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| Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic | |
|---|---|
 Current AIRLANT insignia | |
| Active | 1 January 1943 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Navy |
| Type | Type Commander |
| Role | Responsible for the administration and training and readiness of Atlantic Naval aviation units |
| Part of | Commander, Naval Air Forces United States Fleet Forces |
| HQ | Naval Station Norfolk |
| Nickname(s) | AIRLANT |
| Decorations | Meritorious Unit Award_Streamer.jpg){kind=small} |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Rear Admiral John R. Haley |
| Chief of Staff | Captain William Ewald |
| Force Master Chief | FORCM (AW/SW) William Smalts |
| Notable commanders |
|
Naval Air Force Atlantic (AIRLANT) is the aviation type command (TYCOM) for the Atlantic fleet naval aviation units under the command of United States Fleet Forces
Command. Headquartered at Naval Station Norfolk, AIRLANT has a staff of approximately 515 officer, enlisted, civilian and contractor personnel responsible for the material readiness, administration, training, and inspection of units/squadrons under their command, and for providing operationally ready air squadrons and aircraft carriers to the fleet.
As a TYCOM, AIRLANT is a "non-operational" unit with control over subordinate units when they are not in a deployed status. Once deployed, operational control (OPCON) is shifted to the respective combatant command through the assigned strike group.
History edit
Naval Air Force, US Atlantic Fleet was established on 1 January 1943, at NAS Norfolk, Virginia. The command was initially called Air Force, Atlantic Fleet and replaced three older organizations: Commander Carriers, Atlantic Fleet; Carrier Replacement Squadron, Atlantic Fleet; and Fleet Air Wings, Atlantic. AIRLANT's mission was to oversee logistics, maintenance and training of east coast aviation units, and to direct all World War II Atlantic operations not assigned to specific task forces. The combat mission consisted primarily of combating German U-boats, which were wreaking havoc on U.S. shipping support for the war effort in Europe. AIRLANT also contributed heavily to war in the Pacific by training Pacific Fleet units and deploying east coast units to the Pacific. In 1944 AIRLANT deployed 16 carriers, 20 carrier air groups, 67 carrier-based squadrons, 21 patrol squadrons and 18 aviation units to the Pacific.[1] On 30 July 1957, the command added "Naval" to its title.
An important subordinate command for a long period was Commander, Fleet Air Keflavik, at what was Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland.[2] Naval aviation has always played a large role in the operations at Keflavik, especially with regard to the enormous build-up of the Soviet Navy. Deployment of patrol squadron detachments, and later entire squadrons, started as early as 1951, with the P-2 "Neptune" maritime patrol aircraft succeeded by the Lockheed P-3 "Orion" in the mid-1960s. In 1955, Barrier Force, Atlantic had been established in Argentia, Newfoundland, flying radar early-warning missions using the WV-2 (EC-121 Warning Star aircraft in the North Atlantic from 1957. These aircraft made frequent deployments to Keflavik. On July 1, 1961, Commander Barrier Force, Atlantic moved from Argentia to Keflavik. The duties of Commander, Iceland Defense Force were assumed by the rear admiral commanding Barrier Force Atlantic.
In October 2001, the Chief of Naval Operations placed Type Commanders in a "Lead-Follow" arrangement. Under this arrangement, COMNAVAIRPAC (AIRLANT's west coast counterpart) became TYCOM for all Naval Aviation, and assumed the additional title of Commander, Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR). At that time, command of AIRLANT went from a 3-star/Vice Admiral to a 2-star Rear Admiral.
Subordinate Commands edit
Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic is an Echelon III commander, responsible to Commander, Naval Air Forces for the training and administration of the following units
Aircraft Carriers & Embarked Air Wings edit
The nucleus of the surface battle group is the aircraft carrier. In the Atlantic Fleet, COMNAVAIRLANT has five carriers assigned to carry out the mission of COMLANTFLT and other commanders. One or two of these carriers are usually deployed with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea or with the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf in support of U.S. Central Command. Each carrier is assigned a carrier air wing that is responsible for a number of squadrons whose missions include attack, fighter, patrol, reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, electronic warfare and logistic support.
When combined, the carrier and its carrier air wing are then assigned to a Carrier Strike Group for OPCON during deployment.
| Carrier | Assigned Air Wing | Airwing Homeport | Strike Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) | Carrier Air Wing Three | Naval Air Station Oceana | Carrier Strike Group 10 |
| USS George Washington (CVN-73 | currently undergoing Refueling and overhaul; no air wing assigned | ||
| USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) | Carrier Air Wing Seven | Naval Air Station Oceana | Carrier Strike Group 8 |
| USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) | Carrier Air Wing Eight | Naval Air Station Oceana | Carrier Strike Group 2 |
| USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
Homeported in San Diego, California |
Carrier Air Wing One | Naval Air Station Oceana | Carrier Strike Group 12 |
Type Wings edit
Type wing commanders are individually responsible for major categories of aircraft squadrons. Individual units from these wings are assigned to specific air wings.
