 VR-52 Shipmates
BENTON, AT1 John Retired bentonj456@gmail.com "...Here it is May 2022 and it's already been 27 years since I retired. Unbelievable how time flies. My career following A school graduation included a short stint with VA-205 in 1975, then on to VA-34 in A-6E's, culminating in two med cruises aboard the USS JFK by August 1977. Went on to VR-54 Detachment NAS Atlanta, Georgia flying C-118's as a FCO and Flight Attendant until 1981 (Plank Owner with VR-46 at NAS Atlanta, Georgia), when I moved up to VR-52 at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Stayed almost until the very end with the C-118's and got snatched up just in January 1985 by VP-66 at the "Grove". Flew P-3A & B's as an FCO with VP-66, then VP-68 at NAF Washington, D.C. until 1992 when I moved back to NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania and finished my career at the Naval Air Reserve ASW Training Center (RESASWTRACEN) retiring in April 1995. Since then life has been very good. Fully retired as of May 2021..." [E-MAIL/BIO Updated 23MAY2022 | E-Mail/BIO Updated 23JUN2007 | 19APR2003]
BIRCH, ADR3 (AC) Gene C. gummer@prodigy.net "...I joined the navy in 1960. After boot camp at Great Lakes (Company 435) I got orders to VS-36 NAS Norfolk, Virginia and the USS Randolph. I then went to VRC-40. In 1965 I was ordered to VX-1 NAS Key West. I was assigned FCPC on the last P2V7 if any one recalls the (fiberglass props). I was FCPC till it went to the bone yard. I refused to change rate to ADJ so Capt Lanny got me orders to VS-37 USS Hornet West packing in Vietnam. I took an early out in April 1970. I went USNR-TAR in 1972. I went to C118 Flight Simmulator at NAS Glenview, Illinois. I was ordered to VR-52 NAS Memphis, Tennessee and attended AMH A school in 1976. I was ordered to VR-54 NAS Atlanta, Ga in 1978. I was ordered to VR-53 NAF Detroit, Michigan. I was assinged Flight Engineer for Unitas XX. I sent the last C118 to the bone yard. I went TAD to VR-58 NAS Jacksonville, Florida. I could see no challange to flying the C-9 so I retired in 1982..." [07JAN2001]
BORTNER, AECS(AW) Wayne A. aecs@sbcglobal.net "...Enlisted in Navy July 1963, Recruit Training (Great Lakes Company 1963-340), NAS Corpus Christi, Texas (1964-1966) in Hangar 58 NAS Operations, VR-52 (1974-1983) Detachment NAF Detroit, Michigan, VP-93 (1983-1986), VR-62 (1986-1994) and retired from Navy in 1996. I also retired from Disney/ABC in 2011 and now residing in Corpus Christi, Texas. I am also a Volunteer at the USS LEXINGTON Museum On The Bay..." [E-Mail/BIO Updated 25SEP2011]
DAVIS, MCPO James P. (Pat) Retired akcsjpd@yahoo.com "...I served with VP-19 NAS Alameda, California from 1958 to 1960. I flew with Crew 3. I made one WesPac cruise to NAS Iwakuni, Japan. I also served with HS-1, HS-5, VR-52 and VR-62. Retired as a Senior Chief..." [18DEC2005]
 "...GOTTSHALL, AZC (AW/NAC) Jay...Jay R. Gottshall (NAMTD 1012 NAS Moffett Field, California (support puke) 71-75, VF-24 NAS Miramar, California / USS Constellation 75-77, VR-52 NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 77-81, VR-48 NAF Andrews, Maryland 81-87, back to VR-52 in 87) died suddenly at home on July 28, 2006 in Hatboro, PA. He was 52. He had retired as an ZZC in 1992. He is survived by his wife and 6 children. His funeral was held at the NAS Willow Grove chapel. He is to be buried on August 11, 2006 at Arlington National Cemetery..." Contributed by Mary Ellen White mewhite18@verizon.net [06AUG2006]
GOTTSHALL, AZC (AW/NAC) Jay jay.r.gottshall@lmco.com "...Enlisted 12OCT70. NAMTD 1012 NAS Moffett Field, California (support puke) 71-75, VF-24 NAS Miramar, California / USS Constellation 75-77, VR-52 NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 77-81, VR-48 NAF Andrews, Maryland 81-87, back to VR-52 in 87 and retired in 92. Flight attendant on C-118B, C-131H, and Loadmaster on C-9B. The dumbest thing I ever did was retire. I sure would like to hear from any of my former Shipmates out there..." [30NOV2005]
HUDGINS, AT2 Homer hhudgins51@charter.net "...I served in the RTU-52 for 6 months and VR-52 for 4 years at NAF Detroit, Michigan..." [15MAR2006]
MARSHALL, Paul opie_ae@yahoo.com "...I served with VR-51 NAS Glenview, Illinois from 1992 to 1994, VR-62 NAS South Weymouth, Massachusetts / NAS Brunswick, Maine from 1994 to 1998, VP-92 NAS Brunswick, Maine from 1998 to 2003, and currently with VR-52 at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. Worked with really great people out there, hope to hear from you..." [06DEC2003]
O'LEARY, Dennis Dennis.Oleary@jetblue.com "...I served with VS-41, HSL-94, VS-37 from 1985 through 1987, sea duty with the Constellation, Gaum, Gaudalcanal, and now attached to VR-52 ( NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania) where I am currently a reservist. I've only been in contact with three Shipmates and they reside in California. I was wondering who else is out there to say hello to? See ya later Shipmates..." [01APR2000]
