THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 1, 1996 TAG: 9604010056
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Long : 113 lines
Four California-based F-14D Tomcats, carrying the ``Bounty Hunter'' logo of Fighter Squadron 2 on their tails, are to arrive Thursday at their new home, Oceana Naval Air Station, where they will begin settling in to a 3,000-mile, cross-country commute to work.
They are the first planes in five new Tomcat squadrons moving here in the next year from Miramar Naval Air Station near San Diego as a result of base-closing actions.
Within three years, the F-14s will be joined by 10 additional squadrons of Florida-based F/A-18 Hornets.
By then, Oceana will be able to boast that it is the Navy's largest fighter base in the country, with 374 aircraft and 13,000 personnel.
It will be the center of excellence for strike/fighter warfare, said Capt. Dale Snodgrass, commander of Fighter Wings Atlantic.
The Navy decided last year to house all of its F-14s at Oceana to coordinate training, inventory and spare parts as the Tomcats are slowly replaced in the next decade by the F/A-18 Hornet.
``I'm glad it is happening, because it makes life easier as we draw down management of the (F-14) aircraft, specifically inventory control,'' Snodgrass said.
Maintaining the F-14s on two coasts would become increasingly difficult, he said, so bringing them together will be a healthy move.
``We want to get everybody in one spot, so we are all going down the road together, particularly as we draw down,'' he said.
Seven F-14 squadrons already make Oceana their home and will continue to be assigned to air wings and carriers within the Atlantic Fleet. However, the newly arriving F-14 squadrons will return regularly to the West Coast to join their air wings and carriers for deployments and exercises.
The 3,000-mile cross-country commute, while new for the F-14s, has been done before by EA-6B Prowlers based in Whidbey Island, Wash. Those aircraft travel east each time they deploy on Atlantic Fleet carriers.
``I think it is going to be a challenge,'' said Cmdr. Jim MacAloon, executive officer for Fighter Squadron 2, who arrived here a week ago.
``But everybody is looking forward to that,'' he said. ``We are looking forward to being the first.''
The 1,400-mph capable jets could easily make the crossing in 4 to 4 1/2 hours, picking up fuel from an airborne tanker en route.
The Bounty Hunters are normally assigned to the carrier Constellation and are scheduled to return to California in July to begin several weeks of workups. They are scheduled to deploy to the Pacific in April 1997 for a six-month cruise.
Led by Cmdr. Larry Rice, who is expected to arrive Thursday as well, the four aircraft are to be met by 70 squadron personnel who have been trickling into the area, MacAloon said.
By May 1, the squadron will total 14 aircraft, 38 officers and 259 enlisted personnel. They bring a $12.7 million payroll to the region.
The arrival dates for the remaining squadrons are: VF-211, 14 aircraft and 300 personnel in August; a detachment of eight aircraft from VF-101, a training squadron, in October; VF-11 and VF-31, each bringing 14 aircraft and 300 personnel in November; and VF-213, 14 aircraft and 300 personnel in May 1997.
Leaving Southern California for the Mid-Atlantic is bound to be a cultural change.
But MacAloon, who has been stationed at Oceana before, said he has been paving the way.
``It's kinda funny. I sat down many times . . . in the work space and sometimes in quarters to assure them we do have electricity and running water, that we're not in the deep woods,'' he said.
``Just like anything else, when you come up for orders, or drastic change, it puts out a lot of stress. But I think with conditioning and the help of the air wing and Virginia Beach mayor's office, they all realize they are welcoming us. I haven't heard too many complaints.''
Representatives from Virginia Beach, the Navy's Family Services office, real estate offices and others traveled to San Diego to tell squadron members about schools, communities and housing areas.
That has helped the squadron get an early look at what is available, MacAloon said.
The F-14 arrivals are on schedule, said Capt. William H. Shurtleff IV, Oceana's commanding officer.
An environmental impact statement - which will include the impact of the F/A-18 on Oceana - is expected by the end of the year. When it is released, the base can begin several construction projects.
The projects include three $10 million face-lifts to nearby housing for enlisted personnel; $27 million in base improvements in the next two years that are already funded; another $13 million in construction requiring funding; and access-road improvements.
Part of the excitement of the new squadron's arrival is that Oceana will be receiving the latest models of Tomcats, said Cmdr. Steve Voetsch, commanding officer of Fighter Squadron 102.
``It brings a whole new airplane to the base with new capabilities,'' said Voetsch. ``We will be able to exploit and learn a little bit more about what the F-14D does, even though they look a lot alike.''
The Tomcats at Oceana now are among the Navy's earlier ``A'' and ``B'' models.
``It's exciting,'' Voetsch said. ``All of Oceana has had a facelift. VF-2 showing up is a part of that whole scheme of things. Look at the hangars and everything looks new.
``Now we have the newest of the Tomcats showing up, and that's pretty neat.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
Oceana move makes life easier in the F-14 drawdown, says Capt. Dale
Snodgrass.
``We are looking forward to being the first,'' said Cmdr. Jim
MacAloon, of Fighter Squadron 2.
Cmdr. Steve Voetsch, of Fighter Squadron 102, says more will be
learned about the F-14D's capabilities.
by CNB