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Printed in EnglandAn F-5N Tiger II of VFC-
‘Fighting Saints’.
Jamie Hunter4 WELCOME
This year sees many signi cant milestones in
US Navy and Marine Corps aviation, with the
retirement of the EA-6B Prowler being a major
forthcoming event
6 UNITED STATES NAVY IN 2018
Interview with VADM DeWolfe H. Miller
United States naval aviation is in the midst of a
major upgrade as it continues with the transition
of all the major components of the carrier air
wing while also upgrading and introducing new
land-based aircraft of both the manned and
unmanned varieties
14 UNITED STATES NAVY
AND MARINE CORPS AVIATION
A YEAR IN REVIEW
A review of the major news stories around US
Navy and Marine Corps aviation from mid-2017 to
the present
20 TOPGUN
In 2019, the famous Navy Fighter Weapons
School (NFWS) — better known as TOPGUN —
celebrates its 50th anniversary. Jamie Hunter and
Brad Elward visit this world-renowned center of
excellence for naval aviation
28 HEAVY METAL
When US Marines need heavy-lift support, they
rely on the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion.
Joe Copalman meets those who uphold the
highest standards in CH-53E operations —
Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron
One (MAWTS-1)38 ‘JOLLY ROGERS’ AT 75
Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 ‘Jolly
Rogers’ marks the unit’s 75th anniversary
40 NAVY BACKS THE SUPER HORNET
Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is on a roll.
Having notched up its rst aerial ‘kill’, the US Navy
is standing behind the strike ghter and buying
more jets with enhanced capabilities
44 LAST CALL FOR THE PROWLER
With a single squadron of EA-6B Prowlers
remaining before impending retirement in 2019,
the US Marine Corps is squeezing every last bit of
use from these stalwart electronic warfare jets
50 MARINE MUSCLE
Jamie Hunter talks with the commanding o cer
of the 3rd Marine Air Wing, Maj Gen Mark Wise
58 SAINT ADVERSARY
VFC-13 ‘Fighting Saints’ ies the F-5 Tiger II in
the adversary role at NAS Fallon, Nevada. When
it comes to daily operations, its main job is to
provide a service
66 UNITED STATES NAVY
AIR POWER REVIEW
Tom Kaminski compiles an extensive overview of
US naval air power including a detailed directory
of units, bases and aircraft
86 UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
AIR POWER REVIEW
An in-depth look by Tom Kaminski at the units,
bases and aircraft that comprise US Marine Corps
air power in 2018CONTENTS.
An AH-1W Super
Cobra of VMX-1 at
MCAS Yuma.
Jamie Hunter3 Contents C.indd 3 01/06/2018 14: