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HEAVY
ATTACK SQUADRON TWO
READY ROOM
The Glory days of the Skywarrior
Sent in by Bill Stearns
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The
consensus at the final breakfast meeting of Reunion 2010 at
Monterey was; we should consider the
East Coast as the
venue for Reunion 2012. To that
end Team East headed up by Des and
Tibby
Coffee
and assisted by Matt and Judy Gardner and Bill
and Irene Sterns is taking shape and is beginning the process of exploring
options. Given the fact that Des
and
Tibby
reside in
New Hampshire
and Matt and Judy live in
Maine
,
New England
is being given top consideration.
Thanks to our high tech world Bill and Irene are integral members of
the team and will have no problem supporting the effort from their
Maryland
home.
Some
preliminary thoughts for the reunion itself:
Ř
Time
Frame: Late September or early
October so those interested in combining the reunion with a little leaf
peeping can do so. The color
starts in the north about mid September and the line is normally down to mid
New Hampshire
,
Vermont
and
Maine
by the second week of October.
Ř
Possible
locations:
Portsmouth
,
NH
;
Concord
,
MA
; and
Boston
. All
three areas have associated military facilities, are rich in history and
abound in things to keep us occupied.
So
pencil in your calendars, work up an appetite for lobster and clam chowder and
stay tuned form more information as it becomes available.
And if you have any thoughts or inputs, they will be most welcome.
Just forward them to me at 2shotlatte@comcast.net.
Des
Coffee
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MONTEREY
CALIFORNIA REUNION
Pictures are posted - Check out Monterey Reunion.
(Click Here)
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Whidbey Whalers,
Monetary News:
Congratulations Whidbey! You have surpassed the
$50,000 mark and essentially have the money to prep an A-3 for flight, pay
for the fuel and crew, and pay for the de-mil at Whidbey (depending on the
aircraft condition). Attached are the donations and expenses to date. We
had a huge donation from “Island Thrift” of $10,000 and an additional
$15,000 from Whalers that served at Whidbey. I’ve got to say that I’m very
impressed with the Heavy organization in coming together so quickly to
display a Whale at Whidbey Island NAS. You have surpassed the VQ guys who
raised $40,000 to move 146457 from Rota to Yorktown.
There is a lot of work being done by
Ralph
Estes, Bill Burklow, Jim VanderHeok, Bill Young, Jim Vannice, Lanny Kee and
Digger O'Dell, and the other board members. I can’t understate the
amount of work and energy these guys have expended to make this happen.
They have expanded the original goal from $50 K to $100K with the
understanding that you have to get the Whale there and then you have to prep
the grounds, restore the bird, and display her.
Aircraft Selection:
Still too early to tell what aircraft will be made
available for Whidbey. However, the end of A-3 flights are upon us and the
drawdown of spare A-3’s has begun. Last month there were (4) A-3’s at
Mojave and today there are none, the parts warehouse there was also emptied
and scrapped. One jet was picked up by Castle and reportedly (1) nose
section was sent to Pensacola. Remaining are (4) flyers and (4) non-fliers
at Van Nuys, CA. It is just a theory but I assume that there will be a
decision on what critical flight testing remains; some A-3’s would be set
aside to fill that role, the other fliers would be allocated to a museum and
the non-fliers will be scrapped (essential parts retained to support
fliers). The one thing we do know at this time is that NMNA has Whidbey at
the top of the list when an A-3 becomes available.
Other news:
Please take care of our corporate donors.
·
Island Thrift – Donated $10K – I’m not sure what they sell but
please make a point to stop in, shop, and say thanks
·
Flyer’s Brew Pub – You have to stop there and have one of
their "Whale Golden Ale" beers!
·
Corey Propane – Not sure if they fill regular backyard grills
but if they do, that’s where I’d get my propane
Web Sites:
http://a3skywarriorforwhidbey.ning.com/
http://www.a3skywarrior.com/
As Ralph
says…
If you have received this note in error, I apologize, send money
anyways.
Mark
Swisher
4225 Inspiration Dr
Benbrook, TX 76126 |
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A-3 Skywarrior Whidbey Memorial Foundation
The
return of the “Whale” to
Whidbey Island
is about to happen.
My name is Bill Burklow and I am the Public Relations representative
for the A-3 Skywarrior Whidbey Memorial
Foundation. We are looking for
volunteers to help us achieve this historic event for all those who flew and
maintained these aircraft. We are
planning a static display and memorial walkway from the Chief’s Club parking
lot down to the static display site (corner of Langley Blvd
and Ault Field Rd,
the old Red Cross Bldg site). We
plan to honor those past squadrons who flew the whale and who they are now
currently at NAS Whidbey Island. We
are just now in the planning and fund raising stages.
