Yellow Sheet Summer 2019 : simplebooklet.com

The The Magazine of Marine Aviation SUMMER 2019 VOLUME LXI The MCAA is a non profit organization incorporated in 1972 to carry out the work and spirit of the First Marine Aviation Force Veterans Association which was made up of Marines who served in WWI prior to 30 November 1918 Today our membership includes active duty retired and honorably discharged Marines and anyone else with an interest in Marine Corps aviation past present and future MCAA represents the entire spectrum of Marine Corps aviation from all ranks and skills The Marine Corps Aviation Association s Yellow Sheet takes the name from the old yellow colored printed form that pilots used to record flight data after each hop The original yellow sheet had a tear off portion which contained basic aircraft information with space for aircrew log book stats flight time instrument time number of takeoffs and landings type of flight passengers and other assorted information At the end of a flight a pilot always walked into the line shack and reached for the yellow sheet And that s why the MCAA named this publication The Yellow Sheet 26 CURATOR S CORNER Museum Aviation Specialist Carrie Bowers unveils the latest acquisition at the National Museum of the Marine Corps A UH 1Y Venom aircrew participating in WTI Course 1 20 flies over Brawley CA on 3 Oct 2019 30 MARINE CORPS ORDNANCE AND BEYOND THE AL CARMICHAEL STORY Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Johnson USMC Ret recounts the fascinating life and legacy of Al Carmichael 36 2019 SYMPOSIUM RECAP Another great year of professional education celebrating our Aviation Award Winners and Reunions 4 yellowsheet www flymcaa org

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MARINE CORPS AVIATION ASSOCIATION COMMANDER S HEADQUARTERS 715 Broadway Street Quantico VA 22134 703 630 1903 CALL Leadership Board of Directors NATIONAL COMMANDER LtGen Jon M Davis USMC Ret DEPUTY CMDR WEST LtGen Terry Robling USMC Ret DEPUTY CMDR EAST MajGen Jon Gallinetti USMC Ret TREASURER Col Robert Deforge USMC Ret ADJUNT Col Paul Fortunato USMC Ret SERGEANT MAJOR SgtMaj Bill Oldenburg USMC Ret LEGAL COUNSEL Col Art White USMC Ret PREVIOUS NAT L CMDR LtGen Keith Stalder USMC Ret PREVIOUS NAT L CMDR LtGen John Castellaw USMC Ret PREVIOUS NAT L CMDR Gen William Nyland USMC Ret WEST DISTRICT LEAD Col Earl Wederbrook USMC Ret SOUTH DISTRICT LEAD Col Chris Seymour USMC Ret SOUTHEAST DISTRICT LEAD Col John Gumbel USMC Ret DISTRICT LEAD Col Laura Sampsel USMC Ret NORTHEAST DISTRICT LEAD Col Bruce Hulick USMC Ret GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE LEAD Col Paul Croisetiere USMC Ret MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE LEAD Col Michael Orr USMC Ret PHILANTHROPY COMMITTEE LEAD Vacant STRATEGY COMMITTEE LEAD Col Robert Claypool USMC Ret AUDIT COMMITTEE LEAD Col Al Sullivan USMC Ret MCAA Staff EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Col John Rader USMC Ret DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Roxanne M Kaufman rkaufman flymcaa org As I begin my second year as your National Commander I would like to thank all of you who have taken the time to speak with me about our great organization and share your thoughts and ideas We all know from our days in the Corps that people are the cornerstone of any success I want to reassure our retiree population that MCAA will continue to publish our quality magazines on time and on target Our previous printer of two decades went out of business without notice As a result we took our time and did our due diligence to solidify an enduring relationship with a professional publishing house that is liked minded and supports our troops and veterans organizations We also created digital memberships for people who want to access the magazine via web or mobile applications This way our members can have access to our publications 24 7 Creating a digital version will also help us to remain relevant to our Marines or Industry Partners who are frequently on the road Another part of our digital enhancements include an increased social media footprint We currently have approximately 28 000 followers on Facebook 3 000 members on LinkedIn a new Instagram and are in the process of reenergizing our Twitter This presence isn t just geared towards younger users either MCAA publishes everything from Marinecentric historical articles and photos real time news Reunion announcements updates from the Fleet and human interest stories I encourage all of you to visit our social media forums Whether you served in the past or are sitting watch today it s your community and your comments could add great value to others Semper Fi Dog SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 7

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10 November 2019 A MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS This year the Marine Corps celebrates 244 years of warfighting excellence and uncommon valor United States Marines define the world s image of elite warrior citizens We take great pride in the legacy built by those who came before us and in carrying that legacy into the future Capabilities battlefields and adversaries change and Marines continue to adapt to every challenge prepared to fight and win wherever and whenever our Nation calls What does not change is the Marine spirit a warrior spirit rooted in our core values The strength of our Corps is our Marines Our success depends on all Marines embodying the values in which our Corps was founded it requires leveraging the talents and ingenuity of every Marine to strengthen our Corps Since 1775 courageous Marines have answered the call to fight for freedom and shaped our reputation as the most feared fighting force the world has seen Marines from each generation approached every battle with a lethal combination of versatility perseverance and adaptability that has allowed us to prevail in any clime and place Throughout the 244 year history of the Marine Corps our Nation has required Marines to adapt capabilities and fighting styles to defeat adversaries in all domains The Marines who took to the seas with naval counterparts to combat the Barbary Pirates solidified our role as a naval expeditionary force in readiness World War I saw Marines fighting sustained land campaigns and returning from those battles to immediately begin redesigning how to go to war Those innovations laid the foundation for the amphibious landings of World War II Combat operations in Korea and Vietnam brought harsh climates and unforgiving terrains that again forced Marines to adapt and overcome In Iraq and Afghanistan urban battlefields and counterinsurgency tactics demanded innovations in warfighting strategies and capabilities Today we find ourselves once again facing new and evolving threats in different operational environments Like our predecessors we will move forward with the lessons learned from past conflicts while redesigning the force and innovating for future conflict with any adversary who dares to fight Marines congratulations on 244 years of excellence Like the first birthday message published by 13th Commandant General John Lejeune in 1921 this message serves as a reminder of the legacy we are charged with upholding Today is our day to celebrate our heritage and to honor the sacrifices of those who fought before us It is also a day to recommit ourselves to our core values and resolutely pursue the strength of character that defines United States Marines And it is a day to look toward future battlefields to prepare to uphold the distinguished warfighting legacy of our predecessors wherever our Nation calls Happy Birthday Marines DavidH B General U S Marine Corps Commandant of the Marine Corps

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M arine Corps Air Station MCAS Futenma is the first Marine Corps Air Station to receive a state of art AN FPN 68 Precision Approach Radar 30 September 2019 The new radar allows air traffic control Marines to give pilots critical and precise information when landing aircrafts during inclement weather Precision is the name of the game for us said Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Pelletier radar chief with Headquarters and 10 yellowsheet www flymcaa org Headquarters Squadron It shows down to the foot how far left or right the course of the aircraft is and also how above or below the glide path the aircraft is traveling It lets us know the exact distance to touchdown for the wheels of the aircraft Accuracy wise it s above reproach It is the latest and greatest system out there The AN FPN 63 Precision Approach Radar installed in 1984 was the previous model used by Marines stationed on MCAS Futenma It is going to make a huge difference said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jonathan Barnhart an air traffic control maintenance officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron It is all digital technology It makes our job a lot easier and it is going to keep pilots safe The new AN FPN 68 Precision Approach Radar became fully mission capable on 14 November 2019

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Beaufort Air Station Marine Awarded for Lifesaving Actions BY HQMC S ergeant Samantha Alexander Distribution Management Office freight noncommissioned officer in charge aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort South Carolina was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal on 13 November for saving the life of a local teenager on 25 April 2019 She was driving home with her daughter and as she turned into her neighborhood the car ahead of her slammed on the breaks and swerved hitting two boys on their bicycles If I wasn t a Marine I would not have known what to do at all It was instinct and I hope that any one of us would have done the same thing Sergeant Samantha Alexander Alexander pulled safely off the road and began to approach the 12 yellowsheet www flymcaa org scene As she was getting closer she noticed that the woman who had hit the two boys was standing over them screaming frantically I m so sorry I m so sorry Another gentleman ran to attend to one of the boys so Alexander helped the other While I started talking to the boy I asked him his name how old he was and I told him who I was He said he had just got released from high school and they were riding their bikes home As she talked to the boy she examined his body for trauma I noticed that he had blood on his pants and they were torn I moved the sweatpants and could see bone and fatty tissue I pulled off my belt and I tied it as far above the laceration as possible Alexander kept telling the boy to brace for the pain but due to the traumatic leg injury he couldn t feel his leg Once I got it tightened down as much as I could I locked it in place and sat there talking to him said Alexander Despite seeing tunnel vision and having spiked adrenaline she remained calm for the boy until emergency services arrived Shortly after EMS arrived the boys were taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital where the 15 year old was immediately medevacked to Savannah The doctors confirmed that it was an arterial bleed and Alexander s quick reaction to stop the bleeding saved his life

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SQUADRON NEWS VIEWS JOE FOSS SQUADRON T he Joe Foss Squadron hosted their 14th Annual MCAA Awards Dinner for 1st Marine Aircraft Wing MAW nominees to the national level awards The dinner was conducted on 12 April 2019 at the Marine Corps Base MCB Camp Smedley D Butler Officer s Club located on Plaza Housing Camp Foster in Okinawa Japan 1st MAW Leadership and the Joe Foss Squadron named after the legendary Medal of Honor recipient and World War II ACE host this awards dinner each year to recognize 1st MAW nominees for their outstanding contributions to their unit 1st MAW and Marine Corps Aviation in general The Awards Dinner was attended by just under 100 active duty or retired Marines Sailors family members and other supporters of Marine Corps Aviation and 1st MAW Major General Christopher J Moe 14 yellowsheet www flymcaa org Mahoney Deputy Commander United States Forces Japan was the Guest of Honor and provided inspiring comments to those in attendance Major General Mahoney was introduced by our own Colonel James Harpo Harp Commanding Officer of the Joe Foss Squadron and Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 36 Senior leaders throughout the island were in attendance like Lieutenant General Eric M Smith Major General Thomas D Wheels Weidley Major General Paul J Rock Jr The focus of the evening was the recognition of those board selected squadrons and individual Marine MCAA Award nominees from 1st MAW to the national level Each individual nominee and Commanding Officer of unit awards received a specially designed laser crafted plaque from the Joe Foss Squadron which was presented by Major General Weidley Major General Mahoney and Colonel Harp Joe Foss Squadron events started earlier that day at the beautiful Taiyo Golf Course with the Joe Foss Spring Shootout Scramble Golf Tournament The turnout was a fantastic mix of Marines Sailors Airman contractors and civilian work force employees from across Okinawa to include two longtime supporters of 1st MAW from Atsugi Kokimasan and Onaya san The day dawned with perfect weather as 116 golfers manned their carts and headed off into the Taiyo jungle and donated their time money and golf balls to various portions of Marine Corps Installation Pacific s signature golf course Comprised of unusually narrow fairways and impenetrable jungle vegetation the course proved very challenging to all but the most experienced

