The website and forum will be intermittently unavailable while we're making some security updates.
File uploads to the download hangar are also disabled until further notice.

The "E" on this Hornet

Have a story, topic or report on what's really happening in the world's militaries? Talk about it here.
Post Reply
james84

The "E" on this Hornet

Post by james84 »

I was looking at this photo
http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Na ... 1647240/M/

What's the meaning of the "E" on the side of the fuselage? I remember I've seen it on some Tomcats in the past...
User avatar
jetmax
Major
Major
Posts: 656
Joined: 04 Nov 2006, 20:47
Version: FS9
Location: The Gateway to the Air Force KSKF

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by jetmax »

Most likely it is a Battle "E".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Effectiveness_Award

Cheers
Scott "Jetmax" Jones
The Virtual Air National Guard
Ask me how to join....
http://www.flyvang.org/
maddog65
MAIW Veteran
MAIW Veteran
Posts: 1067
Joined: 23 Aug 2006, 10:15
Version: FS9
Location: In between KNTU and KNGU

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by maddog65 »

James,
Coming from the Surface Navy and being the picture is of the CAG bird, I would say that VFA-2 was the reciepient of the Battle E award.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Effectiveness_Award

Les
Les
______________________________________________________________________
"Not the victory but the action; Not the goal but the game; In the deed the glory."
User avatar
ricktk
Captain
Captain
Posts: 254
Joined: 18 Aug 2006, 23:03
Version: P3D
Location: Between KDPA and KARR

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by ricktk »

Just a guess being a retired Army guy, but there are efficiency awards that can earned by naval ships and org. to
indicate excellence. They are painted "E" and other letters and symbols painted on a ship superstructure. They work all the way up to a Battle Efficiency "E" pennant, which is flown from a ship's truck on the foremast when not underway.

Perhaps the aircraft carrier and air group involved in the picture won an "E" for Aviation Maintenance Excellence.
see http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/Seaf ... ds/Es.html
Rick

"Buttons . . . check. Dials . . . check. Switches . . . check. Little colored lights . . . check."
Dave Waffler
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 96
Joined: 30 Aug 2006, 22:43
Version: FSX
Location: Canal Fulton, OH

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by Dave Waffler »

VFA-2 won the Battle E for CY 2008 for the Pacific Fleet (not sure who won it for the Atlantic Fleet), thus they are able to sport the E on their aircraft for 2009. This will be removed early this year, unless they win a second E for 2009, in which they would put a hashmark below the E, signifying that they won back to back E's.

I won a Battle E with VF-2 in 1985, when we flew Tomcats, then won 2 more Battle E's (back to back, 1989, 1990) with VF-1. Along with the Battle E in 1989, we also won the Clifton Award, best F-14 Tomcat squadron in the Navy.

It's a real honor to win the E, takes alot of work, both from the pilots and the ground crew, but when you win it, you definitely carry you head high :)
User avatar
Joecoastie
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Posts: 860
Joined: 30 Jan 2007, 17:46
Version: P3D
Location: 8.2mi/077 radial of GVE

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by Joecoastie »

March 1964 - HS-3 onboard USS Intrepid for Gemini3 pickup. We earned the "E" two years in a row.

Image
Service to my Country 9/61 - 2/03
US Navy - HS-3, VX-1, HS-7 (USS Intrepid, USS Wasp, USS Yorktown)
Va National Guard - 229th Cbt Avn Co
US Coast Guard - E City CGAS, CGC Morro Bay, RTC Yorktown
NOAA - Co-op Observer 1983 - present
james84

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by james84 »

Very interesting! Thanks for the answers!
User avatar
Rotorhead
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 24
Joined: 31 Jan 2010, 09:10
Version: FSX

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by Rotorhead »

As has been posted above, the E is for winning the Battle E. An interesting aside, the Battle E winners here in Lemoore get to paint the lone F/A-18C on a stick that sits by the front gate in their squadron colors. However, when the Super Bugs got to town, where would they get to paint since there was no Super Hornet on a stick at Lemoore....the answer.... they've split the C in two and the Legacy Battle E winners get one side of the jet, and the Rhino winners get the other side. It's kind of funny to see, maybe I'll snap a photo and show you. I think right now VFA-151 has the left side and VFA-2 has the right.

