29 Messages

Page 1 1

Entry: 73666 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	VF-51 EMBLEM COLORS (BLACK PANTHER VERSION)
JOHNNY SIGNOR wrote on February 22, 2010 CITY AND STATE: FL UNIT: SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: Looking for the colors to the early VF-51 emblem,Black Panther sitting on ripped Japanese flag on land mass, I have a B and W image need colors to this one, thank you !!!!!! Johnny E mail me please, Keywords:

Entry: 72523 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	VF51
DOUG KELLEY wrote on November 25, 2009 CITY AND STATE: MERRITT ISLAND FL UNIT: VF-51 US NAVY/USS KITTY HAWK SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: always wanted to know what happened to a/c 105 and her crew. i,ts still hard for me to even mention it ,let alone their names especially at this time of the year with the holidays upon us and thinking of my lost shipmates and their families. Keywords: ame trouble-shooter and final checker flight deck. i am on this site because my father served in korea and was in on inchon raid,and was very suprised to find out my fighter squadron vf-51 was there. GO SCREAMING EAGLES! being his son is easy,trying to understand why this country still calls this a korean conflict bothers me!if what you guys went through wasnt war what is.

Entry: 72520 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	VF51
DOUG KELLEY wrote on November 25, 2009 CITY AND STATE: MERRITT ISLAND FL UNIT: VF-51 US NAVY/USS KITTY HAWK SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: always wanted to know what happened to a/c 105 and her crew. i,ts still hard for me to even mention it ,let alone their names especially at this time of the year with the holidays upon us and thinking of my lost shipmates and their families. Keywords: ame trouble-shooter and final checker flight deck. i am on this site because my father served in korea and was in on the Inchon deal! Iwas just very suprised of my sqaudrons support towards the war.Go Sreaming Eagles kudos to all.curse the ones who called it a conflict!

Entry: 72519 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	VF51
DOUG KELLEY wrote on November 25, 2009 CITY AND STATE: MERRITT ISLAND FL UNIT: VF-51 US NAVY/USS KITTY HAWK SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: always wanted to know what happened to a/c 105 and her crew. i,ts still hard for me to even mention it ,let alone their names especially at this time of the year with the holidays upon us and thinking of my lost shipmates and their families. Keywords: ame trouble-shooter and final checker flight deck

Entry: 72270 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN - AL DAVIS - AM2 1949-1952
AL DAVIS wrote on November 9, 2009 CITY AND STATE: BEND OR UNIT: VF-51 CAG5 SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: Dear Friends, My wife is typing this 'cause I have tears in my eyes. Wow. I can't believe we found this site and notes from Les after so many years. Ken Loop and I were also close buddies - both from Minneapolis - along with Red Brown. I remember the plane crash on the USS Essex like it was yesterday and have told the story many times... I also remember the fuzzy-cheeked 19 y/o ensign that came into the squadron - Neil Armstrong. Boy, the memories... Ken Loop and I saw each other for years - me in San Diego and Ken in Riverside. I've lost track of Ken... think he moved back to Minneapolis. Red Brown lived in CA - had a big RV and I think he settled in Redding. I got married right out of the Navy to a beautiful 18 yo doll living in Hemet 2 weeks after discharge. Lived in Newport Beach, CA for a few years. I got into the industrial supply business and Ken drove a route truck for Swift Ice Cream for 30 years and retired. I had two daughters with my first wife. Got involved with industrial supply (gasses and more) sales during the Space Age time in CA and finally moved back to San Diego when I took a position with a local corporation that developed the F9F pilot training system (Cubic Corporation). Went on to become a VP for Cubic and later went on to work for ESAB automation selling industrial robotics and traveling throughout the northwest (territory from British Columbia to Baja, CA - automated Portland Steel and more and had a ball). I then went on to work for Messer-Greshem until I retired. By then I had another marriage under my belt and a son born when I was in my 50s.I had spent 35 years living in sunny San Diego and loved it but - things had begun to change and I was already looking for a new homebase when I met my current wife. I've been retired for 10 years now. We packed up and sold our houses in Southern CA in 2004 (just in the nick of time) and escaped the gridlock and rat race to move to Bend, Oregon, a slice of Northwest paradise that still amazes us everyday. If you know me from VF-51, give me a call sometime if you like or write - I don't do computer stuff but seeing these notes might finally get me to make the leap. My number is: 541-948-9103 and address is: 60891SW Oasis Place - Bend, OR 97702. I would love to touch base with you or any other guys who discover this site to swap stories. Those were great memories for me. Best to you, Al Davis - AM2 (Hangar Deck) Flight Deck Crew Chief (to keep the planes flying) Keywords: VF-51, Essex, Valley Forge, North Island, Miramar, Mercy College Nurses - San Diego,

