www.VP-21.org and www.VPB-111.org
A MESSAGE FROM THE LEFT SEAT:
With the spring edition of our newsletter, we provided snail mail copies to every member except those for whom we had good email addresses. We did this in the hope of accomplishing two things. The first was to reach those members who had opted to receive their newsletters by email but had failed to notify Dan Dwyer when their email addresses had changed. This was partially successful. A few did contact him with their new addresses. (But, at the same time, additional email addresses bounced – win a few, lose a few.) The second reason was an attempt to ascertain which snail mail addresses listed in our roster was invalid. We accomplished this when several bounced. This was a one-time effort. Since we have to pay postage for returned newsletters, we can’t continue to do this every quarter. If a newsletter gets returned in the future, the member will be added to the “Lost” list and no further newsletter will be sent until we receive a corrected address.
This quarter, we’re going to try something different. I’m going to list ten of our “Lost” members. If any of you are aware of their correct addresses, please contact me at cac8ppc@suscom-maine.net with the information. Also, if you are aware of their passing, please let me know and I’ll move their names from the “Lost” to the “Deceased” list. I’ve asked Dan to do the same thing with his “Bad” email addresses.
NAME LAST KNOWN ADDRESS
John ADAMS Tyler, TX
Glen ADKINS Skowhegan, ME
Carl AHEE Vidalia, CA
Leroy Jack ALLEN Fort Mohave, AZ
Joseph ANDERSON Indian Harbor Beach, FL
James ARATA Bethesda, MD
Reno BACALLAO Roberts, WI
John BACCIGALOPI Cameron, LA
Robert BAGBY Annapolis, MD
George BAILEY Belford, NJ
Several members have indicated an interest in keeping up with what’s happening at NASB. It was just announced that the Cirrus Aircraft Corp, maker of the SR22 aircraft, the biggest seller for single engine planes for the past eight years, will be moving into Hangar 6 and opening up a $100 million project to build the Kestrel JP10 composite turboprop aircraft. They plan to employ 300 people. In addition, a local machine maker plans to move onto the station and expand the business. There may be hope for the place after all.
I hope that all of you are thinking positively about attending our 2011 Reunion in Charleston, SC in the spring. It promises to be one of our best. In the meantime, keep well and keep safe.
REUNION UPDATE:
The following formation has been provided by Tiny Ledford, Coordinator of the 2011 Reunion:
The reunion will be based at the Embassy Suits in North Charleston and will run from Sunday, 17 April through Thursday, 21 April (you can check in earlier and leave later if you want). Monday, 18 April will be the first day of scheduled events which will include a tour of the city and a visit to the Hunley Museum. On Tuesday, 19 April, we’ll cruise Charleston Harbor, including a visit to Fort Sumter and Patriot’s Point, and have lunch on board the USS Yorktown. Wednesday, 20 April will find us at the Boone Hall Plantation followed by the Reunion dinner on board ship while cruising Charleston Harbor. Check out will be on Thursday, 21 April.
Bill
TAPS:
It is with deep regret that I make mention of the passing of our following shipmate:
· Richard C. Connor on April 27, 2010. He was in 21 from 48 to 52. He was an AOAN.
May he rest in peace.
DONATIONS RECEIVED:
The following named persons have generously made contributions to our
Organization since the last issue of the newsletter:
W. Schafer Bean - Daniel Carew - Nelson R. Castle - Ray L. Colavita -
Edith N. Griffith - Carrie D. Huber - Frank D. Marran - David H. Messer -
Donald W. Noltner - Edward R. Ouellette - Les Raye - Milton Savanovich -
Thomas E. Sayre - Joseph E. Sheehan - Clayton Stokes - Howard E. Whalin -
Edward L. Wilkinson - Mrs. Robert L. Wolen -
Thanks to each of you for helping to keep our organization airborne.
Dick
PLEASE NOTE: The VPB-111/VP-21 Veterans Association charges no dues. Our operations are totally supported by the generous contributions of our membership, and by the sale of our squadron products. The association comes under section 501(C) 19, of the Internal Revenue Code as a "Not for Profit" organization. As such, contributions are legitimate tax deductions. Please make your contribution checks payable to the "VPB-111/VP-21 Veterans Association" and forward them to the Treasurer, Richard S. Webb, 219 Montoya Drive, Lady Lake, Florida, 32159-8642.
