Squadron Flight Log Entry

Command History: VS-35

Airborne Anti-Submarine Squadron Three Five was commissioned as the "Boomerangers" on 3 January 1961 at Naval Air Station Los Alamitos, California and was composed of 11 S2F-1 Tracker aircraft.  In July 1961 the fledgling squadron began a transition to the new and improved S2F-3, which would later be redesignated the S-2D.  1962 was a busy year for VS-35 as the squadron relocated to NAS North Island and deployed for the first time as part of Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Group Fifty-Seven (CVSG-57) on board the USS HORNET (CVS-12).  In 1963, VS-35 cruised a second time onboard USS HORNET and won the ASW "A" and the Air Operations "E" awards for performance excellence.

VS-35's third deployment aboard USS HORNET from August 1965 to March 1966 saw the squadron participate for the first time in combat operations.  Flying around the clock without fighter protection in support of operations in Vietnam, the Boomerangers maintained constant surface and subsurface surveillance in the Gulf of Tonkin. In addition to combat operations, the squadron made great contributions to Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Emission Control (EMCON) procedures during a CVS-12 / CVSG-57 Sea of Japan transit.  For their accomplishments during this combat deployment, VS-35 earned its first battle ribbon in March 1966.  Later that year, the squadron contributed to the space effort by assisting the USS HORNET in the recovery of the first Apollo capsule.

VS-35's fourth and fifth deployments in 1967 and 1968-1969 were once again onboard USS HORNET, and the squadron saw more combat operations in the Gulf of Tonkin.  By the summer of 1969, the squadron had received its third consecutive CNO Safety Award and proudly displayed the Safety "S" with two hash marks.

After their fifth deployment, CVSG-57 was disestablished and USS HORNET (CVS-12) was decommissioned.  VS-35 was reassigned as part of CVSG-53 and in May 1970 deployed to the Atlantic on USS WASP (CVS-18) for a short ASW exercise. On 17 May 1972, with just 5 days notice, VS-35 deployed on a three month WESTPAC with CVSG-53 on board USS TICONDEROGA (CVS-14) to the Pacific and participated in the mining of Haiphong Harbor in North Vietnam. 

Due to the continued drawdown of the S-2 Tracker and VS squadrons, the Boomerangers received orders to disestablish in May 1973.  One month later the squadron closed the books on twelve years of accident-free operations, when the Boomerangers officially disestablished on 30 June 1973. 

In October 1976, preparations were made to reestablish VS-35 to fly the new turbine powered Lockheed S-3A Viking.  Fiscal constraints prevented completion of this plan and the second VS-35 was disestablished on 30 March 1977.

10 September 1986 brought life once again to VS-35 as a pre-establishment detachment was set up.  The VS-35 Boomerangers flying the S-3A Viking were established on 3 March 1987 and assigned to the newly created Carrier Air Wing Ten (CVW-10).  Fiscal constraints again doomed the Boomerangers when the 18-month old CVW-10 was disestablished on 30 September 1988.  After just one brief at sea period aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65), VS-35 was disestablished for the third time on 1 June 1988.

The rebirth of VS-35 began once again on 3 October 1990 when Commander D. G. Heine assumed the duties of Officer-In-Charge of the pre-establishment detachment.  VS-35 was once again airborne with the official re-establishment on 4 April 1991, but this time adopted the nickname "Blue Wolves".  Flying the S-3A, VS-35 became part of Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN (CVW-14) attached on the USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) on 10 October 1991.

The transition to the S-3B in December of 1992 further expanded VS-35's role within the Battle Group, as the technologically advanced Viking became the premier platform in war-at-sea scenarios. In December 1993 the squadron was redesignated as Sea Control Squadron Three Five to better reflect its multi-mission capabilities.

On 17 February 1994, VS-35 deployed for the first time since 1972 aboard USS CARL VINSON to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.  In 1996, the squadron deployed a second time aboard USS CARL VINSON, once again in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.

VS-35 and Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN were reattached to the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72) Battle Group and deployed in June 1998 to the Western Pacific and the Arabian Gulf to support Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. This deployment proved highly successful for VS-35 with the command being awarded its second consecutive SEACONWINGPAC Commodore's Cup for weapon's excellence, the Arnold J. Isbell Trophy for ASW excellence, the SEACONWINGPAC Golden Wrench award, the CVW-14 and CINCPACFLT Golden Anchor awards, and the 1998 COMNAVAIRPAC Battle Efficiency (Battle "E") award. During two arduous work-up periods and WESTPAC deployment in 1998, VS-35 flew more than 2,700 embarked hours and accumulated over 1,230 arrested landings.

In the post deployment months of 1999, the Blue Wolves' continued to display their exceptional level of operational expertise during several combined exercises including the 1999 CVW-14 Tactical Exercise, a close air support (CAS) exercise in Twenty Nine Palms and an experimental AGM-84A Harpoon shoot at NAS Point Mugu. In October of 1999, the Blue Wolves won their third consecutive SEACONWINGPAC Commodore's Cup, a feat never achieved by any West Coast Viking squadron.

