JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, February 5, 2009 11



VS-22: NAS Jax sends 'Checkmates' off in style


From Page 1


 "We also discovered the
 depth of character in our
 Checkmates when a fire
'broke out onboard the George
Washington. Checkmates
rushed to the aid of the ship
on the flight deck and below
decks manning fire hoses
and donning OBAs to join
fire teams in extinguishing
the fire. Officers pitched in
to help cook and serve chow
to tired and hungry Sailors.
Fighting the fire was a test
of our training and our spirit
of teamwork," Fimple told
the audience.
 Less than a week after
 returning from what they
 thought would be their last
 deployment, VS-22 was noti-
 fied it would deploy to Iraq
 in less than six weeks not
 onboard an aircraft carrier
 but to Al Asad Air Base,
 Iraq, northwest of Baghdad.
 "In only 45 days, we
 learned to become an expe-
 ditionary squadron and fly
 four Vikings halfway around
 the globe. We deployed near-
 ly the entire squadron by C-5
 aircraft to support our mis-
 sions over the desert a feat
 not previously done in the VS
 community. Within a week
 of arriving in theater, we
 Severe flying operational mis-
 lions using our LANTIRN
 F4
 10


 Photo by Jose Ramos
VS-22 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Stephen Fimple is piped
aboard for the last time Jan. 29. He said in his remarks that
the S-3 Viking is the "best-kept secret in naval aviation"
because of its unmatched utility and versatility.


(Low Altitude Navigation
and Targeting Infrared for
Night) pods to locate impro-
vised explosive devices, con-
duct border surveillance and
provide full-motion video
to commanders throughout
Iraq. We flew more than 340
combat support missions
encompassing over 1,600
mishap-free flight hours in
Iraq -all with a 100 percent
sortie completion rate," said
Fimple. I
 The guest speaker, retired
Capt. Danny Powers, is a
longtime member of the
VS community. Designated
a naval aviator in 1967,
Powers flew the S-2 Tracker


with VS-32. In 1974, he com-
pleted transition training to
the S-3A Viking with VS-28.
He joined VS-22 as executive
officer in 1977 and assumed
command in 1980.
 "Like most people here
today, I'm proud to have
served with VS-22 and just
as sad that we now come
together for its deactivation,"
said Powers.
'He reviewed the evolution
of naval aviation antisub-
marine warfare from World
War II through the Cold War
era. "I was fortunate to have
flown both the Grumman S-2
Tracker, or 'Stoof,' and the
Lockheed S-3 Viking, or 'War


Hoover.' Sitting between
the Stoofs Wright R-1820s
with its props spinning just
a few feet behind your seat
was a unique and unforget-
table feeling. There are lots
of sea stories I could tell -
like the Cuban missile cri-
sis and astronaut recoveries,
as well as surveillance and
pilot rescue ops off the coast
of Vietnam. Instead, I'll just
say that the Stoof and its
crews were there when they
were needed."
 But time and progress
change everything. In 1973,
all east coast VS squadrons
moved to NAS Cecil Field,
where VS-22 led the tran-
sition to the S-3A Viking.
Powered by twin GE turbo-
fans that delivered greater
speed, range and altitude,
the Viking also included new
technology and sensors to
counter the growing number
of Soviet submarines.
 "Other significant dates
in VS-22 history include
1987, when the S-3B vari-
ant entered the fleet with
improved detection and
weapons capabilities, plus,
its airborne hose-and-drogue
tanker capability."
 "In 1993, post-Cold War
 era requirements broadened
 the VS mission and squad-
 rons were re-designated from


'antisubmarine' to 'sea con-
trol.' After Congress passed
laws allowing women in com-
bat units, VS-22 was the first
east coast S-3 squadron to be
assigned female Sailors.
 "In 1999, a significant part
of the Viking's mission went
away when the ASW equip-
ment was removed from S-
3B. Many felt it opened the
door for the sundown pro-
gram because it relegated
the VS community to a tank-
er-only role.
 "Instead, our talented offi-
cers and CPOs found new
ways to support battle group
operations. As recently as
2006, more than a dozen S-
3Bs were modified to operate
the sophisticated LANTIRN
system that allows them to
fly at low altitudes, at night
and under the weather to
track and attack ground tar-
gets with a variety of pre-
cision-guided weapons,"
explained Powers.
 He concluded, "Just last
year, when Secretary of
Defense Robert Gates asked
who was ready to augment
the non-traditional intel-
ligence and reconnaissance
mission in Iraq on short
notice VS-22 got the
call. So instead of planning
time with their families for
Thanksgiving and Christmas,


the Checkmates packed for
a land-based deployment to
Iraq, where they wrote the
unusual final chapter in the
history of this command.
 "We should all be extreme-
ly thankful for the unself-
ish service of these men and
women and for the sacri-
fices of their families. They
are truly carrying the bur-
den of our freedom. Thank
you and God bless America,"
said Powers.
 In his closing remarks,
Fimple added, "It's a bit-
tersweet farewell for us to
deactivate this squadron and
close our chapter in naval
aviation history. I'm grateful
to Capt. Powers and the pre-
vious generations of the VS
community who established
the legacy of pride, profes-
sionalism and dedication
that shaped the Checkmates.
The vital importance of the
missions we conducted will
never be forgotten. I'll miss
the 'old Hoove' but most
importantly, I'll miss the
Sailors, chiefs, and officers of
the VS community."
 Fimple then turned to
 Capt. Norbert Szarleta, com-
 mander, Carrier Air Wing
 17, whom he saluted and
 said,"Sir, the Checkmates
 are deactivated. Request per-
 mission to go ashore."


VR-62 seeks Selected Reserve Sailors

From VR-62 Public Affairs
Learn about what may be the "best part time
 job ever." VR-62 will soon be relocating to 'NAS
 Jacksonville from NAS Brunswick, Maine.
 VR-62 recruiters will visit their new home at NAS
Jacksonville Hangar 1000 on Feb. 10 and 11, with one
their C-130 Hercules aircraft on display.
 AWFC Jim Mueller (James.j.mueller@navy.mil cell 302-
312-5670) and AZCS Karen Quinn (Karen.Quinn@navy.
mil cell 904-386-7364) are current Selected Reserve mem-
bers of VR-62 who will be available to answer questions
and provide direction on how to affiliate with and train
with the best Navy' Hercules squadron in the world.


CRIMINAL MILITARY DEFENSE

 We are here for Article 15s and Courts-Martial.
 We also advise on LORs, demotions, discharges,
and other UCMJ or adverse administrative actions.


 4309 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville, FL 32216 6 &M
 Len Hackett Phone (904) 296-6751 Fax (904) 296-2712 Wolfgang Mertz
Former CAPT US ARMY Former JAG
 Chief of Justice
 www florirda-law nom Area Defense Counsel


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