Tailhook Association

{{Short description|Nonprofit organization of naval aviators}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = Tailhook Association

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| image = TailHook insignia.png

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| founded_date = 1956

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| location = Scripps Ranch, San Diego, California

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| leader_title = Chairman of the Board

| leader_name = RADM Mike "Nasty" Manazir, USN (Ret.)[https://www.tailhook.net/tailhook-officers]

| leader_title2 = President

| leader_name2 = CAPT Kristen "Dragon" Findlay, USN [https://www.tailhook.net/tailhook-officers]

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| website = https://www.tailhook.net/

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The Tailhook Association is a U.S.-based non-profit organization supporting the interests of sea-based aviation, with emphasis on aircraft carriers. The word tailhook refers to the hook underneath the tail of the aircraft that catches the arresting wire suspended across the flight deck in order to stop the landing plane quickly.

History

= Establishment =

The Tailhook Association was formed by active-duty naval aviators in 1956, eventually growing into a national organization headquartered in San Diego, California. During the Vietnam War, the annual Tailhook reunion and symposium also served to provide opportunities for aircrews from the Pacific and Atlantic Fleets to exchange information about events in Southeast Asia. The association evolved into an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to building camaraderie among those that have been a part of the Naval Aviation team. The purpose of the association is to foster, encourage, develop, study and support the aircraft carrier and sea-based aircraft and aircrews.

The [https://www.tailhook.net/tef Tailhook Educational Foundation] (TEF) was created in 1992 to educate the nation's public with regard to the history and present day activities of the US Navy carrier aviation community. TEF is a separate non-profit that works closely with, and in support of, the Tailhook Association, providing over 100 scholarships per year to Naval Aviation legacies.

= The Tailhook scandal =

{{further|Tailhook scandal}}

In September 1991, the 35th annual symposium in Las Vegas featured a two-day debriefing on Navy and Marine Corps aviation in Operation Desert Storm. It was the largest such meeting yet held, with 4,000 attendees including active, reserve, and retired personnel. According to a Department of Defense (DoD) report, 83 women and 7 men stated that they had been victims of sexual assault and harassment during the meeting. Several participants later stated that a number of flag officers attending the meetings were aware of the sexual assaults, but did nothing to stop them.{{cite book | last = Thompson II | first = Charles C. | year = 1999 | title = A Glimpse of Hell: The Explosion on the USS Iowa and Its Cover-Up | publisher = W. W. Norton | isbn = 0-393-04714-8 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780393047141/page/379 379–380] }}

The issues were never settled, and as late as 2002, the Tailhook chairman spoke dismissively of "the alleged misconduct that occurred in 1991".{{cite web|url=http://www.tailhook.org/ChairFa02.htm|title=From the Chairman: Tailhook Association At Your Service|author=RADM Frederick L. Lewis, USN (Ret)|publisher=The Tailhook Association|access-date=2007-08-13|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808003736/http://www.tailhook.org/ChairFa02.htm|archive-date=2007-08-08}}

Frontline on PBS reported:

Ultimately the careers of fourteen admirals and almost 300 naval aviators were scuttled or damaged by Tailhook. For example, Secretary of the Navy H. Lawrence Garrett III and CNO Admiral Frank Kelso were both at Tailhook '91. Garrett ultimately resigned and Kelso retired early two years after the convention.{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/navy/tailhook/disc.html|title=Post Tailhook Punishment|publisher=Frontline, PBS|access-date=2007-08-13}}

Author Jean Zimmerman developed the thesis that the scandal underscored the shifting status of women in the US military and particularly the role of women in combat.{{cite book|last = Zimmerman|first = Jean|author-link = Jean Zimmerman|title = Tailspin: women at war in the wake of Tailhook|year = 1995|publisher = Doubleday|location = New York|isbn = 0-385-47789-9|oclc = 31607961|url = https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780385477895}}

Activities

Among the Tailhook programs are publication of the quarterly journal The Hook, addressing historical and current events coverage; college scholarships via the Tailhook Educational Foundation; and local/regional "ready rooms" for active and retired members who support fleet activities.

