Description
In 1956, the U.S. Navy decided to establish an annual competition between specially selected Navy and Marine Corps squadrons from both coasts.
The first such competition was named “Navy Fleet Air Gunnery Meet” and was held at NAAS El Centro, in June 1956. Six teams, selected from shore-based fighter units, competed with two firing runs each at 15,000 and 25,000 feet. Top team honors and the Earle Trophy went to VF-112 of AIRPAC (equipped with F9F-8B Cougars), and individual honors to Lt. A.N. Wellman of VF-43 (equipped with F9F-8 Cougars) of AIRLANT.
The Second Annual competition was named “Naval Air Weapons Meet 1957,” and was_ held again at NAAS El Centro, in April 1957. Among the eleven squadrons which competed, VMF-314 (equipped with F9F- 5 Panthers) won the Earle Trophy for first place in air gunnery, and VA-26 (equipped with F9F-8B Cougars) took the Kane Trophy for best in the newly introduced air-to-ground competition. Best individual score of the meet was made by Cdr. A. Vraciu, Commanding Officer of VF-51 and Navy Ace in World War II.
The Third Annual Naval Air Weapons Meet took place at NAAS El Centro, in April 1958. For this edition, the organizers introduced new competitions: the All-Weather Fighter VF(AW) and the Heavy Attack (VAH) tournaments. Twelve specially selected squadrons participated with top honors in their class going to: VF-I 11 (equipped with FJ-3M Furies) in Air-to-Air (Day), VF-213 (equipped with F4D-l Skyrays) in Air-to-Air (All-Weather), VA-126 (equipped with FJ-4 Furies) in Airto-Ground, and VAH-5 (equipped with A3D-2 Skywarriors) in Heavy Attack.
The Fourth and last Annual Naval Air Weapons Meet was held at – MCA.AS Yuma, between 30 November and 4 December 1959. MCAAS Yuma was selected to host this fourth edition because of the much •wider space available and accommodation facilities than El Centro. The meeting, named “Operation Top Gun,” was hoste9 by the Fleet Air Gunnery Unit (FAGU) Pacific led by the C.0. Cdr. James S. Brown. Seventeen squadrons competed and-the winners ·were: VMF- 232 (equipped with F8U-2 Crusaders) in Air-to-Air (Day), VF(AW)-3 (equipped with F4D-I Skyrays) in Air-to-Air (All-Weather F4D), VF-41 (equipped with F3H-2 Demons) in Air-to-Air (All-Weather F3H), VA-56 (equipped with A4D-2 Skyhawks) in Air-to-Ground (Jet Light Attack), VA-85 (equipped with AD-6 Skyraiders) in Air-to-Ground (Prop Light Attack), and VAH-4 (equipped with A3D-2 Skywarriors) in Heavy Attack.
It is not clear why the Navy suspended the organization of the annual meet after 1959. Most likely, budget constraints and operational commitments precluded the colorful gathering of so many squadrons at the same time.
