A Marine Corps aircraft drew a phallus in the sky over California earlier this week.
Somebody needs to have a word with the crew of US Navy T-34C 160937 SHUTR91 out of MCAS Miramar 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/WgrgkKzRln
— Aircraft Spots (@AircraftSpots) October 23, 2018
Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Brian Block confirmed to Task & Purpose that the aircraft, from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, was “responsible for two phallic flight patterns noticed by a Twitter user” and posted Oct. 23.
USA TODAY reported that the patterns would only have been noticeable via flight-tracking programs, and not visible from the ground, citing the San Francisco Chronicle, which also pointed out that some people saw multiple phallic shapes in the flight patterns.
The T-34C is from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 101, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Spokesman Maj. Josef Patterson told Task & Purpose.
“We’ve opened an investigation that is underway as we speak. More to follow soon,” Patterson said.
This is not the first time the military has drawn a phallus in the sky with aircraft.
Last November, in 2017, officials at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island admitted that one of their aircraft was responsible for skydrawing a penis in the sky over Washington state, KREM2 had reported.
On Nov. 16, 2017, naval aviators in an EA-18G Growler drew a penis in the sky over Okanogan County, Washington, resulting in a social media frenzy over the incident after pictures and videos of it were posted on the internet.
Following the incident, the Navy grounded the aviators and apologized to everyone who was offended by the skydrawing.
The aviators of Electronic Attack Squadron 130 were disciplined after going before a Field Naval Aviator Evaluation Board. They were on a probationary period for six months.
The two lieutenants, who have yet to be identified, were using an EA-18G Growler to draw the penis in the sky.
A mother in Oregon had complained about the images to KREM2, saying that she was upset she may have to explain to her children what the drawing was.
“The Navy holds its aircrew to the highest standards and we find this absolutely unacceptable, of zero training value and we are holding the crew accountable,” the Navy said in a statement to KREM2.
“The actions of this aircrew are wholly unacceptable and antithetical to Navy core values” a statement from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island read. “The Navy apologizes for this irresponsible and immature act, and anyone who was offended by this unacceptable action.”
“Sophomoric and immature antics of a sexual nature have no place in Naval aviation today,” Vice Admiral Mike Shoemaker said in a statement. “We will investigate this incident to get all the facts and act accordingly.”
Here is a video of the Navy lieutenants skydrawing a penis:
The phallic skydrawing even garnered its own Christmas ornament last year, as one of the most viral moments of the year.
The Christmas ornament, named “EA-18G Growler Sky ‘Art’ Christmas Ornament,” was available for sale on the Planeform website for $10.
