ANA WEB SITE
We have received a number of good comments about our web site (http://www.anahq.org/index.htm ) which we are working hard to incorporate. Among the tasks in progress are completing the NAS page to include all Naval Air Stations AND those of the USMC and Coast Guard. That effort is coming along, albeit slowly as it has proved sometimes difficult to find the correct logo for the individual commands.

Another feature of the web site that we would like to better “populate” is our reunions page (http://www.anahq.org/events/reunions_sorted_by_start_date.asp ). If you have an event you would to have posted, please let me know (svwindmills@erols.com) and we will give it a cyberplace.

SQUADRON NEWS

Every issue of WINGS OF GOLD highlights news of the various squadrons who send their latest and greatest to Zip, our editor. DON’T BE LEFT OUT!!! Let us publish your news in WOG – send your articles and photos to Zip Rausa at goldwings@verizon.net, 703-281-2324, 2133 Freda Drive, Vienna, VA 22181.

TAILHOOK REUNION

ANA continues to work with a number of organizations that support Naval Aviation. One of them, TAILHOOK, will have their convention/reunion in Reno/Sparks, Nevada 4 – 7 September. Please check http://www.tailhook.org/ for details.

Thanks to HOOK, ANA will have a booth at the reunion – please be sure to stop by !!!

OCEANA AIR SHOW

Only one announcement – for those on the East Coast, remember, the NAS OCEANA, VA Air Show will be 19 – 21 September. You can find details at http://www.oceanaairshow.com.

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF NAVAL AVIATION

In some ways the 100^th Anniversary of Naval Aviation in 2011 seems like an eternity away. In reality, it is just around the corner. Commander, Naval Air Forces is the Executive Agent for the event; some of the details are in the following message:

----- Original Message -----
Subject: FW: 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF NAVAL AVIATION

FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N00//
TO NAVADMIN
UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 179/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N00/JUN// SUBJ/100TH ANNIVERSARY OF
NAVAL AVIATION//
RMKS/1. 2011 IS THE YEAR IN WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF
THE NAVY WILL RECOGNIZE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF NAVAL AVIATION.
2. ON 8 MAY 1911, CAPTAIN WASHINGTON IRVING CHAMBERS, UNITED STATES
NAVY, OFFICER IN CHARGE OF AVIATION, PREPARED THE REQUISITION FOR THE
NAVY'S FIRST AIRCRAFT TO BE PURCHASED FROM AVIATOR AND INVENTOR GLENN H.
CURTISS. AFTER 97 YEARS, NAVAL AVIATION HAS GROWN FROM A TACTICAL
AFTERTHOUGHT AND SUPPORT CAPABILITY TO A PRIMARY INSTRUMENT OF OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY. FROM THE CURTISS A-1 TRIAD, TO THE F/A-18 SUPER
HORNET, FROM THE USS LANGLEY (CV 1) TO THE USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN 76),
NAVAL AVIATION HAS SCORED AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF ACHIEVEMENTS IN PEACE
AND WAR. THE FIRST CROSSING OF THE ATLANTIC BY AIR, VICTORY AT THE
BATTLE OF MIDWAY, AND THE FIRST AMERICAN IN SPACE, TO NAME A FEW, PUT
NAVAL AVIATION AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR NATIONAL DESTINY.
3. IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT DURING THE CENTENNIAL YEAR OF NAVAL AVIATION,
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY, COAST GUARD PERSONNEL, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, AND
FRIENDS AND ALLIES OVERSEAS BE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE
HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF NAVAL AVIATION AND BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH ITS
RICH AND COLORFUL HERITAGE.
4. COMMANDER, NAVAL AIR FORCES WILL BE THE EXECUTIVE AGENT FOR PLANNING
AND EXECUTING ALL EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF NAVAL
AVIATION. COMMANDER, NAVAL AIR FORCES WILL FORMALLY ESTABLISH A
CENTENNIAL OF NAVAL AVIATION TASK FORCE WITH REPRESENTATION FROM THOSE
ORGANIZATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH NAVAL AVIATION TO SYNCHRONIZE ACTIVITIES
THROUGHOUT CALENDAR YEAR 2011. COMMANDER, NAVAL AIR FORCES WILL:
A. DESIGNATE AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTENNIAL OF NAVAL AVIATION
TASK FORCE.
B. ESTABLISH MEMBERSHIP FOR THE CENTENNIAL OF NAVAL AVIATION TASK
FORCE.
C. PROVIDE PLANNING AND EXECUTION UPDATES TO NAVY LEADERSHIP.
D. FORWARD FOR APPROVAL, EVENTS THAT REQUIRE INTERAGENCY ENGAGEMENT AND
COORDINATION.
5. THE CENTENNIAL OF NAVAL AVIATION AFFORDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REAFFIRM
TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT THEIR COUNTRY'S SECURITY IS ASSURED BY A
STRONG NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AND COAST GUARD. IT WILL HONOR OUR LEGACY
AND RECOGNIZE THE ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS OF NAVAL AVIATION TO OUR
COUNTRY'S SAFETY, SECURITY, AND PROSPERITY.
6. RELEASED BY ADMIRAL G. ROUGHEAD, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.//
===============================================================

