VT-25 |
Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO).
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 BTG-2 Corry Field 1957 Provided by Craig Stebbins |
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 from Tom Stephenson |
 Tom Stephenson |
 Tom Stephenson |
 Tom Stephenson |
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Patch The "Correy Field" VT-25 patch comes from the effects of Lt. Cdr. Donald J. Stebbins, who was an instructor attached to VT-1 and NABTC (3/63 to 3/66) between Patrol Squadron and ASW squadron stints. He was killed during an operational flight accident while flying off the Yorktown in Jan 1968 with VS-23, in S-2E's. His son believes this patch may have come from his primary flight training at Pensacola in 1957. |
Sources David Weber Ty Bass Harry Gann Craig Stebbins Tom Stephenson Mark Kreeger John Gabbard Jack Jennings Lt Col USMC (ret) |
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Handle No info yet. Heritage 01 JULY 1954 - - Advanced Training Unit 204 (ATU 204) established. 1955 - - - - - - ATU 204 redesignated Advanced Training Unit 213 (ATU 213). May 1960 - - - - ATU 213 was redesignated as Training Squadron 25 (VT 25). |
Home Ports 1954 to 1993 - Naval Air Station Chase Field near Beeville, Texas. |
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Air Wings Training Air Wing Three |
Aircraft Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft: July 1954 - - - - TV-2 Shooting Star & F9F-2 Panther (ATU-204) 19??- - - - - - - North American T-28 Trojan. 19??- - - - - - - Grumman F9F-8T Cougar.(ATU-213?) May 1960- - - - - F9F-8 Cougar. 4 December 1972 - Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk. For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page: |
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Deployments None. |
Commanding Officers May 1960 to July 1961 - - Cdr. L.R. Bemis July 1971 to July 1962- - Cdr. R.J. Rosen July 1962 to Feb 1964 - - W.L.Cranney (rank unknown) Feb 1964 to Jan 1965- - - J.L.O'Neil (rank unknown) Jan 1965 to Feb 1966- - - Cdr. J.H. Cover Feb 1966 to Jan 1967- - - G.J. Ketchmark (rank unknown) Jan 1967 to Jan 1968- - - E.R. Hallett (rank unknown) Jan 1968 to Jan 1969- - - B.T. Sutherlin (rank unknown) Jan 1969 to Dec 1969- - - S.T. Zink (rank unknown) Dec 1969 to Dec 1970- - - CDR L.H. Wells Dec 1970 to Dec 1971- - - CDR C.T. Lusk Dec 1971 to Oct 1972- - - A.C. Stallings (rank unknown) Oct 1972 to Jan 1974- - - W.F. Propst (rank unknown) Jan 1974 to Apr 1975- - - N.W. Melnick (rank unknown) Apr 1975 to Jul 1976- - - W.D. Jones (rank unknown) Jul 1976 to Oct 1977- - - W.R. McGowen (rank unknown) Oct 1977 to Jan 1979- - - E.G. Redden (rank unknown) Jan 1979 to Apr 1980- - - W.L. Alcorn (rank unknown) Apr 1980 to Jul 1981- - - R.L. Kiem (rank unknown) Jul 1981 to Oct 1982- - - D.W. Scott (rank unknown) Oct 1982 to Jan 1984- - - R.J. Holberg (rank unknown) Jan 1984 to Apr 1985- - - M.B. Scott (rank unknown) Apr 1985 to Sep 1986- - - B.J. Craig (rank unknown) 1990 to 10 Dec 1990 - - - P.J. Parmetier (rank unknown) - CDR W. Slighter |
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Awards 1969- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Selected Top Jet Squadron. 1973, 84- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CNO Safety Award. 1979, 83 and 85 - - - - - - - - - - - CNATRA Award for training effectiveness. November 17, 1984 to June 1, 1985 - - Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC). 1985- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CNATRA Golden Wrench. May 23, 1985- - - - - - - - - - - - - Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award. |
Awards continued July 1983 to May 1985 - - - - - - - - MUC 1 October 1987 to 30 September 1988 - Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation. |
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Events October 19, 1973: Lt. Stephen R. Salzman, 26, (IP) and Ens. John R. "Jack" Jackson, 23, (student) were killed Friday when their training plane (BuNo 153684) crashed near Goliad in south Texas. The plane was based at Chase Field, aux. field Beeville. The Kane Republican, Saturday, 20 October 1973. A Navy instructor and his student pilot died Friday when their training plane crashed near Goliad in south Texas. Victoria Advocate, Saturday, 20 October 1973. January 30, 1975: 1st Lt. James J. Bellamy of Longview successfully ejected (from VT-25 TA-4J BuNo 153476) while making a radar approach to NAS Chase Field, Beeville, TX. The training jet crashed and exploded in a mequite covered field 12 mile NW of Chase. The pilot received minor injuries according to LCdr. Dale Swisher of NAS Corpus Christi. The crash occurred at 6:54 p.m. on the Dougherty Ranch. Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Friday, January 31, 1975. January 10, 1977: G.M. Valvo . . . Unidentified pilot ejected safely after his A-4 (BuNo 158511) caught fire and exploded in mid-air Monday night due to suspected engine failure while he was practicing landings at Chase Field. Reports of the crash, about 2 miles from Chase Field and on the Ed Wicker ranch, were noted at 8:45 p.m. Monday. Victoria Advocate, Wednesday, January 12, 1977. February 28, 1977: Lt. Paul Linskey and ADJ3 Donald Killen (NARF Pensacola) ejected safely and were pulled to safety by fisherman Monday afternoon when their TA-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 158522) crashed into the Gulf of Mexico one-and-a-half miles south of Sherman Field. Linskey and Killen ejected at 450 feet after their TA-4 apparently developed mechanical difficulties shortly before 4 p.m. Pensacola New Journal, Tuesday, 01 March 1977. May 5, 1977: Ens. "Larry" Hodel and M.B. Meck IP ejected safely after their jet trainer collided in mid-air with another jet trainer 5 miles NE of NAS Chase Field during exercises Thursday. None of the four pilots were seriously hurt. San Antonio Light, Friday, 06 May 1977. Two Navy jet trainers collided during exercises Thursday, but none of the four pilots were seriously hurt. Official at Chase Field said two pilots ejected before their jet struck another five miles NE of NAS Chase Field. The pilotless plane then collided with the second training jet causing minor damage. Those pilots were able to land it without being injured. The Bonham Daily Favorite, Friday, 6 May 1977. Ens. "Larry" Hodel ejected over NAS Beeville, TX at approximately 13,000 feet and an airspeed of 450 knots indicated. "I was an Ensign going through Advanced Jet Training at NAS Beeville, TX. It was my first training flight in the front seat. After the mid-air collision we were doing 450 knots and 90 degrees nose down." Ens. "Larry" Hodel. April 23, 1979: Ens. M.J. Bauer flying a U.S. Navy TA-4 trainer apparently lost control of the aircraft on takeoff Monday afternoon and the plane flipped over after rolling off a runway at NAS Chase here, Ensign Michael Bauer, student pilot, walked away from the incident unhurt, according to a Navy spokesman. The Navy said Tuesday that the accident was a result of "suspected control problems," possibly a loss of control of the nose wheel steering. The spokesman said "substantial damage" was done to the plane. Victoria Advocate, Wednesday, 25 April 1979. The plane was SOC 31 May 1979. July 31, 1979: M.E. Naber (IP) . . . ejected safely when his TA-4J (BuNo 158102) flying in a four-plane formation crashed near NAS Chase Field Tuesday afternoon. The plane flying in formation was in an apparent landing approach two miles north of Chase Field at the time of the accident. The crash is the fourth in as many months. Victoria Advocate, Wednesday, 01 August 1979. December 17, 1979: Ens. Patrick Coyle, 24, ejected and his plane (BuNo 158720) veered to the north when he had an emergency on takeoff. The jets wingtip caught a trailer at AirSpray helicopters and exploded like napalm when it crashed through the Burch hangar at Yuma International Airport killing one and injuring at least four. The jet struck the hangar toward the rear blasting a gaping hole in the reinforced concrete wall, continued through the north wall and finally stopped after hitting a smaller hangar. Yuma Daily Sun, photo, cont., Monday, December 17, 1979 and Yuma Daily Sun, cont., Tuesday, December 18, 1979. Ens. Patrick Coyle, 24, ejected when he had to abort the takeoff from Yuma International Airport. His TA-4J left the runway and slammed into a hanger at 280 mph, killing one person and injuring three others in a fiery mass of spewing fuel and exploding ammunition. Tyrone Daily Herald, Tuesday, December 18, 1979. Ens. Patrick Coyle, 24, ejected when his TA-4J veered about 25 degrees left approximately 10 feet into its take-off roll and ran off the runway where it turned back to the right and paralleled the runway until hitting a landing light about 360 feet from the take-off point. After the plane rolled away from the runway into rough terrain and across a taxiway Coyle ejected. At that point the plane crossed a runway, became airborne and banked left. It then hit the concrete block end of the Burch aviation hangar and came out the front door about