VF-32 honors Columbia's crew - Brief Article

0 Comments | Naval Aviation News, July-August, 2003 | by Jesse Carpenter

Painting nose art on military aircraft dates back to WW I, reaching its height in WW II. From the toothy, sinister grins of the P-51s to the B-17s and their famous Vargas pin-up girls, nose art on combat aircraft has exemplified a squadron's unique spirit. In keeping with tradition, the Swordsmen of Fighter Squadron (VF) 32 have revived the time-honored practice. All of the squadron's freshly painted F-14B Tomcats now proudly sport a new look: a victorious knight on the field of battle holding the American flag in one hand and in the other, a sword held to the throat of a vanquished foe. Above the image the squadron motto is displayed in Latin, "Deus Et Patria," meaning "God and Country."

One of the squadron's Tomcats has a further addition. As the only squadron aboard Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) with an aircraft bearing the number 107, VF-32 deemed it fitting to paint a memorial on this fighter to honor the memory of the crew of the space shuttle Columbia, which broke apart upon reentry on 1 February. The Swordsmen added the letters "STS" before the 107 on the right side of the aircraft's nose. In addition, a silhouette of the space shuttle with the names of all STS 107 crew members is painted on both sides of the nose.

When asked how they came up with the idea, VF-32 maintenance control officer Ltjg. Jeff Tidd stated, "It was really a collaborative effort to honor and remember the crew of Columbia. It also had special meaning for the skipper as he was professionally associated with astronaut Cdr. William McCool. Each time anyone looks at 107, they can remember with pride the crew of Columbia, honoring their service to our country and space exploration. From the initial concept to the finished product, it represents the squadron's heartfelt tribute to those individuals."