The Navy has disciplined the two pilots responsible for the sky penis drawn in the sky over Washington state on Nov. 16.
The two unnamed aviators, belonging to Electronic Attack Squadron 130 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, were slapped with an administrative punishment, though the Navy was publicly mum on the exact nature of the punishment, The Washington Examiner reports.
“When they came down, the aviators were apologetic,” Navy spokesman Cmdr. Ron Flanders told The San Diego Union-Tribune. “The aviators admitted that they had done it after it occurred. When they appeared before the (Field Naval Aviator Evaluation Board) they were contrite. They realized that this was an embarrassment to Naval Aviation and the entire Navy. This sort of conduct is contrary to the core values of the Navy.”
Navy Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, who is in command of Naval Air Forces, personally disciplined the two pilots, who flew an EA-18G Growler in the shape of a penis, creating the outline in the sky with the exhaust of the plane. Such involvement from above is unusual, as discipline is usually handed down by someone lower in the chain of command.
Shoemaker determined that the actions of the pilot were “impulsive and immature,” but the pilots were not stripped of their wing insignia. They instead have been placed in a probationary status, which will last six months.
The Daily Caller News Foundation reported earlier in November that the call sign of the squadron commander is Navy Cmdr. Brendan “Tess” Stickles. It’s unclear if that call sign in any way prompted the drawing of the sky penis.
There’s still another investigation ongoing, which means more punishment could be coming down the pipeline.
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