one mile from the initial take-off point killing Paul Burch, owner of Burch Aviation and injuring three others. Aside from the hangar and adjacent structures destroyed or damaged, two other buildings and at least three more aircraft were damaged. The plane was part of a four aircraft detachment from Chase Field on a routine weapons training exercise at MCAS Yuma and was armed with munitions at the time of the crash. Victoria Advocate, Wednesday, 19 December 1979. February 13, 1980: 1st Lt. S.D. Scott . . . Unidentified pilot was not seen to eject when his Beeville, TX, based VT-25 A-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 155101) loaded with live ammunition crashed on takeoff today. Bud O'Neill, who saw the plane crash shortly before 12:30 p.m., said the jet was the third to take off in a three-jet formation. He said the jet left the ground, then came down, took off again, banked right once it was airborne and then plowed into the ground bursting into a ball of flames. Observers at the crash scene said the jet hit near the base operations building on the MCAS flight-line. Yuma Sun, Wednesday, February 13, 1980. 1st Lt. Steve Scott, 25, was killed when his Beeville, TX based VT-25 A-4 training jet crashed in flames shortly before 12:20 p.m. Wednesday. Scott ejected, but his parachute opened only partially. The plane veered to right after its unsuccessful attempt to lift off and Scott ejected as it flew tipped sideways to the ground. Scott's jet was taking off as part of a three plane formation embarking on a training run. When it crashed it destroyed to other A-4 jets parked near the MCAS flight-line. Yuma Sun, cont., photo, Thursday, February 14, 1980. Two once sleek A-4 jets were black rubble on the MCAS apron Tuesday afternoon. A short distance away, another Skyhawk stood on its nose, badly damaged by fire. The pilot was reported to be the third of a three-jet takeoff when his plane faltered, hit, exploded and plowed in the general direction of the control tower and base operations. The jet appeared to have hit one of the A-4s solidly, losing a wing and grinding to a halt some 50 feet away. Yuma Sun, Thursday, February 14, 1980. VT-25 TA-4J BuNo 155101, and VT-24 BuNo's 156949 and 158719 were destroyed and BuNo 158140 was damaged on the ground when the aircraft departed the runway at Yuma, struck the arresting gear and 3 other aircraft, 13 February 1980. 1 fatality. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. With 5198tfh. 1st Lt. Steve Scott lost control on take off & and ejected, the a/c flies through VT-24 line at MCAS Yuma, damaging 2 other a/c). Thomas Bass JET PILOT KILLED IN CRASH. Yuma (AP) -- The California pilot of a Navy jet trainer carrying live ordnance was killed when his plane plunged into a line of parked aircraft shortly after takeoff at the Marine Corps Air Station here and burst into flames, authorities said. Officials Wednesday identified the pilot as Marine 1st Lt. Steve Scott, 25, Daley City, CA. Marine Maj. Dan Dorn said the A-4 Skyhawk was assigned to VT-25 Squadron based at the Navy Air Station in Beeville, TX. He said cause of the crash was undetermined but apparently involved "mechanical failure of some kind" following takeoff. Witnesses said the aircraft appeared to lose power just before it plummeted into the parked planes. Dorn also said some of the Navy jet's ordinance exploded during the crash. The two planes into which the Navy jet plunged, also A-4 Skyhawks from the Beeville base, were destroyed. Dorn estimated the loss at $3 million. Casa Grande Dispatch Arizona 1980-02-14 February 14, 1980: Lt. Robert Hankins and Ens. Charles David Huckaba ... Two Navy pilots ejected sideways and were killed after their NAS Beeville VT-25 TA-4K (BuNo 156916) hit a radio tower near Port O'Connor, TX on Thursday about 2:10 p.m. during a low-level flying maneuver. Witness Dewayne Weaver said "It hit the tower, sparks flying, and it was like a Roman Candle. It made an arc straight up and then came down whistling and spinning around and around and exploded in a big ball of fire. The Longview Daily News, Friday, 15 February 1980. Lt. Robert Dennis Hankins, 29, (IP) and Ens. Charles David Huckaba, 28, (student) were killed when they collided with a radio communications tower. An employee of a helicopter transport firm at Port O'Connor stated he saw he saw two pilots eject straight out and down just seconds before it plunged to the ground after snagging guy wires from the tower. Fog which blanketed much of South Texas Thursday has been considered part of the cause of the crash. Victoria Advocate, Saturday, 16 February 1980. VT-25, TA-4J Buno 156916 was destroyed at Corpus Christi after the aircraft crashed into a radio tower on low level training Rte., 14 February 1980. 