VR-6 Shipmates
BAUMACH, AT2 Leland "Badmack" lfb1933@verizon.net "...I served with FASRON-106 (06/1953-12/1954) at NAS Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada and VR-6 (01/1955-04/1956) at Westover AFB and McGuire AFB. I would like to hear from former Shipmates..." [E-Mail Updated 10JUN2016 | 21JUL2003]
"...CLAYTON, CAPTAIN Oramel I. "Mel"...My father, CAPTAIN Oramel I. "Mel" CLAYTON, passed away July 28, 2000. Dad served with VC-7, VOC-2, VC-20 (05/1944-11/1945), VP-41 (07/1948-08/1949), VR-3 (05/1951-12/1954), VR-7 (01/1955-02/1957), VR-6 (03/1957-06/1960); NARTU NAS Jacksonville, Florida (07/1960-01/1963) and retired 06/1967. I would like to hear from anyone who knew him and the type of aircraft Dad flew. Thanks!..." Contributed by Retired c/o His Son Greg Clayton dgclayton@verizon.net [E-Mail Updated 08APR2015 | 12OCT2000]
CONNOR, John skijon3@yahoo.com "...I served with VR-6 (February 1954 to June 1957), AD "B" School at NAS Memphis, Tennessee (August 1957 and February 1958 to April 1958), Instructor Training (ay 1958 to June 1961), NAMTD NAS Moffett Field, California (June 1961 to May 1962), NAMTD 1086 (May 1962 to July 1963), VA-23 (July 1963 and promoted from CPO to LDO Ensign), VP-1, VF-121, VF-151 and last assignment was Naval Air Force Pacific Fleet (CNAP). I retired March 1974..." [15NOV2009]
EYBERGEN, AWC Christian Retired christian.eybergen@yahoo.com "...Enlisted in the Navy Nov 1950 , went to Great Lakes Boot Camp, then to A Ship USS Tarawa CV-40 (1951-1952, and USS Oriskany -CV-34 in Korea March (1953), Then was assigned to NAS Kingsville, Texas (1954), In 1958 went to "A" school, From there served with VAW-12 Flying as an ASW Operator in AD5W Aircraft with Det 43 out of NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island with CAG 3 on the USS Saratoga CVA 60, (1958-1960), In (1960) went to McQuire AFB, New Jersey with VR-6 until 1963, Then was assigned to VP-23 with Crew 9 and Crew 11 till 1968, I went to "B" school in NAS Memphis, Tennessee, then assigned to VP-21 end of (1968) with Crew 4 and then Decommissioned VP-21 in (1969), I was the assigned to OMD, NAS Brunswick, Maine for shore duty (1969-1972), I was then assigned back to VP-23 with crew 6. Retired in Oct 1973..." [BIO Updated 21AUG2017 | E-Mail Updated 19JUN2015 | BIO Updated 11MAR2015 | E-Mail/BIO Updated 25DEC2013 | E-Mail Updated 15JAN2008 | BIO/E-Mail Updated 19JUL2002 | 07SEP98]
GEDDINGS, Ladson I. ladson@jps.net "...I served in VW-2 from June 1955 to September 1956 after riding as radioman on R6Ds with VR-6, starting in November 1954. I flew as the captain's radioman on lots of flights, including a tour Italy etc..." [26JUN2000]
