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ALCON #1
(to all concerned)
Checkmates / Blue Bolts
Ultimate Reunion
May 6-7-8-9 2004
Naval Air Station Pensacola
"Flight
Quarters, Flight Quarters, Man all Flight Quarter Stations! Pilots man your
planes! Standby to Start Engines! Start Engines. Two block Fox! Launch
Aircraft!"
Many, many,
arrangements have been made for lodging, banquet, lunches, museum tours,
portraits for the color memory book, BIO and tall tales book, roster, name
tags, special automobile pass, Banshee & Skyhawk posters, historical
CD/DVD/VHS, door prizes, web site, ready rooms, golf matches, happy hours,
registration form, etc., etc.. The Registration Form will be in the mail
soon, and requires immediate action.
We need to spread
the word to phantom squadron mates. And we need to share the work load. If
you see an area where you can help, please get in touch with Dave Smith, or
Doc/Randy Prothro and volunteer.
Lodging
The Navy Lodge on
NAS Pensacola has been chosen as our official headquarters. Randy and Nancy
stayed there for the Demon Drivers reunion in November 03, and report it to
be a 4-star facility overlooking Pensacola Bay toward Pensacola Beach and
Perdido Key. There is a nice beach and the Lighthouse restaurant just over
a big sand dune. It is conveniently located and easily accessible to events
at the Mustin Beach O'Club, the Museum across the street, and the golf
course just a few blocks east. There is space for ready rooms for small
group gatherings with coffee, and BYOB beverages, etc. Sundries, bottled
beverages, and snacks are available in the Lobby store.
Rates are $54 per
night, double occupancy with one double bed, or $61 with two beds. We will
use the Lobby for reunion registration. Normally reservations are not
accepted until 30 days before a planned arrival date, but Ms Yvette Edwards,
the Manager, is holding rooms for our group now. However, we must make as
many reservations as soon as possible or the other event will fill up the
lodge
All Hands make your
reservations now! Call the NAS Pensacola Navy Lodge at 850 456-8676, select
option #4 for "group reservations and front desk", inform the clerk that
your confirmation number is 505PPROT, and have your credit card
ready. You will need to guarantee the first night, but can cancel later if
necessary. The Museum is holding a symposium at the same time we are having
our reunion so lodging is critical. Call the Pensacola Navy Lodge now.
Schedule of Activities
Thursday 6 May
Arrival – You will
need a picture ID (Drivers License or Military ID) to get in the gate at NAS
Pensacola, but we will make sure that Security has a list of all reunion
attendees, and perhaps a special decal for your windshield.
Registration desk
will be open from 1000 until 2200 in the Lobby of the Navy Lodge. Check in
on your own at the Front Desk. There will be one and maybe two Ready Rooms
adjacent to a covered patio on the third deck so stop by to help setup or
just push back.
The Naval Aviation
Museum Foundation is having their annual Symposium on 5,
6, and 7 May’04.
They will have three subjects, concentrating on one of the following each
day-Operations in Iraq, Naval Aviation Issues and Answers, and Operation
Iraqi Freedom and the USMC. We have been invited to attend any and all of
their events. Some will have fees, such as their banquet on Friday night
and their lunch on Thursday. We will have more details on their Symposium
in your handout package at the Registration desk. Unfortunately the Blue
Angels are not now scheduled to perform during our reunion.
1700 – Welcome
Aboard Party. We will use the O¹Club¹s Thursday night Taco Happy Hour as
our welcome aboard party (cash bar). The cover charge is $2 per person
unless you have a membership card from some other Officers¹ Club. We will
stake out part of the Bar room for our group. After happy hour just hang
out at the O¹Club, have dinner if you are still hungry, or go back to the
Ready Room at the Navy Lodge until the wee hours.
Friday 7 May
Breakfast on your
own. Coffee and donuts in Ready Rooms after 0700.
1000 to 1130 –
Guided Tour of the Naval Aviation Museum is scheduled with Museum.
1200 to 1330 –
Lunch is scheduled in the WestPac Room of the Museum. Choices will be from
Cubi Bar lunch menu.
1400 to 1500 – I
Max Movie is scheduled with Museum at cost of $6 per person. An option is
available for a Ride in the motion-based aircraft simulator (6 - 8 per
group) at $3 per person when combined with the I Max Movie. The Simulator
alone is $6 per person.
1400 to 1800 – Golf
Tournament
1900 to 0 dark
thirty – Open. Out on the town for great seafood. Join the Symposium crowd
at their banquet and see many, many other old friends. Hang out at the
O¹Club, or Have pizza and beer or Coke at the Ready Room.
Saturday 8 May
Breakfast on your
own. Coffee and donuts in the Ready Room after 0700.
1000 – Individual
appointments to be scheduled by Classic Reunions for portrait. They will
put together a Reunion Memory Book including individual pictures with wives
or girlfriends, candid shots during the day and at the banquet, plus any
other items or pictures we submit. So, get busy and send your favorite
pictures. Morning and afternoon options: Golf tournament, tennis, shopping,
beach, tours of area, continue individual group visits.