2 fatalities, unsuccessful ejection. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. July 21, 1981: 1st Lt. Joseph Mahan ejected safely when his TA-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 158515) crashed about 8 a.m. Tuesday during a routine training flight from NAS Chase Field. The plane crashed within sight of Highway 1962 about 20 miles south of Tilden in rural McMullen County. This latest incident represents 11 total incidents involving jets assigned to Chase Field since August 30, 1978. A total of six persons have been killed, with four persons injured, and 13 aircraft destroyed and one damaged. Nine of the 11 incidents involved the TA-4J and two have involved the T-2C. Victoria Advocate, Friday, July 24, 1981. Pilot ejected safely, lost control. September 21, 1981: Patterson and P.S. Jerome . . . unknown pilots escaped without injury when their NAS Chase Field TA-4J (BuNo 158084) crashed in an open field near Ray Point in rural Live Oak County. The crash occurred about 8:05 a.m. Friday in an open field about 1 mile SE of Ray Point approximately two miles east of Farm-to-Market Road 1358. Witnesses saw the jet crash after experiencing some type of inflight fire. Chase Field PAO Lt. Pamela Reece said information would be announced by NATC in Corpus Christi when completed. Victoria Advocate, Saturday, September 26, 1981. VT-25 TA-4J BuNo 158084 was destroyed at Chase Field due to inflight fire of unknown origin, 25 September 1981. Aircrew ejected. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. October 5, 1981: Lt. Frank Montesano (IP) and Ens. John L. Wilson III were uninjured when their TA-4J jet trainer (BuNo 155106) overturned on a runway while landing in poor weather about 10:05 a.m. at NAS Chase Field Monday morning. The VT-25 aircraft apparently experienced some difficulty conforming to standard poor weather landing procedures. Light to moderate rains fell throughout the early and mid-morning in the Beeville area. Victoria Advocate, Tuesday, October 6, 1981. Unknown pilots injured. Missed short field arrestor wire. Aircraft rolled over, came to rest inverted while landing on wet runway. Class B damage. August, 1986: Tom Waterbury pre-flights a specially painted VT-25 TA-4 BuNo 155103 for a trip to EAA's Air Venture in Oshkosh. Tom was later killed in a USS Forrestal accident in a VT-19 T-2A. Both Tom and his father flew A-4s during different eras. Photo provided by Tom's father, Jack Waterbury. September 29, 1986: Capt. Roger Flower (USN) ejected safely after his TA-4 trainer (BuNo 154322) caught fire while ferrying the Skyhawk back to Chase Field from Robins AFB where it had undergone tire repairs before Flowers and another instructor from Case Field picked it up. The plane crashed in a wooded area in the northernmost part of SE Louisiana. Enterprise Journal, Tuesday, 30 September 1986. Capt. Roger Flower (USN) ejected safely after his TA-4 trainer caught fire while on a training mission from Georgia to Texas Monday. The plane crashed in a wooded area just south of the Mississippi state line after his wingman saw the back of Flower's aircraft was on fire. The Times (Shreveport, LA), Tuesday, 30 September 1986. Capt. Roger Flower (USN) ejected safely after his TA-4 trainer caught fire while on a training mission from Georgia to Texas Monday. The plane crashed in a wooded area NW of Clinton in the northernmost part of SE LA. The Town Talk, Tuesday, 29 September 1986. VT-25 TA-4J BuNo 154322 was destroyed at Chase Field when aircraft caught fire while in level flight. 29 September 1986. Pilot ejected. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. September 7, 1987: Cdr. Michael R. Gass and Lt. Thomas S. Crafton (both VT-25) ejected safely following engine failure crashed and burned in a brushy area of the Ray Ranch about 20 miles north of Beeville and 15 miles west of Goliad. Del Rio TX News-Herald, Tuesday, September 8, 1987. TW-3 TA-4J BuNo 153681 was destroyed at Goliad when aircrew ejected following engine flameout and fire light during FCF. 07 September 1987. 0 fatalities. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. July 10, 1989: Lt(jg). Bryce Gearhart was killed on a routine training session when his TA-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 153521) crash landed at 8:41 a.m. on a private ranch some 20 miles west of Goliad, TX. The pilot was enroute to practice field carrier landings at the Naval Auxiliary Landing Field in Goliad when he crash landed into a private ranch 6 miles north of (runway 16) the auxiliary field. Del Rio, Texas News-Herald, Tuesday, July 11, 1989, and Lance Patterson. VT-25 TA-4J BuNo 153521 was destroyed at Goliad when aircraft crashed into ground 4.5 miles from runway. 15 May 1989. 1 fatality. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. 1987:VT-24 and VT-25 maintenance departments combined into a TW-3 Maintenance Department. Squadrons remained separate entities. December 10, 1990: Two Navy pilots are missing after a mid-air collision during takeoff and landing practice from the carrier USS Lexington at 4:10 p.m. between their TA-4J Skyhawks (BuNo 158098 and 158125) 85 miles NW of Key West, FL. The New Mexican Santa Fe, N.M., Tuesday, December 11, 1990 and Lance Patterson. Ens. Troy A. Moore, 25, a student pilot assigned to VT-24, Chase Field and Cdr. Philip F. Palmatier Jr., 40, VT-25 CO from NAS Chase Field in Beeville were killed when their TA-4 Skyhawk jets collided about 3 p.m. CST Monday. The search for the pilots whose jets collided during takeoff and landing practice from the carrier USS Lexington was called off about 3:30 p.m. CST Tuesday. On Tuesday searchers found some debris from the jets which will be analyzed as part of the investigation. The single engine two seat TA-4 Skyhawks collided 86 miles NW of Key West and one plane was seen going down by other pilots in the area. A number of Navy helicopters, three USCG H-3 helicopters and the ISCG Cutter Padre, all from Clearwater also searched for the pilots. The Skyhawks were based at Beeville, but were operating out of Key West during carrier qualifications. Pensacola News Journal, cont., Wednesday, 12 December 1990. VT-25 TA-4J BuNo 158125 and VT-24 TA-4J BuNo 158098 were destroyed at AVT-16 from midair between two aircraft in carrier qualification pattern. 15 December 1990. 2 fatalities. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. I was an instructor pilot assigned to VT-22 and was at the Lexington the day this accident occurred. I was coming through the 90 position on my approach to Lex when the SNA and Cdr. Parmatier collided right above me at 3000 feet agl. I actually had to manuver away and down the ships wake to avoid being hit by 1/2 of a TA-4J as it fell. JB Kilmer. April 1, 1991: Ens. James R. Ronka, 23, (VT-25, NAS Chase Field) ejected safely at about 60 KIAS when cross winds caused his TA-4J Skyhawk to leave the runway and one of the drop tanks impacted the Fresnel lens generator and exploded at NAF El Centro, CA. From James R. Ronka. VT-25 TA-4J BuNo 156950 was destroyed at El Centro when aircraft departed runway on takeoff roll. 11 April 1991. Pilot ejected, 0 fatalities. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. 23 year old student pilot, U.S. Navy Ensign James R. Ronka, attached to: NAS Chase Field, Texas USA, was to fly a solo peacetime training mission with three other aircraft on 11th April 1991. His Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk, BuNo 156950, from VT-25 (CTW-3), NAF El Centro, California USA was to take off from runway R26 NAF El Centro. Second to take off in winds 360 at 13 knots gusting to 18 knots caused his aircraft to drift. When it became evident to Ensign Ronka that the aircraft was not going to make it he found himself having to eject. Using the lower ejection handle he initiated the sequence. At Approximately 60 KIAS, at ground level the canopy separated and he soon followed in his Douglas Escapac 1G-3 seat. " I consciously acknowledged each phase of the ejection sequence: pulled handle…noted that nothing is happening…boom! Canopy blows…delay…boom! Back seat goes…delay…I feel a swift kick in the rear as my seat goes. What took a couple of seconds seemed to take 3-4 times as long. I don't remember anything from the moment I felt my seat rocket motor engage until I was nearing the apex of the ejection trajectory." Ens. James R. Ronka. April 18, 1991: LCdr. "Silky" Sullivan and student 1st Lt. Michael V. "Mike" Franzak ejected safely after engine fire while on a night fam flight. VT-25 TA-4J BuNo 154303 was destroyed at Chase Field when single aircraft experienced engine failure inflight. 18 April 1990. 0 fatalities. