In 2021, The US Navy will establish two new squadrons. Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50 (HSM-50) is planned for to be established on 1. October 2021. The squadron, equipped with MH-60R Seahawks, will report to Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing Atlantic (HelMarStrikWingLANT) and will be based at NAS Jacksoville (FL) or NAS Mayport (FL).

Electronic Attack Squadron 144  (VAQ-144) is set for establishment at NAS Whidbey Island on 1. October 2021. The squadron will be equipped with the EA-18G Growler. Full operational Capability will be achieved in fiscal year 2023 to meet scheduled operational requirements for the squadron. VAQ-144 will report to Commander, Electronic Attack Wing Pacific (ComVAQWingPAC) as part of the Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S Pacific Fleet (ComNavAirPAC). The electronic attack squadron’s mission is to operate from aircraft carriers and fixed land bases to tactically exploit, suppress, degrade and deceive enemy electromagnetic defensive and offensive systems, including communications and pro-forma signals in support of amphibious assaults, air strikes, and fleet operations.

In the near past it was reported that VAQ-143 was also planned as a new squadron, but no signs of that anymore. VAQ-143 and VAQ-144 were both planned as a relieve for the deactivated U.S. Marine Corps Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VMAQ-) Prowler squadrons.

Gumman Albatross - U.S. Navy
(Profiles from Michael E. Fader)
54 new profiles of the Grumman Albatross
21. May 2020

Gumman Hellcat - U.S. Navy & U.S. Marines
(Profiles from Michael E. Fader)
106 new profiles of the Grumman Hellcat U.S. Navy (101), U.S. Marines (5)
5. April 2020

U.S. Navy

 FAA

 Aéronavale

U.S. Navy
(Profiles from Paul Imhoff)
11 new profiles from the Vought O2U- Corsair
31. March 2020

U.S. Navy
(Profiles from Paul Imhoff)
20 new profiles from the Vought O2U- Corsair
9. February 2020

Vought F-8 Crusader - U.S. Navy & U.S. Marines
(Profiles from Michael E. Fader)
72 new profiles Vought Crusader U.S. Navy (62), U.S. Marines (10)
21. November 2019

U.S. Navy
(Profiles from Paul Imhoff)
17 new profiles ,Douglas OD-1(2),  Curtiss OC-1 Falcon (10), Aeromarine AS- (3), Elias EM- (2)
9. June 2019

Loening OL- & HL- Shoehorn U.S. Navy
(Profiles from Paul Imhoff)
33 new profiles
15. November 2019

Loening OL- Shoehorn U.S. Navy
(Profiles from Paul Imhoff)
14 new profiles
25. November 2018

Loening OL- Shoehorn U.S. Navy
(Profiles from Paul Imhoff)
17 new profiles
19. September 2018

Martin MO-1, Huff-Dalland HO-1, NAF NO-1 (AKA. Martin M2O-1) U.S. Navy
(Profiles from Paul Imhoff)
15 new profiles
2. April 2018

Vought UO-1 & FU-1. U.S. Navy (Profiles from Paul Imhoff)
70 new profiles
3. December 2017

Loening M-8 U.S. Navy (Profiles from Paul Imhoff)
13 new profiles
19. February 2017

Vought VE-7 U.S. Navy (from Paul Imhoff)
11 new profiles
22. November 2016

Grumman Tracker (Profiles from Michael E. Fader)
80 new profiles
22. August 2016

Two F/A-18 Hornets from Carrier Air Wing 17 embarked on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) crashed at 5:40 p.m. local time, today, while operating at sea in the western Pacific Ocean. The two aircraft are assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 94 (VFA-94) and Strike Fighter Squadron 113 (VFA-113). The two F/A-18C aircraft had launched from the flight deck and were in the process of proceeding to their initial stations when they apparently collided approximately seven miles from the ship.
One pilot was recovered by helicopter shortly after the crash and transported to CVN-70 USS Carl Vinson for medical care. The rescued pilot has since been released from medical facilities aboard the ship. Search efforts continue for the second pilot. The search for the second pilot includes guided-missile cruiser CG-52 USS Bunker Hill and guided-missile destroyer DDG-101 USS Gridley and helicopters assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 15 (HSC-15) and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73 (HSM-73).
The two F/A-18C Hornets have not been recovered. All remaining airborne aircraft were safely recovered onboard. The cause of the incident is under investigation. Carl Vinson and embarked Carrier Air Wing 17 are currently underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
After an extensive search, the Navy has ended search and rescue efforts at 5:15 a.m. (+11L) Sept. 14 for the pilot of one of the F/A-18C Hornet aircraft that crashed Sept. 12 approximately 250 nautical miles off the coast of Wake Island.

