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Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (aka COMNAVAIRLANT, AIRLANT, CNAL) is the aviation Type Commander (TYCOM) for the United States Atlantic Fleet naval aviation units. Type Commanders are in administrative control (ADCON), and in some cases operational control (OPCON) of certain types of assets (ships, submarines, aircraft, and fleet marines) assigned to the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets. AIRLANT is responsible for the material readiness, administration, training, and inspection of units/squadrons under their command, and for providing operationally ready air squadrons and aircraft carriers to the fleet.
COMNAVAIRLANT is headquartered at NAS Norfolk. The staff is made up of approximately 515 officer, enlisted, civilian and contractor personnel.
Mission
"Support COMLANTFLT and other commanders by providing combat ready/sustainable naval air forces, trained and equipped in an environment which emphasizes safety, interoperability and efficient resource management."
History
Naval Air Force, US Atlantic Fleet was established on 1 January 1943, at NAS Norfolk, Virginia. The command was initially called Air Force, Atlantic Fleet and replaced three older organizations: Commander Carriers, Atlantic Fleet; Carrier Replacement Squadron, Atlantic Fleet; and Fleet Air Wings, Atlantic. AIRLANT's mission was to oversee logistics, maintenance and training of east coast aviation units, and to direct all World War II Atlantic air combat operations not assigned to specific task forces. The combat mission consisted primarily of combating German U-boats, which were wreaking havoc on U.S. shipping support for the war effort in Europe. AIRLANT also contributed heavily to war in the Pacific by training Pacific Fleet units and deploying east coast units to the Pacific. In 1944 AIRLANT deployed 16 carriers, 20 carrier air groups, 67 carrier-based squadrons, 21 patrol squadrons and 18 aviation units to the Pacific. Cite: Naval Aviation News January-February 1994. On 30 July 1957, the command added "Naval" to its title. In October 2001, the Chief of Naval Operations placed Type Commanders in a "Lead-Follow" arrangement. Under this arrangement, COMNAVAIRPAC (AIRLANT's west coast counterpart) became TYCOM for all Naval Aviation, and assumed the additional title of Commander, Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR). At that time, command of AIRLANT went from a 3-star/vice admiral to a 2-star rear admiral.
Previous commanders
| Dates | Commander |
|---|---|
| 1943 | RADM Alva D. Bernhard |
| 1943-1946 | VADM Patrick N. Bellinger |
| 1946-1948 | VADM Gerald F. Bogan |
| 1948-1951 | VADM Felix B. Stump |
| 1951-1954 | VADM John J. Ballentine |
| 1954-1956 | VADM Frederick W. McMahon |
| 1956-1960 | VADM William L. Rees |
| 1960-1963 | VADM Frank O'Beirne |
| 1963-1965 | VADM Paul H. Ramsey |
| 1965-1969 | VADM Charles T. Booth II |
| 1969-1972 | VADM Robert L. Townsend |
| 1972-1975 | VADM Frederick H. Michaelis |
| 1975-1978 | VADM Howard E. Greer |
| 1978-1981 | VADM George E. Kinnear II |
| 1981-1983 | VADM Thomas J. Kilcline |
| 1983-1983 | VADM Carol C. Smith, Jr. |
| 1983-1986 | VADM Robert F. Dunn |
| 1986-1989 | VADM Richard M. Dunleavy |
| 1989-1991 | VADM John K. Ready |
| 1991-1994 | VADM Anthony A. Less |
| 1994-1996 | VADM Richard C. Allen |
| 1996-1998 | VADM John J. Mazach |
| 1998-2001 | VADM Joseph S. Mobley |
| 2001-2002 | RADM Michael D. Malone |
| 2002-2004 | RADM James M. Zortman |
| 2004-2006 | RADM Harold D. Starling II |
| 2006-2008 | RADM John W. Goodwin |
| 2009- | RADM Richard J. O'Hanlon |
Subordinate Commands
Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet is composed of more than 40,000 men and women who maintain and operate the aircraft carriers, aircraft squadrons and aircraft of the Atlantic Fleet. It provides combat-ready air forces to fleet commanders operating around the globe.
Carrier Strike Groups
There are six Carrier Strike Group commanders who, although not under operational control of COMNAVAIRLANT, work very closely with the staff. CSG commanders are operationally responsible for the carrier, the embarked airwing and the cruisers that make up the battle group.