HUGHES, CAPTAIN Ivan E. Retired IEHughes@aol.com "...Joined the Navy in 1958 and went to Boot Camp at Great Lakes then AVPREP School at NAS Norman, Oklahoma and AE "A" School at NAS Jacksonville, Florida. Served with VR-6 at McGuire AFB from November 1959 until December 1961. Assigned first to the Engine Build Up Shop (EBU), then to the AE shop, and finally to a "Pre-Flight/Block-Out Crew" where I worked until I was transferred to VR-3 while awaiting orders to AE "B" School after re-enlisting. Made AE1 right after I got to "B" School, and then on to HU-2/HC-2 at NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey. Selected for the Integration Program (Seaman to Admiral Program) in 1965, went to OCS in Newport, RI, and then to Naval Flight Officer Training at NAS Pensacola, Florida, NAS Glynco, Georgia, and finally to VAH-123, the A-3 RAG at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. VQ-2 was my first assignment as an officer, and I flew EA-3Bs and EC-121s as a Navigator. Leaving NS Rota, Spain as an LT, I next went to NAS Pensacola, Florida for three years of Instructor duty, and then to VAQ-33 in NAS Norfolk, Virginia where I flew ERA-3Bs, EA-4Fs, and EF-4s, and left the Squadron as a LCDR. Did a three year tour as the Staff Electronic Warfare Officer at the Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Group (FEWSG) in NAS Norfolk, Virginia then was selected as OinC of the VP-26 Special Projects Detachment in NAS Brunswick, Maine where I made CDR in 1980. In 1981, I was screened for Aviation Command and was ordered to VQ-1 on NAS Agana, Guam as Executive Officer and later became Commanding Officer. After NAS Agana, Guam, I was ordered to Washington DC to OP-05 (DCNO Air) on the CNO Staff where I was selected for CAPT in 1986. In 1987 I was ordered to the Naval War College in Newport, RI where I earned two Master's Degrees; one in Strategic Studies and International Affairs from the War College and another in Personnel Management from Salve Regina University in Newport. I guess I do things the hard way! I still do not have a bachelor's degree, but I do have an MA and an MS! After Newport I received orders to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) where I was assigned as the Command Support Plans and Programs Branch Chief until I retired in 1990. Now living in Pensacola, FL and enjoy fishing at least three or four days a week! Email me if you get the time!..." [BIO Updated 27SEP2013 } 22DEC98]
JAZWIEC, ADR3 Michael tymbersong@hughes.net "...I served with VR-6 (1956-1958) at McGuire AFB, New Jersey and AirBarSRon-2 (1958-1959)..." [20NOV2012]
KERLIN, David yankeeprow@aol.com "...I served with VR-6 at McGuire AFB in New Jersey from 1955 to 1958. We were part of the evacuation of Hungary and the relocation of the refugees to Camp Kilmer in N Jersey. I would like to find memrobilia of VR-6 and any Shipmates during that period..." [02MAY2011]
MARZO, AD3 Joe Di joekas1@verizon.net "...I served with VR-6 (05/1952-07/1953) at Westover AFB Chicopee, MA with a detachment to NAF Port Lyautey, Morocco (07/1953-07/1954)..." [02MAR2015]
MINEO, Thomas W. tomeled@aol.com "...I served with VA(HM)-13 (1957-1959) at NAS Chincoteague, Virginia with a deployment to Hal-Far Airfield in Malta and briefly assigned to Crew-4 as ECM operator. I also served with VR-6 at McGuire AFB, New Jersey and was discharged in July 1960. Worked for Pan American Airways for 29 years and still working with the FAA as Assistant Manager at the New York Flight Standards District office in Garden City, NY. Have lost all contact with my Shipmates except for one James Keating from VR-6..." [01NOV2010]
