Naval Aviation

So sad to hear the news of the crash. 

Shelia, thinking of you.  So glad that you got that phone call from your DS.  It will go by fast, I'm sure, and we're all thinking of you.  

Sheila, I know how concerned I was when DS went to SERE in May. He made it through, lost 10 lbs, and did say he was thankful for the training. Your DS will come back stronger.

I have missed all of you. Just trying to keep up with everyone with work and travel. My good thoughts to everyone.

Sheila....I know if you ask the others when their officers come back for SERE's they all talk like they just had 10 days at Boy Scout Camp:)

Greetings!  I am trying to have my son's commissioning certificate framed for his birthday.  My son's girlfriend has seen one that was framed with a Navy officer crest above the certificate.  Does anyone know where I can purchase a frame with the officer crest, or purchase just the officer crest for mounting in the frame?

Thanks! 

Prayers and tearful hugs to our tight knit naval family in the wake of the Red Sea crash.  The longer that you are a part of this community, the closer to home it hits as we know so many in the naval aviation world now.  Thinking about the souls lost and the loved ones left behind brings a catch to my throat and hot tears to my eyes.  Doubling up on the prayers for protection for all of our loved ones.  Thank you James for the information on how we can support the Jones family.  If someone obtains information on how we can support the other family, please post here.

Thanks to those of you who voted for team flying pizza in the Red Bull flugtag. They had a blast but crashed as did most of the other flying machines.  Team consisted of two helo pilots, E3 NFO, F18 NFO and F18 pilot.  Here is their flight:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvwFgVPpMnU

Here is the information on the fund for the other Red Sea helicopter crash victim:

The "Jon Gibson Memorial Fund" is now open with Navy Federal Credit Union. Please feel free to contribute, using account number 7032414430 with routing number 2560-7497-4. 
The bank's address is PO Box 3100 Merryfield, VA 22119 Please feel free to share this status for others that would like to contribute as well. THANK YOU!

Here is updated information for support for one of the two Red Sea crash victims' families: The "Jon Gibson Memorial Fund" is now open with Navy Federal Credit Union. The bank's address is PO Box 3100 Merryfield, VA 22119 Please feel free to share this status for others that would like to contribute as well. THANK YOU!  Also, a beautiful tribute video was posted on facebook:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=Ze-0FfAaHhA&...

Have your box of Kleenex handy

NNM, agreed.  I hope week two flies by and the weather is good.  Best to everyone.

Sheila....Enjoy the football game tomorrow.  We will be watching here at the house.  Of course we have to rooting for Navy all the way tomorrow!!!  I always love the end of the game when the team and the individuals in the stands sing the Blue and Gold.  Go NAVY!

Leslie, I can't keep from crying reading your posts.  You are pretty amazing to hold it together and support these wonderful people who experienced such a tragedy.  Thankyou for documenting all of this, as difficult as it is. 

Heartbreaking.

What else would Helomom have in her living room?

My son says at Corpus they have sent all civilians and maintenance folks home. Everyone is grounded for the time being. At least the active duties are getting paid. They don't know when they will get to start flying again.

SusanW- my DS also did his own U-Haul move from Pcola to CC a year ago.  He explained to me something about certain moves of your residence are still under a 'training' category and some moves later when you are assigned to FRS are covered differently.  He liked moving his own stuff anyway, no worries about a delivery schedule and he was settled in right away.  Sounds like your DS is well-organized with his housing! 

NNM Sheila- I am praying with you, I also wonder about the motives.

I was hoping to get a visit in from our DS but training is back on. All good though, don't want training to stall for any of our LOs!

I'm glad that Meridian is flying again.  My DS is on a Det to Key West and he wasn't sure what was going to happen with that.   Does anyone have a student from VFA-122 on a detachment to Key West.  I would love to know if they are flying or not.   If you are caught all the way across the country from where you are based, I guess Key West might be an ok place.

When I talked to my DS in CC today he said he was waiting for a flight briefing I am assuming that he did actually did fly.

Yay Dawn!  Congrats to him!

Congrats to your son, Dawn.  Mine has enjoyed the Kingsville community - if all goes well he should be winging mid-November.

It's certainly more enjoyable to celebrate their accomplishments, then shed tears for the many tragedies that so many of you have endured... God's speed to all.

NFAO- I have sent you a friend request, I would like to send you a personal message if that okay with you.

Dawn- that is so awesome! I know you will be smiling all weekend! Congrats to your LO.

Adding my prayers for Pcola, my cousin lives on Gulf Breeze, that little island area crossing over the bridge to Pcola beach.  He had some pretty harrowing stories of the last hurricance. Its a beautiful location, the wildlife viewing is spectacular, but it seems to be directly on the hurricane path.

Ladies....Again thank you for all your hard work and help with this service project.  We made 114 pillowcases and dropped them off yesterday to be shipped out.  Bravo Zulo!

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  Pillowcases for the Wounded Warrior project

Dawn, congrats on your son going to Kingsville. Also, NFAO, great news about winging in November. What an awesome time.

