The Hook - Blacktails of CVW-14 - Spring 1991

On The Front Cover: CVW-14 (“The Air Wing From Hell”) black-tailed CAG-birds over the Gulf of Oman during Desert Shield operations in October 1990. Led by CAG, CAPT Jay “Spook" Yakeley, CVW-14 in USS Independence (CV-62), laid much of the “air work" for Desert Storm attacks on Iraqi targets. Photo by CDR C.J. “Heater" Heatley III, USN, CO VF-21. The Hook: Journal of Carrier Aviation, Spring 1991. GGA Image ID # 1727d3a493

Introduction

The Spring 1991 issue of The Hook showcases the exceptional role of naval aviation during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, highlighting the contributions of CVW-14, famously known as “The Air Wing From Hell.” This edition captures the spirit of carrier aviation with articles like “The Blacktails of Air Wing Fourteen,” an in-depth photo essay, and pieces on early naval jet aviation, A-6 crew survival stories, and historical perspectives. The table of contents reflects a comprehensive celebration of naval air power, past and present.

Table of Contents

BRIEF

“Naval Air—Present and Future”
VADM Richard M. Dunleavy, USN

FROM THE CATWALK

• “High Hats and Tophatters or, Can You Top This?”
  Bob Lawson
• “VF-14—A Pictorial History of the Navy’s Oldest Continuous Squadron”

LAUNCH

• “The Navy’s P-80/TO-1 Shooting Stars”
• Part One: Early Days of Naval Jet Aviation
  Robert J. Esposito, PhD
• “The First Day of the Rest of Their Lives”
  The Survival of an A-6 Crew
  LaDonne McCarthy
• " . . All in a Day’s Work”
  Samuel T. Jordan
• “Would the Real F-4G Please Stand Up?”
  Jan Jacobs

AT MARSHAL

• Command Changes
• “Mid-East Carrier War”
• “CVW-3 Desert Shield Photo Album”
  CDR John “Lites” Leenhouts, USN Photo Essay
• “The Blacktails of Air Wing Fourteen”
  CDR C.J. “Heater” Heatley III, USN Photo Essay

MANNING THE SPARE

RECOVERY

RESPOT

IN REVIEW

WAVEOFFS & BOLTERS

VULTURE’S ROW

Issue: Volume 19, Number 1, Spring 1991

ISSN: 0736-9220

Conclusion

The Spring 1991 issue of The Hook not only documents the remarkable achievements of naval aviation during pivotal moments like Desert Shield but also honors its legacy through features on historical milestones and personal narratives. With its richly illustrated photo essays and insightful articles, this issue continues to fulfill The Hook’s mission of preserving and promoting the vital role of carrier aviation in national defense, making it an essential read for enthusiasts and professionals alike.

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 ® 1991 by The Tailhook Association. All rights reserved. Subscription for The Hook is included in the $25.00 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 to organizations or individuals.