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HistoryVT-4 HistoryHistory

Circa 2006


Photograph Caption: Ensign Jessee Cleland receives his naval flight officer wings from his fiancee, Catherine Dziok, during the ceremony.

VP-30 began a new era in naval flight officer (NFO) training recently by conducting their first NFO winging ceremony. This ceremony was the result of the Chief of Naval Air Training's (CNATRA) trial initiative known as the Undergraduate Maritime Flight Officer (UMFO) Program. Through this initiative, CNATRA hopes to streamline the P-3 NFO training pipeline while providing the maritime patrol community a better product.

During the ceremony, VP-30's Commanding Officer Capt. Tim Brewer awarded NFO wings to: Ensigns Jon Baccus, Jesse Cleland, Drew Mickleth wait and Justin Rogers. The event and reception drew family members and friends from around the country.

For Rogers, a Jacksonville native and former aviation warfare systems operator at VP-45, this designation brings extra significance as he has exchanged his service in a support capacity, for a top leadership position within a P-3 tactical crew.

The recipients have completed the undergraduate maritime flight officer syllabus, earning their wings. The four will now enroll in the CAT 1 fleet replacement squadron (FRS) syllabus. Their anticipated graduation date is scheduled for Feb. 9. Upon their graduation at VP-30, they will report to various operational patrol squadrons to begin their initial sea tour.

The NFO training pipeline begins with aviation preflight introduction (API) instruction in Pensacola, Fla. After completing API, all student NFOs report for primary training at VT-10 or VT-4, also at NAS Pensacola, Florida. In the traditional training track, multi-engine designated NFOs attend advanced navigation training at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, Texas.

Upon completion of this course, they are awarded their wings of gold prior to transferring to VP-30 where they receive P-3 FRS training. The four UMFOs reported directly to VP-30 following completion at VT-10 or VT-4.

With the continued success of this experimental initiative, CNATRA may begin sending all maritime NFO's directly from primary flight training to VP-30, bypassing advanced training at Randolph AFB. The primary and VP-30 courses would add additional events to accommodate the loss of advanced training.

As a result, the process would reduce current redundancies in training, reduce the number of PCS moves, create a focus on P-3 specific NFO training, all while reducing the overall training time by 10 weeks.

Circa 1996

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VT-4 ThumbnailVT-4 Logo Contributed by John Lucas john.lucas@netzero.net [20NOV2002]


Circa 1988

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation January-February 1988 "...Change-Of-Command - Page 31 - Naval Aviation News - January-February 1988..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1988/jf88.pdf [21OCT2004]

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Circa 1986

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

VP History ThumbnailCamera

Circa 1985

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation July-August 1985 "...Awards - Change-Of-Command - Page 29 and 30 - Naval Aviation News - July-August 1985..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1985/ja85.pdf [18OCT2004]

VP History ThumbnailCamera

Circa 1984

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation March-April 1984 "...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]

VP History ThumbnailCamera

Circa 1982

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation October 1982 "...History - Change-Of-Command - Page 2, 44 and 46 - Naval Aviation News - October 1982..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1982/oct82.pdf [16OCT2004]

VP History ThumbnailCamera

Circa 1980

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation July 1980 "...History - Change-Of-Command - Page 3 and 30 - Naval Aviation News - July 1980..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1980s/1980/jul80.pdf [11OCT2004]

VP History ThumbnailCamera

Circa 1972

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation July 1972 "...Try it - You'll Like It - Naval Aviation News - July 1972..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1972/jul72.pdf [27SEP2004]

VP History ThumbnailCamera

Circa 1971

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation November 1971 "...FY-1971 Safety Awardees Named - Naval Aviation News - November 1971..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1970s/1971/nov71.pdf [25SEP2004]

VP History ThumbnailCamera

Circa 1960

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News March 1961 "...Postitive Effort Pays Off - Page 17 - Naval Aviation News - March 1961..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1961/mar61.pdf [19AUG2004]

VP History Thumbnail

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News August 1960 "...VT-4 Teaches Jet Gunnery - Page 38 - Naval Aviation News - August 1960..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1960s/1960/aug60.pdf [18AUG2004]

VP History Thumbnail

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...VT-4 History..." http://www.cnet.navy.mil/naspcola/trawing6/vt4/history.htm [13MAR2000]

Training Squadron FOUR was commissioned on 1 May 1960 and assigned the mission of providing flight instruction in the basic jet training syllabus utilizing the T-2A aircraft. Training consisted of basic and radio instrument procedures, formation, night flying, air to air gunnery and carrier qualifications. In 1965, Training Squadron FOUR transitioned to the T-2B aircraft and changed its mission to become the Naval Air Training Command sole site for providing student pilots basic jet flight instruction in aerial gunnery and carrier qualification. In 1971, Training Squadron FOUR transitioned to the T-2C aircraft. The squadron mission was changed once again, to provide flight training in all phases of the basic jet syllabus. In September 1972, Training Squadron FOUR acquired the TF-9J providing flight instruction in both basic and advanced jet training. This mission was unique in the Naval Air Training Command in that student pilots experienced their first flight in a jet aircraft in VT-4 and remained aboard to be subsequently designated Naval Aviators. November 1973 saw the introduction of the TA-4J to replace the aging TF-9J for advanced flight training. Beginning in December 1975, VT-4 had the added mission of providing flight instruction for allied foreign military pilots. Flight training has been given to student pilots from Kuwait, Spain, Singapore and Indonesia.

In addition to pilot training, VT-4 has had two other significant missions. From 1973 to 1978, VT-4 provided summer jet orientation flights for midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy and the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. From 1975 to 1979, VT-4 was also responsible for the training of Naval Flight Surgeons.

In December 1985 VT-4's mission was changed from strike training to the sole site of E-2/C-2 intermediate training in CNATRA. In January 1992, VT-4's mission became the E-2/C-2 advanced training site. To accomplish this mission VT-4 flew the T-2C http://www.cnet.navy.mil/naspcola/trawing6/vt86/t2.htm.

During 1996, VT-4 underwent significant change. From a small all Navy Advanced E-2/C-2 pilot training squadron with a student throughput of 36 per year it became a joint Primary and Intermediate Naval Flight Officer/Navigator training squadron with an annual student throughput of 450. Instructor ranks grew from fourteen Navy pilots to 71 Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force pilots and NFO/Navigators. The squadron transitioned from flying the T-2C to flying the T-34C Turbo Mentor and T-1A Jayhawk. VT-4 also instructs student navigators from Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Norway and Denmark. From April to September 1996 the squadron had primary NFO/NAV and advanced pilot training being conducted simultaneously. Following the final CQ detachment in September, the mission converted entirely to NFO/NAV training. On 30 September 1996, the last VT-4 Naval Aviators earned their wings.

Since its commissioning, VT-4 has amassed over 600,000 flight hours. The squadron has logged 42,000 carrier landings.


Circa 1947

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News January 1947 "...VT-4 Men Keep Ensign Journals - Page 18 - Naval Aviation News - January 1947..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1940s/1947/jan47.pdf [16JUL2004]

History

Circa Unknown
Can you identify the Month and or Year?

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VT-4 ThumbnailVT-4 Logo Contributed by John Lucas john.lucas@netzero.net [20NOV2002]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: LOGO Thumbnail [05NOV2000]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VP PatchVT-4 and VT-10 Logo Contributed by John Lucas john.lucas@netzero.net [25AUG2002]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: VT PatchVT-4 and VT-10 Logo Contributed by John Lucas john.lucas@netzero.net [25AUG2002]


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