You are incorrect Captain. I'm active duty Navy as well, and trust me
when I tell you that there are a few SEALs that are presently
qualified as Naval Aviators. They do not fly any of the aircraft that
you mentioned below. They only fly non-military aircraft. Where they
are stationed does not matter. But they are indeed qualified. Take
care.



"Jake Donovan" wrote in message news:smQJa.21975$H17.17298@lakeread03...
John,

I am active duty. I am also work closely with NAVAIR, Air Warfare and
CNATRA and can tell you 100% that there are NO enlisted members of the Navy
qualified to wear wings of gold or silver. He may be a SEAL, but he isn't a
Naval Aviator. He may wear a SEAL Device, but did you ever see him wear
Silver Naval Aviator Wings? And YES, I have questioned the badges and quals
of many officers and enlisted in my job. And YES, there have been more
cases than we'd like to admit of active duty members wearing devices they
were not qualified to wear. Officers and Enlisted alike.

Last Enlisted Naval Aviator actually retired in 1980 and not 81 even though
it has been recorded as such.

"Annual Report, Bureau of Naval Personnel Statistics (Report 15658),
discontinued in mid FY 1993. Figures for enlisted personnel in aviation
rates for FY 1993*95 provided^directly from BuPers, PERS 221D.Note-Does not
include men in training. Aviation rates under Navy for years 1933*39 include
general service ratings assigned to aviation duty. Enlisted pilots
for1920*26 are included under aviation rates. All Navy figures for World War
II period, 1940*45, include Coast Guard. Figures not available for Marine
Corps, 1920*29.594UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910*1995Aviation Personnel
on Active Duty-Continued"

I for one would not climb into a FA18F with a WSO I have never met for a
test flight or PMH without 1st making sure he was indeed qauled. The
leather (or cloth patch) with NFO wings on it doesn't mean squat to me
unless I know the man personally, or I have seen his NATOPS jacket.

As for him being a pilot, sure, he could be, a private pilot. Heck, I know
civilian pilots who have been allowed pilot Naval aircraft. As for Secial
Ops in a C-12? There are no special OPs missions for C-12s. A C-12 is a
Beech (Raytheon) Super King Air Primary Function: Passenger and (UC12) cargo
airlift (Has been used for Med Evac and Maritime Aviation Training)

C141 and C17? Now you are either dreaming or your friend is pulling your
leg over your head and up somewhere else. The AF has its own Special Ops
teams and Pilots to fly them. I know of a couple of Navy test Pilots that
have a few hours in a C17, but to suggest an enlisted SEAL flys them
regularly for special OPs missions?

I talked to J B Hollyer yesterday and he laughed when I mentioned Special
OPs in C or UC-12s. Why? He is the former CO of VX20, NAWC - NAVAIR. They
do ALL testing and eval for the C-12. He did tell me the type may have been
used by other folks to run special OPs like drugs, but not in the Navy and
not by the SEALS. As for the C17 and C141, it took him a few minutes to pick
the phone back up and compose himself.

I may just call RADM Cocker tomorrow and put an end to this thread.


JD
Capt USN (no ret at the end of that title)