Some visitors to US Navy aircraft carriers who joined or left the ship on a Carrier Onboard Delivery aircraft are issued "Tailhook certificates" by the Navy, commending them for "NAFOD and intestinal fortitude."Mother Jones, 28 Feb. 2013, [https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/02/us-navy-spends-4-billion-fuel-every-year The US Navy Spends $4 Billion On Fuel Every Year], retrieved 23 Aug 2013.

Awards

=James D. "Jig Dog" Ramage Award=

class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
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! Year

! Aircraft Carrier

! Carrier Air Wing

|2001{{USS|George Washington|CVN-73}}CVW-17
|2002{{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70}}CVW-11
|2003{{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72}}

|CVW-14

|2004{{USS|Harry S. Truman|CVN-75}}CVW-3
|2005{{USS|Harry S. Truman|CVN-75}}CVW-3
|2006{{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71}}CVW-8

{{Clear}}

=Tailhooker Of The Year Award=

Yearly award given to an individual who has made the most significant contribution to U.S. carrier aviation.

class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
style="background:#efefef;"

! Year

! Rank

! Recipient

! Service

|1963CAPTRichard "Doc" Phillips, MCUSN
|1964CAPTRobert M. ElderUSN
|1965VADMPaul D. StroopUSN
|1966VADMPaul H. RamseyUSN
|1967ADMRoy L. JohnsonUSN
|1968ADMThomas H. MoorerUSN
|1969VADMThomas F. ConnollyUSN
|1970ADMJohn HylandUSN
|1971VADMMaurice F. WeisnerUSN
|1972VADMWilliam D. HouserUSN
|1973VADMDamon W. "Hutch" CooperUSN
|1974VADMFrederick H. MichaelisUSN
|1975VADMRobert B. BaldwinUSN
|1976VADMJames B. StockdaleUSN
|1977VADMRobert P. CooganUSN
|1978ADMThomas B. HaywardUSN
|1979VADMFrederick C. TurnerUSN
|1980VADMG.E.R. "Gus" KinnearUSN
|1981RADMRobert E. KirkseyUSN
|1982ADMWesley L. McDonaldUSN
|1983VADMRobert F. SchoultzUSN
|1984RADMJerry O. TuttleUSN
|1985RADMPaul T. GillcristUSN
|1986VADMEdward H. MartinUSN
|1987CAPTByron L. DuffUSN
|1988CAPTL. Robert CanepaUSN
|1989CAPTArchie ManningUSN
|1990RADMEd AllenUSN
|1991CAPTJay CampbellUSN
|1992No Award
|1993RADMLyle F. BullUSN (Ret)
|1994CAPTFields RichardsonUSN (Ret)
|1995RADMFrederick L. LewisUSN (Ret)
|1996CDRRobert E. StumpfUSN (Ret)
|1997ADMLeighton W. SmithUSN (Ret)
|1998CAPTKen "Kilo" ParksUSN
|1999CAPTEvan "Streak" ChanikUSN
|2000VADMMichael L. BowmanUSN
|2001CAPTGeorge B. DomUSN
|LtColJames L. StalnakerUSMC
|2002CDRSterling Gilliam, Jr.USN
|LtColRaymond DammUSMC
|2003CAPT"Shortney" GortneyUSN
|LtColGary Lee "Lurch" ThomasUSMC
|2004CAPT"Cyrus" VanceUSN
|LtColWade E. "WZL" WeigelUSMC
|2005CAPTDon QuinnUSN
|MajPeter L "Mud Duck" McArdleUSMC
|2006CAPTKevin "Kid" DonneganUSN
|LtColJohn "Dog" JansenUSMC
|2007CAPT"Nasty" ManazirUSN
|LtColHunter "Hamster" HobsonUSMC
|2008CAPTBill SizemoreUSN
|2009CAPTThomas HaleyUSN
|2010CAPTDan "Undra" CheeverUSN
|2011CAPTMark DarrahUSN
|2012CAPTDavid SilkeyUSN
|2013CAPTSam PaparoUSN
|2014CAPTGregory FentonUSN
|2015CAPTGreg "HiFi" HarrisUSN
|2016CAPTScott "Topper" FarrUSN
|2017CAPTRichard "Snap" BrophyUSN
|2018CDRMike "Jockey" LisaUSN
|2019CAPT"Blades" DiennaUSN
|2020CAPTJohn "Yank" Cummings

{{Clear}}

=Lifetime Achievement Award=

class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
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! Year

