F18 HARM shooters on 1986 Libya Raid?

[Delta7]

Now ads for Delta 7 the book for sale on Amazon appear at the top of all the AW pages...coincidence?

Orion4life,

First of all, it’s not showing up on “all” the pages (I wish! J). Right now, for example, my browser has “Marine Air Wing,” “Military Birth Injury,” and “Marine Corps Apparel/Gear” in the "Ads by Google" section which your webmaster has put at the top of this page.

No conspiracy here.

I already fessed up in my second post on this thread that I was (at least in part) plugging my book.

I have little control over where Google’s Adwords campaign puts my ads. For example, some of them are showing up on sites like (please don’t visit them, I’m not associated in any way with them nor am I trying to plug them):

Allmichaeljackson.com (I couldn’t make myself even go to this one!)
Taleofyanlin.com (???)
Rpg.net (a gaming site)

Like I said before, I was very much interested in finding out about airwarriors.com because it sure as heck sounded more like “my demographic” than some of the others that showed up on the list I got from Google.

In the interest of total disclosure, my latest report from Google says I’ve paid $3.16 for 4 clicks from this site so far this month. Furthermore, the report says my ad ran (was displayed) 1104 times on airwarriors.com. The way I understand it, airwarriors.com will get some percentage of that as their cut of the ad revenue. I honestly don’t know how that part works.

Again, there’s nothing sinister going on. I am who I say I am. And I am “no sierra” enjoying participating in this thread and this board (despite being from an “alien service!”). I’d be happy to share more details on the process (as much as I know… I’m a neophyte), just drop me a personal note and I’ll respond privately to avoid “crapping up” this thread.

Cheers,
John

 

[Delta7]

/threadjack

This came to me while reading the above about who planned what.

If any of you are wondering about the best way to transition from military to airlines, Delta7 planned and executed the best transition I have ever seen. The man knew he wanted AA Miami, had the phone numbers and addresses of every pilot he ever flew with that had go to AA, had the names and numbers of everyone in the hiring process at AA, and had a plan to get himself there. And he did, quickly.

/end threadjack

HAL Pilot,

Ref the “/threadjack”

I’m new to this board, so I’m not sure how such things work… or if there’s demand for such info here. Although my experience is 10 years old, but I could certainly share insights on what I did to get hired by the airlines after I retired from the military.

In fact, I created a database (Microsoft Access), to help me keep track of all the points of contact, requirements, my efforts, etc. I’d be happy to share that. Although the data it contains would be too old to be useful, perhaps the database structure might be of use.

FWIW, I was hired by Air Tran in late ‘97, but they canceled my training class and furloughed. I was then hired by a charter called Miami Air and spent about nine months there before I finally got hired by American in ’99.

Now back to the fun stuff.

Cheers,
John

 

[a-6intruder]

They were equally amazed that we had a LTJG as a lead planner (Skipper's B/N and now CO of IKE).

HJ: As you well know, there isn't a better strike planner around, and he was the right choice, then and now. I was still in the RAG, but as I recall, his inertial dumped while dodging a SAM inbound to the target and he resorted to Zen bombing w/ a manual "Standby, Standby, pickle" call to his pilot for a direct hit.

Years later as the Tactics Officer in my second squadron, he saved my butt as Air Wing Mining Officer (he was the mission commander) by requiring mission planning for not only secondary delivery modes, but tertiary ones as well. Lots of grumbling by the JOs who couldn't possibly fathom needing back up plans to the back up plan for the primary delivery. Scenario is basically putting lots of aircraft onto a target in very short period of time to seed an underwater minefield. Needed to use at least two aircraft from each mine dropping squadron, and drop a total of about 48 mines at least two from everything in the inventory - Destructors, Captors, Quickstrikes, Trashcans, etc. You plot your minefield out in advance, and each inert weapon has a pinger on it so the EOD guys go out and find them and score where they were found relative to where you said you'd put them.

