reliability  of  established  and  upgraded  weapons systems and materials. 1971.  Navy takes delivery of the AV-8  Harrier,  a fixed wing, vertical takeoff and landing (V/STOL) jet aircraft used for combat, and the EA-6B  Prowler,  the newest carrier-based sophisticated electronic warfare aircraft. The Navy also received the new CH-53A  Sea Stallion, a helicopter devoted exclusively to mine countermeasures. By towing specially designed magnetic and acoustical equipment, the CH-53 locates and activates enemy mines. 1972. The Navy receives its first new fighter aircraft in 14 years, the F-14 Tomcat, which replaces the aging McDonnell Douglas F-4   Phantom II. The war continued in Vietnam. Navy and Marine Corps pilots were being rescued, over land and at sea, by Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter crews. 1973.  The Vietnam cease-fire was announced, and U.S. forces start to withdraw. The Navy lost 529 fixed-wing aircraft and 13 helicopters, and the Marine Corps lost 193 fixed-wing aircraft and 270 helicopters in enemy actions. Operation Homecoming begins, which provides for the repatriation of prisoners of war (POWs). The   Blue Angels   became the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, located at Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida. 1974.  The Navy receives its new highly advanced, carrier-qualified, jet powered, turbofan S-3 Viking antisubmarine warfare aircraft that works in tandem with the SH-3 Sea King and SH-2 Seasprite helicopters in locating and tracking submarines. 1976. The Navy's last operational HU-16 Albatross seaplane, S-2 Tracker antisubmarine warfare, and C-117  Douglas DC-3  transport aircraft were stricken from service. All arrived or departed NAS Pensacola, Florida, and can be found at the Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida, or Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, the boneyard for obsolete military aircraft. 1979.  Navy carrier forces and air wings responded to five crisis situations around the world. USS Constellation   to a conflict between North and South Yemen; USS   Saipan   during the Nicaraguan turmoil; USS  Nassau  involved in response to Russian combat troops in Cuba; USS Kitty Hawk on alert in Korea; USS Kitty Hawk    and USS    Midway    conduct contingence operations during the Iranian hostage crisis. 1980s As Naval Aviation approaches its "Diamond Anniversary" decade, war erupts between Iraq and Iran as U.S. carrier forces maintain their deployment cycles in support of the Iranian crisis in the Arabian Sea, provide humanitarian support to Cuban refugees in the Caribbean, and defense capabilities for the Panama Canal. An increase in new technology and research produce new versions of the F/A-18   Hornet, SH-60 Seahawk, OV-10  Bronco, MH-53  Sea Stallion, and the V-22  Osprey, a fixed-wing, tilt-rotor aircraft. 1981. The first flight of the Space Shuttle (Columbia), with an all-Navy crew, launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. 1983. Combat  amphibious  assault  operations commence on the island of Grenada. Navy and Marine Corps air support was provided by Carrier Air Wing Six (CVW-6) aboard USS  Independence. 1986. Naval aviation celebrates its 75th anniversary while U.S. carrier forces attack Libyan targets with HARM, Harpoon, and Shrike missiles. The F-14 Tomcat, F-18 Hornet, and A-6 Intruder aircraft conducted low-level bombing and fighter support for the operation. 1988. Helicopter Squadron (HCS-5) was established. The first of its kind, with a primary mission of combat search and rescue (strike rescue) and special warfare support. It operates the HH-60  Seahawk. 1990s This decade begins with a "new world" order. The collapse of the Soviet Union left the United States as the world's only superpower. In the Middle East, Iraq invades Kuwait, a massive armada of U.S. Naval and Allied Forces converge on the region in support of "Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm." 1991.   The Navy launches massive aerial attacks with Tomahawk cruise missiles at predetermined targets in Iraq and Kuwait. U.S. Naval, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Allied aircraft of all types made a quick and decisive blow to the Iraqi ground and air forces, resulting in the liberation of Kuwait and the end of the Persian Gulf War. 1992.  The USS  Lexington, the Navy's unsinkable "Blue Ghost" of World War II, was decommissioned and turned into a memorial museum ship. The Navy takes delivery of its newest training aircraft, the T-45 Goshawk, which will replace the aging T-2 Buckeye and TA-4  Skyhawk. 1-5