Entry: 70831 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	VF-51 12/50-6/1/52
ROBERT MILLER SR. wrote on July 7, 2009 CITY AND STATE: DURANGO CO UNIT: VF-51 ABOARD USS ESSEX (CV9) SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: I was a Yeoman 3rd and I along with Bill Curtis AVMM 2 and Chief Yost kept up the paper work connection with the what the Pilot Logs were kept. Also the fuselage and engine maintenace to keep the Panther Jet (F9F-2B) flying. We went over with 16 planes and some of them were replaced more than once. Combat missions, we all had a hand in, one way or another. Essex crew worked right along with us to keep the ship in support of the Air Wing. My good pleasure to go to war with such a group. Keywords: VF-51 aboard USS Essex (CV9) TF77 on Yankee Station off coast of Korea 8/51-3/52.

Entry: 69830 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	BUD SICKEL
TOM WIMBERLY wrote on April 11, 2009 CITY AND STATE: UNIT: VF-141, VF-13, VF-74 SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: John Sickel asked about Bud Sickel. I didn't know him, but met him once at Moffett Field. That was in 1956. I was a LTJG going through F4D-1 Transtional Training. He was a legendary character to me. He had a reputation as a superb tactical pilot and test pilot. I think the main thing that everyone from that era remembered about Bud Sickel involved the F7U-3 Cutlass. The story was that some pilot had gotten a Cutlass into uncontrollable flight (a "departure") and had to punch out. Bud Sickel reportedly said he didn't believe that the Cutlass had a flight mode from which you couldn't recover to normal flight. He was in a position to get a Cutlass and take it up and duplicate the out-of-control situation. But he was not able to recover and had to punch out himself. I seem to remember that he had a brother who was also a naval aviator. And I seem to remember that Bud Sickel was killed in an aircraft accident not too long after I got to listen to him talk at VC-3 at Moffett Field. Email me, John. Keywords: Wimbo. Banshees, Fords, Demons, Phantoms.

Entry: 69724 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	HORATIO G.
JOHN SICKEL JR. wrote on April 2, 2009 CITY AND STATE: UNIT: SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: FAMILY MEMBER Comments: Looking for anyone who knew or flew with Bud Sickel. Keywords: VF-51, Korea, FJ-1

Entry: 66475 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	LETS COMMUNICATE?
LES VISOR wrote on July 13, 2008 CITY AND STATE: ANGLETON TX UNIT: VF-51 SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: Keywords: us.s. valley forgeand cv-9 essex

Entry: 64975 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	FIND LOST FOLKS
LESLIE VISOR wrote on March 29, 2008 CITY AND STATE: ANGLETON TX UNIT: VF-51 SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: need his current e-mail address Keywords: i am searching for;bob miller 1951 member of squadron in korea

Entry: 64971 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	LOST NAMEOF VF-51 MEMBER KOREA1962
LESLIE VISOR wrote on March 29, 2008 CITY AND STATE: ANGLETON TX UNIT: VF-51;1962 SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: Keywords: mr. bob martin of vf-51in korea; 1962 need his current e mail address

