[MilCom] Re: NavNews for Thursday, December 15, 2005

[Greg Brazil]

>                                    -USN-
> 
>  NNS051215-04. VFA-204 Returns to NAS JRB New Orleans
> 
>  By Chief Journalist Jay Cope, Naval Air Station New Orleans
>  Public Affairs
> 
>  BELLE CHASSE, La. (NNS) -- Naval Air Station (NAS) Joint
>  Reserve Base (JRB) New Orleans welcomed back Strike
>  Fighter Squadron (VFA) 204, Dec. 13, after an approximately
>  three-and-one-half month evacuation due to Hurricane Katrina.
> 
>  The squadron had been temporarily based at NAS JRB Fort
>  Worth in Texas. Several families, the squadron's advance
>  preparation team, and base personnel were on hand to cheer the
>  unit's return to NAS JRB. VFA 204 celebrated their return with
>  an eight-plane flyover of the base at approximately 2 p.m.
> 
>  More than 200 members of the unit and 12 aircraft departed
>  NAS JRB New Orleans Aug. 28, the day before the hurricane
>  made landfall. The unit regrouped at NAS JRB Fort Worth,
>  Texas, Sept. 8, where they maintained their intense training
>  schedule and adversary support for the fleet throughout the
>  evacuation.
> 
>  "I was very proud of their performance. On top of everything
>  else that was going on, they went right back to work," said
>  Cmdr. Andy Mueller, commanding officer, VFA-204. "It was
>  great to see the people and troops rise up to the occasion."
> 
>  According to Mueller, the VFA team was back to their normal
>  schedule a week after reporting to Fort Worth. Working out of
>  temporary office and work spaces fashioned out of shipping
>  containers, the unit has performed nearly 1,000 flight hours in
>  support of their training missions - including a training detachment
>  to Virginia Beach, Va.
> 
>  Except for a short break for the holidays, their schedule will
>  remain packed. The remainder of the squadron crew will return
>  Dec. 22 after packing up all of the unit's equipment.
> 
>  Their next detachment will be Jan. 30, although their training
>  schedule will begin earlier.
> 
>  While the unit was working out of Fort Worth, VFA-204's
>  spaces at NAS JRB New Orleans were used to house and
>  provide working spaces for thousands of service members
>  participating in the hurricane rescue, relief and recovery efforts.
>  Now that the base is returning to its primary function of training
>  and supporting aviation units, VFA-204 was finally able to return
>  home.
> 
>  The squadron personnel were understandably elated to be back
>  in New Orleans.
> 
>  "We couldn't be more excited to be home. The people at Fort
>  Worth were great ambassadors, but there is no place like home,"
>  Mueller said.
> 
>  VFA 204 is the first of the Naval air squadrons attached to NAS
>  JRB to return to New Orleans.
> 
>  For related news, visit the Naval Air Station New Orleans Navy
>  NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/nasno/ 
> <file://www.news.navy.mil/local/nasno/>.
> 
>                                    -USN-