Whidbey Island

Whidbey Island The squadron had a smashing first half of the year with a strong series of meetings and involvement in community military activities. The decision to move VQ-1 to Whidbey and base EA-ISGs here was cause for rejoicing on "The Rock."

In February, VAQ-134's LCDR Scott Fair described the Garudas four-month deployment to Bagram AB, Afghanistan, including recent Afghan history and the overthrow of King Zahr Shaw in 1973.

March featured CDR Scott Hornung and local author Peggy Darst with a St Patrick's Day Special covering the history of the Irish in Oak Harbor. Highlights from Darst's recently published book, Step Back in Time...A Photo Journey of Whidbey's Island & a Saga of an Irish Pioneer Family, were well-received, especially revelation of stories concerning Oak Harbor and the Navy connection.

In May LCDR Dave Edgarton of VAQ-131 reported on Abraham Lincoln's (CVN-72) role in the tsunami relief effort in Indonesia. (see winter 2004/05 Wings of Gold.) The carrier and embarked CVW-2 squadrons participated in relief efforts from January through early February 2005. While not specifically trained for this type of mission, Lincoln personnel performed professionally and effectively.

June's confab featured a presentation by LTCOL Russ Reed, USAF (Ret) from the Olympic Squadron ANA. Done as part of the Olympic group's annual ferry trek to Whidbey for a joint meeting, Reed gave a fascinating talk on his experiences as a 20-year-old B-17 pilot with the 603rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)/389th Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force.

Shot down and captured he was confined in stalags in Poland and Germany, including the south compound of Stalag Luft III (the north compound of the same POW camp was the site of the famous "Great Escape.") In January 1945, with the Russian Army approaching, he and 2,000 other POWs went on a forced march through the snow some 60 miles, ultimately winding up at Stalag VIIA at Moosberg, Bavaria. The 14th Armored Division of Patton's 3rd Army liberated the camp on 29 April 1945.

Postwar Colonel Reed flew both interceptors and transports with time in the F-80, F-82, F-84, F-86, F-94, C-47 and C-54, among others. He Later flew DC6s, DC-7s, B727s and A300s with Eastern Airlines, and now lives in retirement in Port Ludlow, WA.

In July, CAPT Christine Picchi, USN (Ret), briefed the squadron on the events surrounding the shoot-down of then LT Roger Lerseth's A-6 over North Vietnam on 6 September 1972 and his subsequent imprisonment at the Hanoi Hilton. CDR Lerseth was treasurer/XO/CO of our squadron from 1998 until his untimely passing in March 2004.

The squadron supported the Island County Historical Society's 2005 museum exhibit, "In Our Defense: Military Service and History in Island County" which runs through December 2005. Call the museum at (360) 678-3310 or see the web at www.islandhistory.org for information. Finally, the squadron took a moment to note the passing of the legendary VADM James Stockdale, following the hero's death on 5 July 2005. ("Ranger Mark" Morgan)

Copyright Association of Naval Aviation Summer 2005
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