Entry: 61344 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	DESEASED NIGHT OF SEPT18.1051
LESLIE VISOR-AN STRIKER wrote on June 20, 2007 CITY AND STATE: ANGLETON TE UNIT: FIGHTER SQUADRON 51/CAG FIVE SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: these names are listed in my ship'slog the night of sept 16,1951 when a banshee jet crashed into a bunch of aircraft parked on forward flight deckas having beem killed when a banshee was let aboard with no tailhook. the plane crased into a bunch of planes on the forward end of flight deck and being armed and fueled for next mission:wade h. barfield,ad-3charles l.harrellaa,john k.keller lt.j.g.,earl k.neifer aoc vernonnetolicky AN,sidney m.sanders,;william j. stewartADCAA Keywords: inchon harber,and wonson harbor and yaluriver ops.

Entry: 61337 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	I SERVED
LES VISOR wrote on June 19, 2007 CITY AND STATE: ANGLETON TX UNIT: VF-52/CAG 5 SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: Keywords: Hello you guys; I spent my naval service aboard, valley forge and essex. i was A storekeeper striker. met many friends in therefrom every ehere in the u.s. Ijoined upsept,1948, and stayed untilsept,1951 we started out with fj-1,furies and wound up with F9F,panthers.we had a big bunch of brown baggers in there the main thing i remember was the bock beer and pizza at the hilltop and dating nurses going thru training there. we used to hang out in balboa park. sailers and dogs"keep off the grass"we relived the boxer at guam, and sailed for hongkong, to embark on a world tour. two days after the koreans started fighting each other we were in the yellow sea launching aircraft to attack the inchon area.Iserved the second tour aboard valley forge as a plane captain and the honor of having ensign neil armstrong fly my plane S-110. my regular pilot was ensibn brown who was wingman for lt . plog when they got the kill on first russian yak fighter over korea. july 3-4;1951 anyonr interested?I would love to hear from them Ifinally retiredfrom 30+years atfrom dow chemical at freeport,texas. Iraised four boys and sired a daughter in l.a.,california. that's enough of my giberish; let somene else talk. hEllo to keith dietzal.brown,and k.o.loop .

Entry: 61228 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	FIGHTER SQDN VF-51OF CAG-5
LES VISOR wrote on June 6, 2007 CITY AND STATE: ANGLETON TX UNIT: FIGHTER SQDN VF-51OF CAG-5 SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: i often wonder where all the boys are.and how they are doing. what a squadron we had. dedicated and serious. when I joined sqadron at north island we were equipped with fj-1 furies. later given over to reserve squadron st san francisco Keywords: u.ss. valley forge end u.s.s essex f9f panther jets both times

Entry: 61090 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	ROSS K. BRAMWELL KIA 9/04/51
LES VISOR wrote on May 25, 2007 CITY AND STATE: ANGLETON TX UNIT: FIGHTER SQDN-51 MY PLANE WAS SUGAR 110 SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN Comments: iserved two tours,essex and valleyforgew/vf-51 astronauyt neill armstrong flew my plane once. I lost my CO and plane over the yellow river:his name was ross k. bramwell. i found his name in marble, when i went back to hawaaii in 1969in the in the volcano memorial park.foes anyonr know and remember keith dietzal? we used to arm wrestle on the flight deck after chow/lunch Keywords:

Entry: 51999 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	COIN
SEMPUL NEGATIVE wrote on July 12, 2005 CITY AND STATE: UNIT: SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: INTERESTED PERSON Comments: hi i recently acquired a 1923 peace dollar with "spokane washington 4-18-47 VF-51" engraved on it. i really would like some more info if anyone could send it to me at sempul@hotmail.com thanks! Keywords:

Entry: 42150 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	LOOKING FOR PHOTOS OF VF-51
EMIL (MICKEY) PLET wrote on April 6, 2004 CITY AND STATE: UNIT: ATTACHED TO VF-51 1943-1944 SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: - Comments: Attached to VF-51 from Sept.1943 to Dec.1944 was aboard USS San Jacinto Jan.-Dec. 1944. Looking for shipmates or family members who might have a photo of the squadron, officers and enlisted men standing in front of an F6F Hellcat. also served aboard the USS Ranger, and USS Monterey. Also spent time at NAS Jax,Deland,Cecil Field,Whiting Field,Corry Field and North Island with VF-5A. This is an update to prior message due to new E-Mail address. Regards Emil Plet Keywords:

Entry: 30480 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	VF-51 NOVEMBER 1950
JOE BRENNAN wrote on December 18, 2002 CITY AND STATE: UNIT: SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: INTERESTED PERSON Comments: I am trying to gather information about the air combat operations of USN squadrons in Korea. In case of VF-51 I am especially interested in encounters with MiG’s during the November 1950 strikes on the Yalu bridges. Official archival information just briefly mentions a sighting by VF-51 of MiG’s 12 November, in addition to the victory scored by VF-52 18 November. Any information on these or other encounters by any sdn in Valley Forge/CVG-5 at that time, first hand or not, would be helpful. Keywords: units, aircraft

Entry: 29796 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	VF-51 KOREA ABOARD ESSES
ROBERT (BOB) MILLER wrote on November 22, 2002 CITY AND STATE: DURANGO CO UNIT: VF-51 SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN - KOREA Comments: Transferred to Colorado Springs. 1967 Railroads quit the passenger business. Went to work for Contiental Trailways as Ticket Clerk. Subseqently became Commission Agent at Durango, Co. 1987 Trailways went bankrupt. Retired. In 2000 my children told me I had to get my own computer. My wife said if I wanted a computer I'd have to get a job to pay for it. Now a GREETER at Wal Mart. Three daughters, one son. Seven grandsons. Two granddaughters. Two greatgranddaugters. Wife says "lunch is ready." Keywords: Bob Miller, YN3 Joined VF-51 12-26/50 NAS North Island. Left for Korea aboard USS Essex (CV-9) June 27, '51 returned US Mar '52. Left VF-51 late May '52 transferred to CAP North Island. Discharged 12/10/52. Returned to Clerk Rock Island Railroad, Council Bluffs, Ia. Night School UNO Omaha, Neb. Ticket Clerk Milwaukee/Missouri Pacific Railroads Omaha Neb. Ticket Clerk Milwaukee Road New York, NY. Railroad Dept., Traveler's Midwest HQ Chicago. Like the Traveling Salesman met this gal in the little town and changed my life. Became Ticket Clerk again; this time with Burlington Railroad, Chicago.

Entry: 25417 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	ENS. JAMES A. GARRETT
JAMES GARRETT wrote on May 13, 2002 CITY AND STATE: PORT ORANGE FL UNIT: SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: FAMILY MEMBER Comments: My father was James A. Garrett and was killed in San Diego in 1944 in a Hellcat. I was born in Feb 1945 and never knew him. I am looking for information on him. He took aerial photographs and was the unit aerial photo officer, I think. Keywords: Navy Hellcat pilot crashed in downtown San Diego in 1944

Entry: 20281 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	I TORE UP 103 FROM VF-51
DON CHEAIRS wrote on October 31, 2001 CITY AND STATE: UNIT: U.S.S. BON HOMME RICHARD SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: - Comments: I was a "hook runner" on the Bon Homme in 1967 and was involved in an incident with airplane 103. I am looking for the pilot of the airplane so that I may apologize for causing him to almost be blown up. Anyone with info on who and where the pilot is, I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks.. Don R. Cheairs Keywords: Gulf of Tonkin incident

