VT-6

Last updated
Training Squadron 6
Vt6 insig.jpg
VT-6 Insignia
ActiveJuly 1, 1956 - present
CountryUnited States of America
Branch United States Department of the Navy Seal.svg United States Navy
TypePrimary Training
Part of Training Air Wing Five
Garrison/HQ NAS Whiting Field
Nickname(s)"Shooters"
Motto(s)"Train Warriors and Develop Leaders."
ColorsSilver and Black   
Commanders
Commanding OfficerLt. Col. Justin M. Wortendyke
Executive OfficerCDR Jameson D. McCort
Aircraft flown
Trainer TC-45 Expeditor
T-28 Trojan
T-34B Mentor
T-34C Turbo Mentor
T-6B Texan

Training Squadron Six (VT-6) or TRARON SIX, known as the Shooters, callsign "Shooter", is a United States Navy primary training squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Whiting Field flying the T-6B Texan. The Shooters are one of five primary training squadrons in operation today.

Contents

VT-6 Black Tail "Shooter-058" Shooter058.jpg
VT-6 Black Tail "Shooter-058"

History

T-28B Trojan assigned to VT-6 in the 1970s T-28B VT-6 in flight c1975.jpeg
T-28B Trojan assigned to VT-6 in the 1970s

On July 1, 1956, Multi-Engine Training Group (METG) was established at NAS Pensacola. At the time, student aviators would receive primary training in the T-34B and intermediate training in the T-28B/C. On May 1, 1960, METG was redesignated into Training Squadron 6 (VT-6) as a primary squadron stationed aboard NAS Whiting Field in Milton, FL, flying the TC-45. At the time VT-6 provided primary and intermediate flight training for students, as well as advanced flight training for students in the rotary and lighter-than-air pipeline. During the T-28 era, VT-6 functioned as a complete training squadron, primary to advanced. With the introduction of the T-34C and T-6B, the mission of VT-6 shifted to only primary training. Since that time, VT-6 has served as one of five primary training squadrons in the Navy, responsible for initial training of Student Naval Aviators. [1]

Awards

See also

Related Research Articles

A naval flight officer (NFO) is a commissioned officer in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps who specializes in airborne weapons and sensor systems. NFOs are not pilots (naval aviators), but they may perform many "co-pilot" or "mission specialist" functions, depending on the type of aircraft. Until 1966, their duties were performed by both commissioned officer and senior enlisted naval aviation observers (NAO).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VT-4 (United States)</span> Military unit

VT-4 Training Squadron 4 is a training squadron of the United States Navy. Initially established as Basic Training Group NINE (BTG-9) in the 1950s, the squadron was redesignated as Training Squadron FOUR (VT-4) on May 1, 1960 and based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Air Station Pensacola</span> US Navy training base in Florida

Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola, "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits. It is best known as the initial primary training base for all U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard officers pursuing designation as naval aviators and naval flight officers, the advanced training base for most naval flight officers, and as the home base for the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the precision-flying team known as the Blue Angels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Air Station Corpus Christi</span> Naval air base in Texas, United States

Naval Air Station Corpus Christi is a United States Navy naval air base located six miles (10 km) southeast of the central business district (CBD) of Corpus Christi, in Nueces County, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Air Station Whiting Field</span> US Navy base near Milton, Florida

Naval Air Station Whiting Field is a United States Navy base located near Milton, Florida, with some outlying fields near Navarre, Florida, in south and central Santa Rosa County, and is one of the Navy's two primary pilot training bases. NAS Whiting Field provides training for U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force student pilots, as well as those of several allied nations. NAS Whiting Field is home to Training Air Wing Five.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval aviator (United States)</span> Officer qualified as a manned aircraft pilot in the US Navy or US Marine Corps

A naval aviator is a commissioned officer or warrant officer qualified as a crewed aircraft pilot in the United States Navy or United States Marine Corps. United States Coast Guard crewed aircraft pilots are officially designated as "Coast Guard aviators", although they complete the same undergraduate flight training as Navy and Marine Corps crewed aircraft pilots, and are awarded the same aviation breast insignia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weapon systems officer</span> Air officer in charge of armaments

A Weapon Systems Officer (WSO), nicknamed "Wizzo", is an air flight officer directly involved in all air operations and weapon systems of a military aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VT-9</span> Military unit

The VT-9 Tigers is one of four U.S. Navy strike jet training squadrons and one of two based at Naval Air Station Meridian in Mississippi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VT-10</span> Military unit

Training Squadron TEN (VT-10) is a training squadron of the United States Navy. The squadron is homebased at NAS Pensacola, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VT-86</span> Military unit