! Rank

! Recipient

! Service

|1993RADMJames D. "Jig Dog" RamageUSN (Ret)
|Mr.Ron Thomas
|1994CAPTLarry FlintUSN (Ret),
|CAPTW.D. "Bill" KnutsonUSN (Ret)
|1995VADMWilliam D. HouserUSN (Ret)
|CAPTRobert M. ElderUSN (Ret)
|1996CAPTRichard "Chick" HarmerUSN (Ret)
|RADMPaul T. GillcristUSN (Ret)
|CAPTLou KriserUSN (Ret)
|1997CAPTWynn FosterUSN (Ret)
|CAPTC.A.L. "Cal" SwansonUSN (Ret)
|1998CDRJack D. WoodulUSNR (Ret)
|Mr.Barrett Tillman
|1999RADMThomas F. Brown IIIUSN (Ret)
|CAPTWalter M. SchirraUSN (Ret)
|2000CAPTLonny K. McClungUSN (Ret)
|CAPTRichard L. "Zeke" CormierUSN (Ret)
|CDRGeorge "Buddy" GilmanUSNR (Ret)
|2001CAPTRichard G. HanecakUSN (Ret)
|2002RADMGlen W. "Corky" LennoxUSN (Ret)
|CDRDean S. "Diz" LairdUSN (Ret)
|2003RADMFrederick "Bad Fred" LewisUSN (Ret)
|2004CAPTJack DavisUSN (Ret)
|2005CAPTJerry PalmerUSN (Ret)
|2006CAPTSteve MillikinUSN (Ret)
|CDRJan JacobsUSNR (Ret)
|2007CAPTGene CernanUSN (Ret)
|Mr.Wes Fry
|2008RADMLloyd AbbotUSN (Ret)
|ADMWesley McDonaldUSN (Ret)

{{Clear}}

=The Hook Magazine Contributor of the Year=

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! Year

! Rank/Title

! Recipient

! Service

|1987CAPTDone EastUSN (Ret)
|1988MrJohn Lundstrom
|MrJim Sawruk
|1989CAPTBill ScarboroughUSN (Ret)
|1990MrMike Weeks
|1991LTMark MorganUSNR
|1992No Award
|1993CDRErnie MaresUSN (Ret)
|1994CDRJack WoodulUSNR (Ret)
|1995LCDRRick MorganUSN
|1996CDRJohn B. NicholsUSN (Ret)
|1997MrThomas F. Gates
|1998MrMark Morgan (2)
|LCDRRick Morgan (2)USN (Ret)
|1999MsMargaret Bone
|2000LCDRE. Leigh ArmisteadUSN
|2001MsVivienne Heines
|2002MrFred Tannenbaum
|2003CDRPeter MerskyUSNR (Ret)
|2004PHCSBob LawsonUSN (Ret)
|2005MrTony Holmes
|2006CDRRobert R. "Boom" PowellUSN (Ret)

{{Clear}}

=Honorary Tailhooker of the Year=

(Sponsored by the Boeing Company)

class="wikitable" style="float:left;"
style="background:#efefef;"

! Year

! Rank/Title

! Recipient

! Service

|2001MsBarbara Woodbury
|2002MrJohn Ascuaga
|2003HonGordon R. EnglandSECNAV
|2004HonRichard DanzigSECNAV
|2004GenWilliam L. "Spider" NylandUSMC
|2005MrJon Winthrop
|2006AVCMJohn PorterUSN (Ret)
|2007CDREd "Tick" McCabeUSN (Ret)

{{Clear}}

References

{{reflist}}

Further reading

{{commons category|Tailhook Association}}

  • {{cite web| url=http://www.greatdreams.com/tailhook.htm| title=TAILHOOK (BOTHSIDES) The Dream and the Reality| date=2001-07-18| publisher=compilation by Dee Finney| access-date=2007-08-13}}
  • {{cite web| url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/navy/tailhook/| title=the navy blues: Tailhook '91| publisher=Frontline, PBS| access-date=2007-08-13}}
  • :de:Tailhook-Skandal

{{Authority control}}

Category:1956 establishments in the United States

Category:Non-profit organizations based in San Diego

Category:United States military support organizations

Category:United States Navy support organizations

Category:Organizations established in 1956