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Celebrating 20 years of serving the Hampton Roads Navy family
Vol. 21, No. 45 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 11.14-11.20.13
NEWEST AIRCRAFT CARRIER CHRISTENED
online Visit flagshipnews. com for more photos from the USS Ford’s christening.
Press Release Gerald R. Ford Public Affairs
NEWPORT NEWS
With the strike of a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow by the ship’s sponsor, the Navy christened its newest aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the lead ship of the new Gerald R. Ford class, in a ceremony at Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Nov. 9. Susan Ford Bales, Ford’s daughter and the ship’s sponsor, had the honor of christening the ship in front of more than 20,000 Sailors, shipbuilders and civilians, bringing to life the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier design in more than 40 years.
» see CEREMONY | A4
Ship’s sponsor, Susan Ford Bales, daughter of President Gerald R. Ford, christens the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).
Harry Gerwien | Military Newspapers of Virginia
X-47B OPERATES ABOARD THEODORE ROOSEVELT Press Release USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
USS ROOSEVELT, AT SEA
The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator (UCAS-D) conducted flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Nov. 10. The event, the most-recent in a series of carrier-based tests, demonstrated the integration of the latest in naval aviation technology with the most advanced and capable carrier. The tests demonstrated the X-47B’s ability to integrate with the carrier environment.
The aircraft performed precise touch and go maneuvers on the ship to generate data that characterizes the environment in close proximity of the carrier flight deck. In addition, the aircraft took part in flight deck handling drills, completed arrested landings and catapult launches. Mission operators monitored the aircraft’s autonomous flight from a portable command and control unit from Theodore Roosevelt’s flight deck during each of its 45-minute flights. “It is a tremendous opportunity for the ‘Big Stick’ to be a part of the development and
testing of the future of naval aviation,” said Capt. Daniel Grieco, Roosevelt’s commanding officer. “The UCAS is an impressive system that gives us all a glimpse into the support and strike capabilities we can expect to join the fleet in the years to come. The tactical and support possibilities for such platforms are endless, and I know the crew of TR are proud to be able to be a part of that development.” A major objective for the UCAS-D program is to demonstrate a digitized carrier
» see X-47B | A5
Harry S. Truman Sailors free trapped sea turtle By MCSN Blagoj B. Petkovski USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs
NMCP, NMTSC hospital corpsmen volunteer with special olympics By Rebecca A. Perron Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH
About two dozen Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and Navy Medicine Training Support Center Detachment Portsmouth staff and students volunteered as medical staff during the Virginia Special Olympics Fall Championships Nov. 2 - 3 in Virginia Beach.
» see VOLUNTEER | A5
HOURS REDUCED AT NAVSTA NORFOLK PASS AND ID OFFICE Beginning Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Naval Station Norfolk Pass and ID Office will undergo renovation. During construction, the hours of operation will be reduced from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
USS TRUMAN, AT SEA
Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) rescued a sea turtle that was tangled in a makeshift fishing net, Nov. 7. “They called away, ‘man the port davit,’ because a lookout saw some containers attached to a net in the water, and there was a sea turtle trapped in it,” said Lt. j.g. Lillian Bean, who served as the boat officer for the rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) used in the rescue. In addition to Bean, the RHIB
crew included Chief Damage Controlman Mark Rayner, search and rescue swimmer; Engineman 3rd Class Anthony Torro, the boat engineer; Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class Dalton Thompson, the coxswain; and Seaman Madison Allen, the bow hook. “When we launched the RHIB, the turtle was about 700 or 800 yards away from us,” said Thompson. Allen said the turtle was tangled in a makeshift fishing net built out of jugs, metal wire, hooks and netting.
BM3 Dalton Thompson Engineman 3rd Class Anthony Torro and Chief Damage Controlman Mark Rayner, assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) rescue a sea turtle from a makeshift net.
» see RESCUE | A5
KEARSARGE ARG RETURNS TO HOMEPORT More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines arrived at their homeports in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Camp Lejeune, N.C., Nov. 7.
TYPHOON ASSISTANCE Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered several Navy ships to the Philippines to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster support.
FUN EVENTS FOR A GOOD CAUSE Events to benefit Children’s Hospital of the Kings Daughters are happening in Norfolk and Virginia Beach this weekend. Check out the C section for details!
» see A3
» see B1
» see C1
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