Pelican Poop Sheet
Volume 22 March 15, 2012
New on the roster: Charles Bryan, AT1 USN(ret) (AT 1985-1989); Ronald Hanna (VPMS-4 1946-1948); Joseph Boraski (AE2 1968-1970); Ronald Hanna (VPMS-4 1946-1948); Michael Loretangeli (LT 1982-1985); Billy Frye; Patrick Holden; Nicole Raquel McDaniel (Brown) (AN 1985-1988); Joseph J. Virgilio Jr.; Donna (Brunner) Massey (Daughter of CDR Donald Brunner, pilot of 1956 Azores crash); Eric Shumway ADC, USN(ret) (ADC 1990-1991); Raymond West (CPO 1982-1985)
Regained contact: John VanDyke (LT 1965-1968) CDR, USN(ret)
Lost Contact: Jim Wyatt (1970-1973); George White SCPO USN(ret) (1970); Robert Breuning
Taps: Jerry Patton (AE2 1961-1964)The following four Shipmates are from VPMS-4 era: Francis Michael “Red” O’Olaughlin Jr.; William Maliczowski; Paul Grund Sr.; Jesse Vogenitz;
Looking for off Facebook group: Dan Gilbert is looking for Dave Paro; Al Kucsera is looking for Gary Stone, Dan Lehman, Tom Booze and Don Wison; Jerry Daniels is looking for Buck Giedin
NAS Jacksonville Coffee Break
On January 9, 2012 I had the pleasure of having coffee and telling sea stories with two Shipmates, John Fedrice AFCM, USN(ret) (1987-1991) and Michael “Doc” McConnell AX1, USN(ret) (1966-1968.) They both live in the area and we meet at the food court on NAS. We are talking about doing it again and if you would like to join us sometime later in the year let me know and I will set up a time and date for another session.
Poop Sheet Origin
Just in case someone may be interested, here is how the Poopsheet started back in Sigonella in 1961. Gary Lloyd and another officer were pretty good friends and he asked for help on the new newsletter & artwork to publish for all of our personnel. This deployment, though busy, also had some downtime and it was thought this would be a morale boost. Gary had writer's block on a name for the pub. Pelican Poopsheet was nominated and decided upon after approval by Cdr. Serrell.
There were several issues with the production. The equipment -- an old liquid ink in a roller drum mimeograph machine, Mark I, Mod 0 worked okay with typed stencils but a freehand drawing created enormous black-on-black smudges -- even Jackson Pollock would have given up on that unpredictable product! That's why the original Poopsheet illustrations were two-dimensional, simple line drawings. But the show went on and that’s how we finally ended up with the "Poopsheet" name and so it remains to this day.
From a certified VP44 guy during the '60s
State Facts
In case you were wondering what State some of your Shipmates are from, I track the almost 500 snail address I know and the top five: Florida (80) Virginia (63) Maine (49) Maryland (41) and Texas (29.) We have one each in Hawaii, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah, and Vermont. There are none in the following States: Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Outside the USA we have one each in Ireland, Canada, Costa Rica, and Japan.
History Note
On 28 April, 1949 a modified P2V-2 Neptune took off from the Midway Class carrier “Coral Sea” and flew to the Norfolk Naval Air Station.
BIOGRAPHY
LTJG RICHARD G.WATSON, JR.
UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE
Lieutenant Watson enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as an Apprentice Seaman while a senior at Coronado High School in Coronado California on April 11,1939.Upon graduation from high school he embarked on a 2 week cruise on the USS Jarvis,DD393 a “Y” stack,1750 of the USS Bagley class. In the fall of 1939 Watson enrolled in Boydens Preparatory School in San Diego to prep for the Naval Academy exams in the summer of 1940.
Watson took the exams in June 1940 and passed all subjects except Physics. He then entered California
Polytechnic College in San Luis Obispo, California. He started a course in Aeronautical Engineering in September of 1940 and after the first year he was called to active duty in early June of 1941 as a Seaman 2c and was sent to the U.S Naval Training Station, San Diego, California in Company 82-41.
Upon graduation in August of 1941 Lieutenant Watson was transferred to Aviation Machinist School at NAS Alameda, CA. He graduated February 2,1942 and was transferred to VP-44 stationed at NAS Alameda.
