WV-2 Info

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="057285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <B>VP-21 & VPB-111 Veterans Association</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="056d2c00dkelyh.png"> <div> <A HREF="id102.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whats New"><U>Whats New?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="VP21 VPB111 VETERANS ASSOCIATION"><U>Home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="gibraltar_straits.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Calendar"><U>Calendar</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mission"><U>Mission</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Association Officers Board Of Directors"><U>Association Officers</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="rosters.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rosters"><U>Rosters</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://vp-21.org/history" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://vp-21.org/history"><U> History</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id52.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Newsletter"><U>Newsletter</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://vp-21.org/biographies" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://vp-21.org/biographies"><U>Biographies/ Profiles</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id100.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Gallery"><U>Photo Gallery</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id98.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Museum"><U>Museum</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id51.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SMALL STORES"><U>Small Stores</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://pub16.bravenet.com/guestbook/show.php?usernum=1314220711" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://pub16.bravenet.com/guestbook/show"><U>GuestBook</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reunion 2009"><U>Reunion Page</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Departed Shipmates"><U>Departed Shipmates</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://pub16.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=1314220711&cpv=1" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://pub16.bravenet.com/forum/show.php"><U>Message Board</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://pub16.bravenet.com/chat/show.php?usernum=1314220711&cpv=1http://images.bravenet.com/brpics/chatnow.gifhttp://www.bravenet.com/http://images.bravenet.com/brpics/chatbutt.gif" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://pub16.bravenet.com/chat/show.php?"><U>ScuttleBut Quarters</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links"><U>Other Links</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id122.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Lost Found"><U>Lost&Found</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> From: "<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>MINTRG@aol.com</U></FONT>" <<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>MINTRG@aol.com</U></FONT>></div> <div> Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 9:32:52 PM</div> <div> Subject: WV-2 Newsletter</div> <bR> <div> This will be a long Email as there is a lot of info to put out. </div> <bR> <div> <B>ALL WV-2 REUNION  </B></div> <div> First and foremost, Jack Weber is working on plans for an all-Willy Victor Reunion. He is shooting for September 2008 at Rantoul, if the museum has a schedule opening at that time. When information is available I will notify all by Email. The formal notification and registration information will be distributed via postal mail. I am attaching a copy of the roster as an Adobe Acrobat file. Please check your entry and update it if necessary so that we will have your correct mailing address. Also check those with whom you are in contact to ensure that their Email and snail mail addresses are included and accurate. </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.willyvictor.com/Index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.willyvictor.com/Index.htm"><U><B>Click here to go to the Willy Victor website</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>NAVY MEMORIAL PLAQUE</B></div> <div> The survivors of the Checkpool 16 (Crew FC-35) crash at Midway in Jan 1961 are funding a plaque to be placed on the wall of honor at the Navy Memorial Heritage Center in Washington, D.C. The plaque will honor their crew and memorialize those lost in the accident. They are also proposing a second plaque to commemorate the AEW Cold War missions. Each plaque requires a donation of $2500. Whereas the FC-35 plaque has been fully funded, the second plaque still needs donations. Donations are fully tax deductible. If anyone would like to donate toward the $2500 for the plaque, contact Lee Kalsch at <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mail to:kalsch@earthlink.net:" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mail to:kalsch@earthlink.net:"><U><U>lkalsch@earthlink.net</U></U></A></FONT> to inform him of only your pledge amount and for information regarding the where and how to make the actual donation. Please take time to visit the Navy Memorial web site at: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.lonesailor.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.lonesailor.org"><U><U>www.lonesailor.org</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> Any donations in excess of the $2500 goal, the remainder would go toward the USN Memorial Foundation to support their on going work in our national community.</div> <div>  </div> <div> Your part of the contribution is tax deductible. Also, all contributions will be acknowledged by the Foundation, upon receipt of each of our checks. I believe you would agree , for a permanent memorial in our Nation's capital, this is a bargain. </div> <bR> <div> <B>RANTOUL WORK PARTY</B></div> <div> Harry Kooyman is soliciting participants for an "old fashioned work party" at Rantoul in the near future. In order to organize this, he needs names of people who would be interested in helping out and dates that they could help.