MITCHELL, PHC(AC) Jim Retired jmitch@magick.net "...I served with FAW-14Hedron, VA-84, VR-6, FASRON-107, ZP-3, and VU-8..." [01SEP99]
MULLINS, PR3 Herman "Tex" a1grumpy@sbcglobal.net "...Joined the Navy in September 1956. NAS Lakehurst, New Jersey-NAS Hutchinson, Kansas for AP School in NAS Norman, Oklahoma - NAS Patuxent River, Maryland to VW-15 1957 thru 60. Many tour to NAS Argentia, Newfoundland, Canada in the Parachute Loft. From there I was stationed at McGuire A F Base 1960 thru 1962 on to VS-31 MATS in the Parachute Loft. Then to VR-6 NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island 1962-1964 in the Parachute Loft. I was discharged in March of 1964. Live back in Texas since then. Married 4 children plus 8.5 Grandchildren. Member of and active in several RV Clubs..." [26JAN2009]
NANSTEEL, ADCS(AC) Robert L. "Pappy" Retired bobgert1@netins.net "...Shipmates (fellow Bat Men). AHOY from the "Original OLD BAT", and I have a big red easy chair to prove that title. I was best known as PAPPY NANSTEEL, my given name is Robert L. Nansteel ADCS(AC) U.S.N. Ret.. retired from VP-24 in May of '79 at NAS Jacksonville, Florida. At retirement I had logged 12,000+ total flight hrs. 5,000+ hrs. in P-3B/C A/C,, 3,000+ hrs.in C-130E A/C, 2,200+ hrs. in P2V-7 A/C, 1,200+ hrs. in C-118 A/C, Instructor/Examiner qualified in all of them. The remainder of flight time in various naval aircraft (i.e, UF-1, AD-5W, F3D-2T2, R4D, JRF-4, SNB/JRB-5, etc.) and a few others I'd just as soon forget. All of them however were single wingers. My naval duties were as follows: Great Lakes Boot Co. # 389, OCT. '48--NAS Flight Operations, NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. JAN.'49--VF-921/84 OCT.'51 with cruises on the U.S.S. Tarawa, Antietem, Lake Champlain, and Bennington.--O&R Flight Test NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island AUG. '54--Mobile FASRON-121 Chinco. VA. SEPT. '56--VP-18 NAS Jacksonville, Florida APRIL '59--VR-6 McGuire AFB NJ. MAY '62--VR-3 McGuire AFB NJ. NOV.'62--VP-30 NAS Patuxent River, Maryland July '67--VP-24 NAS Patuxent River, Maryland & NAS Jacksonville, Florida until retirement in May '79--Retired in Hanger 1000 NAS Jacksonville, Florida. Held Full Dress Inspection, piped over the side by ABH-1 Lanier, Side Boys ADCS Bayless, Burris, & Bell, AMCS Cannady, & Espinosa, AWCS Williams, AXCS Boatright, & ATCS Denny. Any names sound familiar? Thank you all for a very touching day. Fair winds and following seas to all. Hope to see some of you at E-Mail..." [E-Mail Updated 04JAN2005 | 19FEB2000]
NEWLON, AD3 David L. mu1221@aol.com "...I served with VU-4 at NAS Chincoteague, Virginia (Plane Captain on the JD-1 Invader) and reported to VR-6 in 1959 at McGuire Air Force Base, Trenton, NJ..." [10NOV2009]
RICHARDS, AE2 Robert deloresrichards@vmail.com Circa 1961 "...I served with VR-6 (1959-1961). I worked on the Golf Course, Line Crew and Electric Shop and VP-18 (1961-1962) flying on crew..." [PIX Added 12FEB2012 | 29NOV2011]