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SQUADRON NEWS golfers A tournament cookout and awards ceremony followed We had six team prizes four closest to the pins par three s and a longest drive Prizes for the scramble and assistance for the banquet were made possible through donations from American Engineering Corporation Mediatti Broadband Communications Delta Air Lines CHUBB Insurance and JayMil Products and Services We could not have pulled this off without their assistance A special thanks to Ken Exsterstein of AEC Keith Kirkman of MBC Lou Ann Takahashi of Delta Air Lines Justin Boyson of CHUB and Mildred Tubberville of JayMil Last but not least thanks to our MCAA Headquarters leadership for their support of providing other really cool gifts so that everyone walked away a winner The mission of the Joe Foss Squadron like all MCAA squadrons across the globe is to promote and recognize professional excellence in Marine Corps aviation support the fraternal bond of its membership preserve Marine Corps aviation heritage and safeguard the future of Marine Corps aviation We do this in many ways like the Awards Dinner and the golf tournament we just completed In addition to promoting camaraderie and the bond of our membership this scramble helped us raise funds to pay for future dinners and Professional Military Education sessions and just some good ole Happy Hours filled with fun and mostly true stories These two events were the last official functions for Lieutenant Colonel James Stifler Strickler who served as our Joe Foss Squadron Operations Officer for several years Stifler and his family recently transferred to Pensacola Florida for his next duty assignment We elected James Hymie Flynn Colonel USMC ret to replace Stifler as the Operations Officer thereby leaving Hymie s old billet at the Logistics Officer vacant Until next time sayonara Joe Foss Squadron Officers Squadron CO Colonel James Harpo Harp Squadron XO Phil Goose VanEtten Colonel USMC Ret Squadron OpsO Jim Hymie Flynn Colonel USMC Ret Squadron Logo Vacant Squadron Treas Sam Sambo Schmidt Sgt Major USMC Ret Squadron Adj 2ndLt Jessica Jess Ringer Squadron IT Social Media 1stLt Jacob Jake Singer SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 15

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2019 MCAA John Glenn Squadron Scholarship Awards O n 11 June 2019 the Marine Corps Aviation Association MCAA John Glenn Squadron JGS Scholarship Foundation presented scholarships to seven students from St Mary s County This scholarship program has the mission of recognizing high achieving college bound high school seniors in the Southern Maryland Tri County area who plan to pursue Science Technology Engineering or Math based STEM degrees with merit based scholarships This is the 13th year of the scholarship program and since its inception the program as provided 449 500 in scholarships to 107 students in Southern Maryland This year the program provided nine scholarships totaling 28 000 L R Col Steven Girard JGS CO Ms Leslie Taylor Executive Director Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division NAWCAD and Deputy Assistant Commander for Test and Evaluation Naval Air Systems Command NAVAIR Tahsin Rahman Great Mills High School Savannah Jabr Great Mills High School Margaret Holmes Great Mills High School Tucker Protzman Great Mills High School Jennifer Tennant St Mary s Ryken High School Emily Imhof Leonardtown High School Finnegan O Neill Great Mills High School Mr Jake Heibel Principal Great Mills High School Ms Rhonda Morgan Great Mills High School STEM Program Not in the photo David Tydings and Kaitlyn Ng both from Leonardtown High School PHOTO CREDIT MIKE WILSON 22 yellowsheet www flymcaa org

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CURATOR S CORNER New to the Collection VMAQ 2 s Charlie Yankee CARRIE BOWERS MUSEUM SPECIALIST AVIATION NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE MARINE CORPS O n 8 March 2019 the last Marine Corps electronic warfare squadron deactivated drawing the curtain on nearly fifty years of tactical support from the VMAQ squadrons The sister units VMAQT 1 VMAQ 3 and VMAQ 4 had already deactivated beginning in 2016 leaving VMAQ 2 once the largest tactical squadron in Marine aviation to end the era A few months before VMAQ 2 decommissioned the National Museum of the Marine Corps aviation curators began working closely with the squadron to identify key historical material for the museum s collection Among the items selected were patches a complete ensemble of modern flight gear and deployment plaques which reflect keystone events in the squadron s history However it wasn t until more than a month after the unit s sundown ceremony that perhaps the most unique piece of their history was acquired by the museum their famous Charlie Yankee mascot The cultural roots of the Charlie Yankee mascot are intertwined with the history of the unit itself As a result of the post World War II reduction in forces Marine Corps aviation responded by combining the missions of multiple units and on 1 December 1955 Marine Composite Reconnaissance Squadron 2 VMCJ2 was born of VMC 2 and VMJ 2 and assumed the tail code CY Charlie Yankee The new unit would become known as the Eyes and Ears of the Second Marine Aircraft Wing and perhaps this inspired a daring yet unassuming mascot in the form of the Playboy rabbit head Since its design in 1953 by Playboy s first art director Art Paul the rabbit head logo has become one of the world s most instantly recognizable symbols The squadron incorporated the rabbit head logo with written consent from Playboy s founder Hugh Hefner into their insignia and Charlie Yankee the unit s adopted mascot of a bunny wearing a tuxedo was born When the squadron was redesignated as VMAQ 2 in 1975 they remained The Playboys and the bunny head appeared on aircraft on patches and flight gear Even as the squadron s nickname changed to the Panthers in 1993 and the Death Jesters in 2000 the imagery of Charlie Yankee and the Playboy rabbit head iconography remained While the signature bunny s head was removed by order from the unit s aircraft over the years the CY tail code was creatively designed to evoke a shape reminiscent of the familiar logo with the C for the head and the Y cleverly positioned to suggest a pair of pointed bunny ears 26 yellowsheet www flymcaa org

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The NMMC s recently acquired Charlie Yankee is believed to be the second official mascot in the squadron s history Squadron tradition holds that in 2010 a former squadron member procured this Charlie Yankee from a BuildA Bear Workshop and traveled to California to have its birth certificate signed and verified by Hugh Hefner Charlie Yankee comes with a variety of custommade accessories including a black tuxedo tan flying coveralls green nylon flying harness made by Mrs Ratcliffe the wife of Captain Ryan Ratcliffe and a MARPAT drawstring bag made by Mrs Ratcliffe s mother Whenever he flew in a VMAQ 2 EA 6B Prowler Charlie Yankee was either secured in the MARPAT bag or attached via carabiner to a crew member s parachute harness The ribbon bar details the service of this specific Charlie Yankee and includes an Air Medal Navy Unit Commendation and Operation INHERENT RESOLVE Campaign ribbon with a Bronze Star device Also included is a U S Air Force Meritorious Unit Award which was awarded as VMAQ 2 was one of the squadrons under the administrative control of the U S Air Force s 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar during its final deployment in 2018 Charlie Yankee was even part of the final flight crew which delivered the Northrop Grumman EA 6B Prowler BuNo 162230 to the Smithsonian s National Air and Space Museum Steven F Udvar Hazy Center in Chantilly Virginia book which documents all of the Charlie Yankees flight time between 1999 and 2019 his personal bar The Rabbit Hutch constructed about 1975 and a nylon duffel bag with deployment and souvenir patches from a 1981 VMAQ 2 Det Y deployment aboard USS Nimitz CVN 68 The sundown of a squadron is always fraught with mixed emotions I visited the VMAQ 2 hangar more than a month after the Sundown and the hangar was empty except for a handful of Marines There was very little remaining that displayed the proud history of VMAQ 2 and I talked to the officers while eagerly awaiting the arrival of Charlie Yankee whom I would take with me back to Quantico When Charlie Yankee finally arrived it was very plain to see that this mascot was and remains a beloved piece of VMAQ 2 history As one of the last possessions of the squadron I could see the hesitation and sadness in the eyes of the Marines as I carefully tucked the bunny into a soft bed of tissue paper among his belongings Charlie Yankee may be viewed by some as a simple stuffed animal but it is the history in which the Marines of VMAQ 2 have imbued into this mascot that makes it a unique artifact Charlie Yankee may not be the flashiest artifact but he is a symbol of the shared experiences of Marines for nearly 50 years Often the most unpretentious artifacts come with the best stories If you have flight gear personal effects or other artifacts which you would like to donate to the National Museum of the Marine Corps you can contact Collections Chief Aviation Curator Ben Kristy at benjamin kristy usmcu edu Charlie Yankee also brings with him some hereditary accoutrements an aviators log SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 27 CURATOR S CORNER Since about 1963 the physical manifestation of Charlie Yankee has taken on a variety of forms from a golf club cover to a myriad of stuffed bunnies that have traveled the world with the squadron Charlie Yankee was traditionally cared for and protected by the junior aircrew in the squadron and frequented events held by members of the ready room

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Monument Honors the A 6 Intruder Marine Intruders young and old a few of the former and a lot of the latter gathered at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point North Carolina and the Havelock Tourist and Event Center for the Intruder Tribute Dedication Ceremony on 17 May 2019 The Tribute is a nine foot black granite obelisk with a four sided collage of laser etched Intruder photographs graphics squadrons personnel losses and general aircraft information Havelock is the fifth city to receive the Intruder Tribute The other four sites are The National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola Florida The Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City New York The Museum of Flight Seattle Washington and The Naval Aircraft Carrier Memorial Park in Virginia Beach Virginia With luck the sixth dedication will be in San Diego California when the Intruder Association Reunion is held on 29 April 3 May 2020 Grumman Ironworks Aerospace built 693 of these beautiful birds to serve as the night and all weather medium attack aircraft for the Navy and Marine Corps It was introduced in 1963 and went out of service for the Marines on 28 April 1993 During the eight years the A 6 was used in the Vietnam War the Navy and Marine Corps lost 84 Intruder aircraft to enemy action Ten of those aircraft were shot down by SAMs two by MIGs and fifty six by conventional ground fire and AAA In Vietnam Marine squadrons flew the aircraft from DaNang VMA AW 242 and 225 Chu Lai VMA AW 533 and later at Nam Phong The Rose Garden Thailand and off USS Coral Sea VMA AW 224 During the Gulf War in 1991 Marines flew out of Shaikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain Our brothers in the EA 6A VMCJ and the EA 6B VMAQ Prowler were also in attendance There were dark places that one did not go unless your ECM brethren were there to provide their magic and degrade the enemy defenses In addition to the approximately 250 people who attended the Intruder Association unveiling of the monument at the visitor center another group of about 200 Intruder personnel from VMA AW 225 were having their own ceremony celebrating their 50 Years Out of Vietnam Reunion The Intruder Association President Captain T Ladson Webb USN Ret the Mayor of Havelock Brenda Wilson Major General Tom Braaten USMC Ret and Major General Marty Wiley Post USMC Ret gave remarks during the ceremony Colonel Tom Blickensdorfer USMC Ret was the Master of Ceremonies Captain Bill KMar Kretzschmar USMC Ret gave an emotional reading of They Flew Alone his poem about the night missions into North Vietnam back in the Rolling Thunder days It was a wonderful weekend of seeing old friends while also remembering the buddies we lost along the way We hope to see you in San Diego in 2020 Join the Intruder Association to stay apprised of the details And remember Fighter Pilots Make Movies Attack Pilots Make History SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 29

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LEFT Carmichael graduated with MCRD San Diego Platoon 159 in 1946 ABOVE Carmichael s sister Alice served in the Marine Corps as a radio operator and air traffic controller at MCAS El Toro She later married a Marine Corps fighter pilot Al Carmichael s story begins at the intersection of youth skill determination patriotism and opportunity It is rich territory worth retelling potential A stumbling point however would arrive when his father unexpectedly passed away the end of his senior year Money for the family was especially tight With the reluctant consent of his It all began when Carmichael was born in Boston Massachusetts dear mother Carmichael who was 17 at the time decided to follow on 10 November 1928 the 143rd his older sister s lead by visiting birthday of our Corps Also it the local Marine Corps recruiter was the beginning of The Great He knew that service in the Depression a time when making Marine Corps would afford him an a living became a significant challenge for many Americans Not opportunity to regularly allot part of his paycheck to help take care of long after his birth Carmichael s father would pack the family up and his mother and three brothers head west in search of a better life True to form a rude awakening His father would find employment was in store for him at the Marine as a milkman in the Southern Corps recruiting office the day of California town of Gardena his exploratory visit It would be an awakening that would send Early life was austere but him on a journey that he could not acceptable for young Al He was begin to imagine After completing not a complainer In terms of his his paperwork and passing the destiny that was still hazy at best Although athletics appealed to him physical exam he started to head his body did not measure up to the home when the recruiter abruptly asked him Where are you going rigors of his true love for football The next thing Carmichael knew he He did have an aptitude for track was on a bus headed south to the which he tested With the arrival Marine Corps Recruit Depot at San of his senior year at Gardena High Diego It would be days before his School a growth spurt and a gain mother found out where he was in his self confidence propelled him forward in terms of his athletic Otherwise occupied Carmichael 32 yellowsheet www flymcaa org had no way to let his mother know what had transpired As they say Welcome to the Corps Following boot camp Carmichael wound up in aviation as an ordnanceman stationed near his home at the Marine Corps Air Station MCAS El Toro As the shadow of World War II was fading the interim period before the Korean conflict saw service football blossoming It was at this time that the El Toro Marine Bulls had fielded a team full of former college football players And in this golden period of Armed Services football El Toro s team was a top notch contender within the mighty 11th Naval District Conference One day prior to the 1948 season following a hard day s effort on the flight line Carmichael noticed activity on the parched football field where the El Toro Bulls practiced Preparations for the season were beginning Carmichael approached the head coach of El Toro s team Major Ed Cornwell and announced he would like to be included in the try out process Coach Cornwell inquired as to his background Not