</div> <div> He has been contacted by Rol Barger about some problems with 311 at Rantoul. It sounds like it won't be a major project but could be a bit time consuming if we don't have enough people. Rol's assessment of it is "The old bird is in dire need of a clean-up." Harry assumes this to mean power washing. The over the wing hatch on the nav station side "leaks like a sieve" and needs to be sealed. Apparently some foam was used to stop the leak, but according to Rol "It didn't work". Some of the "patches(?)" that were used to repair the inside (it is assumed there were some vinyl patches on some of the vinyl in the cabin) have come undone and need repair. If you would like to join in with a work session on 141311 at Rantoul contact Harry Kooyman at <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:zekeflash@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:zekeflash@aol.com"><U><U>zekeflash@aol.com</U></U></A></FONT> . No dates were recommended, and will be determined by information gathered form those wishing to participate. </div> <bR> <div> <B>WARNER ROBINS MAGAZINE ARTICLE</B></div> <div> Jon Harnden brought to my attention that the July issue of the MOAA magazine had an article about activities at the Museum of Aviation in Warner-Robins, GA in which the WV-2 restoration project was mentioned. The WV Project text is quoted below:</div> <div> A group of dedicated Navy veterans came back to the Museum in May to continue the restoration of the Museum''s EC-121 Constellation, the type plane that flew long-distance surveillance missions over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the 1950s and 60s. The group of former air and ground crewmen from Illinois, Iowa, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Florida are restoring the 52-year-old aircraft to its former glory . Click: EC-121 Restoration for the full article. </div> <bR> <div> <B>WARNER ROBINS WORK PARTY</B></div> <div> May has came and gone again and there was a dedicated effort to work on both the WV and the P2 located at Warner Robbins AFB. All the items obtained from the P2's in Greybull were inventoried and packed away for future use. Due to health issues, Gerald Durbin was unable to attend the May session, but Bob Fitzsimmons ably led the effort. I am told that quite a bit was accomplished, but I have been unable to learn the specifics to pass on to all of you. An October work party at WR is in the works to work on both planes again. Consoles to finish, radar and ECM racks to fabricate and equipment to install in the WV. If interested in putting in some sweat equity in October Contact Gerald Durbin at <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:gtdurbin@gmail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:gtdurbin@gmail.com"><U><U>gtdurbin@gmail.com</U></U></A></FONT> so that he can ensure that you are notified of specific times, etc.</div> <div> From Gerald: </div> <bR> <div> QUOTE: We are in the process of creating the Naval Air Restoration Foundation (NARF) under the IRS 501(c)3 rules (not for profit) and once established will be raising funds for moving 588 from Greybull, WY to WR to turn into a display. If anyone knows of a group or individual that would like to contribute to the cause, please contact me for follow up. We will need about $20,000 to move the plane. Since Pensacola is not interested in our services, we will build a display at WR for all those that flew on the P2s in all services. </div> <div> Looking forward to another good work party in Oct and if you would like to join us, please send me an email so I can get you on the notification list. UNQUOTE </div> <bR> <div> <B>BARBERS POINT MUSEUM</B></div> <div> Lee Kalsch learned of an aviation museum at the former NAS Barbers Point and contacted them. The following reply was received:</div> <div> QUOTE:</div> <div> Our little museum is comprised of one Sailor, 3 Marines, 2 Army reservist, a former Coastie, and one Air Force type. We have nine historic Barbers aircraft on site next to (not in) Hangar 111. </div> <div> Our website is humble still but will grow to be a good one that will reflect the entire history of this base. We need your help to spread the word!!! </div> <div> BTW, we have in our posession, a Lockheed fwd service door check stand for the WV-2!! It was just sitting in the corner of the flight line waiting for the State to scrap it. </div> <div> What we need from your shipmates is: </div> <div> We DESPERATELY NEED donations of: </div> <div> A) Money (we actually have to pay a rent to park NAVY aircraft that were stationed here, to the STATE OF HAWAII "AIRPORTS DIVISION"...?!?? !!!)</div> <div> B)Pictures </div> <div> C) Memorabilia: ie Flight clothing, gear, trinkets that would make a contribution to a WV display in the lobby of BLDG 4 (The Tower).</div> <div> D) Oral histories on your missions and day to day life aboard the NAS Barbers Pt. </div> <div> Im looking forward to hearing back from you shipmate!</div> <div> Brad Hayes </div> <div> NAM BP </div> <div> 808 682-3982</div> <div> UNQUOTE</div> <div> The web site for the BBP Museum is <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:director@nambarberspoint.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:director@nambarberspoint.org"><U><U>director@nambarberspoint.org</U></U></A></FONT> </div> <bR> <div> <B>VQ REUNION</B></div> <div> Last but not least: Long after the Connies were retired I served in VQ-2 (1978-1981) and Helen and I will be attending the VQ Annual Reunion in Wichita, KS Sep 19-23. I look forward to seeing any of you that plan to attend. I intend to bring a copy of the WV-2 roster with me, as well as a sheet to provide an opportunity VQ WV men not already listed in the roster and on the WV Reunion mailing list to be entered. In the unlikely event that any of you VQ'ers are unawre of the reunion, contact Alan Prevette for details or to register: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:pierreputt@earthlink.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:pierreputt@earthlink.net"><U><U>pierreputt@earthlink.net</U></U></A></FONT>. The latest information on the reunion can be found in the latest VQ newsletter at <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.centurum.com/vq/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.centurum.com/vq/"><U><U>www.centurum.com/vq/</U></U></A></FONT> </div> <div> Rich Thought: When aging, first you forget names, then you forget faces. Then you forget to pull your zipper up, then you forget to pull your zipper down. </div> <div> Rich Minter  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:MINTRG@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:MINTRG@aol.com"><U><U>MINTRG@aol.com</U></U></A></FONT></div> <div> VW-12</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>