The Hook - Naval Air Training Command - Winter 1982

On the Front Cover: Two VT-26 Student Naval Aviators Prepared to Come Aboard USS Lexington (Avt-16) in T-2C Buckeyes off Corpus Christi in July 1982. Photographs Depict Carrier Qualifications in the Training Command. Photograph by Bob Lawson. GGA Image ID # 21aa1f5a50

Introduction

The Winter 1982 edition of The Hook offers a dynamic exploration of the Naval Air Training Command, with a particular focus on carrier qualifications and the evolution of naval aviation training. Highlighted by features such as “CNATRA” and “Hittin’ the Boat,” this issue blends historical retrospectives, personal narratives, and technical insights. The table of contents reflects a dedication to showcasing the breadth of naval aviation, from pilot training to advanced tactical innovations, providing readers with a comprehensive view of carrier aviation's pivotal role.

Table of Contents : Air Plan

• BRIEF
• FROM THE CATWALK
  Peter Kilduff
• LAUNCH
  • "A Navy Pilot in Vietnam, 1960"
    CAPT Rosario Rausa, USNR
  • "The Indispensable Man" — The LSO, part two
    Barrett Tillman
• AT MARSHAL
  • "CNATRA" — Naval Air Training Command
  • "Hittin' the Boat" — C.Q. aboard Lexington
    Photo essay, Bob Lawson
  • Command Changes
  • "Going Gray — or, What Hath NavAir Wrought?"
    Photo feature, tactical paint schemes
  • "Miss Piggy's Affair With The Fleet" — US-3A
    LT Skip Slater, VS-41
• MANNING THE SPARE
• RECOVERY
• IN REVIEW
• WAVEOFFS & BOLTERS

About the Publication

The Hook is published quarterly by The Tailhook Association, a non-profit corporation dedicated to foster, encourage, develop, study and support the aircraft carrier, sea-based aircraft, both fixed and rotary wing, and aircrew of the United States of America and to educate the public in the aircraft carrier's appropriate role in the Nation's defense system.

Views expressed in The Hook are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the policies of The Tailhook Association or the United States Navy. Printed in U.S.A. Bulk-rate postage paid at Bonita, California. Copyright O 1982 by The Tailhook Association. All rights reserved.

Subscription for The Hook is included in the $15.00 annual membership in The Tailhook Association. Regular Membership is open to anyone who has made a carrier landing as a pilot or aircrewman. Associate Membership is open to anyone having the background and interest to support the goals of The Tailhook Association, as stated above. Ordinary subscriptions are also available.

Conclusion

From exploring decades of carrier qualifications to diving into tactical advancements like the US-3A and modern paint schemes, the Winter 1982 issue of The Hook encapsulates the dedication and evolution of the Naval Air Training Command. The detailed articles and striking visuals honor the legacy and ongoing efforts of naval aviators and support crews. This issue serves as a testament to the skill, history, and future of carrier-based aviation, educating and inspiring its readers about its indispensable role in national defense.

THE TAILHOOK ASSOCIATION
Membership/Administration
P.O. Box 40
Bonita, CA 92002
(619) 479-8525

• PRESIDENT : CAPT Thomas A. Stanley, USN
• SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT : D.S. Laird, CDR, USN (Ret)
• VICE PRfSIDENTS
  • Industrial Affairs : Jack Christiansen, RADM USN (Ret)
  • Washington Affairs : Robert H. Thompson
  • Educational Activity : R.E. Gallatin, CAPT USN (Ret)
  • Reserve Affairs : LCDR Gregory A. Cassady, USNR-TAR
  • Membership
• BOARD OF DIRECTORS
  • Jack O'Hara, RADM USN (Ret)
  • F.A.W. Franke, Jr., CAPT USN (Ret)
  • D.S. "Diz" Laird, CDR USN (Ret)
  • CDR Rod Knutson, USN
  • Robert A. Allwine, CDR USN (Ret)
• ADVISOR, NAVAL AVIATION MATTERS : James D. Ramage, RADM USN (Ret)
• EXECUTIVE SECRETARY : Ron Thomas
• GENERAL COUNSEL : R. E. Gallatin, CAPT USN (Ret)

CORPORATE MEMBERS

The following corporations exhibit the support of Naval Aviation through their membership in the Tailhook Association.

• Beech Aircraft Corporation
• Beech Aerospace Services, Inc.
• Bendix Corporation Oceanics Division
• Boeing Vertol Company
• Computer Services Corporation
• Cubic Corporation
• Ford Aerospace & Communications Corporation
• General Dynamics/Convair Division
• General Dynamics/Pomona Division
• General Electric Company-Aircraft Engine Group
• Grumman Aerospace Corporation
• Harris Corporation-PRD Electronics Division
• Hughes Aircraft Company
• Litton Systems, Inc. Guidance & Control Systems Division
• Lockheed-California Company
• McDonnell Douglas Corporation
• Northrup Corporation
• Northrup Corporation, Ventura Division
• Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Group
• Raytheon Company
• Rockwell International
• Sanders Associates, Inc.
• Sikorsky Aircraft
• Teledyne Ryan Aeronautics
• Texas Instruments Corporation
• United Technologies-Norden Systems
• Vought Corporation