ABOARD THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN – Flight operations on this Everett-based carrier resumed just after 7 a.m. Wednesday as a C-2 Greyhound left the warship for San Diego, Calif. to pick up members of the White House staff and three members of San Diego Chargers football team.
While that cargo and passenger plane will be coming back, 26 aircraft will be leaving the carrier for good today, starting with four radar-jamming Prowlers from Whidbey Island’s Electronic Attack Squadron 139.
The EA-6B Prowlers will start to fly off the carrier at 12:30 p.m. (PST).
Then, 20 minutes afterward, four E-2C Hawkeyes – early warning and air surveillance prop planes distinguishable by a large rotating disc on top of the aircraft – will depart for their home in Point Mugu, Calif.
Next to go home, to North Island, Calif. near San Diego, eight S-3B Vikings, the "Blue Wolves" of Sea Control Squadron 35. The anti-sub fighters/refueling aircraft start their departure at 1:10 p.m.
Lastly, 10 F-14 Tomcats from Oceana, Va. from Fighter Squadron 31 will fly off the carrier. Unlike other aircraft, the "Tomcatters" will not return to the USS Abraham Lincoln when the carrier returns to service after 10 months of repairs at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton. The Navy is phasing out its use of F-14s.
The four Prowlers will return to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station this afternoon. A homecoming is planned for the returning "Cougars."
Members of the White House staff coming aboard will join those already here in planning Pres. Bush’s visit on Thursday and Friday. The president is expected to declare the war in Iraq over, but his spokesman said today he will not declare victory.
Tuesday night, Rear Adm. John M. Kelly, the commander of the Lincoln’s battle group that included the carrier, six other warships and a nuclear-powered attack submarine thanked the squadrons on the Lincoln. He praised them for their work on the war on terrorism and the effort to liberate Iraq.
Medals were on the way, Kelly said.
To the men and women of Whidbey’s Cougars, he told them to be careful during their much-deserved time off, but also said to be prepared when they return to duty.
Iraq would not be the last war for America’s military, he said.
"There are still some folks out there that are pretty bad actors," Kelly said. "I’m telling you, there will be another one."
Afterward, members of the Prowler squadron agreed.
"I think he was spot on," said Cmdr. Scott Pollpeter, commander of Electronic Attack Squadron 139. "It’s not the end all, be all."
The Lincoln is returning to Everett after almost 10 months at sea. For the past several days, the ship has been moving at a quick clip of 30 knots or more.
As flight operations began early this morning, the ship slowed to 8 knots.
The departure of the Greyhound was the first aircraft to leave the deck since last week.
When it returns from San Diego, on board will be pro football players Donnie Edwards, a linebacker with the Chargers, as well as punter Darren Bennett and center/long snapper David Binn.
The aircraft carrier will pull into San Diego to drop off its air wing on Friday, the day after the president gives a nationally televised speech from the deck of the carrier.
The Lincoln will return to its homeport May 6. An ever-increasing homecoming celebration is planned.
The Abe won’t be the first ship home from the Lincoln’s battle group, however, to return from the war in Iraq.
The USS Camden, a fast combat support ship based in Bremerton, will return to its homeport May 5.
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