Cmdr. Jay Vannice replaced Cmdr. David Fritz as commanding officer of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 77, known as the “Night Wolves.” Although a reserve squadron, its aviators routinely deploy with their E-2C Hawkeye airplanes to the Caribbean and South and Central America, where they work with other federal agencies on counter-narcotics missions.

Share Fritz, a Belle Chasse resident who piloted his final flight in a Hawkeye Thursday, became the squadron’s commander in March 2009. He moves to Millington, Tenn., to work with a Naval Reserve Forces detachment. Vannice, a native of Anacortes, Wash., was Fritz’s executive officer. Vannice joined the Night Wolves in June 2005.

The newest addition to the air station, the squadron moved to Belle Chasse from Atlanta two years ago, the result of the 2005 base realignment and closure round. The squadron had been based in Georgia since its creation in 1995.

The squadron has about 180 active duty, reserve and civilian personnel and six airplanes. The airplanes are equipped with communications gear and sensors allowing it to detect aircraft and ships from long distances, equipment the squadron’s air crews used in the area following Hurricane Katrina by helping manage the aviation response to the storm.

The squadron, commissioned on 1 July 1960, is tasked with providing Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) services to the Navy’s SECOND, FIFTH, and SIXTH Fleets. VRC-40, homeported at Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia, operates the C-2A “Greyhound”. In addition to the COD mission, VRC-40’s 450 personnel are often tasked with a variety of other missions. Most recently, VRC-40 completed an unprecedented 379 sorties within 21 days in response to the earthquake in Haiti, carrying 1.1 million pounds of cargo and over 800 passengers.

With pride, the Rawhides are taking this opportunity to celebrate the sailors and the vital mission that they perform and have performed every day for the past 50 years. In anticipation of this momentous event, the squadron is planning a ceremony followed by an aerial demonstration with the C-2A “Greyhound” and its predecessor, the C-1A “Trader”. The day will conclude with a barbeque picnic at Breezy Point Park for all current and former Rawhides and anyone in attendance for the ceremony.
The schedule of events is as follows:
1000: 50th Anniversary Celebration & Change of Command, LP-48, Naval Station Norfolk
1200: Aerial Demonstration with C-1A & C-2A
1300-1700: BBQ Picnic at Breezy Point Park
Become a fan on Facebook: VRC-40 Rawhides 50th Anniversary or RSVP to vrc40turns50@gmail.com.

http://hamptonroads.com/2010/04/downed-navy-pilot-honored-norfolk-sacrifice
(Note: please copy this link and paste in your browser)

CAPT Hamlin Ortiz-Marty, a native of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, attended Kansas State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering Technology in May 1984. After attending Aviation Officer Candidate School, CAPT Ortiz was designated a Naval Flight Officer and selected for the E-2C Hawkeye. CAPT Ortiz’ initial fleet assignments include tours with VAW-114 and VAW-116 at NAS Miramar. He deployed aboard USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) and USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64). In January 2001 CAPT Ortiz reported to VAW-112 as Executive Officer and deployed on USS JOHN C STENNIS (CVN 74) for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He assumed command of the “Golden Hawks” on 7 April 2002 while the squadron was engaged in combat operations over Afghanistan. Additionally, CAPT Ortiz commanded the “Greyhawks” of VAW 120, the E-2C/C-2A Fleet Replacement Squadron, from February 2005 to October 2006. CAPT Ortiz’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Strike/Flight Air Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation and Achievement Medals. He is authorized to wear the Joint Staff Badge. During his career, he has accumulated over 2,600 flight hours and 545 traps. CAPT Ortiz is married to Pamela Lynn Ortiz-Marty and they have three children, Hamlin Jr., Virginia, Antonio.

Capt. Long graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, in June 1963. He entered flight training at Pensacola, Fla., and earned his wings in December 1964. His service included two major deployments to Vietnam and cruises to all of the world’s significant maritime areas. Among his awards are five Air Medals, the Joint Service and Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy and Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, and various other personal and campaign decorations. Capt. Long was devoted to his grandchildren and grand nieces and nephews. He loved carpentry, cooking, restoring old automobiles, collecting model trains and – as a former Eagle Scout- exploring the outdoors. As a result of his avid reading and boundless curiosity, his knowledge seemed limitless and conversations with him became memorable learning opportunities.

A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4, at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 712 Little Neck Road. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Lynnhaven Chapel, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.”

As an undergraduate, he attended the United States Naval Academy, where he was trained as a naval pilot and roomed with Arizona Senator John McCain. Dittrick also received a M.S. degree in operational research from the Naval Academy’s Postgraduate School and went on to teach both operational research and calculus at the Academy. He later received a doctorate in economics from American University.

Dittrick came to the College of William and Mary’s Mason School of Business in 1987 as a visiting professor in the M.B.A. program.  After retiring from the Navy, he left to work as the vice dean for undergraduate programs at the University of Southern California’s business school before returning to the College in 2001 to serve as associate dean of the M.B.A. program. He had worked at the College ever since. Dittrick specialized in economics and finance.

