VT-7 Eagles
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Patch
  • 1961 - VT-7's first patch was created by Dennis P. Alsgaard while at Naval Auxiliary Air Station Kingsville. The theme was an air warriors helmet resting on the book of aviation first patch displayed above.
  • 1968 - 1970, Plowback Patch, from Mike Gilmore
  • 1970, VT-7's Dixie Station T-2 Drivers Patch, from Mike Gilmore.
  • 1972, VT-7 eagle patch, from Harry S. Gann, is fourth patch displayed above.
  • 1982 - 1989, VT-7 El Centro, California Desert Detachment patch from Harry S. Gann.
  • 1997, modified eagle patch as drawn by Bud Southworth is number six above.
  • 1998, VT-7's Any Student, Any Country, Any Language Patch. Patch created by Brian K. Ivie, Grumman Technical Services, and provided by LCDR Mike Lowe, USNR. This is the seventh patch displayed above.
  • 1998, VT-7's Skyhawk Sun Rise / Sun Set Patch from LCDR Mike Lowe, USNR.
  • 1998, VT-7 Skyhawk / Enterprise CQ 1998. Patch drawn by 1st Lieutenant John Roundtree, USMC & LTJG Bob Pieroni, USN.
  • Detachment patches, numbers 10 and 11, are from Joe Turpen.

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Handle
Heritage
  • In the early 1950s, ATU-105 and ATU-205 of the Naval Advanced Training Activity at Naval Air Station Memphis, Tennessee.
  • In July 1958, ATU-105 and ATU-205 were consolidated into a single squadron which was redesignated as Basic Training Group Seven (BTG-7) in the Naval Basic Training Command.
  • In August 1960, Basic Training Group Seven was redesignated Training Squadron Seven (VT-7) at Naval Auxiliary Air Station Kingsville, Texas.
  • In July 1961, VT-7 moved to its present base, Naval Auxiliary Air Station / Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi.
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Home Ports
  • 1950: Naval Air Station Memphis
  • 1960: Naval Auxiliary Air Station Kingsville
  • July 1961: Naval Auxiliary Air Station Meridian
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Air Wings
  • 1950 - - - - - - - 2M - - - - - Naval Advanced Training Command
  • 1958 - - - - - - - 2M - - - - - Naval Basic Training Command
  • 1961 - - - - - - - 2K - - - - - Naval Air Basic Training Command
  • October 1971 - - - 2K - - - - - Training Air Wing ONE
  • 198?- - - - - - - - A - - - - - Training Air Wing ONE
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Deployments
Aircraft
Commanding Officers
Events
  • In the early 1950's:
    VT-7 originated under the Naval Advanced Training Activity based at Naval Air Station Memphis, Tennessee. The Naval Advanced Training Activity was comprised of two Advanced Training Units: ATU-105 and ATU-205.
    ATU-105 and ATU-205 initially used the Beechcraft TC-45 SNB (Secret Navy Bomber), the North American SNJ Texan and shortly later the North American T-28 Trojan.
    ATU-105 and ATU-205 also flew other aircraft. In the 1950s the Naval Air Station was assigned and maintained all aircraft used on the Station. Tenant commands could use any Naval Air Station aircraft - such as the TBM Turkey, F6F Hellcat, or F4U Corsair.

  • July 1958:
    ATU-105 and ATU-205 were consolidated into a single squadron named Basic Training Group Seven (BTG-7) and transferred to the Naval Basic Training Command. BTG-7 trained student Naval Aviators in basic instrument flying, utilizing two Beechcraft SNB-5 TC-45 Bug Smashers; fifty North American T-28 Trojans; and one hundred fifty Lockheed T2V-1 Sea Stars.

  • 1960:
    One of the more memorable events at Memphis was on the occasion of a mechanic running down the runway in a T-28 on a high-speed brake check. The brakes failed and he couldn't stop, so he added power and took off. The mechanic radioed a surprised tower and said "send somebody up here to get me down or I'm going to strap this chute on and jump". Out rolled the crash equipment and everything near the runway was cleared. People were standing on hangar roofs or any other good vantage point to see the action. A stalwart instructor went up in another T-28 and talked him down to a perfect landing (albeit that he couldn't stop) and rolled off the runway onto the grass. Thunderous applause!!!