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impressed Cornwell summarily conveyed a rather blunt negative assessment to the young Marine Carmichael however persisted to the point where the coach said he d think about it likely hoping that he would not return for an answer But it was not in young Carmichael s character to forget let alone give up Making a case for himself he continued to harangue the coach until Cornwell ultimately relented telling the equipment manager to suit him up After changing and reporting back to the coach in a worn out oversized uniform with very large shoulder pads which Carmichael relates made him feel like a clown he was relegated to just standing around the rest of the practice To add insult to injury Cornwell summarily cut Carmichael and several other inexperienced but equally hopeful Marines at the end of the practice session Not one to roll over and die easily Carmichael appealed Cornwell ultimately gave the young Marine a chance the next day but once again did not afford him a chance to compete Once again Carmichael was cut towards the end of that practice session He continued to protest stating he had not been given a chance to play Coach Cornwell relented again and sent him in for an end of practice special teams drill Carmichael would be the sacrificial lamb for a meat tenderizing session that Cornwell probably figured would trounce any ambition the young Marine had in mind Future Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame player He realized what was going on and was understandably nervous But Carmichael had other plans that did not include being cut again After catching the ball during the kickoff return drill Carmichael like a gazelle wove his way through a phalanx of six hungry for contact Devil Dog linemen He ended up in the end zone unscathed to everyone s chagrin Assuming the runback to be a fluke a livid Cornwell nevertheless ratcheted up the drill by adding four Denver Bronco running back SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 33

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On his way Carmichael 48 on his record setting 106 yard kick off return for a touchdown against Chicago Bears additional players to repeat the drill Cornwell further rendered a loud stinging rebuke to the defensive players taking the field You gonna let this clown run through you guys like this Mind you this drill now had a full complement of highly agitated firststring players looking to put a hurt on one lone unprotected sitting duck who had the audacity to make them look bad Unfortunately for the defensive team the clown reference by Coach Cornwell touched a nerve with Carmichael who was now more determined to succeed once again and he did Carmichael left a wake of bodies grasping for contact as he repeated his unhindered passage into the end zone With everyone s jaws still hanging in awe Cornwell turned to his equipment manager and said Take this kid into the training room and refit him properly because I think we have found ourselves a football player Making the team was one thing but actually playing in a game 34 yellowsheet www flymcaa org Al Carmichael and Frank Gifford front left and right respectively with the USC coach center and fellow players before boarding a United Airlines plane to New York was another It wasn t until the seasoned player coach Carmichael was backing up Jim Johnson a University of Missouri Olympic class hurdler and fighter pilot suffered a serious locker room accident that would knock him out for the season that Carmichael would get the opportunity to play regularly in the role of halfback and play Carmichael did With Johnson sidelined there was no looking back Carmichael would earn AllService honors the next two years before receiving his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps Following his Marine Corps service Carmichael enrolled at nearby Santa Ana Junior College There he would study and play football for the Dons He would earn junior college All American as well as the Most Valuable Junior College Player of the Year honors Immediately following the completion of his freshman season Carmichael was recruited to play football at the University of Southern California where he On the movie set of Spartacus where Carmichael played the part of a Gladiator would again earn All American honors along with fellow AllAmerican backfield teammate Frank Gifford A trip to the Rose Bowl where he scored the winning touchdown would cap his senior year and lead him into the NFL as the first round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers

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Success at Green Bay would earn him two All Pro honors and eventually an induction into the Green Bay Packer s Hall of Fame While at Green Bay Carmichael set a record for the longest kickoff return for a touchdown 106 yards a record that held for several years Interestingly enough that 106 yard record would become the title of a book 106 Yards that he would later publish recounting his youth football careers and activities in Hollywood as a part time stunt man and actor Following his time with the Green Bay Packers Carmichael would join the Denver Broncos in the fledgling American Football League He has the distinction of recording the first touchdown in AFL history He would also earn All Pro honors while with the Broncos On the MGM set with actress Marylin Monroe Hard to believe in context to today s profession football players but during Carmichael s off season periods with USC the Packers and the Broncos he worked in Hollywood as a stunt man and actor in numerous films and television shows His films would include Spartacus starring Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis and The Long Gray Line starring Marine veteran Tyrone Power and Maureen O Hara Both films were directed by the great John Ford Carmichael s television work included The Untouchables Rawhide and Silent Service Following his football career Carmichael transitioned into the real estate business Carmichael retired to Palm Desert California with his wife Barbara But we were all sad to hear that he passed away on 7 September 2019 He will be missed by many Author s Note Several years ago in 2008 I was able to successfully initiate an effort to get former NFL quarterback Eddie LeBaron inducted into the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame MCSHOF For several years now I have tried equally hard to encourage the MCSHOF to consider Al Carmichael I am hopeful members of the MCAA might jump into the MCSHOF induction effort since it would be appropriate for Al Carmichael to be inducted If I am not mistaken he would be the first inductee to come out of the Marine Corps aviation community In the annals of Marine Corps athletic biographies I continue to be amazed how Al Carmichael escaped the spotlight he deserves to share with notably equal Marine Corps veteran sports stars Al Carmichael was a credit to the Marine Corps as well as his alma mater professional organizations and various communities in which he resided Niccolo Machiavelli once noted It is not titles that honor men but men that honor titles Mr Carmichael in the final analysis has certainly honored several institutions not the least of which continues to be the United States Marine Corps Semper Fi Al Carmichael with his wife Barbara SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 35

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The 2019 Marine Corps Aviation Association Symposium MCAA was a resounding success From the venue to the exhibits to the evening socials to the final soir e everything was first class Since this was our first year at the Sheraton Harbor Island none of us knew exactly what to expect And frankly behind the scenes we were all a little nervous but because of the professionalism of the Sheraton staff those fears were quickly put to rest We also instituted a new three day model that made planning and execution even more challenging than in previous years It all worked out in the end and everyone agreed that we should keep the condensed model moving forward Inarguably the stars of the week were our MCAA Aviation Award Recipients and their families and Major General Michael Lancer Sullivan USMC Retired who hung out in the MCAA work room all week spoke at the Luncheon and career counseled a few incoming commander officers in the Ready Room one evening A sincere thank you to our Industry Partners and everyone who made MCAA 2019 a great event and also to Colonel Paul Sharky Croisetiere USMC Retired who captured so many memorable moments We have already posted the details of the 2020 MCAA Symposium on our website and next year we will have a special treat many former MCARA folks will be also be joining us after their Midway Reunion Details of the Midway Reunion are also posted on flymcaa org 36 yellowsheet www flymcaa org

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BOOKS IN REVIEW Douglas A 4C L Skyhawk in Navy Service BY STEVE GINTER SIMI VALLEY CA 2019 193 PAGES ILL 39 95 and Douglas A 4C L Skyhawk in Marine Service 2019 49 PAGES ILL 18 95 REVIEW BY CDR PETER MERSKY U S NAVY RESERVE RET Right down our alley Numbers 109 and 110 in the successful open ended Naval Fighter series and the sixth and seventh covering the various models of the Douglas McDonnell Douglas Skyhawk these long awaited volumes cover the A 4 Charlie that so many of our members flew in Vietnam Following the long established format of basic design and discussion of the Skyhawk there are many photos of the A 4 s individual areas such as armament stations cockpit details landing gear and other points of interest A lengthy section of squadron biographies that contain photos of their markings squadron patches as well as synopses of each squadron s service These squadron capsules include fleet and reserve squadrons that flew the A 4L an upgrade of the A 4C that flew so many Vietnam sorties Besides the black and white photos a nice collection of photos follows as well as the traditional discussion of scale model kits of the A 4C L As our specific group knows the A 4C bore the brunt the first years of Rolling Thunder flying daily Alpha Strikes against targets in South Vietnam and North Vietnam and shouldering a major portion of losses of aircraft and their pilots who quickly filled the enemy prisons While certainly a few squadrons flew the A 4B and the A 4E it was the Charlies and their pilots that took the war to the North Vietnamese and faced the growing assemblies of antiaircraft guns and SAMS not to mention the early appearances of MiGs over Hanoi and Haiphong and other enemy cities The Charlies flew from every Navy flight deck large and small and for a time were clad in some of the most colorful markings of the period A few of them even sported the experimental olive drab green in the mid war period The JOs who would become captains admirals colonels generals skippers CAGs and MAG COs honed their teeth on these dangerous missions Peter B Mersky is a book reviewer and author of several books on U S Navy and Marine Corps aviation subjects as well as the first book on Israeli fighter aces to be published outside Israel Specialty Press 1997 A retired U S Navy Reserve commander he was the editor of Approach the Navy s aviation safety magazine and has written his book review column for Naval Aviation News since 1982 44 yellowsheet www flymcaa org The second book which deals expressly with Marine Charlie and Lima squadrons is much smaller than the previous volume no 109 and thus costs less Its coverage also keeps preliminary discussion of the basic A 4 to a minimum and starts almost immediately with the traditional capsule squadron histories but with the usual gallery of photos However there is no discussion of scale models as that subject has been covered in the previous volume No 110 is almost a mini Ginter publication but certainly goes a long way in completing the ambitious project of depicting Ed Heinemann s masterpiece and its contribution to Navy and Marine Corps aviation While we may have become familiar with the Ginter style and format spending time browsing through both books will bring back many memories