He immediately started training as a crew member in PBY-5 aircraft as a mechanic/gunner. In late February, early March of 1942 the squadron was equipped with 12 new PBY-5A’s.
In late March the squadron was ordered to PATWING TWO, NAS Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, TH.
Ltjg. Watson went on the SS Lurline accompanied by the SS Aquatania and the USS Detroit in early April of 1942.The trip took 41/2 days. Upon arrival at Ford Island he continued in his aircrew training and was assigned to crew #6 as 3rd mechanic/gunner. PPC was Ltjg. Jarell ”Jiggs” Lyons.
In early May of 1942 Watson was promoted to AMM3c and assigned as Starboard gunner in crew 12.
May 23 1942 VP-44 was ordered to advanced base duty at Eastern Island of the Midway Island group.
The squadron started flying patrols on 25 May 1942.June 1, 1942 his aircraft was attacked by a Japanese twin engine bomber. He flew several other patrols and the squadron was returned to Ford Island 8 June 1942.
Near the end of June 1942 Watson was transferred to Aerial Gunnery School at NAS Kaneohe for a six weeks course. July and August Watson flew as 2nd mechanic in Crew #2, Lt. Hays PPC. In late August VP-44 was transferred to NAS Kaneohe Bay. In September he was made AMM 2c and put into crew #12 Ens. Fellmeth as 3rd mechanic/gunner. In December the squadron got new aircraft, PBY-5’s and Watson’s crew got theirs on December 23rd.A few days later VP-44 was transferred to COMAIRSOPAC, RADM J. S. McCain commanding, at Segond Channel, Espiritu Santos to be attached to the USS Curtiss AV-4.His crew, crew #12 left for the new station via Palmyra Atoll, Canton Island, Fiji Island, and New Caledonia arriving 4 January 1943.
His crews started flying patrols toward the Santa Cruz Islands via Vanikora Island.
Watson’s crew flew patrols out of Espiritu Santos and advanced base operations at Halavo Beach, Florida Island during that time action against the enemy included several attacks from enemy aircraft and trips into enemy held territory to place coast watchers. In 1 July 1943 he was promoted to AMM1c.
VP-44 was relieved and reported NAS Kearny Mesa. Watson’s aircraft was left behind and he had a 30 day cruise back to NAS Alameda on the USS Curtiss. Following 30 day leave he was presented with Combat Aircrew wings and transferred to Flight Test and Acceptance at NAS North Island pending return of VP-44 to NAS North Island. He was checked out as Flight Engineer and flight tested PB2Y-3’s destined for VP-1 following their fitting for the South Pacific.
In October of 1943 he was returned to VP-44 and was assigned to Crew #1, LCDR G. S. Bogart USN, the commanding officer of VP-44, as Plane Captain/Flight Engineer.
30 January 1944 VP-44 was transferred to NAS Kaneohe Bay for training in night operations(Black cat).
6 March 1944 VP-44 was transferred to COMAIRSOPAC to operate out NAS Lugan Field, Espiritu Santos for further training and operations.
In April crew #1 flew Capt. W. L. Erdman, chief of staff to RADM E. L. Gunther COMAIRSOPAC to all the forward Pacific combat areas, including Munda, Treasury Island, Bougainville, Admirality Islands and the Tonga Islands. In May he was designated ACMM, AA CA
VP-44 was redesignated VPB-44 and transferred to Green Island for night operation with PT boats. These flights included flare dropping and bombing/strafing of targets of opportunity. Targets were on New Britain and New Ireland.
Watson received orders to flight training in the last of November to report to NARU at Cal Poly on 1 January 1945. He spent 3 months at Cal Poly and then was transferred in April 1945 to University of Iowa for Preflight. He finished preflight in September and was transferred to Great Lakes for separation from the Navy. In October 1945 he was hired by United Airlines in Sacramento, CA as an Operations Station Agent. March of 1946 he went back into the Naval Reserve as Leading Chief of VPB 907 based at NAS Oakland. The squadron was equipped with PV-2’s and he qualified as Plane Captain/Flight Engineer. VPB-907 was designated VPML-57 in November 1946.In March of 1946 he completed a course as a commercial pilot.