  • June 1960:
    Basic Training Group Seven moved to Naval Auxiliary Air Station Kingsville, Texas, and began receiving a new single engine jet trainer, the North American T2J-1 or T-2A Buckeye, a two-place jet trainer and the forerunner of today's basic jet trainer.

  • In July 1960:
    Basic Training Group Seven was renamed Training Squadron Seven (VT-7). With the new Buckeye jet aircraft, VT-7 assumed a new mission of providing training in jet transition, precision aerobatics, basic and radio instruments, formation, gunnery and carrier qualifications.

  • July 1961:
    VT-7 moved to its present base, Naval Auxiliary Air Station (now Naval Air Station) Meridian, Mississippi. While transferring to Meridian, the gunnery and carrier qualification syllabus were assumed by VT-4 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

  • December 15, 1961:
    VT-7 divided to form a "sister" squadron (VT-9) which was assigned the same training mission. The 1961 flight-training syllabus provided 95 hours of flight instruction in the Buckeye trainer. Training was divided into six stages: transition, precision aerobatics, basic instruments, radio instruments, night familiarization and basic formation. Naval Air Station Meridian provided 170 hours of ground training in aerodynamics, flight support, meteorology, leadership and Naval organization.

  • December 15, 1961:
    VT-7 operated sixty T-2A aircraft. During this period VT-7 was charged with a secondary mission of training "Basic Jet" flight instructors.

  • April 1962:
    VT-7 received its first 10,000 Accident Free Hour Award from North American Aviation.

  • May 22, 1962:
    Student Ensign Bud Southworth flew his first instructional flight with flight instructor Captain W. Rutledge, USMC in T-2A Buckeye BuNo. 147436. The Transition instructional flight was one hour thirty minutes long. After a tour of the flying area and a demonstration of flight maneuvers the flight climaxed in five touch and go landings and a full stop landing.

  • August 1966:
    The VT-7 stable was increased from 60 to 73 Buckeyes in response to an increased training load created by the Vietnam War. During a three month test three twin-engine T-2B Buckeyes were assigned to VT-7 for evaluation as a Naval basic jet trainer.

  • October 1967:
    VT-7's T-2A inventory was expanded from 73 to 85 aircraft in anticipation of a greater pilot demands from the Vietnam War.

  • July 1, 1968:
    The basic jet training syllabus changed to a Phase A and Phase B, with VT-7 conducting Phase A training and VT-9 conducting Phase B training. Phase A consisted of 50.6 hours of T-2A jet transition, precision aerobatics, basic instruments, radio instruments and 180 hours of ground training. Phase B at VT-9 consisted of formation, night familiarization and transition to the new T-2B.

  • February 1969:
    VT-7 inaugurated a trial BI (Basic Instrument) First training syllabus. The first time a new student flew in the Buckeye jet was "under the bag" (A canvas tent placed over the student to prevent his seeing out of the aircraft and allowing only instrument flight from takeoff to landing). Students flew 11, one hour and a half Basic Instrument hops; 6, one hour and a half RI (Radio Instrument) hops -- before flying the VFR (Visual Flight Rules) Transition and Precision Acrobatic stages. The BI First training syllabus experiment was soon scrapped.

  • August 1969:
    VT-7's inventory of T-2A aircraft was increased to 109 because of the pilot demand created by the Vietnam War. VT-7 was now the Navy's largest jet squadron

  • April 23, 1970:
    Ensign Avila was Flight Instructor Lieutenant Bud Southworth's last student instructional hop in VT-7, flying T-2A BuNo. 148223 for 1.6 hours on a Basic Instrument 4 hop. The final final landing was at 16:40 local time.

  • October 27, 1970:
    Training Squadron Seven's T-2A Buckeye fleet was augmented by the addition of the newest member of the T-2 Buckeye family. The first twin-engined T-2C was received and in November a new one-squadron jet-training program was initiated. The T-2C syllabus added formation and night transition training to the normal T-2A training. The squadron completed 1970 with seventy-two T-2As and fourteen T-2Cs.

  • February 1971:
    VT-7 and VT-9 changed their training syllabus from "series flow" to "parallel flow". Each squadron provided the same training and became responsible for carrier qualifications. In July 1971, VT-7 resumed training student aviators in carrier qualification. The first qualification of students aboard the United States Ship LEXINGTON CVT-16 on August 6, 1971 marked the end of ten years of no carrier training in VT-7. Students were now able to complete basic jet training at Naval Air Station Meridian. The number of T-2C Buckeyes at VT-7 increased from fourteen in January to forty-six in September 1971.

