Tailhook Daily Briefing

San Diego Tailhookers... Reserve May 22 on the Docket

From Spike...

Greeting to all San Diego ‘Hookers:

We would like to invite you to our special May Happy Hour event at the San Diego Air and Space Museum on May 22, 2008 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. The invitation is attached. This is a joint venture by The Distinguished Flying Cross Society, the Tailhook Association and the San Diego Air and Space Museum to initiate a new exhibit at the museum. It will honor genuine American Aviation heroes with the centerpiece being the magnificent painting “Distinguished Flying Cross” by the great American Master Artist, Ruth Mayer. The final exhibit will be interactive, emphasizing the historical aspect of unsung aviation heroes as well as famous recipients of the DFC.

 

This event is “no cost” to the Tailhook membership. The hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer and beverages are being sponsored by Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and the DFC Society. I think this will be a great function as the organizations supporting the event so far are the Tailhook Association, the Order of Daedalians, the Association of Naval Aviation, the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, Air Force Association, Marine Corps Aviation Association, Naval Helicopter Historical Society, the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, the Midway Museum, the San Diego Veterans Museum and Memorial Center as well as the DFC Society and the San Diego Air and Space Museum. We are also trying to get significant active duty participation and one of the DFC recipients in the painting, Maj Espinoza USMC, is back from his fourth tour in Iraq and will present the DFC Society with a US flag that was flown in Iraq.

I feel that the exhibit will give us “air warriors” and their friends a great opportunity to attract some publicity and will educate the youth of America on a unique slice of history. Please feel free to copy this and pass it to friends who might be interested in the event.

I would ask that those planning to attend please register online at www.sandiegoairandspace.org or via e-mail to csweeney2@san.rr.com so that we can have an estimate of the number coming. Thanks and I look forward to seeing you there!

All the best, Spike

Intruders Coming to San Diego! This Weekend!

The 2008 National Navy/Marine Intruder Reunion is being held from 01-04 May in San Diego, CA.

A special and exciting reunion program has been planned. Feature events include the Intruder Ready Room Dedication on board the USS Midway, a day at MCAS Miramar that includes a golf outing, the dedication of the recently restored A-6 at the Flying Leatherneck Museum and a Happy Hour at the World Famous Miramar O'Club.  An elegant San Diego cocktail cruise will end the day for those desiring to participate.

A hotel "Ready Room" with a panoramic view of Mission Valley will be open to all during the entire event so that folks can gather and meet old friends.  The hotel also has poolside rooms perfect for individual squadrons/groups to rent for their own reunion ready room.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Thursday, 01 May
Hotel check-in and reunion registration.  Welcome reception at the Town and Country poolside with heavy hors d'ourves and no-host bar. The hotel ready room will be open for late-night drinks and conversation. 

Friday, 02 May
Hotel check-in and reunion registration.  Golf at MCAS Miramar Golf Course followed by the dedication of a Marine A-6 at the Flying Leatherneck Museum, Miramar. Invited guest speaker is Major General USMC (ret), A-6 pilot and Astronaut Charles Bolden.  Following the dedication, the Miramar O'Club will host a Happy Hour with heavy hors d'oerves.  A San Diego Harbor cruise with heavy hors d'oerves and a no-host bar is also available that evening.  The hotel ready room will be open for late-night drinks and conversation.

Saturday, 03 May
Intruder Association membership meeting in the morning followed by the dedication of the World Class Intruder Ready Room on the USS Midway, San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum.  All attendees will have a 3-day pass to the USS Midway allowing ample opportunities and time to tour all the superb displays and areas of the Midway.  The coat & tie Reunion Banquet will be in the Convention Center of the Town & Country and will feature a no-host cocktail hour to renew old friendships, an excellent dinner and a featured guest speaker. The hotel ready room will be open for late-night drinks and conversation.

Sunday, 04 May
Early Bird breakfast of coffee and pastries in the hotel "ready room" for those catching early flights.  A reunion send-off buffet breakfast at a hotel restaurant starts at 0800 for those who are not as rushed.

The hotel "Ready Room" with a panoramic view of Mission Valley will be open to all during the entire event so that folks can gather and meet old friends.

For More Information Visit the INTRUDER ASSOCIATION

Editors Note:  I will be in attendance at many of the Intruder Events and look forward to meeting all of you.  If you see me standing around, please feel free to introduce yourself, you will always have a willing listener of ALL of the ENTIRELY TRUTHFUL stories I am sure to hear!

- John Carmichael, Editor, Tailhook Daily Briefing

The Saints of VFC-13 Bringing Goodwill to Grand Junction...

In an article posted here a week ago I told the story of Jordan Jones and his fight against Testicular Cancer and the tremendous outpouring of love, care and support from the local Grand Junction, CO community, Tailhookers, the "Cowboys" (VMFA-112) and the "Bloodhounds" (VX-30).  I also mentioned Doug Thompson and the support he has always provided the Navy in accomplishing our mission.

Well VFC-13 led by Cdr. Rob "Thumper" Modderman, paid a bit of a surprise visit to thank Doug for all he as done for US Naval Aviation in his FBO support efforts. 

