milleR
Well-Known Member
I also did a google search and was wondering the same thing. Got out a R Adm so obviously it worked out.
Aircraft wrecks
- Thread starter MikeD
- Start date
interesting. Seems to have worked out indeed.
Sucks that these are wrecks, but the history both behind and ahead of them, is some fascinating stuff.
Pilot Fighter
Well-Known Member
This gets confusing and as you go back in time there is little consistency from wing to wing and from deployment to deployment.
These days, every squadron on the boat has a "CAG bird", so the term "CAG bird" no longer suggests that the CAG will be flying an aircraft. Each squadron gets a plane with a fancy paint job. These days, you'll probably find one plane wearing the CAG's name.
If you go back a few decades, there was one CAG bird in the wing, although it wasn't uncommon that the skipper of a squadron also had a plane with fancy paint.
There are a few issues when it came to names. An F-14 squadron had room for 24 names in the pilot position and 24 names in the RIO position.
An S-3 squadron might have only four or five slots for pilot names. So on this rare occurrence, a CAG might defer to accommodate the squadron guys and his name might end up on his secondary aircraft in a fighter or attack squadron.
In this case, I'm betting that the CAG was based in the same location as VF-2 (probably Lemoore), qual'd and current in the F-14, and logging more F-14 time than S-3 time.
Last edited:
Pilot Fighter
Well-Known Member
I think I misunderstood what you were saying. When you said "non-wing guy" I assumed you were talking about just another NFO in VF-2, as if you were expecting an NFO from the CAG staff.
Yeah, kinda odd if Kell didn't wear wings but I've seen names thrown on planes for ceremonies and "attaboy" rides.
i remember the old way you’re referring to, and thought it was still that way? Where the Air Wing had only one CAG bird, and it was a bird from where CAG came from. For example, if CAG was an A-7 guy, then one of the A-7 VA squadrons would have the “00” bird, either 300 or 400. Or if he was a prowler guy, a 500 bird (5 series for them, correct?)
Curiously, would CAG of a large aircraft carrier like that ever be an HS guy, from SH-3H Sea Kings?
Pilot Fighter
Well-Known Member
I can't imagine it ever happening.
They don't any strike package experience and have few opportunities to distinguish themselves, no Top Gun, no USNTPS, no VFC, few exchange opportunities.
Also, not sure if it's a hard or soft requirement but getting qual'd in a second aircraft might be impossible for a chopper guy that may have gone 15 years without any fixed wing experience.
A VAW guy might sneak in but 95% of the CAG's in the next 20 years will be VFA and VAQ guys.
Last edited:
How about carrier captain? Or do helo guys go to Capt of a helo carrier like an LPH or LHA?
Pilot Fighter
Well-Known Member
For carriers, the progression is carrier XO, small ship CO, carrier CO.
I would think that somebody from the helo community with an exceptional resume would have a fair shot at carrier XO.
I don't know anything about the path to command for other ships.
Pilot Fighter
Well-Known Member
It looks like things are changing. A helo guy became CAG of CVW-1 in 2017. I'll stick with my 95% projection.
The Diversification of Carrier Air Wing Commanders
On 2 November 2017, the 224 officers that were eligible for the U.S. Navy FY19 Aviation Major Command Screen Board (AMCSB) learned their fate when the results were announced. This annual release is watched closely by naval aviation stakeholders who look at the list of names and speculate about...
blog.usni.org
D
Deleted member 27505
Guest
Fly low enough looking for it, and you can replicate it. :O