Circulation #800/Vol.I

Hello from the VAW-VRC Foundation!

This newsletter is to let you know what is happening with the Foundation and the VAW-VRC Ready Room on the Midway Museum.  We’ll also put the word out for the next reunion and the Hawkeye Greyhound Association’s next Symposium.

We extend our greetings to members and friends of the VAW-VRC Community and hope all had a great holiday season.

About the email that directed you to this newsletter.  We are working to develop an email list of VAW-VRC Community members in order to keep everyone up to date on Foundation and VAW-VRC happenings. If you know of others who would like to be included on our regular email updates, please send along their email addresses in response to this email. We also want to assure you that the addresses will only be used for Foundation purposes and will not be shared with any commercial entities.

Foundation News

We recently added a group of distinguished community members to our Foundation Board of Directors.
They are: Joe Grosel, Mitch Highfill, Vern Huber, Mark Milliken and Chuck Saffell. We welcome them
aboard and look forward to their contributions in moving the Foundation forward.

Tailhook ‘09

Tom Whitehead and Steve Squires of the Foundation recently attended Tailhook ‘09 where they met with active duty and retired community members and provided information about the VAW-VRC Foundation. It was great to rub elbows(and raise elbows) with our active duty VAW and VRC brethren.

7^th Annual International Hawkeye Conference

Aboard the USS Midway Museum. Foundation members Dave Daugherty, Mark Fellows, Pence Parsons and Tom Whitehead attended the International Hawkeye Conference reception on the Midway on November 3rd. They enjoyed the presentations by Rear Admiral Mike Bachmann, Commander, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command and Captain Ham Ortiz, Deputy CVW-14. They took the opportunity to showcase Ready Room 4 to the attendees and spread the word about the Foundation to U.S. and International Hawkeye Community representatives.

Website Improvements

We’ve recently upgraded our website – check out the changes at www.vaw-vrcreadyroom.org. We’ve added a blog where members of the community can post their thoughts on topics of interest to the community, re-establish contact with old squadron-mates and keep up to date on community news. We’ve also added a page called “Final Flight” which honors the memories of VAW-VRC community members who have passed away. Please feel free to submit names and write-ups to the Final Flight page.

Ready Room 4 on the Midway Museum is looking fantastic thanks to the continuing efforts of our dedicated volunteers. Please be sure to visit when you are in San Diego. Remember, admission to the Midway and to the VAW-VRC Ready Room is free for active duty members.

Symposium

The next Hawkeye Greyhound Symposium will be held at the Hilton Oceanfront Hotel, 31st and Atlantic Ave.,  Virginia Beach, VA in the Spring of 2010. Outstanding community panels, social events and a golf tournament will be featured at the Symposium.  The schedule for the Symposium is as follows:

Cocktail Reception – April 7, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Symposium – April 8, 8:00 am

Golf Tournament – April 9, time and location TBD

Reunion

We are planning the next VAW-VRC Reunion in October 2011. Look forward to more information on this great opportunity to reconnect with the members of the VAW-VRC community, past and present. As in previous years, the reunion will incorporate formal and informal dinner events, tours and a golf tournament. It will also be staged around the Miramar Airshow and the exciting activities around the Centennial of Naval Aviation. Mark your calendars and stay tuned to our website updates!

Volunteer Opportunities

We are looking for a volunteer to help keep the website up to date with items of interest to our community.  We also welcome photo submissions to the website as well.  Just respond to this email if you are interested!

Donation Opportunities

We always welcome your support and call your attention to the donation levels listed below. We’ve had an outstanding response from the community and want to extend our thanks to those who have contributed. We have had a significant number of contributions from family and friends who recognize that a patch on a Ready Room Chair in the VAW-VRC Ready Room is a meaningful way to memorialize a departed loved one.

Donation Levels and Recognition

Platinum Donation|$1000
Donor/Membership Card
(Lifetime Membership status)
Commemorative Coin,
Your Name on the Plank
Owner Plaque and on a Ready Room Chair

Gold Donation|$500
Donor/Membership Card
(Lifetime Membership status)
Commemorative Coin,
Your Name on the Plank
Owner Plaque and on the
Greenie Board

Silver Donation|$250
Donor/Membership Card
(Lifetime Membership status)
Commemorative Coin,
Your Name on the Plank
Owner Plaque

Bronze Donation|$100
Donor/Membership Card
Commemorative Coin

Nickel Donation|$50
Donor/Membership Card

If you choose to send your donation through the mail, the check can be made out to:“VAW-VRC Foundation”.

Please mail it to: VAW-VRC Foundation 9696 Businesspark Ave. San Diego, CA 92131

Corporate Donations

Corporate donations are also accepted by The Foundation. If you are interested in corporate sponsorship please contact:

CAPT Steve Squires USN (Ret)
5059 Ortega Forest Dr.
Jacksonville, FL 32210
W:904-810-4655/C: 904-806-2624
S1squires@comcast.net