Training Squadron EIGHT SIX (VT-86), also known as the "Sabrehawks," is a United States Navy advanced jet training squadron based at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Training Squadron 86 is a tenant command of Training Air Wing 6. They are a training squadron flying the T-45C Goshawk. Their tailcode is F and their radio callsign is ROKT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saufley Field</span> Military airport in Escambia County, Florida, US

Saufley Field is a military airport and support facility located in unincorporated Escambia County, Florida, United States, five nautical miles (9 km) west of the central business district of Pensacola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HT-18</span> Military unit

Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHTEEN (HT-18) is a United States Navy helicopter training squadron based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. The squadron's mission is helicopter pilot training for U. S. Navy, U. S. Marine Corps and U. S. Coast Guard Student Naval Aviators and for selected foreign military flight students from basic helicopter flight training through winging, the squadron also provides indoctrination fights for Midshipmen and Flight Surgeons. Student Naval Aviators report to HT-18 for helicopter training upon completion of primary flight training conducted in the T-6B Texan II U. S. Navy primary flight trainer. HT-18 flies both the TH-57B Sea Ranger and the TH-57C Sea Ranger. The Squadron's nickname is "Vigilant Eagles"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HT-28</span> Military unit

Helicopter Training Squadron 28 (HT-28) is a United States Navy helicopter training squadron based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. The squadron, known as the Hellions, is one of three Advanced Helicopter Training squadrons that produces aviators for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. They fall under the command of Training Air Wing Five and fly both the TH-57B Sea Ranger basic helicopter trainer and the TH-57C Sea Ranger advanced helicopter trainer. The squadron's tactical call sign is "Lucky."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Air Training Command</span> Military unit

The Naval Air Training Command (NATRACOM) is a one star command that conducts flight training of student Naval Aviators, and Naval Flight Officers. Though it does not conduct Naval Aircrew training which is conducted by Naval Education and Training Command's Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC), it is responsible for monitoring the production of Aircrewmen through the Naval Aviator Production Process (NAPP). Through the NAPP, NATRACOM is also responsible for programming and monitoring the production of all Navy and Marine Corps Fleet Replacement Squadrons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VT-28</span> Military unit

The VT-28 "Rangers" is a U.S. Navy primary flight training squadron based at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Training Air Wing Five</span> Military unit

Training Air Wing Five is a United States Navy aircraft training air wing based at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, in Milton, FL. TW-5 is one of five training wings in the Naval Air Training Command, and consists of three fixed-wing primary training squadrons and three rotary-wing advanced training squadrons. The wing trains Student Naval Aviators from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard, as well as international allies with instructors of varying backgrounds and seniority from the aforementioned military branches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VT-22</span> Military unit

Training Squadron 22 (VT-22) or TRARON TWO TWO, known as the Golden Eagles, callsign "Blazer", is a U.S. Navy strike jet training squadron stationed aboard Naval Air Station Kingsville, flying the T-45C Goshawk. The Golden Eagles are one of four strike jet training squadrons in operation today, and are under the command of Training Air Wing Two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VT-21</span> Military unit

Training Squadron 21 (VT-21), known as the Redhawks, is a U.S. Navy strike jet training squadron stationed aboard Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas flying the T-45C Goshawk. The Redhawks are one of four strike jet training squadrons in operation today, and are under the command of Training Air Wing Two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Training Air Wing One</span> Military unit

Training Air Wing ONE is a United States Navy aircraft training air wing based aboard Naval Air Station Meridian, located 11 miles northeast of Meridian, Mississippi in Lauderdale County and Kemper County. TW-1 is one of five training air wings in the Naval Air Training Command, and consists of two jet training squadrons. The wing trains Student Naval Aviators from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and international allies. Following completion of primary flight training and selection of an advanced training pipeline, Student Naval Aviators are assigned to TW-1 for either intermediate and advanced strike pipeline training or advanced E-2/C-2 training in the T-45C Goshawk jet training aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VT-7</span> Military unit

Training Squadron SEVEN (VT-7), known as the Eagles, is one of four U.S. Navy strike jet training squadrons and one of two based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian. VT-7, along with Training Squadron NINE (VT-9), make up Training Air Wing One of the Naval Air Training Command. In addition to providing advanced training for strike jets, VT-7 provides additional advanced training for airborne early warning and carrier onboard delivery aircraft. VT-7 also trains United States Marine Corps (USMC) aviators and select foreign military pilots.

References

  1. "Squadron History". VT-6 Shooters. U.S. Navy. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  2. "VT-6 Earns Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award". MiltonLocal. Retrieved 19 May 2017.