1983-Contin ued

soli dated the Navy's present space-related activities

under one organization. Elements that were placed

under the new command included the Naval Space

Surveillance System, Naval Astronautics Group and

activities supporting the Fleet Satellite Communica-

tions System.

3 October Ensign Don E. Slone received his Wings

of Gold as a Naval Flight Officer, becoming the first

former enlisted man to complete the Enlisted

Commissioning Program and the Aviation Officers

Candidate School.

25 October Combat amphibious assault operations

on Grenada were supported by aircraft from CVW-6

aboard Independence. Surveillance operations were

provided by patrol squadrons and support operations

by several reserve VR units.

23 November A modified CH-46 lifted off Boeing

Vertol's flight ramp at Philadelphia, Pa., for its first

flight. The modified CH-46 carried improvements that,

when incorporated in all the H-46s, would extend the

service life of the Navy/Marine Corps fleet of H-46 air-

craft through the 1990s.

4 December In a strike against Syrian positions in

Lebanon by CVW-6 and CVW-3 aircraft, two aircraft

(an A-7 Corsair II and an A-6 Intruder) were lost to

antiaircraft fire. This was the first loss of Navy fixed-

wing aircraft in combat since the end of the Vietnam

conflict in January 1973.

27 December The Secretary of the Navy announced

the assignment of the name Wasp to LHD 1. The LHD

1 was the first of a new class of amphibious assault

ships designed to accommodate new air-cushioned

landing craft, as well as conventional landing craft, the

AV-8 Harrier and all types of helicopters.

1984

4 January Lieutenant Robert O. Goodman, an NFO

from VA-85 deployed aboard John F. Kennedy,

returned to the U.S. after being held as a POW for a

month in Syria. His A-6E had been shot down on 4

December 1983, while participating in a retaliatory

strike in Lebanon.

10 January HC-l received its first two CH-53E heli-

copters. Capable of lifting over 16 tons, the Super

Stallion was the largest and most powerful helicopter

in the western world. HC-l was the only Navy West

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

341

Coast squadron to fly the CH-53E. The squadron

would also continue to fly the SH-3G Sea Knight in its

current role.

12 January The first AV-8B Harrier was received at

MCAS Cherry Point, N.C., by VMAT-203. With over 25

percent of the structural weight composed of carbon

epoxy composite material, the AV-8B offered twice the

payload and radius of the AV-8A.

3 February Space Shuttle Challenger flew with a

crew of Naval Aviators. The spacecraft commander,

Vance D. Brand, was a Marine Corps aviator for five

years. The two Navy members were Captain Bruce

McCandless II and Commander Robert L. Gibson.

13 February The last instructional flight of the T-28

Trojan was flown by Ensign Michael Lee Gierhart of

VT-27, ending the aircraft's 31-year career of training

Naval Aviators.

Lieutenant Robert 0. Goodman at a press conference following his

return from captivity in Syria.