  • August 1971:
    A major concept change was made in the structure of the Naval Air Training Command. VT-9 split to form a "sister" squadron, VT-19, and both VT-9 and VT-19 assumed the entire basic training role at Meridian. At the same time, VT-7 transitioned to the TA-4J Skyhawk and took over the advanced jet training mission which included air-to-ground weapons delivery, low-level navigation, air combat maneuvering, and carrier qualification. This change allowed a Student Naval Aviator to complete his entire jet training at Naval Air Station Meridian.

  • October 1971:
    Under the new "single-base" concept VT-7 became the Advanced Training Squadron for Naval Air Station Meridian.

  • October 14, 1971:
    VT-7 flew its last student T-2 Buckeye syllabus flight.

  • October 15, 1971:
    In a formal "change of aircraft" ceremony the T-2 Buckeye was retired and the McDonnell Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk was inaugurated. The Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk was flown by VT-7 until October 20, 1999. T-2 Buckeyes were transferred to Naval Air Station Chase Field during October through December 1971.

  • April 6, 1972:
    VT-7 Student Naval Aviators deploying from Forest Sherman Field at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida flew to the United States Ship Lexington CVA-16 in the Gulf of Mexico for the very first VT-7 / TA-4J Skyhawk Carrier Qualifications (CQ). (See the photo page)

  • April ?, 1972:
    VT-7, in conjunction with Training Air Wing ONE, completed its first advanced stage student and awarded Marine First Lieutenant ERNST his "Wings of Gold."

  • January 22, 1975:
    Training Squadron SEVEN completed its first Accident-Free Year in the TA-4J SKYHAWK and had amassed a total of 25,000 accident free hours by February 1975; 35,000 accident-free hours by July 1975.

  • December 1981:
    Training Squadron SEVEN, in conjunction with Training Air Wing ONE, had designated over 1,000 Naval Aviators in the TA-4J Skyhawk.

  • In 1984:
    VT-7 amassed a total of 99,772 accident-free hours; this period included 924 carrier landing and 2,838 consecutive Foreign Object Damage (FOD) free flight hours.

  • September 30, 1985:
    VT-7 reached its Pilot Training Requirement (PTR) of 91 naval aviators for fiscal year 1985.

  • August 30, 1986:
    VT-7 reached its Pilot Training Requirement (PTR) of 112 naval aviators for fiscal year 1986 and by the end of September had an excess of eight naval aviators.

  • September 1987:
    Training Squadron SEVEN reached its PTR of 135 naval aviators for fiscal year 1987.

  • April 1988:
    VT-7 bid farewell to its 300 enlisted maintenance personnel and switched to contract maintenance provided by Lockheed Support Systems.

  • In 1988:
    VT-7 had the distinction of being the only squadron in CNATRA to use single-seat A-4E Skyhawks for training flights.

  • September 1988:
    VT-7 again reached its PTR, winging 120 naval aviators for fiscal year 1988 and earning the CNATRA Training Efficiency Award.

  • December 1989:
    VT-7 again reached its PTR, winging 120 naval aviators for fiscal year 1988.

  • Fall 1989:
    VT-7 again met its pilot training requirement with 136 new Naval Aviators and extended its mishap free flying to 56,000 flight hours. The year witnessed successful completion of seven El Centro Detachments, including one of eight weeks duration, as well as four Carrier Qualification Detachments to NAS Key West.

  • January 1990:
    Training Squadron SEVEN (VT-7) was the Navy's largest jet training squadron using 55 TA-4J and A-4E Skyhawk aircraft.

  • 1997:
    Training Squadron SEVEN unique among the three United States Navy advanced strike training squadrons has the responsibility of training French, Spanish, Italian, Kuwaiti, Thai, Brazilian and Singaporean aviators in addition to United States Navy and United States Marine Corps Pilots.

  • October 10, 1997:
    At the Training Squadron SEVEN Change of Command, VT-7 was the United States Navy's largest advanced jet training squadron employing 49 McDonnell-Douglas TA-4J SKYHAWKS.