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The Death Mist A Faith Centered Memoir of a Navy Combat Pilot in Vietnam BY ALAN G FISCHER KDAP AMAZON 2018 18 95 This is the third book on what aircrews of the Grumman A 6 Intruder experienced Angles of Attack described flying in DESERT STORM 1991 and Launch the Intruders oddly enough also dealt with the same squadron VA 75 and time frame 1972 73 However while Launch the Intruders was written by someone outside the squadron The Death Mist comes from a former Intruder pilot who like many of his comrades had unforgettable life changing experiences that he just had to put down on paper to let people know what he had seen and felt The studied emotion and post combat assessment that form the thread of this very personally written memoir make it one of the best such written late in life stories I have ever seen Its title comes from an ancient Saxon reference to the night as the Death Mist as the all weather A 6 squadrons often flew their missions at night or in bad weather that grounded other aircraft Beginning with the introduction to the Navy and Naval Aviation so many of us went through in the 1960s Aviation Officer Candidate School AOCS the author takes us through those first weeks of just trying to adjust to the routine and demands of military life shepherded by the stalwart colorful Marine Corps Drill Instructors tasked with imprinting candidates with the understanding toughness and detail oriented mindset required of all flight crews Moving through his flight training and his assignment to VA 75 aboard USS Saratoga CVA 60 headed for combat in the summer of 1972 we are quickly involved in almost daily launches the long dangerous missions trying to survive the intense curtains of flak and fearsome trails of multiple SAM trails all the while trying to find your target drop your load and escape for the next mission the next day maybe even that afternoon Although I have read many accounts of Vietnam aerial combat this new wartime memoir has got to be one of the most intense well written examples I have seen If ever the hackneyed phrase puts you right in the cockpit had true meaning it is for this book and its author As Saratoga and its air wing head for Vietnam Fischer begins thinking about how he feels about the war He was a strong supporter of U S action and writes in an almost Hamlet like soliloquy debating what has to be done and his part in the upcoming action He begins to speak about his faith and his dislike for his perceived lack of leadership in the higher ranks in the squadron a feeling that he carries with him for much of his first cruise until the commander finishes his tour and is relieved by another aviator whom he feels is much more up to the demanding task of leading his squadron in heavy combat rescued He inserts poems verse and even examples of his own faith that helped get him through the missions and the anger building inside him It s how one very young tired aviator deals with his life in combat trying to survive while he flies each mission He even recalls how one example of small arms fire hits the BN of an A 6 crew providing material for fellow A 6 A new CO in 1972 Commander Charles M Earnest in 1972 raises his driver Stephen Coonts to later open his novel Flight of the Intruder Naval attitude toward squadron leadership Institute Press 1986 that eventually during these days of intense combat became the epic tale of Vietnam air Earnest proved to be a much better combat Coonts became a popular combat leader than his predecessor but unfortunately was killed in a flying novelist after his service in the Navy The increasing intensity of combat mishap in November 1972 after in the summer of 1972 wears down earning the Silver Star for leadership the author even with his squadron in a combat SAR on August 6th of dependable friends and comradesA guiding thread throughout the book and rightfully so is the author s in arms Throughout the book he includes poems and verses that memories of his father s service in helped sustain him and also shows WWII flying B 24 Liberator bombers the character of those around him at in Europe He often finds himself this critical time matching his experiences and Fischer s first combat missions came in May 1972 and were relatively easy workups flying from the southern Dixie Station before heading north to Yankee Station He describes the restrictive rules of engagement that hindered mission planners and flight crews who flew those missions throughout the war emotions against those of his father In a colorful variation of his experience he describes the raucous visit to Hong Kong as he and his squadron mates take a well earned break from flying combat He rails against the communists in the Soviet Union and China who keep the war going by supporting North Vietnam s efforts to invade and take over the south which of course they inevitably did in April 1975 The last nine chapters are very brief and include more poems offerings of how the author feels about his service and the men he fought alongside some of whom did not return I am sure readers who went through the same experiences no matter their community will find their own thoughts and memories in this book which I highly recommend And to retired Commander Jim Ozbirn USNR Ret a long time friend of both Alan and myself as Two thirds through the book it is well as a combat experienced RF 8 obvious the strain of almost daily combat is beginning to tell on him the Crusader photo pilot who thought flak and SAMs losing friends who are enough of Alan and me to send me a shot down sometimes captured even copy of this excellent memoir Thanks Wizard Good one SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 45

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Super Gaggle The Resupply of Khe Sanh s Outposts BY COLONEL RICHARD CAMP USMC RET Prelude Mid February 1968 was not a good time for the 26th Marine s beleaguered hilltop outposts at Khe Sanh In one day the North Vietnamese anti aircraft gunners shot down three helicopters which threatened to cut off the outpost s supply lifeline It was a resupply nightmare that was causing unacceptable casualties to aircrews and to grunts on the Khe Sanh hills C aptain William H Dabney the commanding officer of Hill 881South Hill 881S recalled In the first four weeks of battle there were six birds downed on Hill 881S alone along with a bunch of WIAs among the aircrews We lost one hundred plus 881S Marines either KIA or WIA getting in and out The February Marine Observation Squadron Six VMO 6 command chronology noted all aircraft being subjected to 50cal fire while airborne and mortars and rockets on the deck Colonel Frank Wilson of Marine Aircraft Group 36 MAG 36 stated It was the consensus of the helicopter group commander and his pilots that the resupply of the vital hill outposts would not long survive under the increasing enemy antiaircraft AA fire and the resulting rapid rise in the attrition of the helicopters 46 yellowsheet www flymcaa org

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Lieutenant Colonel Richard E Carey later a lieutenant general of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing 1st MAW noted It became apparent that we had to do something fast In discussions with Colonel Joel E Bonner and General Robert P Keller Bill Lieutenant Colonel William J White and I suggested that we could come up with an answer I was the considered authority on fixed wing participation and Bill provided the helicopter expertise When all the details were sorted out I suggested the name Super Gaggle as that is a favorite fighter pilot term meaning perceived confusion of the first order Super Gaggle LEFT PAGE TOP An H 34 helicopter that was shot down near Hill 881S PHOTO COURTESY U S MARINE CORPS LEFT PAGE BOTTOM Hill 881S during the siege Note the 105mm howitzer in the foreground and the flag flying on the hilltop PHOTO COURTESY CAPTAIN WILLIAM DABNEY THIS PAGE TOP Map showing hilltop outposts 881S 861 558 and 950 in relation to the combat base MAP COURTESY U S MARINE CORPS THIS PAGE BOTTOM A Super Gaggle of CH 46s carrying supplies in external sling loads head for the hill outposts Helicopters were the only means of resupplying the surrounded outposts Hill 861 Hill 881S Hill 950 and Hill 558 during the siege PHOTO COURTESY U S MARINE CORPS During February 1st MAW promulgated Operation Plan 3 68 which established a small air task force designed to resupply essential items to the Khe Sanh outposts 881S 861 558 and 950 The task force consisted of eight to sixteen resupply CH 46 helicopters from MAG 36 CH 53 helicopters from MAG 16 twelve A 4 Skyhawk attack aircraft from MAG 12 and four UH 1E Huey gunships from VMO 6 to fly cover a Marine KC130 to refuel the aircraft and a TA 4F the two seat trainer version of the Skyhawk with a Tactical Air Control Airborne TAC A in the backseat to orchestrate the entire affair This is a classic example of helicopter escort operations involving split second timing and coordination by an airborne tactical air coordinator Colonel Franklin E Wilson MAG 36 explained Wilson noted When the dense monsoon clouds rolled into the valley the mountain tops were the first to become submerged and as the overcast lifted the last to reappear During these periods the North Vietnamese took advantage of the reduced visibility and emplaced heavy automatic weapons along the neighboring peaks and waited for the ceiling to lift which invariably heralded the arrival of helicopters SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 47

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As the command chronology for Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 HMM 262 noted Early in the evening the fog would roll in and the visibility and ceiling would remain zero until late the following morning Lieutenant Colonel John A Al Chancey HMM 364 Purple Foxes detailed Many times the pilots launched on their missions IFR instrument flight rules when the weather at Dong Ha was well below TACAN tactical air navigation system minimums and on several occasions even below GCA ground approach control minimums It was hazardous even without the threat of enemy fire After one flight he made this notation in his diary Six planes to 881 S today worst weather in the drop zone yet encountered was IFR all the way and had to come through a hole south west of the hill go below the ridge line and scoot up in to the zone just over the ground and in the clouds the last 200 300 yards unable to see the drop point and unable to see the A C aircraft ahead for interval LEFT The final passes of the A 4s during the Super Gaggle prep were made on each side of the hill laying down smoke to mask the view of the NVA gunners PHOTO COURTESY 1STLT CHARLES SCHNIEDER ABOVE A fully loaded Douglas A 4A Skyhawk from VMA 211 at the Chu Lai airstrip PHOTO COURTESY U S MARINE CORPS for nine days during which no helicopter could land The men exhausted their supply of water The platoon commander was authorized to send a squad out to a small stream which was outside the perimeter In addition to getting the water the Marines surprised a group of North Vietnamese and killed nine of the enemy One Marine was also killed Another Purple Fox pilot recalled Sometimes to resupply the hills we would actually slide over the side of the mountain up through the fog trying to get up to the top of the outposts We would drop off the resupply pick up the medevacs and slide back down the side until we had visual flight again The Khe Sanh Direct Air Support Center DASC and Fire Support Coordination Center FSCC coordinated all air and ground fires Major James Stanton 26th Marines FSCC said The Super Gaggle was designed to flood the air with CH 46s bringing supplies to the hill outposts They came in from all points of the compass at once a sort of airborne time on target mission and we covered them with fire coordinated to hit every intelligence target we knew about with air and artillery At times the weather completely isolated the outposts Early in February Marines on Hill 881S went without food for three days until the fog dissipated Similarly Hill 950 was swathed in clouds Captain Dabney pointed out that On the days when a Super Gaggle was due we d register all of our mortars we had eight two 8mm and six 60mm on known or suspected AA sites and stand by At 48 yellowsheet www flymcaa org about ten minutes prior to Super Gaggle we d get the word and fire all mortars with white phosphorus WP rounds We d also have each Marine in the trench line about 200 heave a grenade as far as he could down the hill in front of him to clear or discourage the same NVA Finally our mortars would fire four to five more rounds of WP at AA sites they were registered on to blind them in case Zunis hadn t gotten them and then all Marines on the hill would take cover The first Super Gaggle mission was flown on 24 February First Lieutenant John Thomas Esslinger on Hill 881S recalled They didn t tell us about this All we knew was one day we were told to stand by for something unusual Suddenly two A 4 jets came screaming up each side of the hill Under cover of suppressive fixed wing and artillery support each of eight CH 46s successfully dropped off a 3 000 pound external load covering less than five minutes when they could have taken under fire One helicopter took a hit but landed safely at the Khe Sanh airstrip Major General Anderson 1st MAW was overjoyed with the results

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Today was a small victory These coordinated resupply missions under marginal weather conditions undoubtedly will be required again and again in the next few weeks Super Gaggle Tactics In a typical Super Gaggle mission a TA 4 would fly to Khe Sanh on weather reconnaissance When the TA 4 reported favorable conditions the A 4s launched from Chu Lai enroute to Khe Sanh and the helicopters took off from Quang Tri enroute to Dong Ha where pre staged supplies waited After picking up their loads and carrying them externally underneath in especially designed cargo slings the helicopters began the short trip to Khe Sanh flying on instruments and then letting down through a hole in the cloud cover Lieutenant Colonel Chancey recalled The aircrews of HMM 364 flew two to five trips into Khe Sanh and its outposts much of this was at maximum weight with external loads rocking the aircraft 15 degrees from side toside and pitching the nose up and down 10 to 20 degrees it was a constant fight to combat vertigo Just before the helicopters arrived four A 4s struck enemy positions with napalm and two others saturated antiaircraft positions with CS gas carried in spray tanks About 30 seconds prior to the helicopters final approach to the designated hills two A 4s laid a smoke screen on both sides of the planned flight path As the helicopters flew in behind the smoke four more Skyhawks carrying bombs rockets and 20mm cannons suppressed known and suspected North Vietnamese gun positions As the CH 46s drove toward the hill outposts they were joined by Huey gunships of VMO 6 which would make continuous strafing attacks on the terrain within the helicopter lanes Colonel Wilson pointed out The Hueys were also there to pick up any downed crews First Bombing Mission Captain Lathrop described his first bombing mission The controller airborne was giving us a mission Hellborne 224 A 4 I have a mission are you ready to copy The voice of the controller was self assured and commanding Roger replied Dash 1 lead aircraft Lathrop was Dash 2 Run in heading will be zero six zero left hand pull Friendly forces will be at your eleven o clock at five hundred meters at Khe Sanh Ground fire is expected to be heavy Captain Trumfeller Dash 1 read back the brief as it had been given He was descending and maneuvering to a position so that he would be at the roll in point when permission was given Do you see my mark 224 Fingerprint controller airborne had shot a smoke marker between the base of one of the mountains and Khe Sanh I saw Dash 1 turn toward the smoke call Roger Dash 1 in hot and start down the chute and toward the target with all switches armed We were going to drop all our bombs and napalm on a single run I was too far behind to roll in on the target as he called off I watched as he rolled inverted did a double half roll entry leveled out and released over the target the orange winking of ground fire coming from his nine o clock position abeam of the target I pulled upon the run in line watching the napalm from the previous air strike run behind the lead aircraft but behind him and beneath him I turned on the run in line and rolled inverted holding the gunsight rings above the smoke and moving 100 meters to the right as the controller had indicated I had turned on the master armament switch as I had pulled upon the run in line As I started the run down to the target suddenly time slowed to a crawl Dash 1 was turning back to the left the smoke and fire of his ordnance drop was drifting toward Khe Sanh slowly The target seemed too big to miss as I pulled the gunsight ring down below it and started rolling back into a wings level upright position Time seemed to crawl The area of the smoke was so large I could never miss it as I watched it get bigger and bigger in the gunsight picture I saw no ground fire and never did when on a bombing run I think I was too intensely focused on the target and hitting it I pressed the target until it looked like it was going to impact with the aircraft hit the button on the top of the stick and pulled up and to the left Khe Sanh above me a hundred feet or more I kicked my rudder hard left to see what was happening behind me and could just catch the napalm and flame in the mirror on the right side of my canopy SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 49

