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USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67):

Second Battle of Fallujah and Final F-14 Tomcat Cruise

Collection Number: AR/559

Deployment Dates: 29 November - 13 December 2004


F-14 launch from USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67) during 2004 deployment to Arabian Gulf
Caption: An F-14 Tomcat, piloted by LT Scott "SFTR" Elrod, VF-103, launches from USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67) in December 2004. The 2004 deployment of VF-103 was the final cruise of the F-14 Tomcat.
Catalog #: From Navy Archives Collection AR/559

History

USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67) and the attached Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN (CVW-17) provided significant support to coalition ground forces during the Second Battle of Fallujah, a major operation that took place in November-December 2004 at the pinnacle of the Iraq War. CV-67 was the only aircraft carrier deployed to the Arabian Gulf at that time. CVW-17 aircraft flew an average of 38 missions a day at the height of the second Fallujah assault.

The 2004 deployment of CV-67 was also the final deployment in which F-14 Tomcats launched from her flight deck. Following the return to homeport, the squadron which flew F-14 Tomcats, Strike Fighter Squadron 103 (VF-103), began the transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet. This was also one of the final deployments of TARPS (Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System), a camera pod mounted to the F-14 Tomcat.

Sea Control Squadron THREE ZERO (VS-30) Diamondcutters was also deployed for the last time. VS-30 flew S-3B Vikings. The squadron was deactivated in December 2005.

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Collection Overview

Two DET 206 reservists embarked on USS JOHN F. Kennedy (CV-67) in late 2004. The oral histories and other materials gathered by the reservists during their embark document the experiences of sailors and naval aviators during a significant period of conflict in the Middle East.

Once Navy Archivists finish describing the materials in this collection, we will provide a complete finding aid. The oral histories gathered during this DET 206 embark are described below. Common themes found in these oral histories include the material readiness of CV-67, an aging warship, combat experiences, operating conditions in the Arabian Gulf, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation SEA DRAGON, and Operation PHANTOM FURY and the Second Battle of Fallujah.

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Oral Histories

For each of these oral histories, the Navy Archives has digital audio and abstract files available.

Breeden, Michael JOC
Chief Journalist Officer, USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV-67)
Date of Interview: 5 December 2004
Interviewer: CDR Charles A. Beckum, USNR, Navy Combat Documentation Detachment 206
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV-67) ; KENNEDY; Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Journalist; Navy Culture; Public Affairs; Ship Newspaper “Honey Fitz”; Fallujah

Broughton, Hubert CAPT
Chief of Staff, Carrier Strike Group SIX
Date of Interview: 9 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Bill Engvall & CDR Charles A. Beckum, USNR, Navy Combat Documentation Detachment 206
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Chief Staff Officer; Operation SEA DRAGON; Fallujah; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Fleet Response Plan (FRP)

Brown, Walter CDR
Chaplain, USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV-67)
Date of Interview: 6 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: S JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Chaplain; United Through Reading Program

Brownell, Theodore CDR
Chief Engineer, USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV-67)
Date of Interview: 8 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Chief Engineer

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Carpenter, Reggie P. CDR; Evans, Joseph H. CDR; Wise, Jonathan LCDR; & Luley, Marc E. LT
Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHT THREE (VFA-83) Rampagers
Date of Interview: 9 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Operation SEA DRAGON; Fallujah; GBU-38 JDAM 500lb; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Fleet Response Plan (FRP); Close Air Support (CAS); Extended Close Air Support (ECAS); Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR); FA-18 Hornet; FA-18 Super Hornet; Operation PHANTOM FURY

Davis, Kevin ETCM
Command Master Chief, USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV-67)
Date of Interview: 6 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY; Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Command Master Chief; Deployment; Combat Operations; Negative Press; Death of a Sailor

Fallon, Karen CDR
Supply Officer, USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV-67)
Date of Interview: 6 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Supply Officer; Fleet Response Plan (FRP); Services Branch; Deployment Challenges

Fitzpatrick, Dennis CAPT
Commanding Officer, USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV-67)
Date of Interview: 6 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Commanding Officer; Operation SEA DRAGON; Fallujah; GBU-38 JDAM 500lb; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Fleet Response Plan (FRP); Flight Operations; Operation Iraqi Freedom

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Gardiner, Eric CDR & Johnson, Kevin CDR
Commanding Officer & Executive Officer, Airborne Command & Control Squadron 125 (VAW-125)
Date of Interview: 7 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); E-2 Hawkeye; Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC); Hawkeye 2000; Operation Sea Dragon; Fallujah; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Fleet Response Plan (FRP)

Guadagnini, Mark CAPT
Air Wing Commander (CAG), Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN (CVW-17)
Date of Interview: 6 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Operation SEA DRAGON; Fallujah; GBU-38 JDAM 500lb; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Fleet Response Plan (FRP); Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR); Close Air Support (CAS); Combat Missions; Deployment; Training; Combat Readiness

