...NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA... The 59 Virginia Beach school busses arrive for the first STEM Field Trip in September 2<strong>01</strong>6 (NAS Oceana photo). More of the surrounding land was acquired, and by 1953 plans were in the works for a Master Jet Base. In honor of Vice Admiral Apollo Soucek, Chief of the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, the airfield was named Soucek Field in 1957. NAS Oceana has been home to most every aircraft in Navy history since the 1940s, including the PB4Y Privateer, SB2C Helldiver, F6F Hellcat, TBF Avenger, F4U Corsair, A-4 Skyhawk, F-4 Phantom, A-6 Intruder, F-14 Tomcat, and F/A-18 Hornet/Super Hornet. NAS Oceana has grown to 5,916 acres and is now home to more than 250 aircraft. The base employs approximately 17,000 military personnel, civilians, and contractors, making it the largest employer in Virginia Beach, which happens to be the largest city in Virginia. The swampy wasteland around the base is gone now. With the growth of the base came the growth of civilization, and there is now development surrounding most of the base. Unfortunately, not everyone living near NAS Oceana enjoys the jet noise, but for others, it’s reassuring as “the Sound of Freedom.” THE SKIPPER When the base was commissioned in 1943, Lt. Jesse Fairley was the first Officer-In-Charge. Today, Capt. Chad “Vinny” Vincelette is the Commanding Officer, or Skipper. He is the 45th Commanding Officer of the base, but his history with Virginia Beach, and the base, goes back much further. His father was an A-6 Intruder pilot, based at NAS Oceana when Chad was born, and the youngster knew at an early age that he too wanted to be a Navy pilot. Vincelette stayed in Virginia for college, graduating from University of Virginia with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. He earned his commission through the ROTC program, and soon after, earned his Wings of Gold. After flight school he returned to NAS Oceana, this time as a pilot, flying the mighty F-14 Tomcat. When the Tomcat was retired, he transitioned to the F/A-18 Super Hornet. He has accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours and 600 carrier traps, flown in combat, commanded fighter squadrons, served as the base XO (Executive Officer), and since March 2<strong>01</strong>8 as the Skipper. THE AIRSHOW DIRECTOR It’s amazing that so many pilots have similar stories of how their love of aviation began. Cmdr. Rich “Corky” Erie (USN Retired) is no exception. He is also a second-generation Naval aviator, deciding he wanted to fly when he was eight. Corky grew up on the west coast where his dad, an A-7 Corsair II pilot, was stationed at NAS Miramar. He completed ROTC while attending San Diego State. College wasn’t his strong suit, but he “pressed on.” After commissioning, he was selected for flight school and, after proving he had a talent for instrument flying, was selected for jets. He elected to fly the A-7 Corsair like his dad, but instead was picked up for the F-14 Tomcat. Corky earned his Wings of Gold in 1990. His first assignment brought him back to NAS Miramar. Visits with his dad would include drinking martinis and talking flying. His dad would often joke that he had “more time in tension than Corky had flight hours.” (A reference to when a jet is connected to the catapult for the shot off of an aircraft carrier.) In 1996 Corky was assigned to NAS Oceana and, other than two years in Atsugi, Japan, he’s been there ever since. He transitioned to Assistant Air Operations Officer in 2000, and after the previous Airshow Director left in 2004, the airshow became part of his job. His proficiency with large-scale planning and the ability to work a timeline backwards were assets. Corky admits the first few years were “OK,” but each year got better with experience. When he retired from the Navy in 2008, the Skipper suggested he go the contractor route, and the Airshow Director position would go with him. After 14 years managing one of the largest airshows in the country, the running joke for the past four years has been Corky’s annual announcement that it’s his last year. E www.airshowmag.com 16 January/February <strong>2<strong>01</strong>9</strong>
World Airshow News 17 January/February <strong>2<strong>01</strong>9</strong>