The pilot assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 94 has been presumed deceased. The identity of the pilot will not be released until the family notification process is complete.
"This is an exceptionally difficult time for the friends and family of the missing pilot and the Navy community," said Rear Adm. Christopher Grady, Commander, Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group. "We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of support from the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy."
Navy units involved in the search and rescue efforts included USS Carl Vinson, USS Bunker Hill, USS Gridley, USS Sterett, and USS Dewey, along with HSC-15 and HSM-73 and P-8s from Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP-5) in Guam.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

K. Sinn, the Webmaster of the VBF-85 Squadron Homepage www.vbf-85.com provided us with some detailed informations about the Squadrons VBF-85 who was flying the famous Corsair during the second World War.
For more Informations about the VBF-85 visit his Homepage www.vbf-85.com

New in this week: New Drawings from Paul Imhoff about the famous Martin PBM-3 Mainer.
10. March 2014

A U.S. Navy F/A-18C Hornet assigned to the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev., crashed on 1st of March at approximately 3 p.m. PST on a U.S. Navy range training complex, approximately 70 miles east of NAS Fallon. The aircraft was conducting a training flight prior to the crash. A safety investigation will be carried out to determine the cause.

Eine U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet des Naval Strike und Air Warfare Center der NAS Fallon, Nevada stürzte am 1. März um ca. 03.00 Uhr (lokal) auf dem Bereich der US-Navy, ca. 70 Meilen östlich von NAS Fallon ab. Das Flugzeug stürzte während eines Trainingsflugs ab. Eine Untersuchung zur Ermittlung der Absturz-ursache wurde eingeleitet.

USS George H.W. Bush CVN-77 Carrier Strike Group departed for its 2nd deployment 15. February 2014.
The strike group, led by the Navy's newest aircraft carrier is scheduled to conduct operations in the U.S. Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.

The deployment is part of an ongoing rotation of U.S. forces supporting maritime security operations in international waters around the globe.

The George H.W. Bush Strike Group consists of Carrier Strike Group 2, Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8), Destroyer Squadron 22.

The five ships and eight aircraft squadrons of GHWB CSG consist of approximately 6,000 Sailors who have spent the last year conducting intensive training and certification exercises to establish a safe, cohesive organization capable of performing a wide variety of missions across the globe, ranging from counter-piracy and ground support operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

ie USS George H. W. Bush CVN-77 Trägerkampf-Gruppe ging am  15. Februar 2014 auf die zweite Einsatzfahrt. Die Kampfgruppe mit dem neusten Flugzeugträger der U.S. Navy wird voraussichtlich Operationen im Operations-bereich der 5. und 6. Flotte durchführen.

Die Kampfgruppe ist Teil der laufenden Rotation der US-Streitkräfte zur Unterstützung der maritimen Sicherheitsoperationen in internationalen Gewässern rund um den Globus.

Die George H. W. Bush-Kampf-Gruppe besteht aus der Trägerkampfgruppe 2, dem Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8) und dem Zerstörer-Geschwader 22. Die fünf Schiffe und acht Flugzeug-Staffeln der GHWB CSG umfassen rund 6.000 Mann, die das letzte Jahr damit verbracht haben, in intensiven Trainings- und Zertifizierungs-Übungen, eine sichere zusammenhängende Organisation aufgebaut haben um eine Vielzahl von Missionen auf der ganzen Welt ausführen zu können.

Sailors from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron-25 (HSC-25) conducted a search and rescue operation and rescued 10 fishermen from the sinking commercial fishing vessel Daiki Maru that ran aground in Apra Harbor near Spanish Steps 13 February 2014 approximately 6 p.m.

"Through the efforts of HSC-25 and the U.S. Coast Guard, we were able to successfully meet our first priority, which was to rescue the crew members," said Capt. Mike Ward, commanding officer of Naval Base Guam. "Now we are focusing our attention on environmental assessment and vessel salvage efforts and we will be partnering with U.S. Coast Guard and the responsible party."

HSC-25 received a request for support from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam at approximately 5:30 p.m. and two Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopters were diverted from a training operation. The fishermen were rescued from the waters just inside the mouth of Apra Harbor. They were transported to Naval Hospital Guam for evaluation and later released.

HSC-25 is the Navy's only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron that maintains a 24-hour search and rescue and medical evacuation alert posture, directly supporting the U.S. Coast Guard.

