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VT-7 Eagles Patch - Plastic Backing
Aviators! Are you looking for a high-quality patch you'll proudly wear or display? Look no further than the VT-7 Eagles Patch!
- 3.7"W x 4.3"H
- Embroidered
- US Naval Aviator Owned Business
- Sew On
- Plastic Backing (increases rigidity; the patch lasts longer and stays flat)
Training Squadron SEVEN (VT-7), known as the Eagles, is one of four U.S. Navy strike jet training squadrons and one of two based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Meridian. VT-7, along with Training Squadron NINE (VT-9), make up Training Air Wing One of the Naval Air Training Command. In addition to providing advanced training for strike jets, VT-7 provides additional advanced training for airborne early warning and carrier onboard delivery aircraft. VT-7 also trains United States Marine Corps (USMC) aviators and select foreign military pilots.[1]Training Squadron SEVEN (VT-7) is the second squadron to be designated VT-7. In 1927, the squadron was established as Torpedo Squadron SEVEN flying the Martin T3M.[2] In 1946, VT was discontinued as a designation for US Navy air squadrons.[3]
In July 1958, Advanced Training Unit (ATU)-105 and ATU-205, located at Naval Air Station Memphis, consolidated to form Basic Training Group Seven (BTG-7).[4] BTG-7 trained using the T-28 Trojan and T-29 Seastar.[5] In July 1960, BTG-7 was based at NAS Kingsville and was redesignated Training Squadron SEVEN (VT-7).[6][7] In July 1961, VT-7 moved to NAS Meridian.[4] Five months later, VT-7 split to form VT-9.[5] In 1994, VT-23 was transferred from Training Air Wing Two to NAS Meridian, bringing the total number of training squadrons at NAS Meridian to three. In 1999, the Navy decreased the number of squadrons in Training Air Wing One to two to mirror the total number of squadrons in Training Air Wing Two and deactivated VT-23. The instructors from VT-23 were moved to VT-7.[8]
From 1962 to 1971, VT-7 operated the T-2A Buckeye. By 1972, the Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk began being used to train pilots for advanced strike missions.[5] VT-7 was the only Training Squadron to use the TA-4J to train foreign military pilots, including pilots from France, Spain, Italy, Kuwait, Thailand, Brazil, and Singapore. The last TA-4J left NAS Meridian in October 1999 and was transferred to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for storage.[9] The T4-AJ was replaced by the T-45C Goshawk as the primary training aircraft in 1999.[5]
VT-7 has trained over 4,200 US military aviators and over 360 foreign military aviators.[5]
The squadron has been awarded twenty Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Awards.[5]