Day of the delivery, weather is a bit worse than optimal and the boat is a bit farther away than planned. The rules don't allow any spare aircraft, nor do you have time to download and reload an aircraft, so it really is a full test of aircrew, maintainers, and ordies plying their trade for a common goal.

Long story short, one of the aircraft (A-6) had major inertial problems and one had to buddy bomb off a lead flying the profile with him as wing, and doing the "standdby, standby, pickle" to put the mines in the water.

Several weeks later we get the results and all 16 or so aircraft scored a 90% or better - well within qualifying score for the airwing and each squadron to be certified. All except for his aircraft. He scored like a 99% for his first and last weapons, but the two in the middle of the 4 bomb mineline were scored as "fails" because they were so far off target. Clearly that annoyed him and he starts crunching some numbers on a worksheet, pulls the brief out of the safe and reviews the minefield coordinates, pulls the photos (we took photos of the aircraft loadouts for briefing purposes and to verify weapon armament wiring was done properly). He studies this for some time, then tells me to get the Mine Warfare Command lead Air Delivery Inspector on the phone and proceeds to explain to him how there was no way mines #2 and #3 were off target, and in fact informs him that they need to go back and check their records, because he suspects the EOD guys accidently transposed mines 2 and 3 when entering the scores, because they were basically scored as direct hits, but in the wrong holes, and that couldn't be possible because we had photos of the mines (including numbers clearly painted on them) showing the weapon station they were loaded on, and then explaining to the guy the release sequence of weapons coming off an A-6 with two multiple ejector racks. A couple of days later the MineWarCom releases an updated hit sheet message showing his mines to be 99 / 100 / 100 / 99. The guy is amazing. And, he is a genuinely great guy.

 

[Orion4life]

No conspiracy here.

In the interest of total disclosure, my latest report from Google says I’ve paid $3.16 for 4 clicks from this site so far this month. Furthermore, the report says my ad ran (was displayed) 1104 times on airwarriors.com. The way I understand it, airwarriors.com will get some percentage of that as their cut of the ad revenue. I honestly don’t know how that part works.



Cheers,
John

1104 times is actually kinda amazing, I only managed to catch 4-5 of them. I didn't mean to call you out about the ads, only intended to point them out. Thanks for contributing to AW.

 

[HAL Pilot]

HAL Pilot,

Ref the “/threadjack”

I’m new to this board, so I’m not sure how such things work… or if there’s demand for such info here. Although my experience is 10 years old, but I could certainly share insights on what I did to get hired by the airlines after I retired from the military.

In fact, I created a database (Microsoft Access), to help me keep track of all the points of contact, requirements, my efforts, etc. I’d be happy to share that. Although the data it contains would be too old to be useful, perhaps the database structure might be of use.

FWIW, I was hired by Air Tran in late ‘97, but they canceled my training class and furloughed. I was then hired by a charter called Miami Air and spent about nine months there before I finally got hired by American in ’99.

Now back to the fun stuff.

Cheers,
John

John....I knew all that. I just wanted to get the basics out there so those interested can pick your brain either via pm or by starting a thread. You were the King of Networking.

Jim

 

[HeyJoe]

Also, I find it revealing that both/all the participating Hornet squadrons were Marine squadrons, and that might explain why/how a Navy Hornet pilot might not recall that F/A 18s were involved that night back in ’86 (reference my initial post/question) as HARM shooters.

VFA-131 and VFA-132 are both Navy F/A-18 squadrons. The Coral Sea Air Wing was unique at that time having 4 F/A-18 squadrons (2 from USMC and 2 from Navy)

 

[badger16]

VF-33 will always be the Tarsiers in my book!

Ditto.That is such a cool F'in patch!

 

[HeyJoe]

HJ: As you well know, there isn't a better strike planner around, and he was the right choice, then and now. I was still in the RAG, but as I recall, his inertial dumped while dodging a SAM inbound to the target and he resorted to Zen bombing w/ a manual "Standby, Standby, pickle" call to his pilot for a direct hit.