FROM THE STOREKEEPER:
Looking for a gift idea for your significant other to get you for a Christmas present? Look no further than your the Association Small Stores that has the popular P-2 Neptune "Two Turning VP, Two Burning" gold embroidered Navy Blue color ball caps with a gold "scrambled egg" design on the cap visor. This handsome ball cap can be yours for a modest $18.00 cost that includes shipping and handling. Other popular Small Stores items include the VP-21 Squadron "Blackjack" Patch (5" Large at $10 or a 3" Small at $6); VP-21 "Blackjack" Lapel/Hat Pin at $4; VPB-111 "Dumbo" or "Truculent Turtle" 3" Small Squadron Patches at $6; White Outer Banks brand Polo Shirts with embroidered Naval Aviator Gold Wings and VPB-111/VP-21 Veterans Association lettering at $25 (available in medium, large and X Large sizes), and an incredible book, The Story of One Eleven, about our rich heritage as a Navy PB4Y squadron that served in England, North Africa and the far Pacific during World War II. We also have a related book, Low Level Liberators that tells the story of Patrol Bombing Squadron 104 in the South Pacific during World War II. Both books sells for $29 each and each tell incredible stories about the brave young men who fought valiant battles in these marvelous flying machines. For further information or to place your order, contact Storekeeper, Carter Nute, at (352) 335-1293 or by e-mail at ccnute@earthlink.net.
Thank you.
Carter
Members AWOL/MIA from Email Data Base
The following ten members of the association were selected at random from the more than one hundred and eighteen members of the association whose email addresses are no longer correct and we are thus no longer in contact with them. For those members that receive copies of the email roster via email, please take the time to check out those members who are listed as having bad email addresses, update that information, and send it to any member of the board, especially Dan Dwyer at DDWYER1@Maine.RR.Com so that we might regain contact. How pervasive is the problem??? CDR Ed Wilkinson (see below), a former CO of VP-21, is one of those with a bad email address!!!!
BETSWORTH Brian FL&ME 55-58 bcbetsworth@barbershop.net BAD 09/24/07
FLOYD Frank Jacksonville Beach FL 60-63 loyd8315@bellsouth.net BAD 06/21/08
HIGHTOWER Steve Deland FL 68-69 Galaxy12@usa.com BAD 8/2/06
JABBUSCH Jim Casco ME 63-68 mentiques@yahoo.com BAD 11/8/06
MORIN J.P. Clarksville NY 69 Jpmorin@capital.net BAD 09/21/07
NORHA Marvin Rockport TX 59-638 flynnfinn@aol.com BAD 9/1/07
POARCH Robert Ardmore TN 65-68 Robert.Poarch@dcma.mil BAD 7/9/09
SCHONASKY Bill Montello WI 52 wrs@maqs.net BAD 7/9/09
THOMAS Jim Cambridge MD 51-55 jimdotthom@yahoo.com BAD 06/21/08
YANKURA George West Gardiner ME 67-69 gyankura@mail.gwi.net BAD 7/29/06
Submitted by Dan Dwyer
THE FINAL FLIGHT FROM BNAS:
Check it out.
That’s it for now, guys. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and start planning now for next year’s reunion next year.
John
SUMMER 2010
A non-profit, fraternal, and historical association devoted to the reestablishment of contact with shipmates of the past, to strengthen the camaraderie among its members, to record and preserve the memories and incidents of the Association, to preserve the memory of departed shipmates, and to promote the comfort and welfare of its members and survivors. No dues are assessed!
Directors:
The ‘Vagabond News’ is the official publication of the Association, and is circulated quarterly in the Winter (January/March), Spring (April/June), Summer (July/September), and Fall (October/December), as a third class bulk-rate mail from Southampton, PA, Post Office (Permit #61). All costs of the publication are supported by voluntary contribution only. To ensure that materials of interest are promptly published, members should submit same prior to the publishing quarter to John G. Esposito, 862 Central Ave., Southampton, PA 18966. All inputs will be published in a timely manner.