Angehörige der Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron-25 (HSC-25) führten eine Such-und Rettungsoperation durch und retteten 10 Fischer von dem sinkenden Handelsfischerei-boot Daiki Maru, das in der Nähe der Spanischen Treppe bei Apra Harbor am 13. Februar 2014 um ca. 06.00 Uhr auf Grund lief.
"Durch die Bemühungen von HSC-25 und der U.S. Coast Guard, konnten wir unsere erste Priorität, die Besatzungsmitglieder zu retten, erfolgreich zu beenden ", sagte Kapitän Mike Ward, Kommandeur des Marinestützpunktes Guam. "Jetzt konzentrieren wir unsere Aufmerksamkeit auf die Umweltschutz und die Bergung des Schiffes welche wir mit den Verantwortlichen der U.S. Coast Guard koordinieren. "
Die HSC-25 wurde um ca. 5.30 von der US Coast Guard Sector Guam um Unterstützung angefragt,  zwei Navy MH-60S Seahawk Hubschrauber wurden von einer Trainings-mission abgezogen. Die Fischer wurden bei Apra Harbor aus dem Wasser gerettet. Sie wurden ins Naval Hospital Guam zur Untersuchung transportiert und später entlassen.

Die HSC-25 ist einzige Staffel der US Navy die auf einem vorgeschobenen Stützpunkt eine 24-Stunden Such- und Rettungs- und medizinische Evakuierung Alarmrotte unterhält und direkt für die Unterstützung der U.S. Coast Guard dient.

A U.S. Navy pilot was safely recovered from sea today after the Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet he was flying crashed aproximately 45 miles off the Virginia Beach coast.
The crash occurred at approximately 2:30 pm (15 January 2014). The pilot ejected from the aircraft and a liferaft deployed. He was recovered by a fishing vessel. The pilot is conscious and was transported to Sentara Norfolk General by a Navy MH-60 Sea Hawk.

The F/A-18E is a single seated aircraft assigned to VFA-143 based at Naval Air Station Oceana and was conducting routine training.

The Navy will investigate the cause of the accident.

Ein Pilot der U.S. Navy wurde sicher aus dem Meer gefischt nachdem seine Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet 72 Kilometer vor der Küste von Virginia Beach abstürzte.
Der Absturz ereignete sich etwa um 14.30 Uhr (15. Januar 2014). Der Pilot stieg mit dem Schleudersitz aus und entfaltete seine Rettungsinsel. Er wurde von einem Fischerei-fahrzeug aufgenommen und war bei Bewusst-sein. Der Pilot ist bei und wurde von einem Navy MH-60 Sea Hawk ins Sentara Norfolk General Spital gebracht.
Die F/A-18E ist eine einsitzige Version der Staffel VFA-143 die auf der Naval Air Station Oceana stationiert ist.
Die Navy wird die Ursache des Unfalls untersuchen.

New in this week: Drawings from Paul Imhoff and a short report from Michael E. Fader about the Seaplane Douglas XP3D- and the Hall XP2H-
15. December 2013

The Navy's newest maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, the Boeing P-8A Poseidon, has achieved initial operational capability (IOC) after the first two P-8A Poseidons departed for deployment 29 Nov 2013. By achieving IOC, the Navy can effectively deploy the P-8A for operational missions and continue to successfully transition from the aging P-3C.

With the P-3 to P-8 transition well underway at Jacksonville FL., VP-16 is executing an Inter-Deployment Readiness Cycle and is on track to be the first P-8 squadron to deploy. VP-5 has completed their P-8 transition, and VP-45 has commenced P-8 transition after returning from deployment this past summer. In addition to leading the fleet transition process, VP-30 is also producing P-8 qualified replacement personnel for direct accession into P-8 qualified squadrons," said Rear Adm. Matt Carter, Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Group. 

There has never been a greater need for a new patrol and reconnaissance aircraft now that the aging P-3 is nearing the end of its life cycle.

Das neuste maritime Patrouillen- und Auf-klärungsflugzeug der US Navy, die Boeing P-8A Poseidon hat erste Einsatzfähigkeitstufe (IOC) erreicht. Zwei Maschinen sind am 29 Nov 2013 zum ersten Überseeeinsatz gestartet. Mit dem Erreichen IOC kann die Navy die P-8A für operative Aufgaben effektiv einsetzen und weiterhin die Umrüstung der veralteten P-3C vorantreiben.