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. April 15, 1992: USS Forrestal - Deck log Crash Death: Steaming independently in the Pensacola Operating Area, enroute to Naval Station, Pensacola, FL, on course 310, speed 10 knots. SOPA is Captain Robert L. Johnson, Jr., embarked in FORRESTAL. OTC is Captain Robert L. Johnson, Jr., embarked in FORRESTAL. Engineering status is boilers 1A, 2A, 3B, 4B, generators 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, are on the line. Material condition Yoke is set throughout the ship. The ship is darkened. 0000 LT Matthew Joseph Felt assumed the OOD watch. 0006 flight deck integrity watch report all secure. 0020 central air has been restored. 0051 speed 7 knots. 0214 speed 5 knots. 0320 ENS Johansson has the conn. 0330 LT S. Carpenter assumed the OOD watch. LT Mariska has the deck under instruction. 0333 speed 7 knots. 0518 speed 10 knots. 0621 observed sunrise, secure navigational lights. 0637 clear helo deck. 0645 speed 20 knots. 0648 speed 17 knots. 0707 ENS Madril has the conn. 0717 received magazine temperature report. 0720 speed 5 knots. 0722 LCDR Streed assumed the OOD watch. 0728 speed 4 knots. 0810 received JP-5 aviation fuel report. 0900 speed 15 knots. 0905 clear deck. 0913 speed 13 knots. 0953 speed 12 knots. Set course 134. 1005 sky condition is clear prevailing visibility 7 miles, temperature 74 degrees, dew point 65 degrees, wind 10 knots, combined seas 1-3 feet, altimeter setting 30.18 inched, station pressure 1012.4 millibars sea surface temperature 74.0 degrees. 1004 two pilots ejected from T-2 Buckeye aircraft. Latitude 29 degrees, 05.3N, and Longitude 087 degrees 18.8W. 1006 all engines stop. 1005 Captain Robert L. Johnson, Jr., has the conn. 1011 LTJG Fleischman had the conn. One Pilot recovered by HC-16 Helo #401. 1013 clear helo deck. 1016 parachute discovered on port side of ship. Medical emergency port side of flight deck. 1020 engineering ensures all intakes are shut down. Permission granted to put swimmer in the water from HC-16 helo #401. Captain Johnson is off the bridge. 1028 Captain Johnson is on the bridge. 1030 swimmer recovered by HC-16 helo #401. Swimmer reported he didn’t see a parachute =. 1033 permission granted to rig Jacobs ladder from sponson eight. HC-16 helo #404 is airborne. 1034 HC-16 helo #401 is on the deck with a pilot. 1040 permission granted to stop and lock shaft #4. 1044 shaft #4 is stopped and locked. 1050 HC-16 helo #401 is airborne. Executive officer Commander Robert D. Parlet called Captain Johnson to verify there is a parachute attached to #4 shaft. Fouled deck. 1051 HC-16 helo #404 reported found helmet afloat by smoke but didn’t find anything else. 1103 permission granted to put two swimmers in water from sponson eight. 1106 first swimmer is in water. 1107 second swimmer is in the water. 1111 swimmers report there is no parachute around #4 shaft. 1112 both swimmers are on board. Look out reported a white object floating in water bearing 185R, distance 4 miles. 1120 permission granted to unlock #4 shaft. 1130 Captain Johnson is off the bridge. 1135 ENS Glasco has the conn. Captain Johnson is on the bridge. 1142 LTJG M. N. Knapp assumed the OOD watch. Received chronometer report. 1152 received fuel and water report. 1154 received draft report, displacement 70,846 tons. 1200 all engines ahead 1/3. Speed 7 knots. 1206 speed 10 knots. 1209 set course 120. 1213 set course 122. 1222 speed 11 knots. 1231 set course 124, speed 12 knots. 1234 set course 126. 1237 set course 128, speed 13 knots. 1329 set course 315, speed 10 knots. 1405 commenced mass casualty drill in hangar bay 1. 1414 completed mass casualty drill. 1420 commence navigation check off sheet for entering port and anchorage. 1517 ENS Holder has the conn. 1531 LT Ruth assumed the OOD watch. 1716 LT Breen has the conn. 1727 ENS Lyman assumed the OOD watch. 1916 LTJG Mapp has the conn. 1919 observed sunset, set navigational lights. Terminated search for lost Pilot of T-2 aircraft of VT-19, Lieutenant Thomas D. Waterbury, USN. 1933 speed 8 knots. 1934 LT S. Carpenter assumed the OOD watch. 2012 set course 000, speed 7 knots. 2246 flight deck integrity watch reports all secure. 2314 ENS Wolf has the conn. |