RICE, Brook BrookR1@aol.com "...I served as a TAR at VR-62 from 1989 to 1993 and then VR-57 from 1993 to 1994 as a reservist. I really had a lot of fun in Detroit and wouldn't trade my experiences for anything. I received my Bachelor's degree from San Francisco State University a few years later and now work as a Technical Writer for a software/semiconductor company in San Jose, CA. For fun, I play ice hockey and am working on my hang gliding instructor certification. I'm looking forward to hearing from my old Shipmates..." [14JAN2003]
SIMMONS, AFCM(AW) Carl Jr. navycarl@comcast.net "...I reported aboard VP-18 in December of 1963 right out of "A" School. In January 1964 I volunteered to fly as a crewmember aboard the P2V-7 and was assigned to LG3 as second mechanic. In the summer of 1964 we transferred from NAS Jacksonville, Florida to NS Roosevelt Roads, PR. At NS Roosevelt Roads, PR I participated in the Dominican Republic Crisis, one NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Detachment and two Unitas Detachments. In March of 1967 my tour was over and I separated from active duty. I stayed as a drilling reservist at NAS New Orleans, Louisiana from 1967 to 1971. In 1971 I affiliated with VP-94 NAS New Orleans, Louisiana as an In-flight Plane Captain. In 1972 to 1973 we decommissioned the last P2V-7's and commissioned the first P-3A's. With VP-94 I made three NS Rota, Spain deployments and was unfortunate enough to be involved in the last accident on the P2V. I was on the jumpseat during take off on a detachment to NS Rota, Spain when the 2P pulled up the Landing Gear Handle during the takeoff roll. We ended up nose landing on the runway. Fortunately we all walked away unharmed except for a minor arm injury. In July of 1976 I rejoined the Navy as a TAR and eventually retired in the VR Program serving as Flight Engineer, NATOPS Instructor, and Wing Evaluator on the C-118 with VR-52, NAS Glenview, Illinois and CFLSW. In VR-62 NAF Detroit, Michigan I served as Maintenance and Leading Chief, in VR-54, VR-48, VR-53 and VR-46. I retired in November of 1999 as the Command Master Chief of VR-46 NAS Atlanta, Georgia. My military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (1 award), Navy Achievement Medal (3 awards), Good Conduct Medal (7 awards), National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal. I am presently Department Chair of the Avionics/Aviation Department at Atlanta Technical College. I make my home in Dallas, Georgia with my wife Catherine, Granddaughter Brittany, Chelsea our Cocker and Gracie our Cat. I will never forget the good times, great friends and life long Shipmates in VP-18..." [E-Mail/BIO Updated 22JUN2005 | E-Mail Updated 24JAN2004 | E-Mail Updated 04FEB99 | E-Mail Updated 01DEC98 | 11OCT98]
VESSELL, Darrell D. vessell@swbell.net "...Short timer with VW-1 June-1969 to Sep 1970 ADR2 Line and Check crew. Been looking for Dwayne Jarvis ADR2 for years now anyone know what happened to him...VT-2 NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Florida 67-68, VW-1 NAS Agana, Guam 69-70, and VR-52 NAS Millington, Tenn. 71-74..." [15JAN98]
WALTER, AZ1 Jesse W. Jr. Retired jpwalter@verizon.net "...I was present at VR-52 Det. Wash (logs and records and maintenance control) when we acquired the Convairs from the DC Air Guard. Col. Taylor was there at the time, but retired shortly thereafter. The Navy received three aircraft, the nose of 816, and lots of spares. Compared to C-118-B's they were a great improvement. Thanks to Jay Gottshall for refreshing my memory of that sad time in 1985. I was a "plank-owner" of VP-48 and was there when the Convair's retired in 1990, so I was there for their entire Naval Careers. I have a small model of 815 with the Navy paint job on it. 299 was always a favorite as it had a full APU on it and would stay cool in the summertime when the engines were shut down. 815 and 817 just had Gas Turbine Compressor (GTC) starters. Apparently both aircraft are alive doing well. I searched http://www.aircraftone.com/ for Convair and found their serial numbers 550299 (Now N191FL) 542815 (Now N723ES) among planes owned by the IFL Group. Their website is http://www.iflgroup.com/..." [03JAN2006]
WHITE, YN1(AW) Mary Ellen Retired mewhite18@verizon.net "...I served aboard NAS South Weymouth, Massachusetts (drilling reservist) from 1973 to 1975 (TAR February 1975), Active Duty Training and Administration of Reserves (TAR) at NAS South Weymouth, Massachusetts in VP SRU from 1975 to 1979, VP-92, VR-52 at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania from 1980 to 1983, Naval Military Personnel Command (NMPC) in Washington DC from 1983 to 1986, VP-68 at NAF Andrews, Maryland from 1986 to 1989, Naval Supply Center at NAS Pearl Harbor, Hawaii from 1989 to 1992 and Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center, Manchester, NH from 1992 to 1995. I retired from active duty February 1995..." [E-Mail Updated 24MAY2019 | E-Mail Updated 04AUG2009 | BIO Updated 16DEC2005 | BIO Updated 12DEC2005 | 10APR2005 | 18APR99]
"...WISMER, AD1 Harry Roland III...Harry passed away February 18th, 2018 at age 78. He served with VR-50 and was a plankowner with VR-52..." Contributed by BENTON, AT1 John Retired bentonj456@gmail.com [29AUG2019]
WISMER, AD1 Harry Retired tripod1977@yahoo.com "...I was a plankowner with VR-50 which was disestablished on 24JUN72 and a plankowner with VR-52 Unit 2 on 24JUN72..." [10NOV2006]
"VR-52 Summary Page"
|