RUCH, ADRC George J. Retired SANDIA4706@AOL.com "...I served with VP-21 from November 1949 to December 1951. I was a PB4Y2 and P4M Plane Captain. Best AC ever made. Made the NAF Port Lyautey, Morocco deployment and went to NAS Anacostia, Washington, D.C., SEC NAV PC, NAF Lajes, Azores, Portugal, and serrved with VR-6 and VR-3 at Mcgurie AFB. Retired at Naval Weapons Evaluation Facility, Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque in 1973. Still here in Phone book, give a broken down airdale a call...I served with FASRON-106 Det 1 NAF Lajes, Azores, Portugal from February 1954 to September 1956. I was one of the mighty warriors who built that blimp mooring mast on the flight line that had been there in boxes since WWII. Lot of good memories, like good NCO club, slot machines and beer. That was a long time ago. If any one is still around - drop me a line. I am right outside Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, NM..." [BIO Updated 14JUN2002 | 07JAN98]
SAIENNI, Dante (si) dantesi@bellsouth.net "...I started flying in VP-7 in NAS Brunswick, Maine in the early 60's with P2V5F's (never flew in 7's). From there I went VR-6 @ Mcguire AFB until decommissioning in 1963 or so. From there I went to VP-5 in NAS Jacksonville, Florida and flew as Plane Captain in P2V5F's and then transitioned to P-3A'sin 1966. Went to WestPac based out of NS Sangley Point, Philippines. In 1968 I was an Instructor Flight Engineer in VP-30 in NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. I was in VP-30 for about 4 years then retired from the Navy in VP-24 in 1974. I went to work for VP-30 as a civilian FRAMP Instructror and stayed in the FRAMP Department until 1986. I spent a total of 15 years in VP-30 active and as a civilian instructor. Nice talking to you all..." [29NOV99]
"...SEEGRAVES, AD2 Darrell...My dad, Darrell Seegraves, passed away on February 28, 2020. Dad served with VR-6 (05/1951-05/1955) at Westover AFB Chicopee, Massachusetts..." Contributed by Carole Seegraves carolej126@gmail.com [07MAR2020]
SEEGRAVES, AD2 Darrell ddsvr1931@hotmail.com "...I served with VR-6 (05/1951-05/1955) at Westover AFB Chicopee, Massachusetts. I would like to hear from former Shipmates..." [05MAR2015]
STEVENTON, Jack ...Circa 1961... buddlake130@aol.com "...U.S.N. Jan 1958-Feb 1962 AE. Training: Great Lakes, Norman Okla, NAS Jacksonville, Florida and NAS Norfolk, Virginia. Beeville Texas-Training Squadron , F-9s, T33s,and F80s. VR-6 McGuire Air Force Base (M.A.T.S.). R6-Ds VP-11 - NAS Brunswick, Maine CREW - 3 (also flew on crew 1, 6 and 7.) P2V-7s..." [Updated 22MAR98]
SWAN, LCDR Charles W. Retired/Deceased c/o His Son Jerry Swan roadking1@msn.com "...FLIGHT BOOK INFORMATION LTCDR, CHARLES W. SWAN...28 MARCH 1940 - 24 FEBRUARY 1941 NAS Pensacola, Florida Navy Flight School. Aircraft Flown: N3N-1, N2M, NS-1, 03U-3, OSN-1, SU-1, SU-2, SU-3, SNJ-1, NJ-1, N3U-3, N2S-1, P3M-2, P2Y-2, P2Y-3, R2D, R2D-1, N2D-1. Pilot Designation: 1 November 1940 per D.B. Duncan. Instrument Rating: #1137 20 September 1940 per E.B. Eldredge Assistant Operations Officer. Instructors School Completion: 27 January 1941 per J.C. Owens. Assigned to Squadron VN1D8 as Pilot Instructor -A Per C.R. Carroll. 