APPENDIX C

NAVY SUBMITTAL


DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
WASHINGTON. DC 20350-2000	

In Reply Refer to 15 December 1992


MEMORANDUM FOR THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Subj: TAILHOOK 91 PROFESSIONAL EVENTS

1. Annual Tailhook Conventions have provided a unique
professional exchange between Navy leadership, industry, and the
largest assembled group of rank and file Navy aviators. Over
3,000 active, reserve, and retired aviators registered for the
convention. An estimated 2,000 additional persons attended the
convention, but were not registered. Tailhook success has always
depended on the quality of presentations and the rapport and
mutual credibility between presenters and audience. The Tailhook
'91 program began on Thursday, 5 September 92, with a
presentation by the Navy Safety Center on current trends in
aviation safety. The Lockheed Corporation followed with a
symposium on advanced aircraft technologies.

2. On Friday, the presentations had a strong emphasis on the
lessons learned during Desert Storm operations. The senior naval
aviator on the staff at Riyadh during Desert Storm described
joint planning for the air war and the effectiveness the allies
had in dismembering the Iraqi command and control system. The
air wing commander on USS MIDWAY briefed combat air operations
from the Persian Gulf. He covered the air threat encountered,
strike profiles for the aircraft, intensity of operations,
targets, and weapon loadouts and effectiveness. The air wing
commander on USS ROOSEVELT described naval air operations from
that vessel. He covered the difficulties of long range strikes,
including tanking, naval targets, use of electronic counter
measures and weapons, weapons loadout, coordination with the Air
Force, and intelligence and reconnaissance support. The Marine
air group commander described Marine Corps air operations from
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. He covered composition of the air
wing, tactics, integration with electronic warfare, and targets.
The Naval Air Systems Command gave an hour presentation on the
effectiveness of Tomahawk, air-to-ground ordnance, and air-to-air
ordnance. Specific comments were made on improvements to each
system made as a result of combat performance. A presentation
was given on reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence
support in the war. The discussion covered the lessons learned
in combat as to the effectiveness of intelligence support, F-14
reconnaissance missions and information, and remotely piloted
vehicles. The two most popular presentations were given by
aviators that had engaged Iraqi aircraft and on the POW
experiences of three aviators. Additional presentations were
given on strike rescue by the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV)
staff and representatives of the Sikorsky Corporation, the
development of the F/A-18E/F aircraft, and the development of the
AX aircraft.

3. On Saturday, the symposium began with a presentation by the Bureau 
of Navy Personnel on personnel issues facing naval aviators, including 
the expected 14 percent manpower reduction by 1996. This was 
followed by a presentation by the OPNAV staff on the future of naval air 
stations and future carrier air wing composition. The optimum mix of 
attack, fighter, anti-submarine, and support aircraft on carrier decks was 
evaluated in light of current and possible acquisition plans. An overview 
on naval aviation's likely budget constraints followed. The audience was 
told that the Navy is able to purchase only about three-quarters of the 
aircraft needed. VADM Dunleavy, Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for 
Air Warfare, gave the "state of naval aviation" at an awards luncheon. 
Awards were given to leading squadrons as well as outstanding pilots, 
naval flight officers, landing signal officers, and Marines. That afternoon, 
the Flag Panel, composed of nine flag officers, answered questions from 
the 2000 plus aviators in attendance. This forum (a town hall meeting) 
allows frank exchange of views between Navy leadership and the 
audience of mostly junior officers that is not possible under normal 
military protocol. The audience raised questions specifically on the 
design of the F/A-18E/F and AX, service life of the A-6 aircraft, 
effectiveness of the AV-8B aircraft, and weapons development-including 
various air-to-ground and air-to-air needs, adversary aircraft, class 
scheduling at Naval Fighter Weapons School, and composition of S-3 
aircraft squadrons. The status of women in combat was raised by the 
audience and discussed by the panel. The conclusion of the panel was 
that, if Congress directs the Secretary of the Navy to allow women to fly 
combat aircraft, the Navy will comply. That evening, the Secretary of the 
Navy spoke on the state and future of naval aviation.

4. The frank exchange of ideas at Tailhook continued to assist Navy 
leadership in planning for and resolving a variety of issues facing Navy 
aviation. Immediate positive results of the professional exchange during 
the convention were realized in new studies on the types of aircraft and 
training required for combat search and rescue. In addition, as a result of 
the shortcomings identified during the seminar on prisoners of war, Navy 
aviators flying over Southern Iraq in Operation Southern Guard are now 
carrying the hand held Global Positioning System.


R. D. MIXSON
Director, Air Warfare