 

Now understand when VFC-13 or any NAVAIR Transient comes to "NAS GJT" as it is unofficially referred to, there is no other place to go unwind after a full day of ACM, than The Schmoldt Ranch! 

Where the hospitality provided by Kathy and Hans Schmoldt is Legendary... Ask any of the aviators that have made the stop, and you'll understand! (That's Kathy "The BOSS" in heaven among the Saints!)

Many of the pilots wanted to stop by and see how Jordan was doing too.  On the way from the airport to Casa de Schmoldt, several of the 'Saints' stopped off at Jordan's house to visit with him, as he was not feeling well enough that day to go to the airport.  Jordan was thrilled!

However, when they took off the next day, his dad, Jeff, took Jordan to visit with the aviators and watch the departure! Again, it provided some touching moments... captured in photos by our own Kathy "The Boss" Schmoldt! 

Kathy sent me these photos with the following message:

"Thought you would like to know that the "Tailhook Community" and the pilots are continuing to support Jordan and his family."

You're damn right we do!  Thanks Kathy, the work you and Hans do for Tailhook is tremendous and we cannot thank you enough!

 

 

Thanks again Kathy, Hans, Doug, Thumper and all of the Saints!  And.. Most of all... Jordan!  Keep fighting!  We're here for you!

The Good that Tailhook Delivers

An amazing example of how Tailhookers can help benefit our community is perfectly illustrated by the Colorado Mile High Tailhookers, Grand Junction Ready Room headed up by Kathy 'The Boss' and Hans 'Big Guns' Schmoldt.   

Tailhook is about elevating the public knowledge of tactical Naval Aviation, its current development and bringing its storied past to life, through events, articles and photos. But we are also about finding ways to benefit our communities in any way we can.

In the Grand Junction Community there is a young 14 yr. old man, Jordan Jones, bravely facing the daunting disease of Testicular Cancer.  The community had a fundraiser for Jordan and Tailhook wanted to help.  Word went out and the Tailhookers came.  Not only from the local community, but word reached the Cowboys of VMFA-112 who had a cross country planned and thought why not take the opportunity to stop in. As well, some from VX-30 made the stop too.

One of young Jordan's passions is airplanes (who could fault him for such a love?) and one of the best remote FBO's in the Nation is GJT's (Walker Field Grand Junction) West Star Aviation headed up by Doug Thompson (pictured left).  Doug is legendary in these parts for not only providing JP for thirsty birds, but for his "Old World" down to earth hospitality, and genuine love for Naval Aviation.  Not to mention, Doug KNOWS where the best fly fishing is in Colorado!

Doug and the Cowboys thought it would be a great treat to get Jordan to the field and see some of the Hardware up close.  So they did just that, after flying in they made sure Jordan got to see as much of their steeds as he wanted.  Jordan was thrilled not to mention Jordan's parents Kim and Jeff Jones.

Afterward, the pilots attended the fundraiser in his honor on Friday the 29th in which 200 to 400 people came. Approximately 20 NASGJT Colorado Mile High Tailhookers attended a welcome reception for the pilots who stopped over in GJ on their way across country.

We in the Tailhook community may not be able to cure that dreadful disease, but we can certainly provide a bit of a thrill to help Jordan know that we do care. 

More to come...

Blue Angels 2008 Schedule

The Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron has released their upcoming 2008 performance schedule.  

Looks like some good old regular stops return to the schedule for this season; MCAS Miramar for one, and it looks like the Colorado Tailhookers (of which yhs is a member) will get the opportunity to view the Blues at Grand Junction, which if you haven't been there is a great venue to watch the Blues!

To some, probably one of the biggest surprises is the return of the Blue Angels to San Francisco (Oct. 11-12), where every year the opposition to the annual performance gains a louder and louder voice.  However, by most factual accounting that voice is of an extremely vocal minority.

So find a show nearest you and bring the friends and family! 

Here's the show schedule:

MARCH

08          NAF El Centro, California
15 - 16   Sacramento, California
29 - 30   NAS Meridian, Mississippi

APRIL

05 - 06   NAS Kingsville, Texas
12 - 13   Smyrna, Tennessee
19 - 20   Peoria, Illinois
26 - 27   Vidalia, Georgia

MAY

10 - 11   Barksdale AFB, Bossier City, Louisiana
16 - 18   Andrews AFB, Maryland
21          USNA, Annapolis, Maryland
23          USNA Fly-By, Annapolis, Maryland
24-25     Jones Beach, New York

JUNE

07 - 08   MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina
14 - 15   Quebec City
21 - 22   Davenport, Iowa
28 - 29   Huntsville, Alabama

JULY

05 - 06   Traverse City, Michigan
12          Pensacola Beach, Florida
19 - 20   Duluth, Minnesota
26 - 27   Twin Falls, Idaho

AUGUST

02 - 03   Seattle, Washington
08 - 10   Fairchild AFB, Spokane, Washington
16 - 17   Chicago, Illinois
30          Cleveland, Ohio

SEPTEMBER

01          Cleveland, Ohio
06 - 07   NAS Brunswick, Maine
13 - 14   Eau Claire, Wisconsin
20 - 21   NAS Oceana, Virginia
27 - 28   Grand Junction, Colorado

OCTOBER

04 - 05   MCAS Miramar, San Diego, California
11 - 12   San Francisco, California
18 - 19   Little Rock, AFB, Arkansas
25 - 26   NAS Jacksonville, Florida

NOVEMBER

01 - 02   Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas
08 - 09   Kennedy Space Center, Florida
15          NAS Pensacola, Florida

Schedule is subject to change without notice and is
weather permitting, for everyone's safety.

 

Tailhook HQ and the Fires in San Diego

From JR Davis:

Dateline 10/24/2007

Tailhookers,

The fires in San Diego passed to the north and south of the HQ building.  We were evacuated Monday afternoon and this morning we are back in the office.  All is well here.

Vr,

JR Davis

Executive Director

The Tailhook Association

 Photo Courtesy of NASA

Another Recap from the Tailhook National '07

From LCDR Kevin "Proton" McLaughlin (Colorado Strike Force)

Back from all the hard work and lack of fun in Reno this past weekend.  For those concerned, my liver transplant yesterday was successful, but I am rapidly running out of tee-totaling benefactors in the greater Colorado Springs area.  If you know of any organ donors, please pass along their info.

The event was a HUGE success.  Over 2500 registered attendees (and many,
many more "unregistered") and the largest airlift support contingent
since 1991--over 350 active duty personnel from both the East and West
coasts. 

The highlights, as always, were the Bug Roach mixer on Friday night and the Flag Panel on Saturday.  The mixer had over 1,400 folks in the large banquet room and easily another 1,000 in the admin suites surrounding the space.  For the number of people and amount of "conviviality" there were surprisingly ZERO incidents.  VFA-122 and VFA-125 shared an admin suite and it was going STRONG when I went up to bed just prior to 0600 on Saturday morning (which, incidentally, made Saturday one of the longest hangover days on record--somebody call Guinness for me).

The Flag panel was chaired by VADM Kilcline (AIRPAC/Air Boss), and consisted of (left to right on your radio dial) RDML "Guads" Gaudagnini(CNATRA), BGEN "Whaler" Walsh (DC Aviation), RADM "Waldo" Emerson (NSAWC), VADM "DJ" Venlett (NAVSYSCOM), RADM "Goody" Goodwin (AIRLANT), RADM "Santee" Clingan (N88), and RADM Jeff Lemmons (CNAFR).  Some solid,pointed questions were tossed at them with the primary recurring theme of letting "Jointness" take over Naval Aviation (my fellow Joint-serving O-4's feel that particular pain) at the seeming expense of Tactical development and leadership.  All-in-all, a good solid exchange between the crowd and the Flags.

Colorado attendees included Hans and Kathy Schmoldt from GJT, Spook
McFillen, Black Bart Flaherty (who got the crowd in a frenzy with a
pointed question to the Flag panel--NICE WORK!), Lipper Lee, Rusty
Barber, Dick Trickle, and yours truly.  If I forgot anyone, I apologize--if we chatted, you were probably looking at/talking to my evil twin Neutron.

Finally, the speaker at the Banquet was Gene Cernan, retired CAPT and the LAST man to set foot on the moon.  An UNBELIEVABLE speaker, aviator,astronaut, and gentlemen.  He brought a PowerPoint brief with him that
had his own personal pictures from Apollo XVII and they were astounding.

He got very choked up a few times, but none
more so than in his final remarks when he said that of all the groups / societies/ associations he is associated with, the one he is most proud of is the fraternity of Naval Aviation.

Hear, hear.

 

Thanks Proton [Ed.]

Tailhook National Symposium (Photos from the Front!)

More from our freelance photographer at large, Kathy Schmoldt.  (By the way other photos and stories are welcomed!  Simply e-mail them to me (or a link to your gallery) here: Send me an email.

From Kathy the first portion is didicated to VFA-94 The Mighty Shrikes! In the pics are: (in no particular order)...

Snuffy, Tonto, "11", Metro, Coma, Coach, Molt, Gloop, Sully and Spider.

 

Along came another "Spider"! 

Spider Webb and his wife Jan.

Part 3 on the way...

Photos from the Tailhook National Conference

As I am unable to attend the festivities in Reno this year...  I have enlisted the freelance reporting and photography skills of a few Tailhookers to help me fill the "Daily Obligation" of the Briefing: 

I am in debt to Kathy Schmoldt for her ready supply of photographs from the front lines of the conference.

Below I am providing a number of photos from the first few days of the conference:  Captions welcomed, if you can assist in identifying the players, please let me know in the comments and I will be glad to edit the images to reflect accurately. 

 

  

 

 

That's the end of part one...

Part two on the way!

Tailhook '07 Annual Reunion/Convention Schedule

 

It is finally here!

Reunion Schedule in a Downloadable and Printable PDF: Click Here