  • May 2, 1998:
    Mr. Bud Southworth trapped aboard the United States Ship John F. Kennedy CV-67 to observe VT-7 Eagle students carrier qualify and become Naval Aviators. This trap was twenty days short of a 36 year anniversary of Ensign Southworth's first flight with VT-7 on May 22, 1962.

  • August 10, 1999: The last Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk United States Navy VT-7 "Naval Aviator" student to trap:

    Lieutenant RUSS DAVID HORR, United States Navy is a 1990 graduate of Hamilton College where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science. Lieutenant Horr was previously designated a Naval Aviator, receiving Navy Wings of Gold on February 19, 1993. He flew SH-60B helicopters with HSL-37, at Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii and UH-1N helicopters at Naval Air Station Meridian. He was named to the Commodore's List during Intermediate Flight Training and carrier qualified in the TA-4J Skyhawk on board the United States Ship GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) August 10, 1999.

  • August 11, 1999: The last Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk United States Navy VT-7 students to trap:

    • Lieutenant Junior Grade CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL CONDON, United States Navy Reserve is a 1996 graduate of Georgia Tech University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. Lieutenant Junior Grade Condon was named to the Commodore's List during Primary Flight Training and earned a Navy "E" for strafing accuracy during Advance Strike Training. Condon carrier qualified in the TA-4J Skyhawk on board the United States Ship GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) on August 11, 1999.


    • First Lieutenant MATTHEW REILLY MCINERNEY, United States Marine Corps is a 1996 graduate of Holy Cross College where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. Lieutenant McInerney was named to the Commodore's List during Primary Flight Training. During Advanced Strike Training lie earned one Navy "E" for bombing accuracy and one Navy "E" for strafing accuracy. McInerney carrier qualified in the TA-4J on board the United States Ship GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) on August 11, 1999.


    • First Lieutenant DAVID AUGUST MUELLER, United States Marine Corps is a 1996 graduate of the United States Naval Academy where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in History. During Advanced Strike Training Lieutenant Mueller earned a Navy "E" for bombing accuracy and a Navy "E" for strafing accuracy. Mueller carrier qualified in the TA-4J Skyhawk on board the United States Ship GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) on August 11, 1999.


    • First Lieutenant JONATHAN ROBERT OHMAN, United States Marine Corps is a 1996 graduate of the United States Naval Academy where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering. Lieutenant Ohman was named to the Commodore's List during Primary and Intermediate Flight Training and carrier qualified in the TA-4J Skyhawk on board the United States Ship GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) on August 11, 1999.
  • September 10, 1999: The last VT-7, United States Marine Corps and United States Navy Skyhawk winging program:

    • First Lieutenant JOSEPH THOMAS BERTAGNA, United States Marine Corps.
    • Lieutenant Junior Grade CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL CONDON, United States Navy Reserve.
    • Lieutenant RUSS DAVID HORR, United States Navy.
    • First Lieutenant MATTHEW REILLY MCINERNEY, United States Marine Corps.
    • First Lieutenant DAVID AUGUST MUELLER, United States Marine Corps.
    • First Lieutenant JONATHAN ROBERT OHMAN, United States Marine Corps.

    • First Lieutenant KEVIN GEORGE REECE, United States Marine Corps.

  • September 30, 1999:
    • The last VT-7 Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk student to trap:

      Lieutenant JOSE VICENTE DE ALVARENGA, Brazilian Navy is a native of Belo Horizonte, Brazil and a 1990 graduate of the Brazilian Naval Academy where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. During advanced Strike Training Lieutenant Alvarenga received a United States Navy E for bombing accuracy. Alvarenga carrier qualified in the TA-4J Skyhawk on board the United States Ship GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73) on September 30, 1999. Lieutenant Alvarenga thus is the last VT-7 student to trap in the TA-4J Douglas Skyhawk.

    • The last VT-7 Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk pilot to trap:
      Training Squadron SEVEN Skipper Commander JAMES W. "Spot" GALANIE, United States Navy is the last VT-7 Skyhawk trapper in Douglas TA-4J, Skyhawk BuNo. 158110, side number 701.

  • October 8, 1999: The last VT-7 Douglas Skyhawk winging program:

    Lieutenant Jose Vicente de Alvarenga, Brazilian Navy. Lt. Alvarenga is the last VT-7 Student Naval Aviator to trap in the TA-4J Douglas Skyhawk on a United States Ship. He is also the last VT-7 Skyhawk Student Naval Aviator to be Winged.


