron once again cruised on a surge deployment from September 1st 2012 to April 28th 2013 aboard USS John C. Stennis. The squadron returned to the Middle East and flew missions in support of the 5th Fleet and Operation Enduring Freedom.

On January 2016 VFA-41 with Air Carrier Wing 9 deployed aboard the USS John C Stennis, CVN-74 to the South China Sea to ensure Freedom of Navigation. Ports of call during this deployment included Guam, Busan, Singapore, Manila and Pearl Harbor. The Squadron flew out to its land base at Lemoore, California on August 9th.

Century Wings 1/72nd scale CW001620 Grumman F-14A Tomcat VF-41 Black Aces, AJ100, USS Nimitz, 1978 “Landing Configuration”.

Century Wings have just announced their latest release to celebrate their 10th Anniversary. This model will be in the “landing configuration” and compliments their recent “Jolly Rogers” F-14A in the same style. This model is now available to pre-order from Flying Tigers. Please click on the links here or the image below to go straight to the model page for more details

 

The Duxford Airshow: Meet the Fighters 11th September 2016

I was lucky enough to go to the Meet the Fighters Airshow at Duxford last weekend, and doubly lucky to enjoy fantastic weather on the Sunday show ! There was lots to see as expected and The Friends of Duxford made us feel very welcome as usual. I took loads of shots and share a few of them here for you to see:-

 

 

“Grace” Spitfire ML407 crash at Sywell yesterday.

Spitfire ML407 had landed at the airfield and was slowing down on the runway when the incident occurred. It appears the aircraft pivoted forward on its under-wing wheels causing the propeller and front of the vehicle to hit the ground. No one was injured in the incident, and the aircraft was swiftly removed from the runway and returned to its hanger.

 

Corgi and Hobbymaster deliveries this week at Flying Tigers.

Corgi have made two large deliveries to me this week including the Handley Page Halifax. I am steadily working my way through all the pre-orders and your models will be with you shortly.

Many of you have also pre-ordered Hobbymaster models including the second release of Adolf Galland BF109E. However there has been a delay of one week on the scheduled delivery on Hobbymaster due to a theft of one third of the container’s contents outside the distributors warehouse earlier this week.

I will be getting ALL pre-ordered models delivered to me sometime next week.

All Pre-orders will be supplied as soon as possible next week as planned.

However as always, I try to consolidate all your orders at the time of dispatch to save you on postage costs. If you have ordered a mix of Corgi and Hobbymaster models , which are now due for dispatch, I will wait for the Hobbymaster models to arrive before making your Corgi model dispatch. This will save on postage for you. If you want a particular Corgi model sent straight away ( Birthday present for example), please email me to let me know and I will send it out, but it will cost you additional postage.

Well that’s all for this week.

Thank you for taking time to read this week’s Newsletter.

Richard.

Flying Tigers.