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Unit Photos FEB 1974: Cougars Skyhawk BuNo 158482, 3J-528, as she accelerates down the runway. Dr. C.A. "Sketch" Eddy. BuNo 159100, 3J-539, parked. Gary Verver Collection. 01 FEB 1974: Skyhawk 3J-534 departs Chase Field. Dr. C.A. "Sketch" Eddy. JUN 1974: Cougars Skyhawk BuNo 155089, 3J-515, parked on the ramp next to 3J-516. Dave Dollarhide as a student next to a AF-9-2. Provided by Dave Dollarhide. VT-25 Formation. Photo from Tom Stepehson and also a copy came from Richard Dean. Cougars Skyhawk BuNo 156950, C-503, parked on the flight line. Gary Verver Collection. 1975: VT-25 Cougars TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 158109, 3J-509, location unknown. JUL 1975: VT-25 TA-4J BuNo 158100, C-508. Photo by D. Slowiak from Gary Verver Collection. BuNo 158100 C-000 on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. 12 JUL 1975:right side view of VT-25 Cougars TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 155085, C-504, on the ramp, NAS Brunswick, 12 July 1975. Copyright R.W. Harrison. Circa 1976: VT-25 Cougars TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 155085, C-504, on the ramp next to VT-26 Flying Tigers T-2C Buckeye BuNo 157057 in its City of Beeville BiCentennial paint scheme, circa 1976. Photographer unknown. 19OCT75: Cougars Skyhawk BuNo 156892, C-515, parked on the flight. Gary Verver Collection. NOV75: Cougars Skyhawk BuNo 158723, C-501, assigned to the XO parked on the North Island ramp. P. Mancus, G. Verver collection. 12JUN76: BuNo 158084, C-511, parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. 01JUL76: Change of Command, July 01, 1976. Photo from Tom Stepehson. 26NOV76: 26 Nov 1976 Cougars Skyhawk BuNo 158521, C-501, assigned to CO CDR W.R. McGowen parked on the MAFB flight line. Gary Verver Collection. FEB77: Cougars Skyhawk BuNo 158102, C-514, parked on the Kelly AFB ramp. Dr. C.A. "Sketch" Eddy. APR77: APR 1977: BuNo 158527, C-526, parked on the Mountain Home AFB ramp. Rob Mignard. Circa 1977: Cougars formation, top to bottom, BuNo unknown 3J-500, BuNo 158716, 3J-501, BuNo 158527, 3J-502 and BuNo 158481, 3J-503. Naval Aviation News via "Boom" Powell. 30 JUL 1977: R.W. Harrison, Description: Left front view of CNATRA TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 158712, C-000, on the ramp, Griffiss AFB, 30 July 1977. Names below the canopy are RADM Burt Shepherd and LT W Chambers. Copyright R.W. Harrison. Another shot of BuNo 158712, C-000. Gary Verver Collection. 01OCT77: Change of Command, October 1, 1977. Photo from Tom Stepehson. 10NOV78: BuNo 156937, C-521, parked on the flight line. Gary Verver Collection. 10 Nov 1978 BuNo 156921, C-520, parked on the flight line. Gary Verver Collection. 10 Nov 1978 Cougars Skyhawk BuNo 159100, C-532, assigned to 1/LT A. G. Reynolds parked on the flight line. Gary Verver Collection. 1977-79: Chase Field TA-4s. Mark Kreeger. 1977-79: Chase Field: VT-25 Pilots sun bathing. Mark Kreeger. 1977-79: Front cockpit of a TA-4J. 1977-79: Chase Field: VT-25 T-Bird shadow, taken from the rear cockpit by Mark Kreeger. 1977-79. Mark Kreeger. 26 JAN 1979: Change of Command. Mark Kreeger. 01 SEP 1979: VT-25 TA-4J BuNo 155101, C-506, at NAS Brunswick. Photographer unknown, from Gary Verver Collection. APR80: BuNo 153675, C-528, parked on the flight line. Gary Verver Collection. APR80: BuNo 158513, C-522, parked on the Pope AFB flight line. Gary Verver Collection. SEP81: VT-25 Cougars TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 153675, C-528, taxiing by the photographer, unknown location. Name below the canopy rail is LT Rob Nelson. Photographer unknown. SEP81: VT-25 Cougars TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 153675, C-528, on the ramp, unknown location. Name below the canopy rail is LT Rob Nelson. Photographer unknown. 29 AUG 1981: VT-25 TA-4J BuNo 156922, C-517, at Buckley ANG. Name below the canopy is LTJG Huss. Photo by J. Sheets, from Gary Verver Collection. APR82: BuNo 158100, C-000, assigned to RADM Booth & LT Langford parked on the line. Rob Mignard. 15MAY82: Cougars Skyhawk BuNo 154322, C-527, parked on the Andrews AFB ramp next to a USAF Tweet, 15 May 1982. Name below canopy is Capt. Carl Carite. Photo by T. Paskowski, Gary Verver Collection. AUG82: Left side view of VT-25 Cougars TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 158100, C-000, parked on the NAS New Orleans ramp configured with a pair of drop tanks, August 1982. VP-94 Crawfishers P-3A Orion BuNo 150514, LZ-4 is in the background. Photo by R.E. Kling, G. Verver collection. 1983: A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142834 Chase Field Gate Keeper. A-4B Skyhawk BuNo. 142834, has gate duty at Naval Air Station Chase Field, Beeville, Texas. From a photograph by Ty Bass. 05FEB83: BuNo 154319, C-527. Left side view of Cougars TA-4J BuNo 154319, C-527, parked on the Andrews ramp configured with a pair of drop tanks, 05 February 1983. Name below canopy is Capt. Carl Carite. Photo by T. Paskowski, Gary Verver Collection. MAY83: Cougars Skyhawk BuNo 158521, C-516, parked on the Andrews AFB flight line. T. Paskowski, G. Verver collection. JUN83: BuNo 158081, C-511, parked on the Andrews ramp. Photo by T. Paskowski, G. Verver Collection. 