THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 24, 1996 TAG: 9607230272
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM McKAVITT
LENGTH: 76 lines
Editor's note: The following column was written July 12, when the Norfolk-based carriers Enterprise and George Washington met in the Mediterranean.
Today was Turnover Day, the day Enterprise Battle Group relieved the George Washington Battle Group as the forward-deployed naval presence in the Mediterranean region.
The sight of two combat-ready aircraft carriers side-by-side on a clear, sunny day is impressive, no matter how many times you may have seen it.
Today was also the day that Attack Squadron 75, the ``Sunday Punchers'' of Oceana Naval Air Station, relieved Attack Squadron 34 and wrote the first page in the closing chapter of the A-6 Intruder's biography.
As the Sunday Punchers' operations officer, I accompanied my commanding officer from the Enterprise to the ``GW'' for a face-to-face briefing with our ``Blue Blasters'' counterparts.
As I stood on the flight deck awaiting the arrival of our taxi - a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter - I imagined the warm welcome and beaming smiles which would, no doubt, greet us upon our arrival aboard the other ship, much as I had greeted longtime friends on past deployments.
My expectations were not off the mark.
Our appearance was met with sincere welcome by the ready room on the GW, and we exchanged personal letters and notes we had brought with us for notes and letters to be carried back to other ``Sunday Punchers.''
Then we got down to discussing the operations and tactics we'd use throughout deployment, along with aircraft maintenance, personnel and - some might say, most important - places to go and things to see in the Med and the Persian Gulf.
Over lunch the discussion turned more personal, as we compared notes on the paths our squadrons will take at the end of our respective deployments.
The ``Blue Blasters'' will keep their name, logo and history as they switch to operating the F/A-18 Hornet, eventually returning to Oceana. Our ``Sunday Punchers'' will close out not only the history of the Intruder, but our more than 50-year contribution to naval aviation.
As we talked, I couldn't help but notice a current of melancholy. We all understood that no flying job could ever equal what we've experienced in the A-6.
Back in the ready room we caught a CNN update on the progress of Hurricane Bertha as it marched up the East Coast toward home. This spawned questions from my friends regarding what was new in Hampton Roads.
Among other things, I let them know they could look forward to an impressive concert schedule at the new Virginia Beach Amphitheater.
I also prepared them for their return to an ``empty house.'' I recounted how I felt when I left Oceana as we started our deployment, walking through empty hangars 111 and 122 - home, at one time, to eight fleet A-6 squadrons, along with our training squadron.
The hangar bays were desolate, silent. The ramps from which over 100 Intruders had been launched and recovered were naked, save for the last five aircraft.
I was embarrassed to tell my GW colleagues how emotional I felt taking in this scene, but I have a feeling they will experience it for themselves on their return.
Finally came the time for us to return to the ``Big E.''
Normally we would promise to meet again at our fly-in just before Christmas. Not this time. We will be deployed when VA-34 celebrates the transition to their new aircraft, and they will have relocated to NAS Cecil Field, Fla., by the time we break up next March. We had to be content with wishes of exciting journeys, enjoyable port visits and safe flying.
Back in my own ready room, I began to read through the ``turnover notebook'' from my Blaster counterpart. His cover letter wished me luck and our squadron success as we began our journey across the Med, Red Sea and Persian Gulf.
His closing was a well-known phrase throughout our community - perhaps a little worn, but never outdated: ``Intruders forever!'' MEMO: Lt. Cmdr. Tom McKavitt is the operations officer for Attack
Squadron 75, embarked on the Enterprise. ILLUSTRATION: Photo of logo of Enterprise Battle Group by CNB