F/A-18A+ VMFA-115
“Silver Eagles” BuNo 163133
These photos were taken at the
Quonset,
Rhode Island
airshow on 17/18 June 2005.
Two
Bobs Decals makes markings for this jet:
-
72-031
F/A-18A/C/D OEF/OIF Marine Hornets
-
48-062
F/A-18A+ Patriot Hornets
-
32-016
F/A-18A+ Patriot Hornets
Note
the name on the speed brake – Capt “Puj” Hooks. It is in memory of former
pilot Capt. Franklin Hooks II, assigned to the “Silver Eagles” of Marine
Fighter-Attack squadron One One Five (VMFA-115), who died in 2004. This marking
was added after the decal release.
I
got this excerpt from the Navy’s website:
“Hooks
died when his F/A-18 Hornet jet crashed while conducting exercises off the
aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman near the
Azores
Islands
on June 26. Hooks began his military career as an Electronics Technician when
he joined the Navy in 1990. In 1993 he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy,
from which he graduated in 1997.”
Also
note the flag/eagle markings are a bit different on the tails now.