A product of... Navy Office of Information www.chinfo.navy.mil www.navy.mil 703.697.5342 August 5, 2008

The Navy Today … Executing the Maritime Strategy

“Timely, forward-looking, and all-encompassing training, including anti-submarine warfare and maritime ballistic missile defense,

is crucial to the combat readiness of Sailors and Marines in today’s multi-faceted environment. Personnel are

our most valuable resource, and accordingly, they must be trained and equipped to accomplish

the diverse mission sets they face both here and abroad.”

-- Vice Adm. Samuel Locklear, Commander, U.S. Third Fleet

Around the world, the Navy is executing the six core capabilities of the Maritime Strategy – forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.

Power Projection

∙ USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) is conducting operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from the North Arabian Sea. Flying an average of 25 daily combat sorties in support of coalition forces in Afghanistan, Carrier Air Wing 2 aircraft target and hit enemy positions, provide reconnaissance, integrate and synchronize ground forces, protect infrastructure, provide overwatch for reconstruction activities and help deter terrorist activities.

Maritime Security

∙ USS Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group is conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) inside the Arabian Gulf aimed at keeping the Sea Lines of Communication open. MSO help develop security in the maritime environment, and promote stability and global prosperity.

∙ Combined Task Force (CTF) 67 completed "Sea Breeze 2008" in Odessa, Ukraine July 28 with maritime, air and land forces from 16 countries in the largest multinational naval exercise this year in the Black Sea, improving maritime security through increased interoperability and cooperation among regional allies.

Building maritime partnerships for regional stability

∙ Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise 2008 was conducted June 29 - July 31, consisting of 10 nations, 35 ships, six submarines, and more than 150 aircraft and 20,000 Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, Airmen and Coastguardsmen expanding cooperative relationships and contributing to the security and stability of the maritime domain.

∙ Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 08-4, “Operation Brimstone,” concluded July 29. This graduate-level exercise involved more than 15,000 servicemembers from six countries and served as the ready-for-deployment certification for the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group. JTFEX 08-4 also marked the first time that forces from Naval Expeditionary Combat Command participated in an East-Coast JTFEX.

∙ Navy Divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two and Underwater Construction Team One are deployed aboard USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51) in support of Navy Diver - Global Fleet Station (ND-GFS), a strategic initiative validating the GFS concept as an enabler for the Maritime Strategy. ND-GFS personnel are conducting tailored diving and salvage operations with regional partner nations' defense forces, police departments and Coast Guards improving capability and interoperability.

Status of the Navy (as of 5 August)

Navy Personnel

Total Active Component: 332,197

Total Reserve Component: 124,716

DoN Civilians: 183,704

Ships, Submarines & Aircraft

Total deployable ships/subs: 280

Ship underway: 128 (46%)

Subs underway: 31 (57%)

Ships deployed: 103 (37%)

Subs deployed: 21 (38%)

Total Operational Aircraft: 3,700+

Ground Forces in NAVCENT AOR

Countries ≥400 AC RC

Iraq 4,922 1,171

Bahrain 2,649 83

Kuwait 1,226 552

Afghanistan 1,713 289

Qatar 633 28

Djibouti 628 36

Total all countries on ground 14,312

Sailors at Sea by AOR

NAVCENT/C5F 9,097

PACFLT 20,000

NAVSOUTH/C4F 1,934

C2F 13,833

CNE-C6F 1,530

For more information on the current status of the Navy, visit: www.navy.mil.

NEWS – a number of news articles are in the attachment.

Best regards!!

Dutch Rauch
Secretary/Treasurer
Association of Naval Aviation
1446 Waggaman Circle
McLean, VA 22101

703-893-3955

**********

Executive Director and Editor, "WINGS OF GOLD" = Zip at goldwings@verizon.net

**********
www.anahq.org
General Membership:
2550 Huntington Ave, Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22303

703-960-6806 anahqtr@aol.com

**********

“…to educate and encourage an interest among the general public as to the importance of Naval Aviation in the defense of the United States and its allies….”