Navy Fighter Wing Closes its Doors

The Source for Navy News

041001-N-3527B-001 Naval Air Station Oceana, Va. (Oct. 1, 2004) - Commanding Officer, Fighter Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Capt. William L. Kervahn, unveils a tombstone in memory of Fighter Wing Atlantic at the Officer’s Club on board Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana following the decommissioning of Fighter Wing Atlantic. Headstones have traditionally been placed in front of the club signifying the last resting place of aircraft squadrons and commands. Originally established in July of 1971 as Fighter Wing One, the command has been responsible for overseeing the operations of the Navy’s fighter aircraft on both the east and west coasts. When the F-14 Tomcat fighter community was relocated from the west coast to NAS Oceana, the command was redesignated Fighter Wing Atlantic. The remaining F-14 Tomcat squadrons will be under the command of Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic as the remaining F-14s continue to transition to the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Timothy Bensken (RELEASED)

View Larger

Download HiRes

Navy Fighter Wing Closes its Doors
Story Number: NNS041012-03
Release Date: 10/12/2004 11:42:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class Jennifer Crenshaw, Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Another chapter was added to the F-14 Tomcat history book Oct. 1, when Fighter Wing Atlantic officially disestablished its headquarters at Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.

Originally established in July 1971 as Fighter Wing 1, the command was responsible for overseeing the operations of the Navy’s fighter aircraft at three air stations: Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, Calif., former NAS Miramar, Calif., and NAS Oceana. In 1996, the west coast Tomcat squadrons relocated to NAS Oceana, and the command was redesignated Fighter Wing Atlantic.

“It’s symbolic in the fact that we’re bringing closure to a phenomenal aircraft that since 1975 has served our country faithfully,” said Capt. William Kervahn, Fighter Wing Atlantic’s last commodore.

Fighter Wing Atlantic maintained operational and administrative control of six fleet F-14 squadrons and one replacement squadron. Those squadrons will now be under the command of Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic as the remaining F-14s continue to transition to the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet.

“It’s like an old car,” said Kervahn. “You know you can only drive that old car so far before you have to make a decision to invest in a new one.”

“I hate to see the F-14 go,” said retired Rear Adm. Jerry Riendeau, a former commodore of Fighter Wing Atlantic, “because to me, it’s the Cadillac. The F/A-18, I don’t know enough about. It might be an upgraded Cadillac, but there’s a sense of loss when you see a plane you love so well replaced by a new one.”

A highlight of the ceremony was the unveiling of a headstone at the NAS Oceana Officers’ Club. Headstones have traditionally been placed in front of the club signifying the last resting place of aircraft squadrons and commands.

For related news, visit the Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/comnavairlant.

E-mail this story to a friend | Send a comment about this story

Related Stories:
Navy Retires AIM-54 Phoenix Missile - 10/6/2004 High Interest Story

Search:


All Any Exact