Commander, Carrier Air Wing FIVE last flight

The final flight of any Naval Aviator is a special event, but when that aviator is CAG (Commander, Carrier Air Wing FIVE), the day has even more significance.

Friday, more than twenty years after his first flight, VAW-115 hosted Captain Dick Mauldin on the last trap of his career aboard Independence.

After catching the OK-3 wire in Liberty 602, CAG was surrounded by Capt. Mark Milliken, DCAG, and many other Sailors wishing him well as he exited the Hawkeye. While congratulating him on his last flight, the group had an ulterior motive - to deliver the traditional dousing of water reserved for an aviator's last flight.

"That was really special," Mauldin said. "I really appreciated the gesture."

CAG's career spans four decades and three aircraft carriers. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1967 as a Chinese Mandarin and German linguist flying in the RC-135. After leaving the Air Force in 1975 to finish college, Mauldin joined the Navy in 1976 and earned his commission through the Aviation Officer Candidate School Program. He was designated a Naval Flight Officer in November 1977 and joined his first fleet squadron - VAW-117 "WALLBANGERS" aboard USS RANGER (CV-61).

Mauldin served with VAW-117 from March 1978 to March 1981. His next sea duty tour was aboard USS MIDWAY (CV-41) with the VAW-115 "LIBERTY BELLS" between July 1984 and December 1986. He returned to VAW-115 in 1991 as Executive Officer and assumed command in June 1992, this time aboard USS INDEPENDENCE (CV-62). After a successful command tour, Mauldin attended Naval War College. He then became Deputy Commander, Carrier Air Wing FIVE in August 1995 and assumed command of the Air Wing on 9 July 1996.

Captain Mauldin has 778 career traps, with 341 on Independence alone. During his career, he accumulated 3,476.7 hours, the majority in the E-2C Hawkeye.

Caption: Capt. Dick Mauldin completes his last trap on board Independence. PHOTO BY Lt.j.g. Norm Presecan.