Warbird Information Exchange

Well several months ago my grandmother at the age of 99 and ½ passed away. It’s always sad to see someone you love go, but being a father of small children if I were to know that my kids were going live almost as long as a century I couldn’t be happier.

As most of you know another part of the process is going through the personal possessions and figuring out what to do with them. My cousins who live in town have carried out this overwhelming task. You can accumulate a lot of stuff when you live in a house since 1932. LOL

Here are some pics of my Uncle through out his naval career that were found in the house.




(On back: NAAS Saufley Field, Official U.S. Navy Photo, After Solo Flight Primary Student.)


(On back: Lt. R. W. Geeding, VF-211, San Francisco.)


VF-211 "Fighting Checkmates" circa 1964, aboard CV-19 USS Hancock

(On Back, “*” by names hard to make out and might not be 100% accurate:
Bottom Row Left to Right:
Lt. Harry Downey, Lcdr Cole Black, Cdr Hal Marr, Cdr. Phil White (CO), Ltjg John Mack, Lt. Jerry Unruth*, Ltjg Wayne Veeneman*, Ltjg Harold Williams

Top Row L to R:
Lt Dale Deweese, Ltjg Bill Booth, Ltjg Tom Grant, Lcdr. Tom Langston, Ltjg Bob Geeding, Lt Gene Chancy, Lt. Rick Maughlin, Lcdr. Spence Thomas, Ltjg. Bob Hulse*, Ensign Phil Vampatella. Not Shown – Ltjg. Dick Smith, Ltjg. Bill Nelson (GP) )

Marr, Chancy and Vampatella would go on to score MIG 17 victories. Aslo note the nose art on the 3rd Crusader back.



Circa 1965. On Pilot (Naval Aviator) Exchange Duty with the USAF. At George AFB with the 479th TFW / 436th TFS


VF-194 Red Lightnings, Circa 1975-76, aboard CV-34 USS Oriskany.

This was the last cruise before 194 transitioned to the F-4J Phantom. I need to do a better scan on this image so as to read all the NA’s callsigns. My Uncle’s reads “Sidewinder”, not sure as to the story of how he earned it. Slick looking flight suits though.


VF-121 Pacesetters, This picture was taken about a month after the previous picture’s deployment returned to port and only days before yours truly was born. So I’m thinking VF-121 may have been solely for the purpose of transitioning, because my Uncle was back with VF-194 for their next deployment in Feb 1977 flying F-4s aboard the CV-43 USS Coral Sea (this was the one and only cruise that the Ferris Splinter Camouflage was used).

(On Back: “Taken 23 Apr 1976 – first Pilot in Sqd. to transistion to F-4 Phantom.”)




Change of Command ceremony when my Uncle became CO of VF-111 Sundowners. Notice the big display model of the F-14. VF-111 had just transitioned to the Tomcat and the 79-80 cruise was the unit’s first deployment with the aircraft. Would love to know where that giant model went to.


He was a great guy and it’s a real shame he’s no longer with us. He would’ve had a ton of stories to tell.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

Groovy stuff... thanks a bunch for sharing it here. Navair isn't really my bag anymore, but there was a time... this stuff brings back some memories of scouring through issues of The Hook, Proceedings and dozens of other rags...



Yepper, VF-121 was the Pacific F-4 RAG at that time... or FRS, if you prefer. I think I may have some images showing the splinter scheme, will try to dig those out and post 'em, if you like.

Thanks again for sharing your Uncle's photos with us!


Fade to Black...

Your uncle got to fly the F-8! And in VF-211, a helluva squadron, how cool is that! Thanks for posting.

thanks for posting!

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" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."

No problem. That would be great. Any Red Lightning pictures from either the 75/76 and '77 cruises would be appreciated.

I still have alot of holes to fill in regarding my Uncle's career. Another squadron he was a member of was VF-191 Satan's Kittens. I don't have any personal pictures from his time there. But I do have the 1970 USS Oriskany Cruise book which is one of the cruises he did with 191. One of the main 191 pictures in the book is of his assigned aircraft getting ready for a cat shot and you can clearly read his name on it. I'll have to scan it and share with you guys. Very Cool. A little while back i posted pictures of his "Pig Sticker" the he had strapped to leg if had to punch out over NVN.

Any idea who the RAG squardon in the late 70's would have been for transistioning to F-14s was?

Also regarding the VF-121 F-4 in the picture, BuNo 155580. I beleive this aircraft met it's fate as a QF-4S drone in 2004 according to JB's website but I found a picture on the Net of 155580 dressed up as "Showtime 100" (155800) of VF-96. Anyone know anything about this and why?



Thanks ripcord, Thanks WDC

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

thats a nice paint scheme for an f-4, wish there was one flying with that paint. Very sharp

_________________
" I am a nobody in aviation, but somebody to my family."