Guest Book at HEAVY ATTACK COMPOSITE (VC-5,6,7,8,9) WEBSITE http://community.webtv.net/charles379/USNComposite
- May 2002
05/19/2002 - Paul A. Hatcher
(VAH-1 & VAH-123) paul.hatcher@gte.net
Home town: Hudson, Florida
Current City/Country: New Port Richey, Fl. 34652-2945 Chuck: I really like it, and to see you doing something constructive is a thrill. I always knew you had what it takes, and an intelligence level far above the norm. Thank you for the History and as you are aware, VC and VAH were the saviors of Naval Aviation. Without it, Naval Aviation would have been History only of last century, ending in the 50's. Pineknot Out paul.hatcher@gte.net
-----------
05/19/2002 - Joseph L. (VAH-1 AMH-3 1958 - 1961) jay1644@hotmail.com
Home town: Georgetown, S.C.
Current City/Country: Augusta, GA
Was in move to NAS Sanford, shakedown of Independence, and first Med cruise of the "Big I" Had cat launch and arrested landing in A3D in '60. Great experience.
------------
05/19/2002 - Kenneth Reightler Jr. (VC-8/VAH-11/VAH-15) shangmem@exis.net
Home town: San Francisco
Current City/Country: Virginia Beach VA
(AT/ST ,1948-52 PAx Riv/VC-8 1952-54, "B" School; VC-8 1955-56/VAH-11 til July 1956; VAH-15 July 1958-Feb 1959)
--------------
05/19/2002 - Leroy Atkins (VC-8) ADAN
Mr.Leroy@worldnet.att.net
Home town: Richmond, IN
Current City/Country: Richmond, IN
Joined VC-8 December,1951, (Plankholder?) Aircraft log yeoman in Aircraft Maintenance Library through May, 1955. Welcome all e-mail, phone calls (765-966-3686), letters: 1808 SW G St., Richmond, IN 47374
-------------
05/26/2002 - Jim Osborne
(VAH-5, RVAH-7, 9, and 3; AT-1 to CDR)
jimbigo@earthlink.net
Home town: Fort Worth
Current City/Country: Altamonte Springs
I was in VAH-5 (the first time) from February, 1956 to March, 1958. Trained as an enlisted B/N. Flew with Joe Tully. Second tour in VAH-5 from September, 1959 to December, 1961; flew with Dave Dearolph and Roy Farmer. Transitioned to RA-5C and eventually commanded RVAH-7.
-----------------
05/25/2002 - Willam R. Culver (VAH-7 PO 3 Personnelman)
bculver@ezy.net
Home town: Princess Anne, Maryland
Current City/Country: Same
VAH-7 was first duty station after boot camp at Bainbridge MD, in DEC
56. I was happy to go to Sanford, FL after that cold winter at Bainbridge. I was TAD to NAS Special Services for about 8mos. Then I worked Personnel Office. I flew on the AJ aircraft only as passenger to Norfolk, going on emergency leave. I was there when the A3D come in. CDR Robert C. Knight was CO. Many names come to mind Lt Bielewski, Ens. Valenzual, Ralph Cusano, Al DiPadvoa. I have a roster of the squadron personnel then. I would be happy to share those names with whomever wishes to. Sadly I remember the plane crews which were lost during that time.
I served in VAW-33, VW-4 and VQ-1 before I left the Navy in 1967. Retired from the Postal Service with 32yrs Gov't service. Sanford was a great town for a young sailor and VAH-7 was a great Squadron. Bill Culver (PN3)
-----------------
05/23/2002 - BILL ELRODS (VC 8) ewelrod1@aol.com
Home town: Jacksonville FL
Current City/Country: Jacksonville FL
I WAS IN A DIFFERENT VC-8, I WAS IN VU-8 AND IT WAS CHANGED TO VC-8 IN
1965. OUT OF ROOSEY RDS. P.R. I will be glad to help contact old crewmembers if I can. I do this as a hobby, I am totally retired, handicapped and on 02 (thanks to smoking). I have a cd program with over 30 million names and addresses, and phone #'s listed.