We would appreciate any input and help we can get from your
organization. We are to be
assigned one of the last remaining flyable aircraft from Raytheon thru the
Naval
Museum
in Pensacola, Fl perhaps as early as
June 2010. Our goal is to have
this plane fly in, placed on display and dedicated by the 100th
birthday of Naval Aviation in 2011. I
am attaching a couple of press releases.
All fund donations are being accepted through the A-3 Skywarrior
Association at their website, www.a3skywarrior.com
just click on “Whidbey Project”. Below
are the foundation’s current members. Want
to help, please contact us for more information and join us in the fun.
Ralph
Estes, Chairman
d7sus4@msn.com
Bill
Burklow , Public Relations
bburklow@ix.netcom.com
Bill
Young, Advisor
capthawk@whidbey.net
Jim
VanderHoek, Advisor
Ferret@whidbey.net
Jim
Vannice, Advisor
jimme22@verizon.net
Al
Archer Committee
a3dskywarrior7@gmail.com
Lanny
Kee, Committee
minimech@pioneernet.net
Digger
O’Dell, Committee
diggero@dishmail.net
Best
Regards,
Bill
Burklow
360-240-1994
360-969-0445
(cell)
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Notes from the Foundation
"Whidbey Whalers,
Congratulations! You have raised over
$25,000 so far, we were just $157 shy so I kicked in $200 on behalf of the A-3
association to get us over that milestone. However, the guy that took us
over the $20,000 mark was Capt William Young who chipped in five grand
and then the hardwork, presentation efforts, and charter member pitch brought
an additional five grand in from all around Whidbey. I’ve got to say
that I’m very impressed with the Heavy organization in coming together so
quickly to display a Whale at Whidbey Island NAS. You are right on the
tail of the VQ guys who raised $36,000 to move 146457 from Rota to Yorktown.
Unfortunately, the cost target is shifting slightly with the news that
the NavAir/Raytheon bailment agreement is up in May 2010. This means we
have just two months to have funds for fuel, maintenance, crew costs and etc
for a one time flight to NAS Whidbey. It appears that we now have the
money for fuel and crew costs covered, depending on the aircraft selected by
NMNA/NAVAIR/NAVICP for Whidbey will determine how much more is needed for
flight prep. Our estimate is that we would need up to $50,000 to cover
all of the prep and transportation expenses…Hopefully we get a current flier
like 144865 and costs would be lower.
There is a lot of work being done by Ralph
Estes, Bill Burklow, Jim VanderHeok, Bill Young, Jim Vannice, Lanny Kee and
Digger O'Dell, and the other board members as the date draws nearer so
please support (again in 2010) to help make this dream come true.
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PRESS
RELEASE
Oak Harbor
,
Washington
12 October 2009
NAS Whidbey
Island has requested an A3 Skywarrior for public display.
In support of this project
the local Whidbey Island A3 Skywarrior Memorial Foundation is developing plans
to successfully obtain, refurbish and display the aircraft.
The Memorial Foundation is heading a fund drive in support of the
Skywarrior
acquisition and display. The
A3 Skywarrior Association is accepting tax-free donations in support of this
project. The donation form can be
found at the A3 Skywarrior Association web site at
www.A3SkywarriorAssociation.com
under “Whidbey
Project”. Forms are also
available at the NAS Whidbey Island Command Display at Bldg 12 on the Sea Plane
base.
The Douglas Skywarrior was the primary nuclear delivery aircraft
in the late 50’s and 60’s, and was the largest aircraft to operate from
Navy Carriers. Aircraft from
Whidbey Island
supported the Pacific Fleet as
the mission expanded to include aerial refueling and electronic warfare.
Other versions of the Skywarrior provided Electronic Surveillance,
Electronic Countermeasures and Photo Reconnaissance missions worldwide.
The addition of a Skywarrior display would fill an important
chapter in the history of the Naval Air Station.
This aircraft provided the emphasis to keep the air station open as a
key part of the Pacific Fleet support when they were first assigned here in the
mid 1950’s. The foundation is
formed to see that the aircraft on display is a memorial to the men and women
who served in the support of Navy Skywarrior missions worldwide.
Local information can be obtained at the NAS Whidbey Island
Command Display
or contact:
Ralph Estes at d7sus4@msn.com
Jim VanderHoek at Ferret@whidbey.net
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