Last modified Thu., November 05, 2009 - 04:26 PM
Originally created Thursday, November 5, 2009

Celebrating 70 years of aviation excellence

By Clark Pierce, Editor

(From right) NAS Jacksonville Commandng Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr. and Executive Officer Capt. Jeffrey Maclay unveil the first of two posters Oct. 30 commemorating "70 years of naval aviation excellence" at NAS Jacksonville. Photos by Clark Pierce

Dozens of historically savvy Sailors and civilians gathered at Heritage Park Oct. 30 to be some of the first to receive a pair of posters commemorating the 70th anniversary of NAS Jacksonville. The posters were unveiled by NAS Jacksonville Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr. and Executive Officer Capt. Jeffrey Maclay.

"The first poster artfully displays the contrasts in people and aircraft over the past 70 years," said Scorby. "The second poster displays 114 emblems of squadrons, other commands and community organizations that have played roles in our station's rich history."

The event kicked off a year-long celebration to culminate in October 2010 when the station turns 70.

Modern avaitors stand proudly Oct. 30 at the unveiling of two commemorative posters celebrating 70 years of flight operations at NAS Jacksonville. (From left) NAS Jax Air Operations Officer Cmdr. Robert Surgeoner, FACSFAC Commanding Officer Cmdr. Curtis Stubbs, NAS Jax Executive Officer Capt. Jeffrey Maclay, NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr., NAS Jax Air Operations Admin Officer Lt. Cmdr. Bob Strange, Lt. Chris Walcutt and Lt. Chip Shaw.

Scorby engaged the audience with some historic facts about the base: oNAS Jacksonville was commissioned Oct. 15, 1940 with Capt. Charles Mason as the first commanding officer.

Walt Disney designed NAS Jacksonville's first official logo -one of Donald Duck's nephews breaking out of an eggshell and learning how to fly.

As a primary flight training base (flying Stearman biplanes), NAS Jacksonville saw 4,363 trainees earn their pilot wings through Feb. 26, 1943.

The station trained more than 30,000 aerial gunners from 1941 to 1945.

After World War II, the Navy Flight Demonstration Team, know today as the Blue Angels, was formed at the station in 1946.

Oct. 21, 1948 saw Ensign Jesse Brown become the first African-American to receive his naval aviator wings at the Naval Air Advanced Training Command.

VP-5 "Mad Foxes" arrive at NAS Jacksonville in December 1949. They remain the oldest squadron continuously based here.

With the BRAC closure of NAS Cecil Field in 1999, Sea Control Wing Atlantic and its S-3 Viking squadrons transferred to NAS Jacksonville.

Today, NAS Jacksonville is at the forefront of the global war on terror. As the S-3 Viking squadrons disestablished and the current SH-60 helicopter squadrons are being re-designated as Helicopter Sea Combat and moving to NS Norfolk, new Helicopter Squadron Maritime units are taking their place and moving to the station. Five new P-3 squadrons from NAS Brunswick, Maine also find NAS Jacksonville as their home.

A new $127 million P-3 hangar, the largest in the Navy, became operational in May 2009 and a new $77 million helicopter hangar opened its hangar bays in July.

This air and industrial base will be homeport to 16 Navy operational, training and reserve squadrons by early 2011. Additional major tenants include Commander, Navy Region Southeast; Fleet Readiness Center Southeast; Navy Medicine Support Command; Naval Hospital Jacksonville; Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast; and Fleet Industrial Supply Center Jacksonville. Some 100 other tenant activities also call the station home.

"These are just a few of the countless stories that make the history of our base so interesting," said Scorby. "Many of the aircraft that helped write naval aviation history are on display right here in Heritage Park. I look forward to celebrating our past throughout 2010. I hope you'll join with me to take pride in our history as we write the next chapter of accomplishments at NAS Jacksonville."

The posters were designed by Gwen Shangle of Prizm Graphics and the the NAS Jacksonville public affairs team. Production supervisor was Miriam Gallet, NAS Jacksonville public affairs officer.