LTjg Barbara Allen received the
wings of gold of a naval aviator on 22 February 1974. She became the
first female naval aviator in history.
Allen
and seven other women reported for flight training on March 2, 1973 at
Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. She was the first of her class to
win her Gold Wings and was designated the first female Naval Aviator in
history in ceremonies at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas, on
February 22, 1974. She was assigned to fly C-1s in Alameda, California
with a transport squadron and became the first jet qualified woman in
the U. S. Navy flying the T-39.
Lt. Cmdr. Barbara Allen
Rainey, the mother of two daughters, the Navy's first female aviator
was tragically the victim of a training crash in 1982. Her student was
also killed.
"Clutch" Commander Carrier Air Wing THREE
Captain Sara “Clutch” Joyner, a native of Maryland, received her
commission in 1989 graduating with merit from the United States Naval
Academy with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Oceanography.
After graduation, she attended flight school and earned her Naval
Aviator wings in July 1991 from VT-24 in Beeville, Texas. After
completing flight training, Captain Joyner reported to VC-5, the
“Checkertails,” in Cubi Point, Philippines to fly the A-4E Skyhawk. In
May of 1992, due to the imminent closure of Cubi Point, she was assigned
to VC-8, the “Redtails,” in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.
Captain Joyner reported to COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC in Lemoore, California
in November of 1994 as Assistant Operations Officer. She subsequently
received a transition to the F/A-18 Hornet and reported to VFA-125, the
“Rough Raiders,” for training in October of 1996.
Upon completion of her training as a Hornet Pilot, she reported to
VFA-147, the “Argonauts,” in May of 1997. Remaining with VFA-147 for
both her Junior Officer and Department Head tours, she completed two
Western Pacific Cruises to the Arabian Gulf aboard USS NIMITZ (CVN 68)
in September of 1997 and USS JOHN C. STENNIS (CVN 74) in September of
1999 in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. In November of 2001, she
again deployed with VFA-147 aboard USS JOHN C. STENNIS in support of
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. During her tour at VFA-147, she served in
many capacities, including the Department Head in Maintenance,
Operations, and Safety.
In January 2002, she reported to United States Joint Forces Command,
Norfolk, Virginia where she served in the Current Operations Branch as
Force Deployment Officer for the NORTHCOM, EUCOM, and CENTCOM Areas of
Responsibility in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI
FREEDOM. She reported to VFA-105 in November of 2006 as Executive
Officer.
In March 2007, Captain Joyner assumed command of VFA-105. On 2
November 2007, she led the Gunslingers on their combat cruise to the
Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Under her leadership
the squadron performed nearly 2,000 combat missions totaling over 4,900
flight hours and delivering 35,000 pounds of ordnance in support of
coalition ground forces in Iraq.
Captain Joyner recently completed her tour at OPNAV N88 as the Joint
Strike Fighter Requirements officer responsible for bringing the next
generation of carrier strike aircraft to the fleet.
Lots of AWESOMENESS in there. All GO and not too much show.