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ABOVE Hill 881 S defended by Companies I and M 3rd Battalion 26th Marines PHOTO COURTESY U S MARINE CORPS FACING PAGE 881S looking west to Mike Company s position on the hill The white puff of smoke is a 106mm recoilless rifle firing PHOTO COURTESY 2NDLT RICHARD DWORSKY Purple Foxes with external loads headed to Hill 881S PHOTO COURTESY U S MARINE CORPS A Lockheed KC 130 Hercules orbited high overhead to refuel any A 4s in need At times the entire gaggle operated in the hills where some peaks reached 3 000 feet with less than 1 500 feet ceilings and occasionally the helicopters took off and landed at Dong Ha with less than 400 feet clearances What a gaggle Major Chancey wrote in his diary But no mid air don t tell me how we missed I had a badly swinging load sheer terror what a way to make a living Captain Dabney echoed his concerns The birds were damn close together How they avoided colliding I don t know how but they did it It often appeared that aircraft were everywhere Corporal Thomas J Miller a crew chief for HMM 364 remembered We had just pickled dropping the external load and I looked out the side door to see an A 4 about 50 feet outside our rotor tips The fixed wing has his gear down flaps down and speed brakes deployed I yelled at the pilot do not turn right Another crewman recalled We broke out on the bottom of the clouds just as an F 4 roared beneath our Huey The jet jock had a big smile on his face and gave me a thumbs up Captain Michael Phillips squadron pilot HMM 364 Super Gaggle Flight Ops Petty Officer Third Class David Steinberg Hill 881S recalled You d look up in the sky and see around a dozen CH 46s out in the distance in a circle chasing tails Then all of a sudden fighterbombers came in to strafe and bomb the hills below us After they were done dropping their bombs and strafing the hills we would line up and shoot into the valley firing full M 16 clips and throwing hand grenades All of a sudden we would hear the whup whupwhup whup of the choppers One chopper would land in the saddle Then as soon as we hear the boomp of the incoming mortar it would lift out and fly to one of the other landing zones and all the other choppers would come in at the various zone 50 yellowsheet www flymcaa org Our Day began with a 05 30 briefing at Phu Bai then up to Quang Tri to be briefed again by Brigadier General Homer Day Hill After that we flew over to Dong Ha and picked up our externals Since it was IFR at Dong Ha our first aircraft took off on a heading for Khe Sanh aircraft 2 took off 10 degrees to the left aircraft 3 10 degrees to the right etc until all 8 were airborne We normally punched out around 8 000 feet on to Khe Sanh where we would orbit for 30 40 minutes while the artillery F 4 Phantoms A 6 Intruders and A4 s provided gun support for the hill that we would resupply One of our biggest concerns was that of a mid air collision We had so much air support that F 4 s

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were constantly zipping in front of us At that altitude and at our weight we barely had enough power to maintain elevation so when we flew thru their exhaust it was not unusual for us to lose control and drop 3 400 feet prior to regaining control When the command was given for us to begin our run we had to lose 8 000 feet of altitude but still maintain enough power to land at the LZ landing zone On the way down our gunners would begin firing their 50 caliber guns careful not to hit the Marines on the ground The NVA AK 47 was not very dangerous to us until we reached around 1 500 feet in elevation above the LZ The major problem for us was maintaining proper spacing between aircraft or we might have to attempt to hover at 900 feet We simply did not have enough power to do so It was essential that aircrafts 1 2 and 3 get on to the hill or the LZ at Khe Sanh and off without wasting any time or else the balance of the flight was trying to hover and a pilot could not do so adjustments quickly We simply did not have enough power to hover at 1 000 feet so sometimes one had to drop out of the sequence and go to the Khe Sanh Combat Base airstrip to hover then air taxi to the hill This was not a good thing as the Combat Base runway always took a lot of rockets and mortars and you were exposed to more fire than desired If one A C screwed up overshot the LZ he had to come to a complete hover back up to the zone bounce around some this took time It was time that the A C behind him did not have to sacrifice The CH46 does not stop on a dime In our haste to get in and out sometimes our airspeed was excessive It was adjustment time for everyone behind the pilot who was trying to get into the LZ Major Carl F Bergstrom Jr Marine Attack Squadron 211 VMA 211 recalled that it was a demanding and complex association between his squadron and the helicopters He stated that It was not uncommon for the aircraft to penetrate through a layer of clouds The worst condition was Hill 881 South was our most from 14 000 to 8 000 feet enter the difficult as we owned that hill and target area and have less than one the NVA owned 881 North We could minute for target orientation always count on intense fire from Captain R G Lathrop a Skyhawk there One hill that did not receive pilot recalled As we flew inland much publicity was 558 This hill the ground was battered beyond was in a slight ravine and there belief There were overlapping must have been 100 mortar tubes bomb craters from the coast inland there Keeping them supplied with There was almost nothing that had ammo was a fulltime job not been bombed Approaching Hill 881 South or any of the other Khe Sanh LZ s was sophisticated When we began our descent it always reverted back to the individual pilot s skill and his ability to shoot a good approach Controlling the rate of descent controlling spacing controlling air speed maintaining turns RPM s running out of ground speed and altitude at the same time over the LZ was imperative Dropping the external as softly as possible was a never ending challenge If any of the A C in front of you did not do these things you had to make Helicopter Support Team The hill s aerial lifeline depended on a small team of men from the helicopter support team HST Together they formed the backbone for directing and controlling the resupply effort on the hills HST member Private First Class Michael Lee described his job as directing the resupply and medevac birds to their respective landing zones I would have to stand in the open to direct the aircraft Captain Dabney praised them for their bravery Daily when the weather allowed and often several times a day those HST Marines stood in the open in those zones under the helicopters and performed tasks without which we grunts and the helo crewmen could not have survived The antiaircraft rounds were always whipping by and the mortar rounds were often on the way and they knew it yet they did their duty til the bird was gone then ran like hell and dove into the nearest hole Corporal Terry L Smith Silver Star recipient was a member of the battalion s Tactical Air Control Party who volunteered for duty on 881S and was killed in action The author was unsuccessful in talking him out of volunteering but Smith wanted to go because he was needed Super Gaggle Terminated By the end of March the North Vietnamese had started withdrawing from the Khe Sanh area On 1 April the U S Army s 1st Cavalry Division began Operation Pegasus the relief of the combat base Within days the hill positions were closed down the defenders evacuated and Super Gaggle terminated A special bond developed between the Marines on the hills and the aircrews Without their airmanship dedication and sacrifice the outposts could not have held out Semper Fi SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 51

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account for the number of lives the Prowler and its crews saved along the way By the Final Flyover Prowlers had operated during 70 plus deployments and recorded nearly 260 000 flight hours across the U S Air Force Navy and Marine Corps The Celebrations Even as the airframe clocked nearly 50 years of service it was deployed around the globe maintaining an impressive combat record of never being lost to enemy action In addition to the Final Flyover the Prowler Sundown included a North Carolina Style Pig Picking several socials and an Evening Gala More than 800 people from the electronic warfare community came out to reminisce and bid farewell to VMAQ 2 and the Prowler Probably however the ultimate contribution of Prowlers was their umbrella of protection they offered U S Joint and Coalition forces in harm s way It s important to note that its jamming capabilities not only included other aircraft but also encompassed ground forces cell phone communications radar and even garage door openers that were frequently used as makeshift detonators for improvised explosive devices Due to this breadth of coverage it s hard to accurately At the final Sundown event the Evening Gala the Guest of Honor was General Jack Dailey USMC Retired and the Distinguished Guest was Major General Royal N Moore USMC Retired Other notables that evening were Lieutenant Colonel Ricky Johnson USMC Retired one of the leading experts on electronic warfare and a former commanding officer of VMAQ 2 During the Sundown he shared that he was battling cancer and sadly he has since lost the fight and Colonel John Gumby Gumbel USMC Retired who was the Master of Ceremonies and channeled his inner Playboy by donning a 70 s style mustache and a Hugh Hefner smoking jacket VMAQ 2 Originally activated as Marine Composite Squadron Two VMC2 on 15 September 1952 its beginnings trace back to the Second Marine Aircraft Wing Headquarter Squadrons Airborne Early Warning and Electronic Counter Measures Sections VMC2 was activated as one of the first Marine Corps composite squadrons to conduct aerial photographic reconnaissance and to use electronic warfare capability from AD 5 Skyraiders based out of MCAS Cherry Point Just three years later on 1 December 1955 the Marine Corps deactivated the squadron as part of its transition to Marine Composite Jamming Squadron One VMCJ2 VMCJ 2 was formerly Marine Photographic Squadron 2 VMJ 2 Another momentous occasion for the squadron happened that SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 53

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same year the first issue of Playboy magazine was printed It wasn t long after that the squadron requested permission to use the Playboy Bunny logo By the beginning of the next decade in December 1960 the squadron participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis providing electronic and photographic intelligence that were invaluable to President John F Kennedy s decision making which helped avoid escalating the hostilities between the United States and Russia In 1964 the squadron participated in Operation Steel Pike the largest amphibious training exercise at that time VMCJ 2 started the exercise in Morehead City North Carolina and ended it at the Naval Base in Rota Spain VMCJ 2 received its first Grumman EA 6A Electric Intruder in November 1965 but there were still modifications that needed to be made prior to deployment Squadron personnel stepped up got creative and made it happen With the onset of the Vietnam War VMCJ 2 would once again find a role squadron personnel deployed for thirteen months at a time and synced up with members of VMCJ 1 to share their lessons learned and their toolbox from the Cuban Missile Crisis It was also about this time that the squadron would receive its first McDonnell Douglas RF 4B aircraft and as a result of this acquisition 54 yellowsheet www flymcaa org VMCJ 2 personnel were operating four different airframes for a short time By October of 1966 the squadron had six full maintenance capability EA 6A aircraft deploying to Danang Vietnam Then in 1971 a detachment from VMCJ 2 deployed on a Mediterranean cruise aboard USS Forrestal for ten months during the cruise squadron personnel cross decked with USS Saratoga and USS America In April 1972 an EA 6A detachment of VMCJ 2 was diverted from a Mediterranean cruise to deploy with VMCJ 1 to Naval Air Station Cubi Point Philippines Both squadrons participated in Operation LINEBACKER conducting air strikes against North Vietnam and ending with the release of U S POWs in 1973 VMCJ 2 was re designated in 1975 as Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron Two VMAQ 2 Soon after the squadron deployed EA 6A Detachments Alpha Bravo Charlie and the EA 6B Prowler Detachments of X Ray Yankee and Zulu supporting the Western Pacific including deployments on USS Midway Nimitz America and Saratoga The squadron transitioned to the EA 6B Prowler with the Improved Capability III EW suite in 1977 A VMAQ 2 detachment participated in the U S raids against Libya Operation EL DORADO CANYON in 1986 Detachments Yankee and Zulu supported Operation DESERT STORM and DESERT SHIELD recording close to 500 combat sorties within a six week period in 1990 while Detachment X Ray was forward deployed for 410 days On 1 July 1992 the Marine Corps restructured VMAQ 2 into three squadrons VMAQ 1 2 and 3 Banshees Playboys and Moondogs respectively but even with the transition all three