VPML-57 designated VP-871 in February of 1950 and placed on active duty February of 1951 equipped with 12 PB4Y-2, s just out of moth balls and serviced by O&R NAS North Island. The squadron was transferred to NAS Sand Point for operational training. In August, Watson requested relief from duty as Leading chief and return to flight status and it was granted. September the squadron was transferred to NAS Alameda for further training.ORI was completed at NAS North Island in November. The first 4 aircraft left for NAS Atsugi, Japan for dual mission of patrol of the waters west of Japan from Shanghai in the south to the Shantung Peninsula in the north, and flare illumination for night fighters of the First Marine Air Wing with Watson as plane captain of crew #6.Their first deployment was 12 December 1951.Watson flew 30 missions in Korea and another 20 Able patrols. The squadron was relieved in 1 July and transferred to NAS Alameda and Watson’s crew was first to leave for the states.
Following 30 days leave he was transferred to VR-5 at NAS Moffett Field and immediately checked out as plane captain/flight engineer in R6D-1 aircraft.VR-5 had routes to Japan and Korea that included stops at NAS Barbers Point, Midway, Wake, Guam, Kwajalein, Sangley Point PI. In March of 1953 Watson and two other Chief Petty Officers were ordered to set up a ground school for returning fighter pilots from Korea who would become R6D- pilots during that time he got his CAA Flight Engineers license along with an A&E license. In September of 1954 he enrolled in San Jose State University for a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He was put in charge of night aircraft maintenance so he could attend the
University. In the latter part of 1953 he received orders to VQ-1, Sangley Point, PI but declined the orders and was released to inactive duty on 20 December 1954.
In June of 1955 Watson was hired as an Aero Test Technician and conducted wind tunnel tests and wrote operating procedures for the 9X7 wind tunnel at the NACA Ames Laboratory, Moffett Field CA.
On 17 December 1957 Watson was commissioned LTJG, designator 1515, in the US Naval Reserve. He was assigned as AC Maintenance Officer of ZP-871.
In June of 1957 he received his BS in Aeronautical Engineering from SJSU and was promoted to Aero Research Engineer as Assistant Project Engineer on a Laboratory project. He was given leave of absence
in September of 1957 and was accepted at Stanford University as a masters candidate in Mechanical Engineering and completed one quarter. Watson returned to the laboratory to work on a high priority project involving the F104.
In June of 1958 he was hired by Lockheed Missiles and Space, Co. as an senior engineer at the Santa Cruz test base in the Test Plans and Analysis Department. During his 8 years at that test facility he was, Section Supervisor of the Data Reduction Section, in charge of analysis of rocket engine performance for the testing of the Agena satellite as well as the Gemini Target Vehicle which included qualify and acceptance tests of the Bell Model 8247 multi-start rocket engine.
In 1966 he was promoted to Research Specialist and transferred to the main plant in Sunnyvale, CA where he was placed in Advanced Programs during this period he was program manager of a research project funded by M. I. T. In August of 1967 he was retired from The Naval Reserve.
In 1968 he was transferred to the Large Vehicle Environmental Test Facility as outside sales engineer. In 1969 he was made Assistant Manager of that facility, which included a large Acoustic Chamber. Two small acoustic chambers, and a large space simulation chamber. From 1973-1975 he analyzed and coordinated technical requirements for a company funded program, included the design of the primary, secondary, and tertiary propulsion systems, scheduling of engineering documentation and ran several systems tests of the vehicle systems.
In 1975 he was promoted to staff engineer and reported to the program manager of a classified program and was put in charge of all the mechanical systems. His duties included the program representative for the launch base activities.
In 1983 he was transferred to Menwith Hill, England to provide engineering advice and operation of a large satellite data system until his retirement in June of 1988.
His personal decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal 6 stars, Combat Action Ribbon with star,WW II Navy Good Conduct Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal with 2 stars’ American Defense, American Theatre, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre 4 stars, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Philippine Independence Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with star, Korean Service Medal with 1 star, Naval Reserve Medal, United Nations Korean Service Medal, ROK Korean War Service Medal and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. He was awarded the Navy Combat Aircrew Wings with 3 gold stars and the Navy Aircrew wings. He also is a member of the Combat Aircrew Roll of Honor
Mr. Watson was married to his first wife Katherine for 49 years until her passing in 1990.In 1991 he married his present wife Nancy a former Coronado High School classmate. He has three sons, Richard a retired US Navy Commander, Douglass a retired Public Utilities employee, and Donald a Trucking contractor. He has 8 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren.