By Staff
CEREMONY  Cmdr. Albert St. Clair, the new commanding officer of NAS Meridian's VT-9 Squadron, is congratulated by Mayor John Robert Smith. Photo by Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
Dec. 2, 2000
By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
NAS MERIDIAN With the smell of jet fuel in the air at West Hangar Bay, Cmdr. Albert St. Clair assumed command Friday of Naval Air Station Meridian's VT-9 "Tigers" Squadron.
He relieves Cmdr. Edward Wolfe, who is retiring after serving as commanding officer of VT-9 since December 1999.
St. Clair joined the U.S. Navy in 1981, serving for four years as a diving officer on submarine duty. He was then stationed in Pensacola, Fla., and went on to receive his "wings of gold" at NAS Meridian.
During Wolfe's tenure, the VT-9 Squadron logged 34,000 flight hours without accidents and flew over 20,000 sorties.
As part of the ceremony Friday, Wolfe was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal.
Wolfe joined the U.S. Navy in 1981, and served as an A-6E Intruder pilot for many years until the squadron was dissolved in 1994. Wolfe reported to VT-9 Squadron in 1998. In relinquishing his command, Wolfe said being involved in the "Tigers" squadron was one of the best experiences of his life.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.