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squadrons maintained a highoperational tempo By 1993 the squadron was getting mounting pressure to be politically correct and transition its name After much back and forth the squadron decided on renaming themselves the Panthers which was adopted from the Carolina Panthers of course with permission from the National Football League Though the squadron s moniker transitioned to the Panthers the identity of the squadron was still attached to the Playboy Bunny and even the Tail code CY was frequently painted as a likeness of the Bunny and bootleg swag continued to appear here and there From 1992 1995 the squadron had numerous deployments to Iwakuni and also deployed to Aviano Italy in support of Operation DECISIVE ENDEAVOR from March to September 1996 It was during this deployment that VMAQ 2 directed suppression of enemy air defenses supporting British Harriers who were conducting reconnaissance over weapons containment sites Personnel also operated in support of Operation DELIBERATE GUARD and Operations NOBILE ANVIL and ALLIED FORCE in 1997 1998 and 1999 respectively During ALLIED FORCE the Prowlers provided suppression of enemy defenses during armed reconnaissance missions day and night air interdiction strikes and combat search and rescue missions SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 55

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Various photos submitted from the VMAQ Community for the Evening Gala for downed aircrew By the end of Operation ALLIED FORCE VMAQ 2 recorded 2 151 combat hours 464 combat sorties and fired 57 highspeed anti radiation missiles hours and won the MCAA s 2005 Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron of the Year Award In January 2006 personnel deployed to Al Asad Iraq participating in Operation IRAQI In late 2000 the squadron was FREEDOM 05 07 and in the renamed the Death Jesters and process amassed 691 combat had two deployments to Iwakuni missions 3 286 combat flight over the next two years VMAQhours and carried out 957 joint 2 deployed to Prince Sultan Air tactical airstrike requests This Base Kingdom of Saudi Arabia high operational tempo resulted participating in both Operation in four times the normal airframe ENDURING FREEDOM AND IRAQI FREEDOM The squadron recorded utilization Just 18 months later over 1 000 combat hours within 60 the squadron returned to Al Asad Airbase for Operation IRAQI days From July 2004 to January 2005 FREEDOM 06 08 recording 821 combat missions 4 423 combat the Death Jesters deployed to Tallil flight hours and logging the highest Airbase Iraq for Operation IRAQI utilization rate of any Type Model FREEDOM II serving as the first Series aircraft in the Marine Corps Prowler squadron to maneuver The Death Jesters final from Iraqi soil It was during deployment for Operation IRAQI this time that VMAQ 2 attained FREEDOM occurred in October over 2 000 mishap free combat 2008 where the squadron hours 10 000 mishap free flight 56 yellowsheet www flymcaa org attained 619 combat missions over 2 282 combat flight hours while supporting U S and Coalition ground forces In April 2010 VMAQ 2 deployed for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 10 2 recording 655 combat missions over 2 621 flight hours in support of U S and Coalition ground forces The squadron once again received the award for the VMAQ Squadron of the Year in 2010 In March 2012 the Death Jesters deployed for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 12 2 flying 413 combat mission over 1 735 combat hours The Prowler community also reached a milestone that year marking ten years of Navy and Marine Corps EA 6B equipment from Bagram Airfields to Al Udeid Airbase Qatar From 2013 to 2015 VMAQ 2 supported the Unit Deployment

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Program to Iwakuni Japan flew as part of Ulchi Freedom Guardian Max Thunder Northern Edge recording 563 sorties over 1 480 flight hours In September 2016 the squadron deployed in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE attaining 405 combat sorties over 2 177 combat flight hours The squadron began its final deployment in March 2018 when personnel departed to Al Udeid Airbase Qatar in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE and FREEDOM s SENTINEL VMAQ2 participated in 325 combat missions and flew over 2 501 combat hours before returning to Cherry Point VMAQ 2 Awards The Presidential Unit Citation Streamer The Navy Unit Commendation Streamer with four Bronze Stars the Meritorious Unit Citation with four Bronze Stars the Marine Corps Expeditionary Streamer with two Bronze Stars the National Defense Service Streamer with three Bronze Stars the Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer with one Bronze Star the Kosovo Campaign Streamer with two Bronze Stars the Southwest Asia Service Streamer with two Bronze Stars the Afghanistan Campaign Streamer with two Bronze Stars the Iraqi Campaign Streamer with four Bronze Stars The Global War on Terror Expeditionary Streamer and the Global War on Terror Service Streamer MajGen Heckl greets LtGen Shutler USMC Ret PHOTO COURTESY U S MARINE CORPS AN ATTENDEE DOES A SEAT CHECK DURING AN OPEN HOUSE AT THE HANGAR PHOTO COURTESY U S MARINE CORPS A pilot with VMAQ 2 hugs his little one after participating in the Final Flight PHOTO COURTESY U S MARINE CORPS The author would like to thank all of the photographers who provided photos for this story including active duty Marines Though there are too many to print in this article MCAA will be adding them to the updated website in December under the John R Dailey Squadron tab If you would like to share your photos please go to our website and send us a note and we get right back to you SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 57

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I stopped three feet from him and looked up Unexpectedly he smiled extended his hand which I took and he said Congratulations Michael You now have a more formal education than me And that began my curiosity about this man whom I called Sir and the rest of the world called Commander It has taken me 50 years to truly understand and appreciate him After my father died I inherited a small box of his At the time I took a quick glance and put it in a closet Many years later while cleaning out that closet I once again found the box and sat down and went through the contents There were some old photos a gold chief petty officer badge commander boards warrant officer boards plus a small box with rusty old military ribbons officer s buttons and crumpled medals I stared at that box of medals for a long time A very long time What a sad ending to a great and devoted military career So I decided to research his medals and military history I also found a picture of The Commander in uniform and framed it along with placing his awards in a shadow box that is now on our family room wall That was the least I could do And now his story He was born in Eldorado Illinois in 1913 the youngest child in a coal mining family with a sister and two older brothers His name was Loy Abe Conley Because of the name Abe and not Abraham he was a true student of Lincoln a man who came from nothing and through hard work self education and desire became something great That s perhaps where his love of reading writing mathematics and art began He wanted to continue his education but he knew that once he graduated from the eighth grade he had to support his family by going into the coal mines He decided instead to follow the footsteps of his two older brothers Arza and John and join the Navy His brother John had recently won the U S Navy Pacific Fleet Welterweight Boxing Championship and his brother Arza was a wrestling champion It was 1927 and Loy Abe Conley was fourteen years old He hitchhiked to St Louis Missouri and lied about his age to the Navy recruiter However he failed the physical exam the first time because he was underweight I ate three pounds of bananas and drank a gallon of water he would later tell me and made the weight by one pound The next morning he was on a train to Great Lakes Naval Training Station in Illinois Upon graduation Seaman 3rd Class Conley was assigned to USS Relief AH 1 a hospital ship involved in the Second Nicaraguan Campaign 1926 1933 Treating malaria and the wounded he often transferred the injured to military hospital biplanes and thus began his love of aviation Prior to this he had never touched an airplane In 1933 he was transferred to Submarine Base New London Connecticut Having no great love for submarines Reminded me of There were some old photos a gold chief petty officer badge commander boards warrant officer boards plus a small box with rusty old military ribbons officer s buttons and crumpled medals I stared at that box of medals for a long time A very long time Although damaged this photo shows a Martin PM 2 on beaching gear The PM 2 was an improved variant of the PM 1 and featured more powerful engines and twin vertical tails over the PM 1 s single tail design 60 yellowsheet www flymcaa org

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a coal mine he later told me he asked to be transferred to aviation at Torpedo Base Newport Rhode Island Now a chief sports three enlistments stripes on his left sleeve Before his transfer he married Estelle Makowiecki a Polish girl from Norwich with nine brothers and sisters In 1935 they had my only brother Loy At Newport there were torpedo squadrons dive bombing squadrons patrol squadrons and fighter squadrons My father had found heaven He became a well known and respected aviation mechanic plus because of his art talent he designed numerous squadron insignias His primary squadron was Patrol Squadron 14F VP 14F flying as a crew member mechanic in the PM 2 and P2Y 2 But his expertise as a mechanic not only raised him in rank but also in experience in a new world of aircraft such as the N3N 1 O3U 3 J2F 1 TBD 1A and PBY 3 He accumulated about 500 hours in various aircraft from 1937 to 1941 By 1940 he was a petty officer first class with a gold aviation rating badge In an interesting note he flew 2 5 hours with Colonel Roy Geiger in November 1940 in a N3N 1 Colonel Geiger would later become the Commanding General of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing on Guadalcanal the Cactus Air Force They would meet again on the Canal In mid 1940 Dad was also fortunate to meet his two brothers at Newport before Arza and John were assigned to ships in the Pacific In early 1941 he was promoted to warrant officer and assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point North Carolina where most of his duties involved training officers and enlisted on aircraft maintenance In early 1942 he was transferred to Moffett Field California where he served in Lighter Than Air LTA Squadron ZP 32 and was promoted to ensign He accumulated more than 100 hours on blimp patrols In early 1943 he was promoted to lieutenant junior grade and transferred to Guadalcanal In addition to working with the Seabees rebuilding runways hangars and living quarters he also commanded a quick action team of mechanics to repair damaged aircraft as they landed on Henderson Field He caught malaria on the Canal that would affect him the rest of his life officer supporting operations during the Korean War During that time my stepmother had an apartment overlooking San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge I spent many hours at the bridge looking through my binoculars and watching ships Is that him I would often ask I was only five In 1952 my brother Loy Jr joined the Marines After graduating from Parris Island Boot Camp Private Loy he never In 1944 father was transferred used Jr so I will drop it here to Air Ferry Service Squadron One was assigned to the Anti Aircraft VRS 1 at Naval Air Station NAS New York He was again transferred AA School at Camp Lejeune three months later this time to NAS North Carolina Halfway through his training his sergeant came Patuxent River Maryland to join Air Transport Squadron Three VR up to him and said the company commander wanted to see him 3 He was promoted to lieutenant while there In 1946 he was Damn what have I done now assigned to U S Naval Base Hawaii he said to himself and learned about maintenance of He reported to the captain who these new things called jets asked if he knew a Commander In 1950 he served 14 months Conley aboard USS Valley Forge CVA 45 Yes sir my brother replied Is as the chief aircraft maintenance he here SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 63

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The major looked at Private Loy and said He s very proud of you Private Loy boarded the transport and in the process bumped a Navy lieutenant off the plane Boy was he angry being kicked off by a Private Once in DC Loy transferred planes to San Diego The Commander knew a lot of people and could grease a lot of skids My father finished his naval career at NAS New York and at the Pentagon as an aircraft procurement officer He retired in 1955 at the age of 42 after 28 years of service holding every naval rank from seaman recruit to commander I ll never tell them my real age he once told me They would probably screw up my retirement pay He bought a new home in a former orange grove in Ontario California I remember that it cost 14 000 Escaping the coal mines in Southern Illinois he served in Nicaragua Guadalcanal and Korea retiring as a full commander with just an eighth grade education but with a desire to educate himself see the world fly and serve his country Give your country a couple of years of your life Michael he once told me That s part of what you owe her The Commander in his retirement photo 1955 The captain said No but he s in Norfolk and there s a plane waiting to take you up there Get a uniform together and head to the runway now Landing at Norfolk as the sun was setting my brother exited the small aircraft and saw my father standing near the line shack As he walked toward him Private Loy asked himself if he should hug the Commander or salute him He saluted and the Commander returned the military greeting They shook hands and then they hugged A wild evening followed in 64 yellowsheet www flymcaa org the Norfolk bars with sailors and Marines looking curiously on as the Commander and the PFC wandered from bar to bar They saluted and hugged again then Private Loy departed on his return flight to Lejeune on Sunday morning After graduating from AA School Private Loy had orders to San Diego California then on to Korea With his orders in his hand and leaving Lejeune for a train to San Diego he was greeted by a Marine major and told to report to a R4D C 47 leaving for Washington DC He s buried in Mazatlan Mexico where he had a winter home The Guadalcanal malaria killed him at age 62 Our family was not allowed to pay for any expenses at the funeral because the church and the people of Mazatlan wanted to honor The Commander because he continued to do for their community what he always loved to do He taught orphans and homeless people about mechanics electricity plumbing carpentry and the joy of learning He gave them an opportunity to better their lives I think Mr Lincoln would have been proud