1100 to 1500 – Golf
Tournament alternate date
1800 – Farewell
cocktails and banquet at Mustin Beach O¹Club, Uniform coat and tie, or
turtleneck. We will be limited to three choices – Prime Rib, Baked Grouper,
and Vegetarian. When picking up your registration packet please confirm
your choice and get your color coded card to place by your plate. If we are
well enough organized the seating arrangement and listing will be posted at
the entrance to the banquet hall and will note your choice. Seating will be
assigned as requested or by blocks of years such as: 45-50, 51-55, 56-60,
61-65, 66-71
During dinner we
plan to have a quiet ensemble play some old favorites, and after dinner an
historical video presentation, golf match awards, individual recognition's,
door prizes, and general visiting. Ken Burrows, who may or may not be able
to make the reunion, has promised to donate three custom made golf clubs as
door prizes. The Ready Rooms will be open until the last diehard folds.
Sunday 9 May
Coffee and Donuts in
the Ready Room after 0700. Departure at will.
Billets
Registration and
Registration Packet Coordinator – Jim Populorum
jppopulorum@yahoo.com phone 252 438-2600. Set up registration desk in
coordination with Navy Lodge Manager Check in all attendees Issue
registration packet to all attendees with: The BIO/Tall Tales booklet A
schedule of events Name tag An automobile gate pass Pensacola Chamber of
Commerce data An area, and NAS map Banquet entree choice card Banquet
Program
BIOs & Tall Tales
Coordinator – Bud Thuesen,
annbud@ptd.net,
phone 973 786-5662 Make up
a booklet including BIOs and Tall Tales as well as photos that can't go in
the Memory Book. Send interesting photos to Memory Book Coordinator Dave
Johnson. Design a
cover, and bind. Deliver finished product to Registration Packet Coordinator
Only a very few of us, about 20, have responded to Bud, so please, even if
you are not able to attend submit your BIO so that others will have an
opportunity to get in touch with you, or find out that you live right around
the corner.
Reunion Notices
Coordinator – Beaver Horton,
ABQGiroux@aol.com, Phone 505
883-7504 Notices have been seen in "Military Officer², "Shift Colors", and
on the Naval Institute Web site at www.navalinstitute.org/reunions/reunions.html.
Three old squadron mates have checked in and many more will as later issues
and more sources come on line.
Color Reunion
Memory Book Coordinator – Dave
Johnson
mercury@nc.rr.com phone 919 832-3121. Randy Prothro reports that three or
four hundred Demon Drivers at their last two reunions have received one of
these books and there are no complaints. We have contracted with Classic
Reunions for a book for our Checkmates/Blue Bolts Ultimate Reunion with
plans for year group pictures, individual pictures in or near the airplane
flown, and candid shots at the Museum and during the banquet. The cost will
be about $25 each and is covered by the Registration Fee. Those not
attending can receive a book, too. Just let us know in the Registration
Form. In addition, you will be offered an opportunity to purchase
individual prints, and wallet size prints for a few extra dollars. We can
have pictures, letters, stories, etc., inserted at no extra cost. Also we
will use this as the medium for an address, and email Directory of all known
squadron mates.
Golf Tournament
Coordinator – Jerry Peddicord,
usna1942@aol.com phone 903 786-3556 Awards and
Certificates for: Low net foursome, Longest drive on a par 5, Closest to the
Pin on a par 3, Closest to the center line on a par 4.
Banquet
Coordinator – Jim Populorum,
jppopulorum@yahoo.com phone 973 786-5662. A $50 deposit has been made. Liaison with
Mustin Beach O'Club Manager and Catering. Supervise seating arrangements.
Arrange for music ensemble. Arrange for bar and bartenders in the banquet
room. We suggest a cash bar. Design and print a banquet program brochure.
Furnish Catering with meal choices.
Video
Presentation Coordinator – Don Boose,
diverdon1930@cox.net
phone
850 453-5267 We are collecting color and B&W photos, 35 mm slides,16mm gun
camera or home movie film, contractor test flight movies, important letters
or awards, pages of ship's logs, or anything else with any historical value
to project at the banquet. We have contacted the Boeing
Archivist/Historian, the Navy Aviation Museum, the Navy Historical Aviation
Organization, Tailhook, and the National Archives. We must convert all
these items to digital and record them on a CD, edit them and transfer them
to a DVD or VHS format. We really need a Director, production manager, and
editor all rolled into one. Lawrence Merritt, the Boeing Archivist did this
for test flight data for the Demon Drivers and knows how to do it. He also
had a "contractor furnished" Demon poster for everyone at the banquet, and a
DVD copy of the test flight movies. We are hopping he will find a poster
for each of our airplanes. Randy has spoken and written to him and thinks
they will help since Boeing now includes both Douglas and McDonnell. This
venture has great historical potential. If done right it could be a best
seller at the Museum store. We might have to subsidize the DVD/VHS
production, but let's wait and see.
What we want is a
far cry from what we now have in the works -- a 35 mm Kodak Carousel, and a
16 mm movie projector.
Roster and
Mailing List Coordinator – Dennis Hughes,
dvhughes@mindspring.com,
phone 727 346-0203 or cell 727 641-4302. There are now over 300 names
and more coming in every day. Please look over the roster when you
receive it and jig your memories of bits of information that might lead to
the location of another person. Dennis will send all of you what we
have in the near future, but the final version will be published in the
Memory Book.
Ready Room
Coordinator – Need a volunteer, or
two. Contact Navy Lodge Manager to choose rooms
and have furniture removed. Obtain an ice chest, ice, drinks, mixes, snacks,
and napkins, etc. Manage a Kitty to defray the expenses. Open, close, and
maintain the room.
Reunion Managers
– Dave Smith,
dsmith21@gis.net, Phone 703 560-4119 and Randy Prothro,
email
prothro45@earthlink.net,
phone 301 652-6019
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