Navy·Doctrinal shift·In Memoriam
Naval Aviation Observer (enlisted)
NAO
Served: 1922–1966
Non-pilot aircrewman who ran radar, navigation, tactical coordination, or aerology in the back of a multi-place aircraft — predecessor to the NFO designation.
The Story
The only known case of a Navy aircrew designation being killed *specifically* by nuclear-release policy. Enlisted hands on nuclear weapons was unacceptable to 1966 Pentagon leadership — so the rating disappeared rather than reshape the policy.
Epitaph
“Killed by the warhead, not the workload.”
Sources
- Wikipedia — Naval Flight Officeren.wikipedia.org
- CNATRA — Evolution of Naval Wingswww.cnatra.navy.mil