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MEMBERS ONLY Welcome New MCAA Members Maj Howard Albright LtCol Dan Cerkan LtCol Sean Elward Ronald Happach Maj Scott Andersen Lee Cerovac LtCol Russell Emons H Jack Hayden Jr Col Tim Anderson James Childress Sgt John Evans Maj Hunter Hayes Peter Anderson Russell Chopiak Sgt John Farral CDR Andrew Hayes Maj Jeffrey Andrews Maj Ashley Christman John Farrington MGySgt Richard Hazlett Mr Paul Anglin Maj Darin Chung MSgt Randolph Ferguson John Hebert MGySgt H L Hap Arnold Col Vincent Ciuccoli Sgt Kenneth Ferrin Maj Charles Cal Hejde Col Stephen Augustin Sgt Leroy Clark LtCol Brent Finemore Sgt Edward Hendersone LtCol Anthony Baggs George Cohen Col Robert Finneran LtCol Roger Henry LtCol Matthew Bain MSgt Timothy Colantoni LtCol Julian Flores MSgt David Hepner Harold Baker Maj Daniel Conti MGySgt Rudy Flores Charles Herrick LCpl Jeffrey Barker MajGen Louis Conti Maj Eric Fong Maj Gerald Hightower Vic Barris Capt Scott Corbett LtCol David Foss SSgt Bob Hines 1stLt Grady Bell Louis Cox MSgt Richard Furman Maj Jim Hodgson LtCol Guy Berry Sgt Michael Cox Sgt Ryan Gelineau Arthur Holan Capt Kenneth Best SgtMaj Craig Cressman LtCol Dana Gemmingen Capt Norman Holcombe Richard Bird George Cripps LtCol Alfred Geoffrion Capt Drew Hopson GySgt Charles Bishop Maj Stephen Crooks LtCol George Getgood John Hosler Ms Aileen Blanc LtCol Luke Crouson Col William Golemon Ernie House Capt Doug Bodkin MSgt Basil Crumbie GySgt Manford Charlie Goodell Kristin Houston Maj Pete Bowen LtCol Jonathan Curtis Frank Goral GySgt Peter Howard MSgt Clarence Boyett Kenneth Dally Capt William Bill Gordon LtCol David Hudock Sgt Dan Brewer Angelo Dascolias Albert Gosnell John Hudson LtCol Jeremy Brockmeier Maj Paul Davidovich Kenneth Goss Rikuko Huebner Mr Timothy Brown Col Don Davis MSgt Danny Graves MGySgt James Hughes Larry Brown LtCol Rod Davis Maj Travis Grell MajGen Kevin Iiams Maj Kevin Brownlee Maj Melissa DePriest T Kevin Griffin Col Joseph Jeffrey Maj Jonathan Bryant Michael Deslatte Sgt David Grooms Capt Daniel Jewett Col Eric Buer Col Gilbert Diaz Mr William Gulassa Maj Craig Johnson Maj Jeffrey Butler Maj Mark Dion Col Ed Hackett MGySgt Erika Johnson Victor Campbell O Ray Dodson LtCol Kyle Haire 1stLt Emilee Johnson Capt George Carpenter Col Craig Doty Maj Matthew Halbert LtCol Allan Johnson Mr Stephen Carpenter Maj Jim Doyle LtCol William Hale LtCol Ricky Johnson Hugh Carter GySgt John Driver Bobby Hall Capt Billy Jones Capt Jake Cartwright Maj Thomas Dunn Cpl Gerald Hall Capt Mike Jones Maj Matthew Cave Maj Donnie Durbin Maj Thomas Hambidge Col C A Al Jorgenson Robert Cave Cpl Robert Ekholm Maj Brian Hansell SSgt Vanessa Kearney BGen Michael Cederholm MSgt William Ellington Robert Hansen Col Matthew Kelly 66 yellowsheet www flymcaa org

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LtCol Stephen Mount LtCol Andrew Rundle MSgt Jason Taylor Capt Meek Kiker Kazimir Kaz Mueller Maj Matthew Russell Sgt Michael Taylor CWO 4 Charles Kilborn LtCol Mark Murphy Bernard Rusthoven Kenneth Thomas Mr Richard King Cpl Dana Nachtrieb CWO 5 Don Saechang Dale Tinsley GySgt William Kogerman LtCol Kirk Nelson Frank Saglime Richard Tolman LtCol John Kolb Cpl William Nelson Capt Reid Savid Capt Alfredo Topete CWO 4 Marty Lachow CWO 2 Ken Obermiller LtCol Frederick Schenk LtCol Thomas Toth Mr JF Laissus Fred Ogline LtCol Ryan Schiller Capt Stanley Trachta LtCol Brian Laurence Maj Paul Oldenburg Col Joseph Schvimmer John Tritsare Cpl Kyle Leclair SgtMaj Bill Oldenburg Maj Christopher Seemayer Dewey Tucker Mr Samuel Ledger LCpl Francis Oliver LtCol Patrick Seipel Capt Charles Tussey Col John Lewis John Olkowski LtCol Paul Seipt LtCol Rodolfo Uriostegui Col Stephen Lightfoot Gary Oria Harrison Shagena GySgt Earl Vaughn Maj James Lilley Benjamin Owen William Sharp Jr LtCol Cary Venden George Lim Maj Donald Pardue Capt Cole Shepard LtCol Matthew Vogt Capt Abraham Lincoln Capt Mark Parmenter Cpl Steven Shidler LtCol Martin Vogt Col Robert Bob Lorch Capt Zachary Passini Capt Brent Shriver LtGen Robert Walsh LtCol David Loveday LtCol Michael Paulk Robert Silvio LtCol Brendan Walsh Mr Thomas Main Maj William Paxton Robert Simmons Daniel Walsh IV Maj Scott Martin LtCol Page Payne LtCol Patrick Sise MGySgt Ryan Warburton Sgt Kenneth Martin LtCol Leslie Payton MSgt Cole Smigelski Mr Michael Washam MGySgt Lewis Mathis Sgt Donald Pechous LtCol Joshua Smith Sgt Jerry Wasson Cpl Alphonse Mauro Lambert Perina MGySgt Brian Smith Chad Watson GySgt Garrett McClain Col Gary Peters Maj Daniel Smith Mr Michael Weegar Maj Eric McCusker Brandt Petterson Capt Steven Smith LtCol Ryan Welborn Capt William McFall Thomas Place Sgt William Smith Sgt Bill Wellborn Capt David McNally Sgt Andrew Pokelwaldt Ms Mallory Smoldt Capt David Werner MGySgt Jeff Meade Maj Aaron Polanco 1stLt Patrick Snowman Maj Gary West Erin Medlicott Col Robert Pridgen LtCol David Snyder MGySgt Carl Wheeler Maj Gregory Megan CWO 5 Daniel Pruitt LtCol Noah Spataro CWO 4 Adam White Sgt Edward Metz LtCol Carl Punzel Wayne Stacey Mr Joseph White MSgt James Miller Donald Rats Ratcliffe LtCol Clay Stackhouse LtCol Paul Whyte William Millett Maj Christopher Reddaway LtCol David Stark Maj Michael Wifler Maj Terry Miner James Reed Capt Peter Stavros GySgt Eric Williams Jerry Mitchell Mr Jason Rehm Richard Stockburger Mr George Williams LtCol Patrick Mock Col Henry Rekosiewicz LtCol Jared Stone Cpl Russell Willson MGySgt Christopher Moehl David Reynolds LtCol Chris Story Capt James Wilson Maj Thomas Mondoux SgtMaj Timothy Riggs Carl Strandberg Cpl Richard Wilson MGySgt Thomas Monroe Sgt Charles Roberts MGySgt John Street LtCol Robert Winston CWO 2 Philip Montroy Maj Nedson Robison II John Suhy MSgt Rich Witek LtCol Ricardo Moreno Capt John Rogerson Col Byron Sullivan Mr Brian Wottowa CWO 2 Larry Morgan SgtMaj Frank Romano Capt John Sullivan Gene York Col David Morris WO Joseph Rosalez MSgt John W Sullivan Earnest Young Capt Justin Morrison Roger Roush GySgt Edward Szrejter Jerome Zajic SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 67 MEMBERS ONLY SSgt Thomas Kelly

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TAPS SOME GAVE ALL SGT ALBERT REINHOLD CARMICHAEL 99 PALM DESERT CA He is survived by his wife Barbara MAJGEN RICHARD M DICK COOKE USMC RET 89 OF CARLSBAD CA He was commissioned in May 1953 and designated a naval aviator in April 1955 He flew a multitude of rotary and fixed wing aircraft in his 35 year career He was the Director of the Amphibious Warfare School head of the Plans Programs and Budget Branch Asst Deputy Chief of Staff for Aviation Asst Wing Commander 3D MAW MCAS El Toro and the Commander MCAB Western Area CG MCAS El Toro He also served as the CG 2D MAW MCAS Cherry Point NC He became fully qualified as an AV 8B Harrier pilot during this tour His final assignment was as the Deputy CG Fleet Marine Corps Pacific He retired on 31 August 1988 He is survived by three sons and two daughters GEN JOHN K DAVIS USMC RET 92 OF SAN CLEMENTE CA He was commissioned in June 1950 Upon completing The Basic School in March 1951 he was a platoon commander 3rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion Camp Pendleton He began flight training and was promoted to captain in December 1953 and designated a Naval Aviator in June 1954 He served consecutively as XO for MAG 14 CO of VMFA AW 224 and CO again for VMAT AW 202 He then served as the Assistant Wing Commander 3D MAW MCAS El Toro Commander MCAB Western Area CG MCAS El Toro CG 3D MAW From 6 July to 8 August 1977 he was assigned additional duty as CG 1st Marine Amphibious Force MCB Camp Pendleton His final assignment was as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps until his retirement on 1 June 1986 He served as President of the Marine Corps Association Then also served as the MCAA National Commander from 1989 1990 He is survived by three daughters LTCOL RICKY B RICK JOHNSON USMC RET 69 OF NEWPORT NC He served with the Electronic Warfare Community for 23 years He was the executive officer of VMAQ 2 in Desert Storm Desert Shield and commanded VMAQ 2 from 1993 1995 After retiring in June 1996 he became a flight instructor for the EA 6B Prowler and taught every pilot and electronic warfare officer in the community for 22 years He was an international expert in Marine Corps aviation tactical electronic warfare and a published author in this subject matter He is survived by his wife a daughter and two sons LTCOL EDWARD LANGLEY USMC RET 91 OF SAN CLEMENTE CA He was selected for flight training in 1952 and commissioned as a second lieutenant and then sent to Cherry Point NC where he qualified in the F3D Skyknight He became a helicopter pilot on 22 July 1958 He was assigned to HMR 363 at Marine Helicopter Base Santa Ana CA flying the HRS 3 He served in a helo squadron in South Vietnam from 1961 1962 on the base staff at the MCB Quantico from 1963 1965 with HMM 164 in Phu Bai Vietnam from 1967 1968 as CO of H MS 16 MAG 16 MCAS Futema Okinawa from 1973 1974 He is survived by a daughter LTCOL A W DAVE LAVIGNE USMC RET 91 OF LAURINBURG NC Shortly after the outbreak of the Korean War he enlisted as a Naval Cadet in 1950 graduated with Advanced Carrier Qualifications and was commissioned in 1952 He served in Korea and participated in the mass evacuation of North Indo China in 1954 In 1958 he flew assault transports in Lebanon He served in Vietnam in 1962 flying logistic support of expeditionary units in northern Thailand As a major he served as CO of VMA AW 533 224 and returned to Vietnam for the third time in 1967 to serve as CO of VMA AW 242 during its 1967 68 combat tour He also served as OIC of its Air Combat Operations Center at DaNang During this tour he flew an additional 222 combat missions 200 of which were in the Northern Route Packages and included nine Super Barrels in the most heavily defended targets in Route Packages IV V and VI where he qualified as one of the early River Rats He earned 18 Air Medals two Single Mission Air Medals the Bronze Star with combat V and the Distinguished Flying Cross He was served as a project manager of the OV 10 and the Harrier Procurement Project He is survived by his wife and two sons COL HILLARY LECLAIRE USMCR RET 86 OF SOUTH CHATHAM MA He enrolled as a NAVCAD at Pensacola Upon commissioning and graduation he went to advanced flight training He became a test pilot and qualified for carrier landings on the aircraft carrier USS Monterey He served in Korea and was deployed to the Far East for 14 months flying Skyraiders with VMA 121 He left active duty in 1955 staying in the Reserves attached to VMA 322 at NAS South Weymouth MA flying the A 4 Skyhawk He received a commendation for saving an FJ 3 when instruments indicated an engine fire He returned to the field instead of ejecting over a populated area In 1964 he became the first Reservist to fly the A4 non stop coast to coast in flight refueling He served on numerous Promotion and Policy Boards at HQMC and was President of the 4th MAW Policy Board in New Orleans His final assignment was as the CO of VMA 322 He flew more than 4 300 hours He is survived by his wife a son and a daughter COL ROBERT MELTON USMC RET 71 OF PALM BEACH GARDENS FL He graduated from Villanova University in 1970 was commissioned and became a naval aviator flying the A 6 Intruder His was CO of VMA AW 332 CO of MCAS Iwakuni Japan and served with the multi national peacekeeping force in Beirut Lebanon in 1983 After his 30year career he became a 747 pilot with Atlas Air retiring in 2012 He is survived by his wife a son and a daughter CAPT ROBERT E BOB MOORE USMCR RET 98 OF MARQUETTE MI He became a Naval aviator in August 1943 In January 1945 he flew w fighters and dive bombers in the Pacific He received several medals He flew his last combat mission on 7 August 1945 just before the A bomb was dropped on Hiroshima He retired from the Reserves in 1950 He is survived by his wife and a daughter COL ROBERT PEEBLES USMC RET 97 OF AUSTIN TX After Pearl Harbor he left school to begin Naval flight training and was commissioned a second lieutenant in January 1943 He served in World War II two tours in Korea including at Chosin Reservoir and in Vietnam He retired in 1970 He is survived by a daughter COL JAMES SHAW 88 OF RENO NV He was a fighter pilot and later a Captain with American Airlines He was also affiliated with the Grey Eagles Tailhook and the American Legion He is survived by his wife three sons and three daughters 68 yellowsheet www flymcaa org

