VP-21/ VPB-111 Veterans Association Message Board and Discussion Forum

none

VP-21/ VPB-111 Veterans Association Message Board and Discussion Forum
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
Does anyone remember??

Phone: 563-557-3018
> >
> > Comments: SPENT ALL TIME ON P4M-1'S. DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE DAY THE
LAST (HC-9) P4M WAS RETIRED OUT OF THE SQUARDON. OFFICIALS WERE THERE FROM
WASHINGTON, BANDS WERE PLAYING. THE THREE FLYAWAY PILOTS ALL HAD 8" WINGS
ON THEIR FLIGHT SUITS SAYING P4M-1. ONE PILOT PULLED OUT A TOY PISTOL AND
SCREAMED I CAN'T DO IT! HE THEN SHOT HIMSELF AND 4 SQUADRON MEMBERS CAME
OUT IN WHITE JACKETS READING LOCKHEED ON THE BACK AND HAULED HIM AWAY ON A
STRETCHER. TWO OF THE STRETCHER CREW WERE TOM DIXON, RADIOMAN 1ST AND GENE
O'NIEL, AO2.
> >
> > IF ANYONE WAS THERE ON THAT DAY LET ME HEAR FROM YOU. IT JUST SHOWED
THE GREAT AFFECTION WE ALL HAD FOR THE MERCATOR.
> >
> > PETER WIMSATT AT3

Re: Does anyone remember??

THANKS FOR THE RESPONSE. I THINK TOM'S NAME WAS PROBABLY SPELLED
DICKSON AND I AM NOT SURE IF HE WAS AN AL1 OR AL2.

ONE OTHER INCIDENT THAT I CLEARLY REMEMBER HAPPENED ONE DAY INSIDE THE
HANGER. WE NORMALLY ALWAYS HAD ONE "HANGER QUEEN" IN FOR REPAIR OR
ROBBING HER OF SPARE PARTS FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT. DURING THIS SAME PERIOD
WE HAD BEEN GETTING A FEW SQUAWKS ABOUT THE PROPS OCCASIONALLY PICKING
UP SMALL ROCKS FROM THE RAMPS AND RUNWAYS AND PITTING THE PROPELLORS.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAMES OF THOSE DIRECTLY INVOLVED BUT THERE WAS AT
LEAST ONE AM2, AN AD1 AND A SELECT HANDFUL OF OTHERS. THE PLANE IN THE
HANGER WAS ON JACKS AND THE COWLINGS ON THE RECIPS WERE OPEN. SOMEONE
HAD PUT NUTS ON 4 BOLTS AND MADE SURE THE MANDATORY 3 THREADS WERE
SHOWING. THEY THEN SAWED THE BOLTS OFF IMMEDIATELY IN BACK OF THE
HEAD, AND AGAIN IMMEDIATELY IN BACK OF THE NUT.

THAT DONE THEY GLUED THE 4 BOLT HEADS ON A 3"X 3" PIECE OF ALUMINUM.
THEY THEN TOOK THE ENDS WITH THE NUTS AND GLUED THOSE TO ANOTHER 3"X 3"
PIECE OF SHEET ALUMINUM. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO GLUE THE TWO PIECES
TO THE EXTREME END AT THE TOP OF THE PROP. IT LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE
SOMEONE HAD PATCHED THE PROPELLOR WITH TWO 3"X3" PIECES OF ALUMINUM BY
DRILLING 4 HOLES AND BOLTING THE PIECES IN PLACE.

SINCE THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON JACKS, THE TOP OF THE PROP MUST HAVE BEEN AT
LEAST 20' ABOVE THE GROUND. ALL MAINTENANCE STANDS HAD BEEN REMOVED
AND THERE SHE SAT.

THE MAINTENANCE OFFICER WAS EITHER A LT. OR LCD. AND HE NORMALLY
CARRIED A SWAGGER STICK. THE DAY ITSELF WAS PAYDAY SO THERE WERE A LOT
OF GUYS SITTING AROUND. THE MAINTENANCE OFFICER LOOKED UP AND SAW THE
PATCH, CONTINUED PAST THE PLANE. STOPPED, TURNED AROUND AND WALKED BACK
DIRECTLY UNDER THE PROP. HE LOOKED FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE 3 MINUTES BUT
WAS PROBABLY CLOSER TO ONE, TURNED AND SHOUTED FOR LTJG REX, WHO WAS
THE ASSISTANT MAINTENANCE OFFICER. LTJG REX APPEARED AT THE UPSTAIRS
RAIL LOOKING BEWILDERED. "REX, DID YOU AUTHORIZE A PATCH ON THAT
PROPELLOR?"

THE NEXT TEN MINUTES WERE PURE PANDEMONIUM! THEY FINALLY GOT A
MAINTENANCE STAND OVER TO THE A/C AND IT TOOK ABOUT 5 MINUTES BEFORE
ANYONE WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PATCH HAD ONLY BEEN GLUED ON.

AS I RECALL ONE OF THE GUYS LAUGHED SO HARD HE LITERALLY FELL OUT OF A
JEEP AND CRACKED A BONE IN HIS ARM.