  • The First Training Squadron SEVEN Boeing T-45C Goshawk Naval Aviator

    First Lieutenant Benjamin Kirk Hutchins, United States Marine Corps is a 1996 graduate of North Carolina State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Hutchins was named to the Commodore's List with Distinction during Primary Flight Training. He earned four Navy 'Es" for bombing accuracy and was selected as the "Top Bomber" in his VT-23 class. First Lieutenant Hutchins carrier qualified August 9, 1999 in the T-45C Gulfhawk on board the United State Ship GEORGE WASHINGTON CVN-73.
    First Lieutenant Hutchins completed advanced flight training with VT-23 but was not "Winged" before VT-23 disestablished on September 30, 1999 and its students transferred to Training Squadron SEVEN. First Lieutenant Hutchins was "Winged" October 8, 1999 and technically is a product of VT-7 and is its first Winged Naval Aviator.

  • Training Squadron SEVEN's first Boeing T-45C Gulfhawk student Naval Aviator Class number 2011 began October 4, 1999.

  • Wednesday, October 20, 1999 at 10:15 a.m.
    The last VT-7 Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk, BuNo. side number 730 departed Naval Air Station Meridian. The Skyhawk was flown by Commander Erick W. Gerdes, USNR of Reserve Detachment 182, Meridian, Mississippi. The last VT-7 TA-4J Skyhawk was flown to Marquette, Michigan to continue service as a ground training aid at the University of Northern Michigan Aviation School.

  • Today:
    Training Squadron SEVEN, is presently the Navy's largest advanced jet training squadron operating the Boeing T-45.
    The quality of instruction has always been a source of pride to the officers, men and women of VT-7. They continue to professionally pursue their challenging role of producing "The Best Jet Aviators in the World."

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    Awards
    • April 1961
      • North American Aviation awarded VT-7 its first 10,000 Accident-Free Hour Award.

    • September 1962
      • North American Aviation awarded VT-7 its second 10,000 Accident-Free Hour Award.

    • 1964
      • Training Squadron SEVEN won its first of fourteen Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Awards for representing not only a superior Safety record, but also an aggressive and professional approach to safeguarding the lives of all personnel.

    • February 1968
      • North American Aviation awarded VT-7 a 30,000 Accident-Free Hour Award.

    • 1978
      • The Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award was presented to VT-7 for the fourth time, for fiscal year 1978.

    • November 1981
      • Secretary of the Navy, John Lehman presented VT-7 with a Navy Unit Commendation for accomplishing the squadron's Pilot Training Requirement (PTR) for fiscal year 1980, while remaining accident-free for the year.

    • April 1982
      • The Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award was awarded to VT-7 for 1981. This represented not only a superior safety record, but an aggressive and professional approach to safeguarding the lives of all personnel.

    • May 1983
      • VT-7 received its sixth one year accident-free plaque and in October 1983 passed the 25,000 hour mark without an accident.

    • February 1985
      • VT-7 received its seventh Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award for one year accident-free and amassed a total of 25,000 accident-free hours by October 1985.

    • February 1987
      • VT-7 received its eighth Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award for one year accident-free flight and amassed a total of 61,309.4 accident-free hours by June 1987.

    • March 1987
      • VT-7 received the Training Efficiency Award from Chief of Naval Air Training.

    • September 1988
      • VT-7 once again earned the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) Training Efficiency Award.

    • January 1997
      • VT-7 was awarded the 1996 Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award and the Admiral John H. Towers Flight Safety Award for the best mission oriented flight safety program by the Chief of Naval Air Training Commands.

    • July 1998
      • Training Squadron SEVEN was the winner of the 1997 Vadm Goldthwaite Award for overall operational excellence. The Eagles not only excelled in all areas of the competition for 1997, but have maintained an outstanding record of sustained performance over their long history.


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    Sources
    • Dennis P. Alsgaard
    • Jean Orcutt
    • Harry S. Gann
    • Mike Gilmore
    • CDR L. E. Goewey, USN
    • LCDR PeeWee Hermann, USN
    • Mike Lowe
    • Ltjg Bob Pieroni, USN
    • Glen Puder
    • CDR W. J. Richardson, Jr. USN
    • J. C. Ritchie
    • 1/Lieutenant John Roundtree, USMC
    • Capt Todd Tetterton, USMCR

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