....The guy is amazing. And, he is a genuinely great guy.

Concur. Here he is in the news

(Nov. 18, 2008) Eddy Lange, a county commissioner from Bell County, Texas, presents Capt. Dee L. Mewbourne, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), with a proclamation certificate declaring Nov. 18 "IKE Day." Dwight D. Eisenhower is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Derek Poole/Released)

 

[ea6bflyr]

^^^^^^^^
The guy on the right is one of my former Skippers. He always wanted to be a CVN CO...looks like he's arrived.

HJ, I'm assuming you are talking about the guy on the left?

-ea6bflyr

 

[HeyJoe]

^^^^^^^^
The guy on the right is one of my former Skippers. He always wanted to be a CVN CO...looks like he's arrived.

HJ, I'm assuming you are talking about the guy on the left?

-ea6bflyr

Nope, didn't your skipper tell you he was a B/N when he first started out? He was an A-6 dude all the way through XO of VA-176 when community went into its sunset and he transitioned into Prowlers.

Commanding Officer, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
Captain Dee L. Mewbourne

Captain Mewbourne is the 14th Commanding Officer of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). He assumed command on November 16, 2007.

Captain Mewbourne was raised in Ormond Beach, FL. He graduated in 1982 from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelors of Science Degree and later earned his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University. He is also an honor graduate of the United States Naval Test Pilot School and completed the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program, Air Command and Staff College, and Joint Forces Staff College.

Captain Mewbourne was designated a Naval Flight Officer in December 1983. Flying the A-6E Intruder, he completed his initial flying tour at sea in VA-34 where he participated in Operation EL DORADO CANYON, the April 1986 retaliatory strike on Libya, while deployed in USS AMERICA (CV 66). Later tours included Tactics and Operations Officer in VA-75 embarked in USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67), and the Operations Officer for Carrier Air Wing THREE (CVW-3) embarked in USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69). Serving as the Executive Officer of VA-196 until the A-6 community disestablished, Captain Mewbourne embarked in USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) and flew the final flight of the Intruder on 27 March 1997. He later served as the Executive Officer of VAQ-139 and USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73).

Ashore, Captain Mewbourne was a flight instructor in VA-42, the East Coast A-6E Fleet Replacement Squadron, and the project officer for the A-12 Avenger II and follow-on advanced aircraft programs at the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate. Later he served as Military Assistant and Trip Coordinator for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense. Following the attack on the Pentagon he also served as Special Assistant to the Secretary’s Senior Military Assistant.

Captain Mewbourne’s first command was VAQ-139 embarked in USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72). During his tenure, the squadron was awarded the Battle “E”, Safety “S”, Golden Anchor, and Prowler Tactical Excellence awards. He then commanded the USS NASHVILLE (LPD 13) during which time the ship distinguished itself by earning the Golden Anchor award and transporting 2,706 American citizens from Beirut to Cyprus during a regional crisis between Israel and Lebanon in July 2006.

Captain Mewbourne’s awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Air Medal with Combat “V”, Strike/Flight Air Medal (two awards), and various other personal and unit awards and campaign medals. While at the Naval Academy, he received the Carl Vinson Leadership Award. Upon completion of initial flight training in the A-6E Intruder aircraft at VA-42 in 1985 he was selected as the “Replacement Bombardier/Navigator of the Year.” Two years later, he was selected the East Coast A-6 community’s “Junior Intruder of the Year.” He has accumulated over 3,400 total flight hours in 47 various type aircraft and over 950 arrested landings on 10 carrier decks.

 

[ea6bflyr]

Nope, didn't your skipper tell you he was a B/N when he first started out? He was an A-6 dude all the way through XO of VA-176 when community went into its sunset and he transitioned into Prowlers.

Commanding Officer, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
Captain Dee L. Mewbourne

Captain Mewbourne is the 14th Commanding Officer of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). He assumed command on November 16, 2007.