While deployed onboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN for WESTPAC 2000, VS-35 aircraft carried an advanced imaging package called the Surveillance System Upgrade (SSU).  Designed to further enhance the Viking's ability to provide timely information to warfare commanders by using Synthetic Aperture Radar to maintain an accurate and detailed surface track plot, the Blue Wolves SSU system proved to be an irreplaceable asset within the Carrier Battle Group. 

During calendar year 2000, VS-35 accumulated several awards to include the following: Commander, Sea Control Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet "Golden Wrench" Award and consecutive third and fourth quarter Safety awards; and the Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Battle "E."\

The beginning of 2001 saw the Blue Wolves return from a successful WESTPAC deployment. In keeping with their high level of readiness, the Blue Wolves hosted one Tactical Exercise at NAS North Island, while participating in another in NAS Fallon, Nevada. After the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center, VS-35 began the strenuous task of a preparing for an early deployment.

VS-35 departed San Diego in July 2002 aboard USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, as part of Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN for a Western Pacific Deployment in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and SOUTHERN WATCH.

Following a liberty port visit in Perth, Western Australia in January 2003 the LINCOLN Strike Group was ordered back to the Persian Gulf Region to commence combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM as part of the Fifth Fleet Strike Group. The typical six-month deployment turned into a ten-month "War Cruise".  The Blue Wolves contributed greatly to the liberation of the Iraqi people during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM by flying 411 sorties, and transferring 1.2 million pounds of fuel. 

On 1 May 2003, CDR John Lussier, the squadron Executive Officer, flew President George W. Bush aboard Wolf 700 to the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN to welcome the battle group home and make the announcement that major combat operations had ended in Iraq. This was the first time a Navy aircraft was designated NAVY ONE. Wolf 700 / NAVY ONE has since been placed on permanent display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida.

On May 2004, VS-35 departed NAS North Island for their final WESTPAC cruise.  They embarked with CVW-14 aboard USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN-74).  This cruise would find VS-35 supporting Northern Edge, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), and JASEX exercises.  The Blue Wolves completed their last cruise with an impressive 97 percent sortie completion rate and a 98 percent boarding rate.  Blue Wolf landing grades and boarding rates were the best in the Air Wing and earned the squadron the coveted CVW-14 "Top Hook" award for cruise.  Port visits included Victoria, British Columbia, Pearl Harbor, Sasebo, Japan, Port Kelang and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Fremantle, Western Australia, before returning to San Diego on 1 November 2004.

Just recently in December 2004, and February 2005, VS-35 certified the flight deck and then re-certified the Navy's newest carrier, the USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76), to complete their last at sea period.
Since initial establishment, VS-35 "Boomerangers" and "Blue Wolves" have accumulated over 87,000 hours, over 20,000 carrier landings, and have led the way in advanced technology and support measures. The award-winning multi-mission capable squadrons have been versatile and integral members of Carrier Anti-Submarine Air Group Fifty-Seven and Fifty-Three (CVSG-57 / CVSG-53) and Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN (CVW-14) in support of Sea Control and the Nation's defense.  Today's Disestablishment marks yet another chapter in Naval Aviation history.

Commander F. H. Alden, USN            January 1962 - December 1962
Commander W. T. Ziegler, USN         December 1962 - September 1963
Commander C. S. Williams, USN       September 1963 - August 1964
Commander R. G. Brand, USN           August 1964 - April 1965
Commander R. K. Reider, USN          April 1965 – March 1966
Commander T. E. Stone, USN            March 1966 – March 1967
Commander R. J. Harlow, USN          March 1967 – March 1968
Commander E. J. Klapka, USN           March 1968 – December 1968
Commander E. R. Callahan, USN       December 1968 – September 1969
Commander R. Scarafone, USN          September 1969 – July 1970
Commander M. G. Alexander, USN    July 1970 – May 1971
Commander C. W. Nelson, USN         May 1971 – April 1972
Commander S. E. Slack, USN            April 1972 – April 1973
Commander R. H. Miller, USN           April 1973 – June 1973
Commander W. C. Christenson, USN 
Disestablished                         October 1976 – March 1977
Commander L. E. Hilder, USN          
Disestablished                         March 1987 – May 1988
Commander M. H. Kaczarek, USN    
Disestablished                         April 1991 – March 1993
Commander D. G. Heine, USN           March 1993 – July 1994
Commander M. W. Luginbuhl, USN    July 1994 – October 1995
Commander D. E. Hepfer II, USN       October 1995 – January 1997
Commander L. S. McCracken, USN    January 1997 – April 1998
Commander L. M. Gillis, USN            April 1998 – September 1999
Commander G. F. Labuda, USN          September 1999 – December 2000
Commander J. S. McClain, USN         December 2000 – March 2002
Commander R. L. Hauke, USN            March 2002 – July 2003
Commander G. L. Looney, USN          July 2003 – September 2004
Commander J. P. Lussier, USN           September 2004 – March 2005
Commander G. M. Wilson, USN         March 24, 2005.
Disestablished

Officers of VS-35