VOL.54 NO. 30 NOVEMBER 12, 2015
SERVING NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA, DAM NECK ANNEX, AND NALF FENTRESS
BLUE ANGELS WELCOME NEW CO
JET
INSIDE
From Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron Public Affairs PENSACOLA, Florida (NNS) — U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, held the squadron’s change of command ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum on Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Nov. 8. Cmdr. Ryan Bernacchi, who did stints at two NAS Oceana-based squadrons, relieved Capt. Tom Frosch as Blue Angels commanding officer/flight leader. “It is an absolute honor to have the opportunity to lead the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron,” said Bernacchi. “I am humbled to join such a talented group of dedicated professionals as we head into the team’s 70th air show season.” Bernacchi joined the Blue Angels in September. Prior to his selection as the Blue Angels’ commanding officer, he served as a federal executive fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass. Bernacchi’s previous commands include Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125, the “Rough Raiders,” NAS
AWARDS AND HONORS — Page 6
Photo by MC2 Daniel M. Young Cmdr. Ryan Bernacchi speaks during a change of command ceremony Nov. 8 as the new commanding officer and flight leader of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. Capt. Tom Frosch was relieved by Bernacchi during the ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum, following the conclusion of the 2015 air show season.
Lemoore, Calif.; VFA-113, the “Stingers,” NAS Lemoore; U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), NAS Fallon, Nev.; VFA-87, the “Golden Warriors,” NAS Oceana; VFA-81, the “Sunliners,” NAS Oceana; Chief of Naval Op-
erations Strategic Studies Group, Newport, R.I.; and VFA-192, the “World Famous Golden Dragons,” NAS Lemoore.
BATTLE OF THE FITTEST — Page 7
— See Blue Angels, page 3
OCEANA GALLEY THANKSGIVING MEAL
Navy releases definitive history of naval aviation online BY JIM CAIELLA Naval History and Heritage Command, Communication and Outreach Division WASHINGTON (NNS) — The newest history of U.S. naval aviation has just been released by the Naval History and Heritage Com-
mand.The two-volume set was released online Nov. 4. “United States Naval Aviation 1910-2010” by Mark L. Evans and Roy A. Grossnick is the fourth update to the original history which was first published in 1960. That first issue celebrated the first 50
years of U.S. naval aviation and this two-volume set commemorates the centenary. Previous editions were an invaluable first-stop research tool to aviation, naval and military historians. This latest update breaks U.S. naval aviation history into two volumes: chronology and statistics. Both have greatly increased content above and beyond including additional years.
New and expanded research makes these the definitive volumes on U.S. naval aviation's first century. This and other free Naval History and Heritage Command publications can be found at www. history.navy.mil/research/publications/recent-publications.html. Hard bound copies of the book are available from the Government Publishing Office website, https://bookstore.gpo.gov.
Join the Oceana galley for a traditional Thanksgiving meal Nov. 24, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. All retireees, military and civilians are welcome to attend. The cost of the meal is $9.05 and the discount rate for military spouses and dependents of E-4 and below is $6.80.