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ID THIS AIRCRAFT ID THIS AC For the next issue If you think you can identify the aircraft below email your submission to rkaufman flymcaa org The answer will appear in the Fall issue of the Yellow Sheet Iwo Jima Association of America Reunion and Symposium February 26th March 1st 2020 Washington DC Reunion of Honor March 23rd 29th 2020 Guam and Iwo Jima Iwo Jima Commemorative Symposium February 26 March 1 2020 From February 26 through March 1 2020 the Iwo Jima Association of America IJAA will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle for Iwo Jima The IJAA Commemorative Symposium will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Crystal City Arlington Virginia The five day event will include a series of distinguished speakers noted panelists and visits to both the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum and National Museum of the Marine Corps as well as the anniversary banquet gala on Saturday February 29 Anticipated to be a widely attended event participants and attendees at the Symposium will include veterans of the Battle for Iwo Jima members of Congress high level representatives of both the U S and foreign governments senior military officers business executives and dignitaries in the news media and entertainment industries For additional information regarding this historic event please contact Art Sifuentes at rsifuentes iwojimaassociation org or check out IJAA s Website at www iwojimaassociation org for periodic updates THE ANSWER IS Navy s TBD Devastator You Guessed It You all guessed it The aircraft in the Winter 2019 issue of The Yellow Sheet is a one off floatplane version of the Navy s TBD Devastator torpedo bomber the TBD 1A And yes Marines never flew the TBD but they might have borrowed one a few times Hank Caruso Kent Fellows Wally Jabs Alan Sullivan Craig Wheel 70 yellowsheet www flymcaa org The Don E Davis Squadron would like to announce our 2020 Reunion which will be held in Jacksonville NC The reunion will run from 19 March to 22 March 2020 Please visit our website for details www avlogmarines org as well as our two Facebook pages for updates as more details are confirmed Or contact us at mcaadondavisavlogsquadron gmail com or 904 404 6863 MCAA John R Zorro Dailey Squadron s 2020 USS Midway Reunion Welcome new MCAA Zorro Squadron members including legacy VMAQ community members and former Marine Corps Aviation Reconnaissance Association MCARA members from the legacy VMC VMCJ and VMFP communities As MCAA s newest squadron and because MCAA s 2020 Convention will be in La Jolla CA just north of San Diego on 13 16 May 2020 the MCAA Zorro Squadron will hold a reunion in San Diego CA on 10 12 May 2020 The host hotel will be the Wyndham Bayside https www wyndhamhotels com wyndham san diego california wyndham san diego bayside overview with a rate of 169 per night 10 May 2020 Arrival reception in the Zorro Ready Room Wyndham Bay Room 11 May 2020 1000 1400 USS Midway Tour and Lunch a la carte 12 May 2020 0900 1500 Bus transportation to from MCAS Miramar for Flying Leatherneck Museum Tour O Club lunch Flight Line Tour 12 May 2020 1800 Social Hour and Dinner San Diego Air Space Museum 13 May 2020 0700 Departure Breakfast a la Carte Wyndham Restaurant The MCAA 2020 Convention will commence on 13 May 2020 at the Hyatt Hotel in La Jolla CA https www flymcaa org events MCAA Zorro Squadron members attending the San Diego Reunion are encouraged to transition up to La Jolla and join in the Marine Corps wide aviation events and updates

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SQUADRON CONTACTS ARIZONA Yuma Tom Miller Squadron CO Vacant XO Col Billy McMillin USMC Ret 928 580 3131 colusmcret hotmail com OKINAWA MCAS Futenma Joe Foss Orlando John F Bolt Squadron LtCol Tim Hill USMC Ret 407 356 7190 timhillflorida gmail com XO Col Rick Packard USMC Ret 407 463 6479 richard j packard lmco com HAWAII CO Col James Harp james f harp usmc mil Kaneohe Bay Bruce Matheson Squadron XO Col Phil Van Etten USMC Ret sumobuff hotmail com MARYLAND CALIFORNIA Camp Pendleton Mike Yunck Squadron CO Col Matthew Mowery 760 725 3642 matthew mowery usmc mil XO Col Patrick Gough USMC Ret 858 679 1755 ext 212 patrick gough pklservices com SOUTH CAROLINA WASHINGTON DC thegreatsantinisquadron gmail com CO Col George Rowell george rowell usmc mil CO LtCol Neil BB Brubeck AT LARGE SQUADRONS Beaufort The Great Santini Squadron XO Maj John Simple Simpson USMC Ret 843 812 7197 jwsimple comcast net CO Vacant Pax River John Glenn Squadron CO Col Steven Girard steven girard navy mil www mcaajgs org XO Col Hank Vanderborght Vanderborght22 yahoo com MASSACHUSETTS Boston San Diego Marion Carl Squadron CO Vacant CO Col Joe Mahoney USMC Ret 617 786 0832 jhmahoney verizon net XO Col Greg Goodman USMC Ret 858 361 9437 gregory l goodman2 boeing com XO Col Andrew Ley USMC Ret 718 320 5676 aley jagersmith com TEXAS Dallas Ft Worth Bob Galer Squadron Vacant Corpus Christi John Smith Squadron Pensacola Roy S Geiger Squadron CO Col Michael Johnson Michael h johnson usmc mil XO Col Joe Richards USMC Ret 850 516 2550 jprichards46 gmail com New River Keith McCutcheon Squadron CO Maj Thomas Dunn thomas dunn usmc mil Devastate Charlie Marine Air C2 Squadron CO Col Scott Gondek MACG 48 CO 847 688 7129 ext 201 scott gondek usmc mil XO Col Rey Masinsin USMC Ret 813 810 3271 reymasinsin gmail com POC Col Curt Ames USMC Ret 540 295 5959 curt ames me com CO Vacant 531 Gray Ghosts Squadron XO Vacant VIRGINIA Norfolk Darden Schilt Squadron CO LtCol Matthew Crouch 702 509 3039 matthew crouch usmc mil XO Col Mike Soniak USMC Ret 757 574 3717 msoniak cox net POC Col Earl Wederbrook USMC Ret POC GySgt John Margie USMC Ret 508 690 1682 858 577 1211 Quantico jomargie comcast net earl_wederbrook raytheon com Nighthawk Squadron CO Ron Berube Berube1050 aol com NORTH CAROLINA COLORADO Cherry Point Rocky Mountain Chapter XO Kevin Wild CO Maj Michael Dukes USMC Ret A A Cunningham Squadron Khw7562 gmail com CO LtCol Gregory Demarco Michael dukes rocketmail com Gregory demarco usmc mil FLORIDA Washington DC Bransom Capital Squadron CO Roman Makuch 718 416 0160 XO LtCol Rich Richardson USMC Ret Donald E Davis Marine Aviation Logistics CO Col Laura Sampsel USMC Ret 808 375 4172 POC Col Kevin McCutcheon USMC Ret 828 443 1560 John R Dailey Squadron CO Buck Buchanan 770 778 6576 jbuch002 gmail com XO Jim Brubaker 407 325 4518 burbakerjr earthlink net WASHINGTON Robert Guy Robinson Squadron Seattle Richard C Mangrum Squadron CO MSgt Kevin Bonner USMC Ret LtCol Art Crowe USMC Ret 425 284 1455 mangrumsquadron gmail com 530 318 1517 jkbonner sbcglobal net SUMMER 2019 yellowsheet 71

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703 630 1903 The The Marine Corps aviation assoCiation The May 2019 The Magazine of Marine Aviation www flymcaa org The Magazine of Marine Aviation www flymcaa org The Magazine of Marine Aviation HONORING THE BEST OF THE BEST IN MARINE AVIATION www flymcaa org www flymcaa org 715 Broadway Street Quantico VA In This Issue Summer 2018 Fall 2018 Winter 2019 The 2019 MCAA Aviation Award Winners Above and Beyond the Call of Duty In This Issue In This Issue In This Issue Lieutenant Karl S Day WWI Marine Bomber Pilot Marine Night Fighters in Okinawa Marine Air and the Franklin Under Fire 1945 The 2018 MCAA Symposium Recap The Flying Nightmares in Afghanistan The Bengals in Bosnia Moonlighters Reunite and Recount Their Legacy Skyhawkers Reunite Although Although first first chartered chartered in in 1972 1972 the the genesis genesis of of the the organization organization dates dates back to World War I with the First Marine Aviation Force back to World War I with the First Marine Aviation Force Veterans Veterans As As aa result sharing the legacy and heritage of Marine aviation and bringing result sharing the legacy and heritage of Marine aviation and bringing aviation aviation Marines Marines both both active active duty duty and and retired retired together together is is at at the the core core of of our mission our mission MCAA MCAA promotes promotes and and recognizes recognizes professional professional excellence excellence in in Marine Marine aviation supports the fraternal bond of its membership preserves aviation supports the fraternal bond of its membership preserves Legends of Vietnam Shoulder to Shoulder A Rusty Old Box The Legacy of The Commander Marine Marine aviation aviation heritage heritage and and safeguards safeguards the the future future of of Marine Marine aviation aviation through awards programs events and publications through awards programs events and publications MCAA MCAA currently currently has has 53 53 corporate corporate members members AA large large part part of of our our membership comes from the aerospace industry Through our membership comes from the aerospace industry Through our corporate corporate membership membership and and generous generous donations donations we we support support numerous numerous awards awards scholarship programs and the Semper Fi fund MCAA scholarship programs and the Semper Fi fund MCAA also also supports supports aviation aviation memorials memorials and and aircraft aircraft museum museum restorations restorations