27 MARCH 1941- 8 OCTOBER 1942 NAS LEE FIELD Pilot Instructor SQUADRON 11-B Jacksonville, Florida. Aircraft Flown: N2S-1, N2S-3, N2S-4, N3N-3, NR-1, R2D-1, R2D-1, SNJ-2, SNJ-3, SNJ-4. Ratings: 2S LAND, 3S LAND, 4M LAND, 2S WATER, 3S WATER, 4M WATER Per L.N. Young 2 JUNE 1941. 16 OCTOBER 1942 - 31 OCTOBER 1942 EASTERN DIVISION PAN AMERICAN AIRWAYS, INC. MIAMI, FL. Aircraft Flown: S-40. *Note: This was the forerunner to Navy Seaplane Squadron VR-1 which flew out of Miami and Coconut Grove, FL. The Navy training was done in cooperation with Pan American Airways). 19 NOVEMBER 1942 -11 DECEMBER 1942 TRANSPORT SQUADRON ONE MIAMI SERVICES DETACHMENT. Aircraft Flown: PBM-3, RS-5. 6 JANUARY 1943- 31 JANUARY 1943 NAVAL AIR TRANSPORT SERVICE AIR TRANSPORT SQUADRON One (VR-1) MIAMI, FL. Aircraft Flown: PBM-3, PBM-3C, PBM-3R, R4D-1, R4D-5, RS-4, RS-5, SNB-1. Commander Transport Sea Planes Designation: Air Transport Squadron Six (VR-6) Qualified as Commander Transport Sea Planes 21 November 1943 H.R. Banaday Commanding. 2 FEBRUARY 1944- 27 FEBRUARY 1944 NAVAL AIR TRANSPORT SERVICE AIR TRANSPORT SQUADRON VR-6 MIAMI, FL. Aircraft Flown: PBM-3R, PBM-3, NH-1, SNB-2C. 2 MARCH 1944 - 3 MAY 1945 NAVAL AIR TRANSPORT SQUADRON TWO NAS Alameda, California. Aircraft Flown: JRB, PBM, PB2Y, PBM2Y-3, PBM-3R, PBM-3, XPB2M, NH-1, SNB-2C. Plane Commander Designation: PB2Y Plane Commander 31 July 1944 J.S. Tarlton Flight Officer VR-2. Notes: 8/13/1944 - Lt. Swan's 1st XPB2M Flight Honolulu to NAS Alameda, California. 11/26/44 Lt. Swan's 1st MARS Flight Alameda -HNL (Same Plane and serial # 1520 just renamed. 6 MAY 1945 - 8 JULY 1945 ???? SQUADRON SIGN #?? NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. Aircraft Flown: JRB, MARS, PB2Y,C-47B. Notes: 5/28/45 Lt. Swan's first flight with JRB Plane #44604 w/ Canady at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. 25 JULY - 24 APRIL 1946 TRANSPORT SQUADRON 3 (VR-3) NAS Olathe, Kansas. Aircraft Flown: R4D, R4D-1, R4D-5, R4D-6, R5D-4, SNB. Commander Transport Land Planes Designation: 12/31/45 V.E. Gessinger Commander Transport Squadron Three (VR-3). Satisfactory Completion G.C.A. Training: 3/6/46 Lt. Cdr. Arthur L. Ashwaltz OinC Pilot Training. 10 MAY 1946 - 1 NOVEMBER 1946 NAS ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA. Aircraft Flown: SNB-2. 4 DECEMBER 1946 - 2 JUNE 1948 NAVAL CARRIER U.S.S. MIDWAY. Aircraft Flown: HO35-1, JD-1, JRB, JRB-4, PB4Y-2, R4D, R4D-5, R5D, SNB, SNB-3, SNJ-5, SNJ-5C. 1 JULY 1948 - 5 MAY 1949 GENERAL LINE SCHOOL NEWPORT, RI. Aircraft Flown: SNB3, SNJ-3, SNB-1, SNB-2, SNJ, SNJ-4. 20 JUNE 1949 - 1 OCTOBER 1950 NAS Anacostia, Washington, D.C.. Aircraft Flown: PBJ (B-25), SNB, JRB, JRB-4, SNB-4, SNB-3P, R4D, B-25, JRB-3. 7 NOVEMBER 1950 - 5 JANUARY 1951 NAS HONOLULU, HI. Aircraft Flown: SNB, JRB. 6 FEBRUARY 1951 - 2 JUNE 1953 TOKYO, SEA OF JAPAN, YELLOW SEA, ITAMI AF BASE, TACHIKAWA, JAPAN. SEOUL, IWAKUM, POHANG, KOREA. Aircraft Flown: R4D, SNB, SNB-5, JRB, PB4Y, C-45, C-54. 