26 FEB 1983: VT-25 TA-4J BuNo 158147, C-518. Photo by D. Slowiak, from Verver Collection. JUL85: Right side view of VT-25 Cougars TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 155103, #575, painted in the Diamond Anniversary scheme on the ramp with a pair of drop tanks. Photographer unknown. 01OCT83: Flight deck personnel refuel a Cougars Skyhawk C-507 aboard the aircraft carrier. USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63). U.S. Navy photo by PHAN R. Eslinger. 1984: Cougar TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo. 158523. A Cougar Student Naval Aviator is giving VT-25 Skyhawk TA-4J BuNo. 158523, side number C 516, a go-round preflight on the Naval Air Station Chase Field, Beeville, Texas, flight line. From a photograph by Ty Bass. Circa 1985: Right front view of VT-25 Cougars TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 155106, C-000, on the flight line, NAS Jacksonville, circa 1985. Names below the canopy rail are RADM J.S. Disher and LT D.L. Schultz. Gary Verver Collection. DEC85: BuNo 155106, C-000, assigned to RADM B.S. Bisher parked on the Jacksonville flight line. Photo by R.E. Kling, G. Verver collection. MAY86: Training Squadron 25 (VT-25) Skyhawk BuNo 155103, #575, on display during the celebration of the 75th anniversary of naval aviation. U.S. Navy photo dated May 1986 by PH1 Doty. 04OCT86: Cougars Skyhawk BuNo 155103, #575, parked on the ramp and sporting it's 75th Naval Aviation anniversary paint scheme. At right is UPS 747-123, N675UP. Len Lundh. JUL86: TA-4J BuNo.155103 with VT-25, dressed up in Naval Aviation "Diamond Anniversary" paint. Dated July 1986, provided by Gary Verver. 04OCT96: TA-4J BuNo.155103. Right rear view of VT-25 Cougars TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 155103, C-575, on the line with a pair of drop tanks, 04 October 1986. Photo by W.F. Brabant. VMA-223 Bulldogs Skyhawk at left and Beech T-44A King Air BuNo 160849, tail code G at right. Photo is by W. Brabant, Gary Verver Collection.
Engine Change at Pensocola. "I am one of the mech's in the engine change picture, (the young one with the glasses). The place was Pensacola, FL in 85. The bird had a wing pressurization problem on landinge & was rebuilt by a team from NARF. When that was completed the squadron sent a team of 4 (1 AD (me), 1 AMS (the other guy in the pic), 1 AE and an E7 to watch, I mean supervise). I got picked because I was a dual CDI (Airframe & Powerplant) (as a joke I would call myself a ADAMS-2 & I was listed on a det manifest as that once). We had to reattach the landing gear trunions & the struts & all the panels, etc around them, reinstall the engine & any components that NARF had removed. Then reserviced it & I did a Low/Hi power turn up & leak check. We were there a week. Thomas Bass Off-Duty Photos SEP02: Beer time, Sept.02, 1976 SEP02: Beer time, Sept.02, 1976 |
A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to VT-25:
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- Some A-4 Skyhawk Modex assignments in VT-25:
- 153500 VT-25, (C-501), (noted May 80)
- 153515 VT-25, (C-519), (noted on static display at NAS Brunswick 21 Aug 82), TW-3, (C-451).
- 153517 VT-25, (C-504), (noted c82), noted at Carswell AFB Airshow Oct 87 as (C-501).
- 153521 VT-25,(C-5xx), crashed 10 Jul 89.
- 153675 VT-25, (C-528), (noted Apr 80), TW-3, (C-455), (noted c90)
- 155101 VT-25, (C-5xx), SOC (1DA2) 13 Feb 80 with 5198tfh. (1Lt Steve Scott lost control on take off & ejected, the a/c & flies through VT-24 line at MCAS Yuma, damaging 2 a/c)
- 155103 VT-25, (C-509), (C-575), 75th Anniversary aircraft. c86-87
- 155106 VT-25, (C-529), (C-000), noted at NAS Jacksonville, Dec 85
- 156916 VT-25, (C-5xx), SOC (1DA2) 14 Feb 80 with 5343tfh. (hit a radio tower at Port O’Conner, TX, both Lt Dave Hankins & student Ltjg Dave Huckaba were killed)
- 156937 VT-25, (C-521), (noted at Andrews AFB May 75), (nt on static display at Pease AFB 31 Aug 85)
- 158079 VT-25, (C-566)
- 158100 VT-25, (C-000), (noted at NAS New Orleans, LA Aug 82)
- 158102 VT-25, (C-5xx), SOC (1DA2) 31 Jul 79 with 3790th
- 158120 VT-25, (C-510), TW-3, (C-473)
- 158140 VT-25, (C-520)
- 158515 VT-25, (C-502), (noted c78)
- 158521 VT-25, (C-501)
- 158523 VT-25, (C-516)
- 158717 VT-25, (C-5xx), SOC (1KA2) 31 May 79 with 2999th
- 158720 VT-25, (C-5xx), SOC (1AA1) 17 Dec 79 with 3512th
- 158723 VT-25, (C-501)
- 159100 VT-25, (C-502), (noted c82)
- Courtesy of Thomas Bass