Training Squadron TWENTY -THREE
Proudly nicknamed "The Professionals," Training Squadron TWENTY -THREE (VT-23) was originally commissioned in November 1958 as Advanced Training Unit (ATU) 222 at NAS Kingsville, Texas. The first squadron in the Naval Air Training Command to employ supersonic aircraft, ATU-222 instructed selected student pilots in advanced air-to-air gunnery in the Grumman F-11A "Tiger." ATU-222 completed its first year of operations accident free and was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award for 1959. The squadron was redesignated VT-23 in May 1960, and transitioned to the F-9F "Cougar" in 1965. In May 1969, VT-23 set an advanced training command record by flying 1,318.8 hours in a single week.
In 1970, the squadron again changed aircraft type - this time to McDonnell Douglas' TA-4J "Skyhawk." The TA-4J is the jet trainer version of the versatile light attack aircraft, which played a key role in United States' air strikes in Southeast Asia. Receiving a new mission of intermediate strike training in October 1972, VT-23 transitioned the T-2C "Buckeye" jet trainer.
In 1988, "The Professionals" recorded the largest single production year of an intermediate training squadron in over a decade, producing 33 students over its goal. In recognition, VT-23 was awarded its second Meritorious Unit Commendation for exceptional training effectiveness, safety achievement and operations records. In 1989, the command was presented the Admiral John H. Towers Safety Award for achieving the most outstanding mission-oriented safety record in the Naval Air Training Command.
This is the first of three repaints I did for the RAZBAM T2 Buckeye at request in the Forum. This is the texture only so you must have the RAZBAM T2 Buckeye original aircraft.
Proudly nicknamed "The Professionals," Training Squadron TWENTY -THREE (VT-23) was originally commissioned in November 1958 as Advanced Training Unit (ATU) 222 at NAS Kingsville, Texas. The first squadron in the Naval Air Training Command to employ supersonic aircraft, ATU-222 instructed selected student pilots in advanced air-to-air gunnery in the Grumman F-11A "Tiger." ATU-222 completed its first year of operations accident free and was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations Safety Award for 1959. The squadron was redesignated VT-23 in May 1960, and transitioned to the F-9F "Cougar" in 1965. In May 1969, VT-23 set an advanced training command record by flying 1,318.8 hours in a single week.
In 1970, the squadron again changed aircraft type - this time to McDonnell Douglas' TA-4J "Skyhawk." The TA-4J is the jet trainer version of the versatile light attack aircraft, which played a key role in United States' air strikes in Southeast Asia. Receiving a new mission of intermediate strike training in October 1972, VT-23 transitioned the T-2C "Buckeye" jet trainer.
In 1988, "The Professionals" recorded the largest single production year of an intermediate training squadron in over a decade, producing 33 students over its goal. In recognition, VT-23 was awarded its second Meritorious Unit Commendation for exceptional training effectiveness, safety achievement and operations records. In 1989, the command was presented the Admiral John H. Towers Safety Award for achieving the most outstanding mission-oriented safety record in the Naval Air Training Command.
This is the first of three repaints I did for the RAZBAM T2 Buckeye at request in the Forum. This is the texture only so you must have the RAZBAM T2 Buckeye original aircraft.