Haupt, Jeffrey CDR; Briller, Braden LCDR; & Petrock, Christopher LCDR
Strike Fighter Squadron THREE FOUR (VFA-34) Blueblasters
Date of Interview: 10 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Operation SEA DRAGON; Fallujah; GBU-38 JDAM 500lb; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Fleet Response Plan (FRP); Close Air Support (CAS); Extended Close Air Support (ECAS); Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR); FA-18 Hornet; FA-18 Super Hornet; Operation PHANTOM FURY

Landess, David J. CDR & Scudi, John LCDR
Commanding Officer & Operations Officer, Strike Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO THREE (VF-103) Jolly Rogers
Date of Interview: 7 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Operation SEA DRAGON; Fallujah; GBU-38 JDAM 500lb; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Fleet Response Plan (FRP); Close Air Support (CAS); Extended Close Air Support (ECAS); Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR); LANTERN; F-14 Tomcat; Deployment; Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS)

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Massey, William CAPT
Deputy Air Wing Commander (DCAG), Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN (CVW-17)
Date of Interview: 5 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Close Air Support (CAS); Operation SEA DRAGON; Fallujah; GBU-38 JDAM 500lb; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Fleet Response Plan (FRP); Combat Missions; Deployment; F-14 Tomcat

McCullough, Barry J. RADM
Commanding Officer, Carrier Strike Group SIX
Date of Interview: 5 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); COMCARSTRKGRU SIX; Operation SEA DRAGON; Fallujah; 500 lb Guided Bomb Unit 38 Joint Direct Attack Munition (500 lb GBU-38 JDAM); Collateral Damage; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Fleet Response Plan (FRP); Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF); Combat Missions; Littoral Combat Ships (LCS); Global War on Terror (GWOT)

McCulloch, Francis CAPT
Executive Officer, USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV-67)
Date of Interview: 6 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Executive Officer; Operation SEA DRAGON; Fallujah; GBU-38 JDAM 500lb; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Fleet Response Plan (FRP); Ship Maintenance; Leadership; Deployment

Munn, Matt LCDR
Electronic Attack Squadron ONE THREE TWO (VAQ-132)
Date of Interview: 9 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); EA-6B Prowler; VAQ-132; Operation SEA DRAGON, Fallujah, Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Deployment; Combat Missions

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Pierson, Randolph “Randy” CDR
Commanding Officer, Electronic Attack Squadron ONE THREE TWO (VAQ-132)
Date of Interview: 5 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Carrier Air Group (CAG); Operation SEA DRAGON; Fallujah; GBU-38 JDAM 500lb; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Fleet Response Plan (FRP); and VAQ-132 Scorpions; EA-6B Prowler; Deployment; Combat Missions

Schoaf, James CDR; Suggs, Bills CDR; & Other Squadron Officers
Sea Control Squadron THREE ZERO (VS-30) Diamondcutters
Date of Interview: 7 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); S-3; Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW); Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR); Commanding Officer; Operation SEA DRAGON; Fallujah; Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) video equipment; Mission Support; Final Deployment

Scholl, Ryan CDR; Hampton, Alex LT; Stanton, John LTJG
Strike Fighter Squadron EIGHT ONE (VFA-81) Sunliners
Date of Interview: 11 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); Operation SEA DRAGON; Fallujah; Advanced Tactical Forward Looking Infrared Radar (ATFLIR); GBU-38 JDAM 500lb; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Fleet Response Plan (FRP); Close Air Support (CAS); and Extended Close Air Support (ECAS); Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR); FA-18 Hornet; FA-18 Super Hornet; Operation PHANTOM FURY; Deployment; Training; Combat Missions

Scott, Marvin LT; Morgan, Matthew LT; Elrod, Scott LT; Foley, Stacey LT; Hill, Ryan LT; & Kochenash, Emily LT
Strike Fighter Squadron ONE ZERO THREE (VF-103) Jolly Rogers
Date of Interview: 9 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); F-14 Tomcat; Close Air Support (CAS); TARPS; Forward Air Controllers (FAC); LANTERN; Advanced Tactical Forward Looking Infrared Radar (ATFLIR); Fallujah; Deployment; Training; Missions

Tranhan, Skip CDR; Grady, Gregory LCDR; HoSang, Mangai AW1; & Rauen, Jonathon LT
Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron FIFTEEN (HS-15) Red Lions
Date of Interview: 10 December 2004
Interviewer(s): CAPT Engvall & CDR Beckum
Subject Terms/Key Words: USS JOHN F KENNEDY; KENNEDY Carrier Strike Group (CSG); HS-15; Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC); Fleet Response Plan (FRP); SH-60F; SH-60H; Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW); Search and Rescue (SAR); Special Operations Capable (SOC); Operation SEA DRAGON; Anti-Terrorism; Logistics Support; Missions; Deployment

Published: Mon Aug 23 10:33:43 EDT 2021