- Commander Roosevelt Battle Group (COMCARSTRK GROUP 2)
- Commander Eisenhower Battle Group (COMCARSTRK GROUP 8)
- Commander Truman Battle Group (COMCARSTRK GROUP 10)
- Commander Enterprise Battle Group (COMCARSTRK GROUP 12)
Aircraft Carriers
The nucleus of the naval battle group is the aircraft carrier. In the Atlantic Fleet, COMNAVAIRLANT has five carriers assigned to carry out the mission of COMLANTFLT and other commanders. One or two of these carriers are usually deployed with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea or with the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf in support of U.S. Central Command. When not deployed or undergoing periodic maintenance/overhaul, or refresher training, these ships operate with U.S. Second Fleet in the Western Atlantic or U.S. Fourth Fleet in the Caribbean.
- USS Enterprise (CVN-65)
- USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
- USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75)
- USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)
Carrier air wings
The carrier air wing commander is responsible for a number of squadrons whose missions include attack, fighter, patrol, reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, electronic warfare and logistic support.
- Carrier Air Wing One
- Carrier Air Wing Three
- Carrier Air Wing Seven
- Carrier Air Wing Eight
- Carrier Air Wing Seventeen
Type Wings
Type wing commanders are individually responsible for major categories of aircraft squadrons.
Commander, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Wing, Atlantic Fleet (COMAEWWINGLANT)
- VAW-120 Greyhawks (FRS)
- VAW-121 Bluetails
- VAW-123 Screwtops
- VAW-124 Bear Aces
- VAW-125 Tigertails
- VAW-126Seahawks
- VRC-40 Rawhides
Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic Fleet (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGLANT)
- VFA-11 Red Rippers
- VFA-15 Valions
- VFA-31 Tomcatters
- VFA-32 Swordsmen
- VFA-34 Blue Blasters
- VFA-37 Bulls
- VFA-81 Sunliners
- VFA-83 Rampagers
- VFA-86 Sidewinders
- VFA-87 Golden Warriors
- VFA-103 Jolly Rogers
- VFA-105 Gunslingers
- VFA-106 Gladiators [FRS]
- VFA-131 Wildcats
- VFA-136 Knighthawks
- VFA-143 Pukin' Dogs
- VFA-211 Fighting Checkmates
- VF-213 Black Lions
- Strike Fighter Weapons School, Atlantic (STRKFIGHTWPNSCOLANT)
- COMSTRKFITWINGLANT Det Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Department (AIMD) Key West
- COMSTRKFITWINGLANT Det AIMD Oceana
Commander, Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, Atlantic Fleet (COMHSMWINGLANT)
- HSL-40 Airwolves
- HSL-42 Proud Warriors
- HSL-44 Swamp Fox
- HSL-46 Grandmasters
- HSL-48 Vipers
- HSL-60 Jaguars
- HSM-70 Spartans
- CHSMWL Detachment Sigonella
- Helicopter Maritime Strike Weapons School, Atlantic (HELMARSTRIKEWEPSCOLANT)
Commander, Helicopter Sea Combat Wing, Atlantic Fleet (COMHELSEACOMBATWINGLANT)
- HM-14 Vanguard
- HM-15 Blackhawks
- HS-3 Tridents
- HS-5 Nightdippers
- HS-7 Dusty Dogs
- HS-11 Dragonslayers
- HS-15 Red Lions
- HSC-2 Fleet Angels
- HSC-22 Sea Knights
- HSC-26 Chargers
- HSC-28 Dragon Whales
- HSC-84 Red Wolves
- Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School, Atlantic (HSCWSL)
- Airborne Mine Countermeasures Weapons System Training School (AWSTS)
- AIMD - Corpus Christi, TX
Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, Atlantic (COMPATRECONFORLANT)
- (PATRECONFORLANT DET AMPO Jacksonville)
- Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Five
Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven
-
- (COMPATRECONWING ELEVEN DET AIMD)
- VP-5
- VP-16
- VP-45
- VQ 2
- VP-30
- Tactical Support Center (TSC), Rota
- Tactical Support Center (TSC), Sigonella
Miscellaneous commands
- VX-1
- Landing Signal Officer School
- Fleet Air Control and Surveillance Facility (FACSFAC) Jacksonville
- Fleet Air Control and Surveillance Facility (FACSFAC) Virginia Capes (VACAPES)
See also
- Naval aviation
- Modern US Navy carrier air operations
- List of military aircraft of the United States (naval) / List of US Naval aircraft
- United States Naval Aviator
- Naval Flight Officer
- United States Marine Corps Aviation
- Military aviation
References
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