Entry: 19474 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	NEIL ARMSTRONG
MICHAEL EDWARDS wrote on September 17, 2001 CITY AND STATE: NEW ORLEANS LA UNIT: THE EISENHOWER CENTER FOR AMERICAN STUDIES SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: INTERESTED PERSON Comments: I work for Dr. Stephen Ambrose at The Eisenhower Center for American Studies at the University of New Orleans and we are seeking to interview those who served with Neil Armstrong on board the Essex and in VF-51. Thank you. Keywords:

Entry: 18984 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	LOOKING FOR PHOTOS FOR BOOK ABOUT CARRIER AIRCRAFT ON THE DECK, KOREA
AL ADCOCK wrote on August 27, 2001 CITY AND STATE: MARIANNA FL UNIT: SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: - Comments: I AM WRITING A BOOK FOR SQUADRON/SIGNAL PUBLICATIONS CONCERNING CARRIER DECK ACTION AND COULD USE SOME PHOTOS OF NAVY/MARINE AIRCRAFT ON THE CARRIER DECK. ALL PHOTOS WILL BE CREDITED ACCORDINGLY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP Keywords:

Entry: 16870 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	LOOKING FOR PHOTOS OF VF-51
EMIL PLET wrote on May 28, 2001 CITY AND STATE: PARKSVILLE BC UNIT: ATTACHED TO VF-51, 1943-1944 SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: - Comments: Just got a computer and looking for shipmates, especially from VF-51 and photos of the squadron, officers and enlisted men standing in front of an F6F Hellcat. Anyone out there, shipmates or family members, would be happy to hear from you. Also spent time at NAS Jax,Deland,Cecil Field, Whiting Field, Corry Field and North Island with VF-5A. Regards...........Emil "Mickey" Plet Keywords: Served on USS Ranger (CV-4) May 1942-May 1943 " on USS Monterey (Shakedown Cruise only) Attached to VF-51 Sept.22,1943 to Dec. 24,1944 aboard USS San Jacinto Jan.1944 to Dec.1944

Entry: 16110 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN
MICHAEL EDWARDS wrote on April 24, 2001 CITY AND STATE: NEW ORLEANS LA UNIT: U.S.S. ESSEX SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: - Comments: I am looking for anyone who may have served with Neil Armstrong in '51-'52. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Keywords:

Entry: 12233 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	MY FATHER
GRETE PHILLIPS wrote on October 9, 2000 CITY AND STATE: UNIT: SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: FAMILY MEMBER Comments: I am looking for information on my father, Samuel James Bunger, VF-51. Keywords:

Entry: 12188 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	CORRECTION TO WILLIAM CURTIS ENTRY.
WILLIAM J. CURTIS wrote on October 6, 2000 CITY AND STATE: CRANFORD NJ UNIT: VF-51 SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: NAVY VETERAN - KOREA Comments: VF-51 Keywords: Same as my original entry,only my E-Mail has changed

Entry: 11821 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN
JIM PERRY wrote on September 18, 2000 CITY AND STATE: CHARLESTON SC UNIT: SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: INTERESTED PERSON Comments: I am trying to collect patches from Navy and Air Force squadrons from the Korean War. I am retired Air Force and any patch will be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Keywords:

Entry: 2332 VF-51 FIGHTER SQDN	RECALLED TO ACTIVE SPT 50
WILLIAM J. CURTIS wrote on January 8, 1999 CITY AND STATE: CRANFORD NJ UNIT: AIR GROUP 5--VF-51 SERVICE OR RELATIONSHIP: Comments: I was recalled to active duty Sept.5 1950 and was shipped overseas on a troop ship with 3 other reserves from NAS Floyd Bennett NY. We each went to different squadrons on carriers in Japan.I Was with VF51 on the Valley Forge till we returned to San Diego late Dec.1950. We had another tour of duty off Korea on the carrier Essex and returned again to San diego late March 1952 and I was separated April 1 1952 as an ADE2.Worked for IBM for 39 years and am now retired. Keywords:

Page 1 1