VT-23 Professionals


Courtesy of Frank Garza


JOIN The Skyhawks

The Squadron Duty Officer is the squadron contact point, who communicates
with former squadron members about squadron information, sea stories,
squadron pictures, scuttlebutt, and gathers information about squadron buddies.
Please contact the Squadron SDO as listed here.

The Table Of Content:
Patch:
Handle:
Aircraft:
Date Type First Received - - - - - - Type of Aircraft:
Heritage:
  • November 1, 1958 Advanced Training Unit TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO (ATU-222) established.
  • May 1, 1960 Advanced Training Unit TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO (ATU-222) redesignated Training Squadron TWENTY-THREE (VT-23).
  • September 30, 1999 VT-23 disestablished.
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Commanders:
  • 1973 - - - - - - - - - - - CDR Donald Martin.
  • 1998 - - - - - - - - - - - CDR J. E. Tibbels
  • 1999 - - - - - - - - - - - CDR W. V. Martin
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Home Ports:
  • Date - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Location:
  • 1958 - - - - - - - - - - - - - Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas
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Air Wings:
Date - - - - - - - - - - - - Tail code - - - - - - - Air Wing
  • No info yet
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Deployments:
Departure & Return - - - - - - - - Air Wing - Carrier - Aircraft - - Area of Operations:
  • No info yet
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Photograph Albums:
Squadron Photograph Album
Squadron Off-Duty Album (empty)
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Events:
  • November 1, 1958:
    Advanced Training Unit TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO (ATU-222) was established at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, flying the Grumman F-11 Tiger.

  • November 1958:
    ATU-222 was assigned the advanced pilot training final phases including: swept wing familiarization, formation flying, all weather instrument flying, tactics and air-to-air and air-to-ground gunnery.

  • May 1, 1960:
    Advanced Training Unit TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO (ATU-222) was redesignated Training Squadron TWENTY-THREE (VT-23).

  • June 1965:
    Training Squadron TWENTY-THREE was assigned the Grumman TF-9J Cougar. Carrier qualification and air-to-ground rocketry training were added to the syllabus.

  • April 1970:
    Training Squadron TWENTY-THREE was assigned the Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk.

  • October 1972:
    The Navy switched training concept to parallel flow and the "Single Base Training Concept." VT-23s training mission changed to provided basic flight training in Transition, Precision Acrobatics, Basic Instruments, Radio Instruments, Night Flying, Formation Flying, Air-to-air Gunnery and Carrier Qualification. Training Squadron TWENTY-THREE was assigned the North American T-2C Buckeye to accomplish basic flight training.
    Advanced flight training was now also accomplished at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. VT-23 graduates went "next door" to VT-21 or VT-22 for advanced flight training in the TA-4J Skyhawk .

  • 1982:
    Training Squadron TWENTY-THREE was tasked with Grumman E-2 pilot training comprised of 68 training flights in the T-2C Buckeye. In 1985 this task was transferred to VT-4.

  • 199?:
    Training Squadron TWENTY-THREE was assigned the Boeing T-45C Goshawk.

  • September 30, 1999:
    VT-23 Professionals were disestablished. Assets were transferred to Training Squadron SEVEN at Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi.
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Awards:
    Award - - - - - - - - - Inclusive Dates:
  • 1959 - - - - - - Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award.
  • 1960 - - - - - - Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award.
  • 1967 - - - - - - Top Jet Squadron Award.
  • 1970 - - - - - - Top Jet Squadron Award.
  • 1970 - - - - - - The John H. Tower Trophy.
  • 1972 - - - - - - Meritorious Unit Commendation.
  • 1973 - - - - - - Vice Admiral Robert Goldthwaite Award.
  • 1981 - - - - - - Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award.
  • 1982 - - - - - - Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award.
  • 1983 - - - - - - Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award.
  • 1984 - - - - - - Chief of Naval Air Training Effectiveness Award.
  • 1985 - - - - - - Chief of Naval Air Training Effectiveness Award.
  • 1986 - - - - - - Chief of Naval Air Training Effectiveness Award.
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Sources of information:
  • Frank Garza
  • Tony Suglio
  • Harry S. Gann

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