Suzie, my DS likes Key West too. He's been signing up for almost every detachment that he can as VFA122 has so few planes to fly. He says that out of around 80 planes in the squadron that 1/2 are picked apart for parts and that courses really shortages in the RAG of doable jets. The detachments at least allow for flying. The GF isn't real happy though.

Question.....I am looking for the size (measurement) of the beds on board ship.  Not sure if all the officers beds are the same size or if they differ based on rank?  I would appreciate the help. 

Nancy W., oh my gosh. 

Nancy W...can't even imagine.  One of those things that its better not to know about until after all is said and done.  So glad he made it.  Prayers for all that are flying in those conditions!  Glad to hear that the surgery went well.  Praying for more positive news about her recovery.

Nancy W, I learned early on to be thankful that my son tells me in GREAT detail what he's done AFTER he's done it!  Their "HOLY COW!!" has a different meaning than our "HOLY COW!!"

Isn't it FUN to hear them talk and know that they are doing something they absolutely love??  That's my favorite part.

Nancy....I pray that you will find the path through all of this and that things work out for your wonderful family.

Nancy W - Prayers for your family. II hope that whatever the diagnosis, it will be minimally invasive treatment. It will be a great blessing to her once you get there. We're all behind you, too.

You are right about not much news from the GW. I think they have managed to hit every typhoon in the east Pacific this cruise. We've only heard from DS once since he got back there from Top Gun. He had to fly out to meet up with the ship again, got there safely, and that was the last we heard. It's only been 3 weeks, but he is pretty good about staying in touch. Guess we never stop worrying in this business!

Nancy....We need a like button!

That's great news Nancy.  How is she feeling?  Enjoy your visit!

Sheila....So cool about going to Nashville!  I know you will enjoy yourself!

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  Trick or Treat Bag

  Trick or Treat bag I just finished for this evening.  This one is for our youngest grandson.  What you can't see in the picture is I have hand embroidered all the characters. It really make the bag pop.  Not that anyone will notice when they are Trick or Treating tonight, but I will:)  Hope you all have a great evening.

You are so talented.  I love the quilts and other things you do.  Wish I had the time. 

Last week we got to see our DS when he and another jet flew in from a detachment to Key West on their way back to Lemoore.  Short visit but always a treat to see him fly.

Other good news is that he is back in CO for a flyover for astronaut Scott Carpenter's funeral in Boulder CO tomorrow morning.  There are 4 jets from Lemoore at the airport and my DH is playing chauffeur this afternoon.  DS will take him to work and go to a planning meeting and then we'll go drop the truck off for his dad to get home and he'll steal my vehicle for the weekend.  While the jets and fuel are being supplied, lodging, meals and transportation are not.  They are all staying at a hotel about 2 miles from our house. We will try to find a good place to see the flyover.   Nancy, you might want to alert your brothers to keep an eye out somewhere between 11 and 1 tomorrow.  The church is downtown.  While I'm not sure, I'm assuming that they will fly the missing man formation. 

On another note, a T-34 came into the same airport shortly after my DS and the rest came in.   Apparently it didn't have any landing gear down and landed on its belly.  All are ok.   I had thought that the T-34's were being phased out.  I've been out of the primary phase of things for awhile though.  I don't know if it was out of Corpus or Whiting.  My DH couldn't see the tail from his vantage point.I may have a bit more information this evening.

I also saw that the Blue Angels are flying again for the Navy vs Notre Dame game.  I'm so glad to see that.

I just found out that it was a civilian T-34.   Which is good because if it had been military, they would have had to stay and fill out all sorts of paperwork as witnesses.  Although, none of them really saw much as they were securing the jets which takes a bit of time.

It worked out good for DH to help.  Denver Air gave them a courtesy car to go to the hotel.  5 went in that vehicle and 3 in our truck and all the gear in the truck.  Then DH and a couple other pilots took DH to work and went to Buckley AFB where the meeting is being held.  I thought he had to go back up to Boulder.  DH works out by the old airport and Buckley is just about 10 miles from there so it worked out good.  He'll come back and they'll take the courtesy car back and then we'll go drop the truck for DH.   At least it seems organized right now.  DS still has to get all the clearances from the FAA for the flight which I understand is a bit of a problem at times.

It will be nice to see the formation tomorrow.

Seems like forever since I have posted. I do keep up with reading, each of you amaze me with your support, strength and courage.

DS leaves in the morning for a Det in Key West for two weeks. It will be a nice change of weather from Washington.

My thoughts are always with this group. There is such a special bond.

Anyone know the names of the pilots from Lemoore? Several from DS's winging class went to Lemoore.

With anyone's experiences, if an O2 has duty on Thanksgiving Day, what would be the likelihood that they would also be assigned to duty on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? 

Suzie, not sure if our sons met while completing CQs but also excited that he just has 5 flights left in Kingsville before November 15th winging... the countdown begins!

Suzie - yes, completed on Halloween out of JAX on CVN71 (USS Roosevelt).

Our LO just got his orders and leaves for SERE either the Friday or Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend.  Good news is we know when it is.  Bad news is no Thanksgiving at home.  :-/