Aaron Bresnahan posted on May 01, 2011 00:10
May 2011 - Navy
By Aaron Bresnahan
This year, 2011, marks the 100th year of naval aviation. A lot has changed since those initial days of trial, experimentation, and development. Our Navy has transitioned from a reliance on battleship tactics to today’s flexibility and operational depth facilitated by the use of the Carrier Strike Group. Our humanitarian relief efforts, our defense of the open sea lanes, and our power projection capability afforded by carrier air power is second to none. As the once famous commercial used to state: “You’ve come a long way, baby.”
My earliest memories of Naval Aviation actually go back more than thirty years, when my father, AD1 Robert Bresnahan, was a drilling Reservist with the “Golden Hawks” of squadron VP-67. Some of you, like me, may more affectionately remember VP- 67 as “Thunder Chicken Airlines.” That name is especially endearing to me because it was stencilled onto one of my favorite yellow T-shirts. We were living in Germantown, TN, at the time, and I can remember my dad heading to NAS Millington, once a month, to keep the “Golden Hawks” flying high. Now and again, he would take me and my brother to the air station for a look around the base and a view of the planes sitting on the flight line. Unfortunately, VP-67 is no longer a commissioned squadron. However, I’m sure that my early exposure to Naval Aviation was a contributing factor to my joining the Navy later in life.
While growing up, I also remember, like many of you, the famous movies about World War II, which chronicled and gave tribute to the Sailors and pilots that helped win the Pacific War. Many
of the post-war movies, such as Midway and Tora! Tora! Tora!, inspired the pilots that flew during the Vietnam era. For my generation, however, I can’t think of any other movie that did more for carrier aviation than Top Gun. Tom Cruise was in his element, and the F-14 “Tomcat” was center stage. After the movie came out, many of my class- mates were obsessed with becoming pilots and with getting the pretty girls. They all had the need: “The need for speed!”
Soon after receiving my commission, I took a trip to Pensacola, FL, with the simple intention to enjoy a week in the sun. To my delight, the visit was accentuated by a Blue Angels demonstration. My day on the beach was soon filled with the rumble of jet engines and exhilaration of watching aircraft scream by at near-mach speeds. The sky was a spectacle of “Blue and Gold” entwined in an aerial ballet, with trails of white smoke as the only way to judge how closely these jets had come to touching. I was so amazed by the precision that was displayed and the pure mastery of flight.
Soon after that inspirational perform- ance, I wanted my sense of awe to continue. Thankfully, the National Naval Aviation museum was just down the road from that quaint beach.
For any of you that have never been there before, I would highly recommend a visit to this museum. It is very easy to get to, and you will not be disappointed. The museum is set up to give the visitor insight into the transformation of Naval Aviation throughout the years. There are informative details about how naval aviation began, the challenges of investing in carriers prior to WWII, and the dominance of the Carrier Strike Group today. For history buffs and the casual observer, there are lots of personal testimonies, memorabilia, and dioramas. For the children and for those that are still kids at heart, there are lots of aircraft on display. There is something for everyone. Throughout 2011, there are plenty of activities tied to the centennial. Be sure to plan a visit.
Our modern force is heavily depend- ent upon naval aviation. Our successes in the two Gulf Wars, in Afghanistan, in Libya, and most likely any potential conflicts of the future will be attributed to our highly capable and dynamic naval aviators. With the addition of the new P-8s for antisubmarine missions, the new EA-18G Growlers for jamming, the new C-40As for personnel and cargo transportation, and the new Joint Strike Fighters for air combat and deep strikes, US naval aviation will continue to be on the cutting edge of technology and capability.
Please join with me in celebrating the 100th anniversary of naval aviation. I anticipate seeing much more growth, development, and transformation in the years to come.