Rolex
Dave Waffler
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 96
Joined: 30 Aug 2006, 22:43
Version: FSX
Location: Canal Fulton, OH

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by Dave Waffler »

Ahhh love it, Carrier Air Wing 2 rules again :)
User avatar
Rotorhead
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 24
Joined: 31 Jan 2010, 09:10
Version: FSX

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by Rotorhead »

Dave Waffler wrote:Ahhh love it, Carrier Air Wing 2 rules again :)
Haha, Ya ya, here is a photo from when CAG-14 ruled the roost, 2006. Note two different tails, VFA-113 on this side, VFA-115 on the other. Now lets see who the first to pick me out in the photo is...
Attachments
VFA113_BattleE_small.jpg
User avatar
Victory103
Colonel
Colonel
Posts: 3977
Joined: 13 Aug 2007, 03:35
Version: P3D
Location: KPHX

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by Victory103 »

Love the retro flight suits, I'm guessing you're on the front row kneeling. Do guys actually fly with them say "Friday patch" days?
DUSTOFF
ARMY PROPS
NAVY SAR

-Chris
User avatar
Rotorhead
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 24
Joined: 31 Jan 2010, 09:10
Version: FSX

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by Rotorhead »

Victory103 wrote:Love the retro flight suits, I'm guessing you're on the front row kneeling. Do guys actually fly with them say "Friday patch" days?
You are correct, I am in the front row and I am wearing blue....but which one?

In Lemoore, Wednesdays were club days, so we always wore the "sh*t hots" on Wednesday. Usually Friday's were Desert Tan days. Most squadrons did the same.
james84

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by james84 »

Rotorhead wrote:
Dave Waffler wrote:Ahhh love it, Carrier Air Wing 2 rules again :)
Haha, Ya ya, here is a photo from when CAG-14 ruled the roost, 2006. Note two different tails, VFA-113 on this side, VFA-115 on the other. Now lets see who the first to pick me out in the photo is...
Has this photo been shot at Lemoore?
User avatar
Rotorhead
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 24
Joined: 31 Jan 2010, 09:10
Version: FSX

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by Rotorhead »

Has this photo been shot at Lemoore?
Yes, this was shot in 2006 at the front gate at Lemoore.
Dave Waffler
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 96
Joined: 30 Aug 2006, 22:43
Version: FSX
Location: Canal Fulton, OH

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by Dave Waffler »

Speaking of VFA-115, I noticed that they went back to Atsugi, and VFA-192 came back to Lemoore. Is 192 upgrading to the Super Hornet now?
User avatar
Rotorhead
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 24
Joined: 31 Jan 2010, 09:10
Version: FSX

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by Rotorhead »

Dave Waffler wrote:Speaking of VFA-115, I noticed that they went back to Atsugi, and VFA-192 came back to Lemoore. Is 192 upgrading to the Super Hornet now?
That is the plan I believe, but it changes from one day to the next who's transitioning and who isn't....
Dave Waffler
Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Posts: 96
Joined: 30 Aug 2006, 22:43
Version: FSX
Location: Canal Fulton, OH

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by Dave Waffler »

LOL, don't I know it!!! I was in VF-1 right before their last cruise. They were supposed to transition to the F-14D, but when they got back, they got word that they were standing down.
User avatar
Firebird
MAIW Admin
MAIW Admin
Posts: 12113
Joined: 11 Aug 2006, 21:04
Version: FS9
Location: EGLL

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by Firebird »

The answer, as always, will be money.
Steve
_______________________________________________________
Image
Quid Si Coelum Ruat
_______________________________________________________
User avatar
Victory103
Colonel
Colonel
Posts: 3977
Joined: 13 Aug 2007, 03:35
Version: P3D
Location: KPHX

Re: The "E" on this Hornet

Post by Victory103 »

Firebird wrote:The answer, as always, will be money.
Or airframe life, we have legacy squadrons flying older "A" models that are not "trapped out" yet. For the good ole Tomcats, I believe VF-11 had F-14D's, then had to trade them in for "B's" prior to their last deployment.
I know VFA-86 (MCAS Beaufort,SC) is on the list to transfer to Supers as the Growler deliveries continue.
DUSTOFF
ARMY PROPS
NAVY SAR

-Chris
Post Reply