----------------
05/22/2002 - Greg Bishop - Son of Earl (Bill) Bishop (AD-1 USN KIA AJ Crash Naples IT 7/20/55) konabish@hotmail.com
Home town: La Mesa, CA (Bill, Live Oak FL) Current City/Country: Los Alamitos, CA
Chuck's help researching our dad's career has been incredible; and there are too many more than can be shown here. I was 9 when my dad died. I and Bill's 2 daughters (then 6 and 4) are reliving his life at that time thru the 'war stories' and anecdotes of all involved in that era. We even located the son of the pilot (Lt Don Bowman) who died in the same crash. He also is a pilot. I can't thank all of you enough for what you did, and it would be a tragedy to lose track of that. I'm very proud to have been able to contribute in part to preserving that memory. God Bless All Of You, and Please Keep In Touch! Greg Bishop
--------------
05/22/2002 - Ed Parris
(VAH-9 (8/56-2/59), VAH-3 (2/59-6/63)) eparris@earthlink.net
Current City/Country: Swann Farm, Calvert Co., MD
Chuck has done it again! He is the most knowledgeable and creative Heavy Attacker that I have met on the Internet. I'd like to pass on the information that mid-1958 VAH-9 is having a reunion to coincide with the Vigilante 2003 get-together at the Sanford Airport on Memorial Day, 2003. The airport Memorial Park will be dedicated at that time. Best wishes to all.
------------------
05/29/2002 - Joe Wall (VC-5 AD2)
jwallav@worldnet.att.net
Home town: Shellman, Georgia
Current City/Country: Lake Mary, Florida
VC-5 Oct. 1949 to Nov. 1956. Retired ADCS, USN.
--------------------
05/28/2002 - Joseph H. Kerr (VC-6 ('53-'55) AQ-2) jkerr@knology.net
Home town: Newell, Alabama
Current City/Country: Huntsville, Alabama
I would like to hear from any member who attended the ASB Class "C" school at China Lake, California during the period Oct. 53 to April 54.
------------------
05/28/2002 - Eugene E. Kronjaeger Jr.
(VC7,Fas51Det1,HATU,VAH11,VAH3,VAH7,plus) echoechokilo@hotmail.com
Home town: Wheeling, West Virginia
Current City/Country: Jacksonville, Florida
Jul49 Boot Camp @ Grt Lakes. AD school at Memphis. Aug50 commissioned VC-7 at Moffett Field, Cal. Dec51 commissioned Fas51 Det1at Norfolk. Feb53 commission HATU at Norfolk. Jul55 sqdn transfer to Sanford. Plane Cap't on P2V-2, P2V-3C and P2V3B A/C to this point. Comp. Enl B/N training Jun 1956 and instructed in B/N school. Feb57 trans to VAH-11. AJ-1, A3D A/C. 12/4/58 crashed overboard CVA42 broke #3 wire. Sep59 returned from Med cruise aboard F.D.Roosevelt, CVA-42. Feb60 transfer to VAH-3. P2V3B and A3D2T A/C. Sep63 transfer to VAH-7, A5A A/C. Did not comp transition to A5A because phaseout of Enlisted B/Ns had begun. Feb64 trans to VAH-11 as T/C. Jul64 trans to VAH-6 as T/C. Mar65 returned from Med cruise aboard USS Forrestal, CVA-59. Apr65 VAH-6 transitioned to the RA5C. I stayed on as Operations & Training PO. Nov66 returned from Gulf of Tonkin aboard USS Constellation CVA-64. Apr67 trans to NAMTD for instructor duty on jet engines and fuel systems for T-2A,B A/C at Meridian, Miss then A-7A,B A/C at Cecil Field. Retired at Cecil Field July 1969. Retired again in June 1994 after 24 years with Southern Bell and BellSouth in Jacksonville.
----------------
05/28/2002 - Bill Sowell (VC/VAH-7 52-53, 55-58, 61-63 AO1/AQ1/AQC) gsowell1@bellsouth.net
Home town: New York
Current City/Country: DeLand, FL
Where are all the 55-56 Heavy Seven folks like Dick Stadig, Larry Donovan, Nick Manos, Frenchy?
-------------
05/27/2002 - Norbert (Moe) Moeller (VAH-1 AE-2) slomoetion@webtv.com
Home town: Houghton IA.
Current City/Country: Hamburg IA
Instruments and electrial from 1955 to 1959. Many interesing things that I remember and some that just cannot be forgotten! Take Care!
|