--- title: "Here’s Why A Toilet Is Hanging On A Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet’s Wing" description: "Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 25, better known as VFA-25 'Fist Of The Fleet,' showcased one of their [new F/A-18E Block III Super Hornets]() with a very unique store hanging under its wing — a toilet with an air-to-ground bomb-like empennage." date: "2022-09-18" modified: "2022-09-18" authors: - name: "Tyler Rogoway" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway" url: "https://www.twz.com/heres-why-a-toilet-is-hanging-on-a-navy-f-a-18-super-hornets-wing" categories: - "Air" - "F/A-18" - "Fighters" - "Naval Aviation" - "Navies" - "Sea" - "U.S. Navy" tags: - "Must Read Features" --- # Here’s Why A Toilet Is Hanging On A Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet’s Wing ![F/A-18 Super Hornet toilet]() *Courtesy of Wayne Toth* Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 25, better known as VFA-25 'Fist Of The Fleet,' showcased one of their [new F/A-18E Block III Super Hornets]() with a very unique store hanging under its wing — a toilet with an air-to-ground bomb-like empennage. There has to be a good story behind this Wile E. Coyote setup, right? Of course there is. ![]() **Courtesy of Wayne Toth*.* The Naval Air Station Lemoore-based unit has a rich history that dates back to World War II when the then VA-25 flew [Avenger torpedo-bombers]() in the Pacific. The unit's illustrious combat record was further built upon in Korea and then in Vietnam, flying the giant piston-powered A-1 Skyraider close air support aircraft. This is when the famed toilet-bomb came into existence. ![]() *The big piston-powered Skyraider shared carrier decks with then state-of-the-art fast jets during Vietnam. Here a Douglas A-1J *Skyraider* of VA-25 is seen on the carrier *USS Coral Sea* (CVA-43) in 1967.* A wonderful account of the bizarre contraption's origins comes from [Midwaysailor.com](), a fantastic site you should absolutely browse. It reads: > On November 4, 1965, CDR Clarence W. Stoddard, Jr., Executive Officer of VA-25 'Fist of the Fleet,' flying A-1H Skyraider Bu. No. 135297, NE/572, from Carrier Air Wing Two aboard USS *Midway*, carried a special bomb to the North Vietnamese in commemoration of the 6-millionth pound of ordnance dropped. This bomb was unique because of the type..... it was a toilet! > Also unique to this mission is the fact that this aircraft was named "Paper Tiger II" (a temporary name used for just this one flight.) > The following is an account of this event, courtesy of Clint Johnson, Captain, USNR Ret. Captain Johnson was one of the two VA-25 A-1 Skyraider pilots credited with shooting down a MiG-17 on June 20, 1965. > *"I was a pilot in VA-25 on the 1965 Vietnam cruise.* > *572 was flown by CDR C. W. "Bill" Stoddard. His wingman in 577 (which was my assigned airplane) was LCDR Robin Bacon, who had a wing station mounted movie camera (the only one remaining in the fleet from WWII.)* > *The flight was a Dixie Station strike (South Vietnam) going to the Delta. When they arrived in the target area and CDR Stoddard was reading the ordnance list to the FAC \[Forward Air Controller\], he ended with "and one code name Sani-Flush." The FAC couldn't believe it and joined up to see it. It was dropped in a dive with LCDR Bacon flying tight wing position to film the drop. When it came off, it turned hole to the wind and almost struck his airplane. It made a great ready room movie.* > *The FAC said that it whistled all the way down.* > *The toilet was a damaged toilet, which was going to be thrown overboard. One of our plane captains rescued it and the ordnance crew made a rack, tailfins and nose fuse for it. Our checkers maintained a position to block the view of the air boss and the Captain while the aircraft was taxiing forward. Just as it was being shot off we got a 1MC message from the bridge, "What the hell was on 572's right wing?"* > *There were a lot of jokes with air intelligence about germ warfare. I wish that we had saved the movie film. CDR Stoddard was later killed while flying 572 in Oct. 1966. He was hit by three SAMs over Vinh."* ![]() **USN*.* The 'E' seen on the toilet denotes the unit has been awarded the Battle Effectiveness Award. You can read more about [this achievement here. ]() https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjWMUQgWPjc&feature=emb\_logo So, now that we are done with the history lesson, I am sure you are wondering what circumstances brought back the 'Fist Of The Fleet' toilet-bomb. CWO3 Wayne Toth, a member of VFA-25, who shared his photos with us for this article, also gave us a little background on how the toilet-bomb was brought back to life: > I am the Gunner in now VFA-25. We had a change of command and decided to replicate it. This time on a brand new BLOCK III Super Hornet. > ... > One of my AO3s (AO3 Meagan Rickets) picked up a toilet from \[the\] marketplace, and I cut the steal, used Mk 76 lugs, made the tail assembly out of multiple dryer exhausts, and our Corrosion Control made the stickers. ![]() **Courtesy of Wayne Toth.** The change of [command ceremony]() occurred on September 16 at Naval Air Station Lemoore where the historic toilet recreation was so proudly displayed. During the ceremony, Commander Mark "IROC" Tedrow, a former Blue Angel, took over as skipper of VFA-25 from Commander Kristen Hansen. It was a perfect place for a fun callback to the proud history of the squadron. ![]() *Commander Mark Tedrow is replacing Commander Kristen Hansen as CO of VFA-25. *USN Photos.** And that is how the famous toilet-bomb was reborn. Great job to Toth and his squadronmates for putting the historical commode back under the wing of a 'Fist Of The Fleet' aircraft after all these years – we congratulate both Tedrow and Hansen on their achievements. Now, if we can only get a video of this thing being dropped — or maybe dumped is a better term — that would be great! *Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com* ## Author Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day. ### Author social links [Twitter]()