The Navy's
Aviation
Ordnance Rating
Background
The Navy's Aviation Ordnance rating really began on April
9, 1915 when a Chief Gunners Mate and a Chief Turret Captain, along with several
other mechanics, were sent to Pensacola, Florida to work on what would be the
beginning of aircraft armament and ordnance systems.
The Navy accepted its first aircraft, a Curtiss Triad
(Hydroplane), on August 9, 1911. Early bombing tests were held in January and
February of 1913, at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in July 1914 at Indian Head,
Maryland. Twenty-two months later, in May 1916, the development of a gyroscopic
bomb-sight was initiated. On April 6, 1917, at which time the United States
entered into World War One, the inventory of the fledging air arm consisted of
the following: 45 seaplanes, six flying boats, three land planes, and one
airship. By September, 1917 two types of bombs were in service with a third type
coming into production, weighing 163, 270, and 216 pounds respectively.
Successful tests of machine guns were conducted between January and May, 1918 at
Pensacola, Florida.
In March of 1918, the Aviation Ordnance (AVORD)
sub-section in the Bureau of Ordnance, became a separate unit. Previously it
served as a division of the Surface Gun Mount section, dating back to the early
months of the war. As a separate group, they were given cognizance over the
procurement and technical aspects of machine guns, including mounts, sights,
fittings and ammunition. Other aviation ordnance items falling within AVORD
cognizance in 1918 were larger caliber guns, bombs, bomb racks, bomb sights,
pyrotechnic signaling devices, air launched torpedoes, aircraft torpedo
launching equipment, and training devices which include miniature practice
bombs.
Gunner's Mate (Aviation)
1918-1921
On August 12, 1918 the Commandant of the Pensacola,
Florida Naval Air Station recommended the establishment of the Gunner's Mate
(Aviation) - G.M. (A) rating. The commandant emphasized that men doing such duty
had no chance for advancement as they did not have the occasion to better
themselves in the specialty of the ratings held. The commandant listed the
ordnance items in which personnel should qualify to obtain the G.M.(A) rating,
including the ability to act as instructors and armorers. Although rating badges
(winged crossed gun barrels) for Gunner's Mate (Aviation) existed, official
directives authorizing the wearing of same did not exist. The specialty mark was
never included in the various changes issued between 1917 and 1921 to uniform
regulations. The rating of Gunner's Mate (Aviation), which extended from Third
Class through Chief Petty Officer, was officially listed in Bureau of Navigation
Circular Letter (BNCL) 158-18 of August 30, 1918.
Gunner's Mate (Assigned to Aviation)
1921-1926
By an Act of Congress, approved June 4,
1920, the Secretary of the Navy was authorized, at his discretion, to establish
such grades and ratings as necessary for the proper administration of the
enlisted personnel of the Navy and Marine Corps. The Gunner's Mate (Aviation)
rating was not included in this listing. An aviation designation for Gunner's
Mates who had qualified as aviation armament and munitions technicians, and were
attached to an aviation activity, were so identified by appropriate entries in
their service records. These Gunner's Mates functioned as the Aviation
Ordnancemen until mid 1926.
Aviation Ordnanceman 1926-
Present
The Aviation Ordnanceman rating was established at all
four petty officer grades of Chief, First, Second and Third Class authorizing 14
billets on March 2,
1926 as a rating within the Aviation Branch . These 14 AOs stared one of the
finest traditions of "CAN DO" ever known to the aviation community. The Aviation Ordnanceman rating was
filled initially from qualified personnel serving primarily with the ratings of
Gunner's Mate and Torpedoman (assigned to aviation). The Aviation Ordnanceman
specialty mark, a winged flaming spherical shell, was incorporated into Uniform
Regulations in January 1927.
November 5, 1958 marked the promotion of 15
Senior Chief Aviation Ordnancemen (AOCS) E-8 and two to
Master Chief Aviation
Ordnancemen (AOCM) E-9.
