Commander, Naval Air Forces presented the Cmdr. Theodore G. Ellyson Aviator Production Excellence Award to the “Seahawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 41 at Naval Air Station North Island, California, July 1.
The award is named in honor of Cmdr. Theodore G. Ellyson, who was the first naval officer to undergo aviation training and who was designated Naval Aviator #1 in January 1914. Ellyson was instrumental in the development of all facets of Naval Aviation, including the establishment of the first flight training sites at Annapolis, Maryland, and San Diego, California.
The award is presented annually to the most efficient Naval Air Force Pacific and Naval Air Force Atlantic fleet replacement squadron (FRS), Marine Corps squadron, and two training squadrons from Chief of Naval Air Training that excel at meeting fleet training requirements.
As the West Coast MH-60R Seahawk FRS, HSM-41’s performance and production efficiency in fiscal year 2013 were exemplary, producing 142 fleet replacement pilots and 54 fleet replacement aircrew.
HSM-41’s mission is to train naval aviators, aircrewmen, and aircraft maintainers to fight, fly and fix the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.
[mappress] Press Release, July 03, 2014; Image: US Navy