Swampscott man flying high; Naval aviator receives Wings of Gold

SWAMPSCOTT-When Navy ensign James Morrison of Swampscott was designated a United States Naval Aviator on Friday, his father William Morrison Sr. had the honor of pinning the Wings of Gold on Morrison’s uniform, culminating two years of intensive flight training.Recently completing advanced helicopter training, Morrison said he learned basic maneuvers, tactics, instruments, low-level navigation, formation flight, night familiarization and shipboard landing.?It’s been a long road,” said Morrison. “But finally getting my wings makes it all worth it. Flying has been a life-long dream of mine, so I’m ecstatic to begin the next phase of my career.”Morrison will report in early May to HSCn3, a fleet replacement squadron in San Diego, Calif. to begin training on the MH-60S Seahawk, an aircraft designed for combat search and rescue, special warfare support, vertical replenishment and airborne mine countermeasures.?Being designated a Naval Aviator was the most incredible moment of my career so far,” he said. “The fact that I will have the opportunity to fly one of the Navy’s most technologically advanced helicopters is really icing on the cake.”Morrison took the first steps in his aviation career when he was a student at St. John’s Prep and worked after school and on weekends at Beverly Airport, where he received flight lessons in lieu of pay. After graduating from high school, Morrison attended the University of Maryland, College Park on a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship.After graduation, Morrison was commissioned as a naval officer in May 2007. His father, who is a former first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, administered the oath of office. After his commission, Morrison was selected for flight school and reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. for Aviation Preflight Indoctrination later that summer. While there he completed physical training and courses in engineering, air navigation, aviation physiology and water survival.After completing his training, Morrison reported for primary flight training at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas where he was trained to fly the T-34 turbo propeller, fixed-wing aircraft. He said the highlight of his primary flight training was his first solo flight on Feb. 13, 2008, two days before his 23rd birthday.After completing primary flight training, Morrison opted to fly helicopters, a decision that brought him to Naval Air Station Whiting field in Milton, Fla. As a member of Helicopter Training Squadron Eight (HT-8) Morrison completed a rigorous program and earned his wings. Morrison also received an official naval commendation in recognition for superior academic performance presented by Training Air Wing Five commander Col. John Walsh.His father said he was honored to pin the wings on the youngest of his four sons.?I remember when I was in the service my parents pinned the Lieutenant bars on me,” he said. “His being where he is today I have really seen his maturity and leadership qualities coming out. I’m concerned about him being in harm’s way someday but it’s what he wants to do. He always wanted to fly and made his dreams come true.”Morrison is scheduled to transfer to Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, Calif. where he will attend the Survival Evasion Resistance Escape School, a 12-day course designed to train its students in wilderness survival, evasion from hostile forces, interrogation resistance and escape from captivity.After six months learning to fly the MH-60S, he will be assigned to his first Fleet helicopter squadron.?I’m in a really great place right now,” he says. “I’m assigned to the best possible location and flying the best possible aircraft. At this point, it’s all in front of me and I’m excited to see what the future brings.”