Captain Mewbourne was raised in Ormond Beach, FL. He graduated in 1982 from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelors of Science Degree and later earned his Masters Degree in Business Administration from Colorado State University. He is also an honor graduate of the United States Naval Test Pilot School and completed the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program, Air Command and Staff College, and Joint Forces Staff College.

Captain Mewbourne was designated a Naval Flight Officer in December 1983. Flying the A-6E Intruder, he completed his initial flying tour at sea in VA-34 where he participated in Operation EL DORADO CANYON, the April 1986 retaliatory strike on Libya, while deployed in USS AMERICA (CV 66). Later tours included Tactics and Operations Officer in VA-75 embarked in USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67), and the Operations Officer for Carrier Air Wing THREE (CVW-3) embarked in USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69). Serving as the Executive Officer of VA-196 until the A-6 community disestablished, Captain Mewbourne embarked in USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) and flew the final flight of the Intruder on 27 March 1997. He later served as the Executive Officer of VAQ-139 and USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73).

Ashore, Captain Mewbourne was a flight instructor in VA-42, the East Coast A-6E Fleet Replacement Squadron, and the project officer for the A-12 Avenger II and follow-on advanced aircraft programs at the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate. Later he served as Military Assistant and Trip Coordinator for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense. Following the attack on the Pentagon he also served as Special Assistant to the Secretary’s Senior Military Assistant.

Captain Mewbourne’s first command was VAQ-139 embarked in USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72). During his tenure, the squadron was awarded the Battle “E”, Safety “S”, Golden Anchor, and Prowler Tactical Excellence awards. He then commanded the USS NASHVILLE (LPD 13) during which time the ship distinguished itself by earning the Golden Anchor award and transporting 2,706 American citizens from Beirut to Cyprus during a regional crisis between Israel and Lebanon in July 2006.

Captain Mewbourne’s awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Air Medal with Combat “V”, Strike/Flight Air Medal (two awards), and various other personal and unit awards and campaign medals. While at the Naval Academy, he received the Carl Vinson Leadership Award. Upon completion of initial flight training in the A-6E Intruder aircraft at VA-42 in 1985 he was selected as the “Replacement Bombardier/Navigator of the Year.” Two years later, he was selected the East Coast A-6 community’s “Junior Intruder of the Year.” He has accumulated over 3,400 total flight hours in 47 various type aircraft and over 950 arrested landings on 10 carrier decks.

Yeah, we all knew he was a former A-6 B/N and got the good deal double XO tour. We also knew he was involved with the A-12 program. He was always a detail oriented NFO. We also heard stories about his OPSO tour at the RAG; he was a very thorough instructor. He was proud of his combat experience, but he never really briefed the ready room on is participation in OPERATION EL DORADO CANYON.

-ea6bflyr

 

[Brett327]

Question about A-7 from VA-83 (AFAIK they first fired AGM-88 in anger) - as they were not dedicated Wild Weasel airframes, how they do the target selection? Is there anything beyond RWR they used to do a targeting? Did they have the "HARM as Sensor" mode, etc.? Any information would be appreciated...

Not much to be discussed in an unclassified forum.

 

[zippy]

Question about A-7 from VA-83 (AFAIK they first fired AGM-88 in anger) - as they were not dedicated Wild Weasel airframes, how they do the target selection? Is there anything beyond RWR they used to do a targeting? Did they have the "HARM as Sensor" mode, etc.? Any information would be appreciated...

AGM-88 HARM - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Llarry]

MARU = Sea...So Coral Maru = Coral Sea.. just like all the Japanese merchant fleet. "blah blah Maru"...during WW2 the entire merchant fleet of Japanese Maru's returned to the bottom of their namesake...

I would like to gently correct my distinguished colleague @OUSOONER (from 2008!): Maru = ship. So, more properly Coral Sea Maru. Sea = Kai.

 

[Hair Warrior]

A-7 is long gone.... So it is a matter of knowledge....

A question about a weapons system still in inventory, and the tactics to employ it, veiled as an innocuous question about a retired airframe… wonder where I’ve seen that before.