Commander, Airborne Command Control and Logistics Wing Detachment Norfolk (COMACCLOGWING DET Norfolk)[3] edit
| Squadron | Squadron Homeport | Type Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| VAW-120 Greyhawks (FRS) | Chambers Field | E-2 Hawkeye |
| VAW-121 Bluetails | Chambers Field | E-2D Hawkeye |
| VAW-123 Screwtops | Chambers Field | E-2 Hawkeye |
| VAW-124 Bear Aces | Chambers Field | E-2 Hawkeye |
| VAW-125 Tigertails | Chambers Field | E-2 Hawkeye |
| VAW-126Seahawks | Chambers Field | E-2 Hawkeye |
| VRC-40 Rawhides | Chambers Field | E-2 Hawkeye |
Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic Fleet (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGLANT) edit
- VFA-11 Red Rippers
- VFA-15 Valions
- VFA-31 Tomcatters
- VFA-32 Swordsmen
- VFA-34 Blue Blasters
- VFA-37 Bulls
- VFA-81 Sunliners
- VFA-83 Rampagers
- VFA-86 Sidewinders
- VFA-87 Golden Warriors
- VFA-103 Jolly Rogers
- VFA-105 Gunslingers
- VFA-106 Gladiators [FRS]
- VFA-131 Wildcats
- VFA-136 Knighthawks
- VFA-143 Pukin' Dogs
- VFA-211 Fighting Checkmates
- VFA-213 Black Lions
- Strike Fighter Weapons School, Atlantic (STRKFIGHTWPNSCOLANT)
- COMSTRKFITWINGLANT Det Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) Key West
- COMSTRKFITWINGLANT Det AIMD Oceana
Commander, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, Atlantic Fleet (COMHSMWINGLANT) edit
- HSM-40 Airwolves
- HSL-42 Proud Warriors
- HSM-46 Grandmasters
- HSM-48 Vipers
- HSL-60 Jaguars
- HSM-70 Spartans
- HSM-72 Proud Warriors
- HSM-74 Swamp Fox
- Helicopter Maritime Strike Weapons School, Atlantic (HELMARSTRIKEWEPSCOLANT)
- Naval Surface Rescue Swimmer School, NAS Jacksonville, FL
- Aircraft Carrier Tactical Support Center (CV-TSC), NAS Jacksonville, FL
- Aviation Support Detachment (ASD) Mayport, FL
Commander, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing, Atlantic Fleet (COMHELSEACOMBATWINGLANT) edit
- HM-14 Vanguard
- HM-15 Blackhawks
- HS-5 Nightdippers
- HSC-7 Dusty Dogs
- HSC-9 Tridents
- HS-11 Dragonslayers
- HS-15 Red Lions
- HSC-2 Fleet Angels
- HSC-22 Sea Knights
- HSC-26 Chargers
- HSC-28 Dragon Whales
- HSC-84 Red Wolves
- Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School, Atlantic (HSCWSL)
- Airborne Mine Countermeasures Weapons System Training School (AWSTS)
- AIMD - Corpus Christi, TX
Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, Atlantic (COMPATRECONFORLANT) edit
- (PATRECONFORLANT DET AMPO Jacksonville)
- Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Five
Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven (COMPATRECONWING ELEVEN DET AIMD) edit
Previous commanders edit
| Dates | Commander |
|---|---|
| 1943 | RADM Alva D. Bernhard |
| 1943–1946 | VADM Patrick N. Bellinger |
| 1946–1948 | VADM Gerald F. Bogan |
| 1948–1951 | VADM Felix B. Stump |
| 1951–1954 | VADM John J. Ballentine |
| 1954–1956 | VADM Frederick W. McMahon |
| 1956–1960 | VADM William L. Rees |
| 1960–1963 | VADM Frank O'Beirne |
| 1963–1965 | VADM Paul H. Ramsey |
| 1965–1969 | VADM Charles T. Booth II |
| 1969–1972 | VADM Robert L. Townsend |
| 1972–1975 | VADM Frederick H. Michaelis |
| 1975–1978 | VADM Howard E. Greer |
| 1978–1981 | VADM George E.R. Kinnear II |
| 1981–1983 | VADM Thomas J. Kilcline |
| 1983-1983 | VADM Carol C. Smith, Jr. |
| 1983–1986 | VADM Robert F. Dunn |
| 1986–1989 | VADM Richard M. Dunleavy |
| 1989–1991 | VADM John K. Ready |
| 1991–1994 | VADM Anthony A. Less |
| 1994–1996 | VADM Richard C. Allen |
| 1996–1998 | VADM John J. Mazach |
| 1998–2001 | VADM Joseph S. Mobley |
| 2001–2002 | RADM Michael D. Malone |
| 2002–2004 | RADM James M. Zortman |
| 2004–2006 | RADM H. Denby Starling II |
| 2006–2008 | RADM John W. Goodwin |
| 2009–2010 | RADM Richard J. O'Hanlon |
| 2010-2013 | RADM Ted N. Branch |
| 2013-Now | RADM Troy M. Shoemaker |
See also edit
External links edit
- Official web site
- COMNAVAIRLANT story archive - U.S. Navy
- Command History - COMNAVAIRLANT
- Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet - GlobalSecurity.org
- Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet - Facebook
References edit
- ^ Naval Aviation News January–February 1994
- ^ GlobalSecurity.org, Commander Fleet Air Keflavik
- ^ Atlantic, This story was written by Journalist 3rd Class John Michael Cokos, Fleet Public Affairs Center. "AEW 12/AEWWINGLANT Commodores Mark Wing Disestablishment". Retrieved 2016-07-20.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)