Der Übergang von der P-3 auf P-8 ist in Jacksonville FL. in vollem Gange, VP-16 ist an der Ausführung eines Bereitstellungsvor-bereitungszyklus und auf dem Weg, der erste P-8 Geschwader für Überseeeinsätze zu sein. VP-5 hat die P-8 Umschulung abgeschlossen und VP-45 hat die Umschulung nach der Rückkehr von einem Überseeeinsatz im vergangenen Sommer begonnen. Neben der Führung im Flottenübergangsprozess wird VP-30 auch qualifiziertes Ersatzpersonal für dir direkte Zuteilung an die P-8 Staffeln schulen. wie Konteradmiral Matt Carter , Kommandeur Patrol and Reconnaissance Group sagte.

Es hat nie eine grössere Notwendigkeit für ein neues Patrouillen- und Aufklärungsflugzeug gegeben, da die veraltete P-3 sich dem Ende des Lebenszyklus nähert.

With the strike of a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow by the ship's sponsor, Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald Ford, the Navy christened its newest aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), the lead ship of the new Gerald R. Ford class, 9^th November 2013, in a ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Va.

New in this week: Drawings from Paul Imhoff about the Consolidated P2Y- (23 Drawings) Sikorsky PS-2 (3 Drawings). Pictures from VT-75,VB-75 and VF-75 from Paul Taylor.
Also new from Michael E. Fader - The History of all Patrol- (VP-) Patrol Bomber- (VPB-) and Bombing- Squadrons (VB-) of the US Navy
9. November 2013

VP- VP-AM- VP-MS VP-HL VP-MS / VPB- / VB-

At approximately 10.30 AM on the 4th November 2013, a US Navy T-45C Goshawk aircraft crashed at the approach end of a runway at Naval Air Station Pensacola FL.
The two-seat training aircraft, assigned to Training Squadron 86 (VT-86), was conducting a local training flight.  The two aircrew aboard the T-45C Goshawk aircraft survived the crash and are being treated at a local hospital.

Um 10.30 Uhr am 4. November 2013 stürzte eine T-45C Goshawk beim Landeanflug kurz vor der Start-und Landebahn der Naval Air Station Pensacola FL. ab.
Das zweisitzige Schulflugzeug, gehörte zur Trainings-Staffel 86 (VT-86) und war auf einem lokalen Übungsflug. Die beiden Besatzungs-mitglieder an Bord der T-45C Goshawk überlebten den Absturz und werden in einem örtlichen Krankenhaus behandelt.

In 2004 I started to make drawings of the US. Naval squadrons who was flying famous Grumman S-2 Tracker . The squadron VS-20 was a special Unit flying the Tracker only between August 1961 - October 1962. Over this short period of time was not much known, especially it was not clear how the planes were painted VS 20. Larry Hames from Graham WA has now filled this gap and sent me a marvelous picture. Based on the picture I was finally able to make a drawing of the Grumman S2F-1 Tracker from VS-20.

2004 habe ich angefangen Zeichnung der US Navy Staffel zu machen di die berühmte  Grumman S-2 Tracker flogen. Die Staffel VS-20 viel mir dabei auf, denn diese Staffel war vom August 1961 bis Oktober 1962 kurzfristig im Einsatz. Über diese kurze Zeitspanne war nicht wehr viel bekannt, insbesondere war nicht klar die wie Maschinen der VS-20 bemalt waren. Larry Hames aus Graham WA hat diese Lücke nun geschlossen und mir ein Bild übermittelt. Anhand des Bildes konnte ich endlich eine Zeichnung der Grumman S2F-1 Tracker der VS-20 anfertigen.

Tom Rau has sent me two pictures of the Vought F-8C Crusader of VMF-333. Here I was able to complement the well-known markings. The Crusader the VMF-333 had on top and bottom of each Wing 3 foot wide solid green band. Planes with serial number 1469XX had a band on the bottom with three shamrocks. Whether this was at the top is not clear. The unpainted titanium afterburner sections were introduced after a major overhaul.   

Tom Rau hat mir zwei Bilder der Vought F-8C Crusader der Staffel VMF-333 zugesandt. Hier konnte ich die bekannten Markierungen ergänzen. Die Crusader der VMF-333 haben auf der Ober- und Unterseite des Flügels je einen ca. 100 cm breiten grünen Streifen. Maschinen mit der Seriennummer 1469XX hatten auf der Unterseite ein Band mit drei Kleeblättern. Ob dies auch auf der Oberseite war ist unklar. Der nicht bemalte Titanteil des Nachbrenners wurden nach einer Grundüberholung eingeführt.