US Navy Grounds Aircrew over Lewd Sky-drawings in Washington

The US Navy has grounded the aircrew acknowledging that one of its aircraft was used in the drawing of male genitalia in the sky over a county in Washington state.

"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 officials were quoted as saying by KREM 2 news channel Friday. 

"The actions of this aircrew were wholly unacceptable and antithetical to Navy core values. We have grounded the aircrew and are conducting a thorough investigation -- and we will hold those responsible accountable for their actions. The Navy apologizes for this irresponsible and immature act, the navy said in a statement.

Photos and tweets were sent to local station KREM 2 by residents that displayed the skydrawing that some people say resembles male genitalia.

The Federal Aviation Administration said that unless the act posed a safety risk, there was nothing they could reveal about the flight and since they "cannot police morality."

The US Navy pilot was allegedly flying over the state on Friday before making the crude drawings before returning to the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island off the Washington coast.

Officials said that it was likely an F/A-18 Growler "that left a condensed air trail resembling an obscene image to observers on the ground.”

NAS Whidbey Island is currently home to the Navy's squadrons of the Growler electronic attack jets, similar to the F/A-18 Hornets used by the Blue Angels, and is also home to four 9-3 Orion Maritime Patrol squadrons and two Fleet Reconnaissance squadrons flying the Ep-3C Aries.