A BIT OF HISTORY: "...NAVY WIRE SERVICE (NWS) - May 11, 2001 . Boeing Delivers Navy's Newest Aircraft..." http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/navywire/nws01/nws010511.txt [05FEB2003]

NWS11may-4. Boeing Delivers Navy's Newest Aircraft By Donald Ray and JO1 Steven J. Pape, NAS JRB Fort Worth Public Affairs

FORT WORTH, Texas (NWS) -- With the Navy band playing and banners swaying overhead, the Naval Reserve's newest class of aircraft, the C-40A Clipper, was officially delivered in mid-April to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 59 at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas.

Produced by Boeing Co., the C-40A Clipper is the newest member of the Boeing Next Generation 737 family.

Known as the "Lone Star Express," VR-59 will receive a total of four new Clippers to replace their Boeing C-9 Skytrains. They are the first of 14 Fleet Logistics squadrons within the Naval Reserve Force to receive the new planes.br>
Although Boeing introduced the new C-40A Clipper in September 2000 during a roll-out ceremony for the Naval Reserve, numerous dignitaries from Washington, D.C., the state of Texas, Boeing and senior military officials from around the country attended the acceptance ceremony at NAS JRB Fort Worth.

Rear Adm. John P. McLaughlin, commander, Naval Air Reserve Force, expressed the opinion of all the distinguished visitors at the podium by saying that the Naval Reserve now has an aircraft fitting of the new century.

"Gone are the days that we must hop-scotch across the Pacific and Atlantic," McLaughlin said. "We can now fly to Atsugi (Japan) with just one stop in Hawaii. The Naval Reserve now has a plane that will save both the taxpayers and the Navy money."

Boeing representative Howard Chambers ended the dedication portion of the ceremony by symbolically handing over the keys to the new aircraft to VR-59 commanding officer Cmdr. Mark Woodall, and CMDMC(SW/AW) Howard Daniel.

Until recently, VR-59 flew four C-9 Skytrains. However, the squadron's remaining C-9 was flown to VR-46 in Atlanta in October 2000 where it was added to their aircraft inventory. Since then, the men and women of VR-59 have been training and preparing their work areas for flying and maintaining the new C-40A Clippers.

"The men and women of VR-59 are extremely excited about receiving the C-40A Clipper. The arrival of this airplane is the culmination of six months of hard work by everyone," said Woodall. "We are eagerly looking forward to introducing the airplane to the fleet and giving the fleet commanders an asset to reliably move more people and cargo throughout the world than previously possible."

The Navy ordered six C-40A Clippers from Boeing with the first four going to VR-59. A Reserve squadron in Jacksonville, Fla., is scheduled to receive the fifth and sixth C-40A Clippers. Eventually, the C-40A will replace all of the Naval Reserve's fleet of 27 C-9 Skytrains, some of which are 30 years old.

Looking for a replacement aircraft with increased performance and versatility, the C-40A (the military version of the Boeing 737-700C) can be configured as an all-passenger or an all-cargo jet capable of holding up to eight cargo pallets totaling 40,000 pounds, or a combination of both. With increased range and payload, the aircraft is capable of carrying 121 passengers in its all-passenger mode or 70 passengers and three cargo pallets in the combination configuration.

Sporting new fuel-efficient engines, a new configuration, and 21st century computer and operating systems, the C-40A Clipper has been labeled a flexible and cost-effective logistics aircraft for the Naval Reserve. Additionally, the C-40A meets or exceeds international noise and environmental requirements.

More information about the C-40A Clipper can be found athttp://www.navy.mil under "fact file."

Circa 1991

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Naval Aviation Units Involved in the Persian Gulf War (16 January–27 February 1991)...This Squadron Mentioned...Naval Historical Center ADOBE Download File: http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/APP29.PDF [27MAY2003]

Persian Gulf War 20KB

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Circa 1987

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Noel Award - Page 29 - Naval Aviation News - November-December 1987..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1987/nd87.pdf [20OCT2004]

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Circa 1986

A BIT OF HISTORY: VF-59 Cruise Patch "...VR-59 WesPac Circa 1986..." Contributed by Michael Varga mikey1010@msn.com [22JUL2012]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Change-Of-Command - Page 31 - Naval Aviation News - November-December 1986..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1986/nd86.pdf [19OCT2004]

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Circa 1984

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...History and Change-Of-Command - Page 30 and 31 - Naval Aviation News - March-April 1984..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1984/ma84.pdf [17OCT2004]

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...We Deliver - Page 22 to 25 - Naval Aviation News - January-February 1984..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1984/jf84.pdf [17OCT2004]

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Circa 1983

A BIT OF HISTORY: "...Grenada Combat Operations 25 October–2 November 1983...Squadrons Mentioned: VP-10, VP-16, VP-23, VR-56, VR-58, VR-59, and VS-28...Naval Historical Center ADOBE Download File: http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/APP27.PDF [27MAY2003]

Grenada Combat Operations 21KB

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"VR-59 Summary Page"

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