Whidbey Island

Whidbey Island. The Washington squadron has experienced a somber yet resolute and determined fall and continues to hold its normal functions as well as helping support aircrews, personnel and families of NAS Whidbey Island's squadrons. June's presentation featured CAPT Gil Winans, Spad pilot and first skipper of VAL-4, the noteworthy OV-10 Bronco squadron of the Vietnam war. The skipper alternated between a video history of the Black Ponies and his personal recollections of the tour. July's meeting had squadron XO/VP CDR Roger Lerseth presenting a lecture on his recent experiences at the United States Military Academy, West Point. Lerseth, a recent PhD in Philosophy, spent a month at the academy for the annual West Point Summer Seminar in Military History. He talked about the 30-day gathering where military historians participate in seminars, guest lectures and battlefield staff rides, summarizing the event as "The annual spawning of military historians."

October's meeting had a presentation by Boeing Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) cockpit systems engineer Bill Wilson. His lecture on the JSF program included great graphics and videos. November's meeting featured CDR Casey Collins, CO of the EA-6B FRS, VAQ-129. His topics included the impact of terrorism on the Fleet Readiness Squadron's EA-6B pilot and ECMO training program. Collins was a delightful speaker on the Prowler and electronic attack issues. The squadron held late summer elections with CO CDR Scott Hornung and XO Lerseth agreeing to serve another tour at the controls. LCDR Thompson stepped into the Admin Officer/Secretary-Treasurer slot, relieving CAPT George Fisher. Finally, the squadron welcomed home two NAS Whidbey Island squadrons, VAQ-141 and VAQ-128.

Additional note: a squadron guest at its July meeting was LCOL Richard H. Morgan, USAF (Ret.). A radar bombardier in RB-36s he also flew F-4s and for one month of his combat tour in Vietnam he had exchange duty with the Navy and flew hops with VF-142 and VA-196.

The squadron also sadly reported the passing of member RMC Douw H. "Mac" MacHaffie. (Ranger Mark Morgan)

Copyright Association of Naval Aviation Winter 2001
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