This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Jon Stetz, LSCS
to remember
Sullivan, Sean P. (Sully), SCPO.
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Contact Info
Home Town Hagatna (Agana)
Last Address With HM-15 deployed from Norfolk.
Date of Passing Jul 19, 2012
Location of Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (VA) - St. Louis, Missouri
Senior Chief Aviation Warfare Systems Operator Sean P. Sullivan, 40, of St. Louis, Mo., and Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) Second Class Joseph P. Fitzmorris, 31, of West Monroe, La., died in a helicopter crash July 19 in Oman. They were declared deceased following an extensive search of the wreckage and the surrounding areas of the crash.
The MH-53E Sea Dragon, assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15, went down about 58 miles southwest of Muscat, Oman, during heavy-lift support operations, the Navy said in a news release.The crash was not a result of hostile activity, according to the Navy.
Other Comments:
Sean's love for his country was surpassed only by his love for his family. He was known as Sully to his friends and was as Irish as the Blarney Stone. He was a gentle bear whose hugs were legendary and frequent. Sean possessed a quiet strength and was kind and generous with a wicked sense of humor.
Born in Agana, Guam, Sean was a 1990 graduate of Lindbergh High School. A fourth generation sailor, he entered the United States Navy in 1991 and attended recruit training in RTC Great Lakes, IL.
Chief Sullivan also served ashore at Helicopter Training Squadron 8 NAS Whiting Field, Milton, FL, Naval Recruiting District, St Louis, MO. Sean has served two tours in Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15, once in Corpus Christi and, most recently in Norfolk, VA.
Sean was named NHA Region FOUR Air Crewman of the Year in 2006. Sean served in Operation Desert Storm, Desert Shield and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Three of the helicopter's five crew members were safely recovered. Search and rescue efforts for the other two were called off late Friday, the Navy said.
Another MH-53E assigned to the squadron has been providing assistance at the crash site.
An investigation is under way, the Navy said in the news release.
The three-engine MH-53E is able to operate from aircraft carriers and other warships and is mainly used for minesweeping operations.
Oman lies on the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. Along with Iran, it controls access to the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf that is the route for a fifth of the world's oil supply.
The Omani sultanate maintains close diplomatic ties with Washington and Tehran.
The Blackhawks of Squadron 15 moved to Norfolk Naval Station in 2009 from Corpus Christi Naval Air Station in Texas as part of military base closures. The unit includes about 600 people.
The squadron won an aviation battle efficiency award for its performance in 2011.
Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHT (HT-8) Eightballers Details
HT-8, along with its sister squadrons, HT-18 and HT-28, provides advanced helicopter flight instruction to all U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard helicopter flight students as well as international students from several allied nations. Students who successfully complete the program earn the right to wear the coveted "Wings of Gold." HT-8 flies the TH-57 Bell 206 JetRanger. The unit generally uses the call sign "Eight Ball" over the radio.
The three basic colors of HT-8's patch - red, white and blue - represent the colors of the U.S. flag, and are indicative of HT-8's nickname, "America's Squadron", created in the 1980s. The three colors also commemorate the universality of our squadron's students, instructors and staff hailing from all parts of the United States. The overall field is sectored into three equal portions to symbolize training for the three sea services of the US Navy, the US Marine Corps and the US Coast Guard.
A helicopter profile at the patchs center symbolizes advanced rotary training, and is orange to reflect the traditional color of orange on all Navy training aircraft. Interestingly, there are three versions of the tail rotor on the right side of the helicopter profile. The original version is a simple cross to indicate the blades of a tail rotor. Common lore is that a squadron commanding officer changed the tail rotor design during the Vietnam War to a peace sign, as a silent protest to the war. Then in the 1990s, another commanding officer devised yet a third design, a script-like 'S', this time reflecting the Sikorsky aircraft "S," probably reflecting his preference for Sikorsky aircraft - despite the fact that the squadron had by then transitioned to the TH-57 Sea Ranger, a Bell company product. All three versions of the patch are worn by squadron pilots to this day.
The cloud shape (some say it resembles the state of Georgia, backwards) and storm in the upper left quadrant are superimposed by helicopter turn needle and ball instruments, and indicate that students at HT-8 are trained in instrument flight. The orange helicopter profile is facing as if it is flying into the cloud, signifying the confidence HT-8's students have in their ability to fly in all weather conditions.
The 18 stars in the upper right quadrant - in the shape of an '8' - reflect the fact that advanced rotary flight students originally began their training at HT-8, completing only familiarization training (now known as 'contact' training) in this squadron. Following their fam solo at HT-8 the students would then transfer to HT-18 to complete the rest of their training (therefore HT-18 was "in the stars" for HT-8 students). In 1986 both HT-8 and HT-18 became "mirror image" squadrons, training students from contact flying through advanced tactics.
The gold wings in the lower quadrant symbolize the goal of all students who enter advanced rotary wing training at HT-8 - designation as an "unrestricted" naval aviator, or one who is uniquely qualified to fly both fixed wing and rotary wing naval aircraft.
