VT-2 Doer Birds


VT-2 Doer Birds - 1963
Patch drawn by Bud Southworth

Training Squadron TWO Doer Birds were never assigned the A-4 Skyhawk; but the Rooks were in the training pipeline for many Skyhawk pilots.

Aircraft:

Air Base:
  • 1956?: Naval Air Station Whiting North Field, Milton, Florida.
Events:
  • 194?: Basic Training Group TWO (BTG-2) established.
  • May 1, 1960: Basic Training Group TWO (BTG-2) redesignated Training Squadron Two (VT-2).
  • 1963:
    Training Squadron Two was redesignated from Basic Training Group TWO (BTG-2) in the 1950s and is located at Naval Auxiliary Air Station Whiting North Field. VT-2 provides instruction in TPA - Transition, Precision flight and Acrobatics. Transition, Precision flight and Acrobatics phases take approximately six to eight weeks, depending on the weather and other factors, to complete.

  • New student Naval Aviators start life at Whiting in ground school. Students attend class full days for the first couple of weeks and then half days when flight instruction commences.

  • Learning to fly the North American T-28C Trojan at Training Squadron Two is called the transition stage. The T-28C is a much heavier aircraft, has a larger and more powerful engine, and climbs and cruises much faster than the smaller Beechcraft T-34B, which the student flew in primary instruction at Saufley Field.

  • Transition phase is nine 1.3 hour instructional hops. The first eight flights are dual (with instructor in the back seat screaming at the stud). In the Transition phase the student is taught climb and let down procedures, simulated high altitude emergencies, preflight inspections, outlying field entry and full flap landings. The student Naval Aviator solos the T-28C on the ninth flight.

  • The eight Precision phase flights take an average of 9 flight hours to complete. In Precision stage basic air work is smoothed and wing-overs practiced. The student learns to make precision landings at one of Whiting's outlying fields. The precision landings are in fact carrier landings made on the runway. A box is drawn on the runway and the student pilot attempts landing in the boxed area. All landings from this point are simulated carrier landings -- no other type landing is taught.

  • The acrobatic training phase is a ten flight syllabus consists of four dual hops and six solo flights. There are four standard acrobatics maneuvers performed --- loops and barrel rolls; and the Immelmann and the half-Cuban eight. The stud learns that acrobatics is basically the same for all aircraft, the fundamental difference being power settings and air speed.

  • At the completion of TPA the student Naval Aviator is well prepared for transfer to VT-3 at Whitng South Field for basic instruments, night flying, formation and gunnery.

  • 2000 - the present: VT-2 is alive and well and flying the T-34C Mentor at Whiting Field.


Photos:
The road to Whiting - 1962.
The road to Naval Auxilary Sir Station Whiting Field. On top the far hill is the Whiting Field main gate.

Back to Ground School - 1962.
Before you can fly you have to go to more ground school. Let the festivities proceed.

North Field - 1962.
Here is the VT-2 bird farm - T-28s galore -- a big picture worth the wait to download. In the rear are the VT-6 spaces and twenty-two Secret Navy Bombers the Beechcraft SNB, TC-45J or Bug Smasher.

Naval Auxilary Air Station Whiting Field Tower - 1962.
NAAS North Whiting Field was 200 feet above sea level.

VT-2 Rook Flightline - 1962.
T-28C BuNo. 140063. Side number 2W 484 anchors the VT-2 flight line.


Return to the Navy Squadrons Page