Douglas Johnson

USS Franklin D Roosevelt

U.S. Navy

The USS Franklin D. Roosevelt was an aircraft carrier in the United States Navy named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was commissioned in 1945 and served during World War II, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War. The ship played a significant role in various military operations and was eventually decommissioned in 1977. The USS Franklin D. Roosevelt was the last U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to be powered by conventional steam turbines.

USS Coral Sea

U.S. Navy

The USS Coral Sea was a United States Navy aircraft carrier that served from 1947 to 1990. It was named after the Battle of the Coral Sea, a key naval engagement during World War II. The USS Coral Sea participated in various operations, including the Vietnam War and the Iran hostage crisis. It was decommissioned in 1990 and eventually scrapped in 2000.

VF-154, known as the "Black Knights," is a distinguished U.S. Navy fighter squadron originally established in 1946. The squadron saw extensive combat during the Korean War, flying F4U Corsairs, and later participated in the Vietnam War with F-8 Crusaders and F-4 Phantoms. In the 1980s and 1990s, VF-154 transitioned to the F-14 Tomcat, deploying on multiple occasions to the Persian Gulf and supporting operations such as Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom. In 2003, the unit was redesignated as VFA-154 and transitioned to the F/A-18F Super Hornet, continuing its legacy as an elite strike fighter squadron in the U.S. Navy.

Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron FOUR (VQ-4), also known as the "Shadows," was established in July 1968 to provide strategic airborne communications for the U.S. Navy’s TACAMO ("Take Charge and Move Out") mission. Originally flying EC-130G aircraft, the squadron transitioned to the EC-130Q, and later to the Boeing E-6A Mercury in the 1990s, enhancing its capability to relay messages from national command authorities to U.S. nuclear forces. VQ-4 played a vital role during the Cold War, maintaining continuous airborne alert and readiness. Based at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, VQ-4 continues to support national strategic deterrence and global communications as a key component of the Navy’s airborne command and control structure.

USS Ranger

U.S. Navy

The USS Ranger is a naval aircraft carrier that served in the United States Navy. It was the first US Navy ship to be designed and built as an aircraft carrier, entering service in 1934. The USS Ranger saw action in World War II, participating in operations in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. It was decommissioned in 1946 and ultimately scrapped in 1947.

VF-51, known as the "Screaming Eagles," was a distinguished United States Navy fighter squadron established in 1943. Originally flying F6F Hellcats during World War II, the squadron participated in major Pacific campaigns, earning a formidable reputation. Over its history, VF-51 transitioned through various aircraft, including the F-8 Crusader and F-14 Tomcat, and saw extensive combat during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The squadron was deactivated in 1995, marking the end of one of the Navy's most storied fighter units.