17 AUGUST 1953 - 25 JUNE 1954 BUREAU OF AERONAUTICS GENERAL REPRESENTATIVE, CENTRAL DISTRICT WRIGHT PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO. Aircraft Flown: R4D-6, R4D-6R, JRB-4, JRB-6, PB4Y, C-45, C-47D, C-54. 7 JULY-1954 - 1 AUGUST 1956 PATROL SQUADRON VP-24 NAS Patuxent River, Maryland and NAS Chincoteague, Virginia. Aircraft Flown: P2V6B, P2V6M. Patrol Plane Commander - P2V 10 November 1954 HP Kooy Commanding. 3 OCTOBER 1956 - 2 FEBRUARY 1961 U.S. NAVAL BUREAU OF AERONAUTICS AND BUREAU OF WEAPONS WASHINGTON, DC. Aircraft Flown: JRB-6, SNB, SNB-5, T-28. 30 JUNE 1961 U.S. BUREAU OF AERONAUTICS AND BUREAU OF WEAPONS WASHINGTON, DC. RETIRED FROM SERVICE Ordered R.A. Schoech Rear Admiral, USN Acting Chief of Bureau..." [03JAN2001]
THOMPSON, AE2 Ronald J. ronkathythompson@yahoo.com "...I served with VR-6 (1953-1956) at McGuire AFB (New Jersey) with a detachment to NAF Port Lyautey, Morocco. I would like to hear from former Shipmates..." [06SEP2013]
USERY, AE1 Jerry R. Retired j.usery@att.net "...I attended Boot Camp at Great Lakes boot camp (1960), USS Essex (CV-9) during Bay of Pigs invasion, VR-6 at McGuire AFB, New Jersey, VP-23 at NAS Brunswick, Maine during Cuban Missle Crisis and VP-31 at NAS North Island, San Diego, California with both P2's and P5's. Trained Army aircraft electricians for the U. S. Army Crazy Cat's/1st Radio Research Company. I also served aboard NAS Agana, Guam OMD, VA-176 NAS Oceana, Virginia, NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Florida AIMD Electric Shop and retired in 1981..." [E-Mail Updated 04JAN2010 | 16JUL2006]
WELLS, Verne G. vernewells12@aol.com "...Enlisted in USN Jun 53; Boot Camp Bainbridge MD, June 53-Sep 53, (Co. 213); Airman School Norman OK, Sep 53-Nov 53; NATC NAS Memphis, Tennessee, Dec 53-Aug 54, (Co. 5304); Assigned VR-6 Sep 54 thru Jun 57. AT-2N at time of discharge. At VR-6 I qualified for flight status and spent the rest of my enlistment as a flight radio operator/instructor and duty section leader in the radio shack. I was a personal friend of all of the crew that lost their lives in the disappearence of one of our R6D's that went down some where between NAF Lajes, Azores, Portugal and their destination NAF Dunkeswell, Devonshire, England. Time takes it's toll on my memory, but I recall my special friends on that flight. They were LCDR Cerbus, Smitti the AD crew chief; Chief "Miney" my counterpart in the radio shack and especially AT-3 Jokela who was on his first flight as a student radio operator. I helped to clean out his locker and send it's contents to his parents...that was tough!!! Would like to hear from any one of my past Shipmates and I would like to mention that I had an older brother, Jack Wells, who served in VR-6 in 1953-1954. LCDR Marvin Katz, LT Christian are you still out there?..." [05MAR2005]
WILSON, AT2 Robert T. Jr. Circa 1963 helgasgardener@gmail.com "...I served with VP-10 (1955-1958) (AT3 Crew 9 HK-9), VR-6 (1959-1960) and VP-10 (AT2 Crew 8 LD-8). I would like to hear from all Shipmates..." [E-Mail Updated 26MAY2018 | E-Mail Updated 27JUN2004 | 31JAN2001]
"VR-6 Summary Page"
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