Strike Fighter Squadron 81 (VFA-81) "Sunliners" Homecoming at NAS Oceana
Photographer: Mike Lynaugh - April 12, 2010
 
On April 12, 2010 I was privileged to be able to attend the homecoming of Strike Fighter Squadron 81 as they returned home to Naval Air Station Oceana following a 3 month deployment which included a humanitarian deployment to aid the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.  The squadron received the Humanitarian Service Medal for their disaster relief efforts.

I would like to thank Mike Maus, Kelley Stirling, and the family members and aviators of VFA-81 for permitting me to be a part of this amazing event, it is something I will never forget.

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3 year-old Grady Bowman waves an American flag in anticipation of his Dad, Lt. Commander Geoff Bowman's, return home. Lt. Cmdr. Bowman and his fellow aviators of VFA-81 "Sunliners" returned home to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh A "blue shirt" from VFA-81 "The Sunliners" awaits VFA-81's return home to NAS Oceana following a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
A formation of 10 F/A-18 Hornets from VFA-81 "The Sunliners" over-fly NAS Oceana during their return home following a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh A formation of 10 F/A-18 Hornets from VFA-81 "The Sunliners" over-fly NAS Oceana during their return home following a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
F/A-18 Hornets from VFA-81 "The Sunliners" break for landing at NAS Oceana during their return home following a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.  © Mike Lynaugh F/A-18 Hornets from VFA-81 "The Sunliners" over-fly NAS Oceana during their return home following a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
The family of Commander John "Cheezy" Capizzi watches him as he returns home to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh The family of Commander John "Cheezy" Capizzi watches him as he returns home to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
3 year-old Grady Bowman gives a big thumbs-up to his Dad, Lt. Commander Geoff Bowman, as he and his fellow aviators of VFA-81 "Sunliners" return home to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh Family members of VFA-81 aviators wait in anticipation as they return home to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
Family members of VFA-81 aviators wait in anticipation as they return home to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh The family of Commander John "Cheezy" Capizzi watches him as he returns home to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
Family members of VFA-81 aviators wait in anticipation as they return home to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh Family members of VFA-81 aviators wait in anticipation as they return home to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
Commander John "Cheezy" Capizzi's F/A-18 Hornet from VFA-81 "The Sunliners" returns home to NAS Oceana following a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh The CAG jet from VFA-81 "The Sunliners" after it's return home to NAS Oceana following a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
Commander John "Cheezy" Capizzi's F/A-18 Hornet from VFA-81 "The Sunliners" waves to his awaiting family as he returns home to NAS Oceana following a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh F/A-18 Hornets from VFA-81 "The Sunliners" after their return home to NAS Oceana following a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
Commander John "Cheezy" Capizzi is welcomed home by his daughter after returning to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh Commander John "Cheezy" Capizzi is welcomed home by his daughter after returning to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
Lieutenant Commander Chad "Petey" Schumacher is welcomed home by his daughter after returning to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh Lieutenant Commander Chad "Petey" Schumacher is welcomed home by his daughter after returning to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
Lieutenant Commander Chad "Petey" Schumacher is welcomed home by his daughter after returning to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh Commander John "Cheezy" Capizzi is welcomed home by his family after returning to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
3 year-old Grady Bowman gives a special "welcome home" card that he made for his Dad Lt. Commander Geoff Bowman. Lt. Cmdr Bowman and his fellow aviators of VFA-81 "Sunliners" returned home today to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh Lt. Dan Krause is welcomed home by his wife Jessica and daughter Kolbey after he and his fellow aviators from VFA-81 "Sunliners" returned to NAS Oceana following a 3 month cruise on the USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
Lieutenant Landon "Fistmeet" Foster is welcomed home by his wife after returning to NAS Oceana following a 3 month deployment aboard the USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh Lieutenant Landon "Fistmeet" Foster is welcomed home by his wife after returning to NAS Oceana following a 3 month deployment aboard the USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
An aviator from VFA-81"The Sunliners" is welcomed home by her family after she returned home to NAS Oceana following a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh Lieutenant Commander James "Cheeze" Presler is welcomed home after returning to NAS Oceana following a 3 month deployment aboard the USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
The CAG jet from VFA-81 "The Sunliners" after it's return home to NAS Oceana following a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh Lieutenant Commander Chad "Petey" Schumacher is welcomed home by his daughter after returning to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
The CAG jet from VFA-81 "The Sunliners" after it's return home to NAS Oceana following a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh Commander John"Cheezy" Capizzi's F/A-18 Hornet from VFA-81 "The Sunliners" after it's return home to NAS Oceana following a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
Commander John "Cheezy" Capizzi is welcomed home by his family after returning to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh Lieutenant Commander Chad "Petey" Schumacher is welcomed home by his daughter after returning to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh
Lieutenant Commander Chad "Petey" Schumacher is welcomed home by his daughter after returning to NAS Oceana from a 3 month deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. © Mike Lynaugh