July Intercom 17
The Intercom...
The Intercom... Post Office Box 1338
Hawthorne CA 90251
Order of Daedalians The National Fraternity of Military Pilots
7th flight (Harold L. George)
Los Angeles, California
July 2017 - Vol 32: No 4
July 2017 Rank First Name Last name suffix Address City, State Zip
July Luncheon May Luncheon Review From the Skipper Luncheon Photos Last Flight Blasts from the Afterburner
July 20, 2017 Luncheon Dues paid through
The Intercom: Editor LtCol Patricia Murray 2001 Warfield Avenue, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (805) 551-9393 [email protected] Membership questions: Col Dave Bockelman 231 North Broadway, #7 Redondo Beach, CA 90277 310-374-0281 [email protected]
The Intercom...
Page 4
Our July luncheon speaker, Captain Marc Liebman began his Naval career as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in June 1968. He was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1969. During his active duty career, he made deployments to Vietnam, the Mediterranean as well as to the Persian Gulf, Norwegian and Black Sea. He is a combat veteran of Vietnam and Desert Shield/Storm and flew helicopters on combat search and rescue, special operations missions, antisubmarine warfare and logistics support missions. Leading up to his retirement as a reservist he became actively involved in the business world, holding executive positions in aerospace manufacturing; editor of a national magazine; director of advertising and marketing for a general aircraft manufacturer; and founder of a marketing communications agency. Along the way, he has written five novels.
May 18, 2017 Luncheon Ruby members over $500 Diamond Member over $1000 *since program inception
Dave Bockelman Ken Caviness Walter Crandall* Richard Dingman Jack Downhill Russel Drosendahl* Rolf Dummermuth
Century Club 2016 Gail Edwards* Clint Ferguson David Fey* Jim Garber III* Jacque Johnson The Keeling Family* Loyd Kenworthy*
Richard McKay Robert McNamara Sam Melvin Bill Meyer Patricia Murray* Bob Nelson Joe Onesty
Marc Liebman
Ron Warner
* Indicates CC Founder Member
Roy Pursche Tom Reiter* Ed Richardson* James Shelton* Keith Smith* Henry Steinkamp* John Wagner*
The Order of Daedalians, the National Fraternity of Military Pilots, was organized on 26 March 1934 by a group of World War I commissioned Army pilots to perpetuate the spirit of patriotism, love of country and ideals of self-sacrifice which place service to nation above personal safety or position. Membership is open to pilots (commissioned, warrant officers, USAAF flight officers, and WASPs) of all US armed services and who can be on active duty, retired or have left the service, under honorable conditions, prior to retirement. Help bring a member in the Order, now!
On behalf of Flight Seven, Order of Daedalian members, we wish to express our appreciation to Ron for meeting with us and outlining his charitable program’s efforts in promoting Army aviation. We Daedalians are similarly involved through our Century Club ROTC scholarship program. This program, similar to your program, is intended to foster interest in military aviation and perhaps eventual careers as military pilots. So we thank you for introducing your program to us.
July 20, 2017 - Luncheon Meeting Daedalian Room, LA AFB 1100-1500
The Intercom...
Page 2
Our %irst Daedalian %ield trip of the year, visiting the March Field Air Museum turned out exceptionally well. Part of our group traveled by coach from LAAFB and others drove, joining up at March Field. Upon arrival the group received an overview of the facility, followed by a tram tour of the aircraft parked on the ramp. A docent guided walking tour of aircraft and artifacts located within the hangers followed. The docent support was extensive and impressive. The aircraft on display ranged from vintage 1920 aircraft up to and including aircraft in the active Air Force. Of prominence in the main hanger was an actual Mach 3+ SR 71 that was retired after space assets assumed its missions. Our Flight Seven member, Colonel James Shelton, a former SR-71 pilot will be discussing the merits of the SR-71 at our September luncheon. It will be a stirring discussion, mark your calendar now. We will be continuing our Field Trip series as summer comes on. Our next trip is a visit to the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda in late July/early August. Driving time from LAAFB is approximately one hour and admission is quite inexpensive. Those interested in joining in the Nixon Library visit are requested to signify your interest on the Intercom luncheon reservation form, indicating a telephone and email point of contact. Details as to travel options and other details will be provided to Nixon Library respondee’s. We plan on two additional %ield trips in the fall, the Reagan Presidential Library and the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino. Details will be provided in the August Intercom. Flight Seven received an unexpected and exceptionally pleasant surprise in early June. The daughter of General Harold George, Mrs. Loretta George Palmer presented the %light with a painting of her father, General Harold George, Daedalian One and our %light’s namesake. Mrs Palmer also made a very generous contribution to our scholarship program. Mrs. Palmer and her family have been invited to join our members at our September luncheon at which this year’s ROTC scholars will be honored. Members are reminded that membership is the core ingredient of our existence and we encourage all our members to reach out to other military pilot acquaintances to encourage them to consider joining our ranks. Invite them to join us at one of our future luncheons. Member camaraderie, excellent food and an inspired speakers program await them. The Century Club Ruby pin awards will be presented at our July luncheon. The Ruby Century Club Pin is awarded to those contributing $500 or more to our Century Club scholarship program. We encourage our Ruby Century Club members to attend the July luncheon. Lastly, a reminder to those few that have yet to submit their dues for either 2016 or the current year. Please take a moment now to take care of this important task. In fact. be aggressive and submit payment for dues for 2018 as well. Annual dues are $25 and should be submitted to Colonel Dave Bockelman, membership Chairman, 231 North Broadway, #7, Redondo Beach CA 90277.
VV Art
The Skipper
The
The Intercom...
Page 3
An Enduring Remembrance There is an artifact in our Flight 7 Daedalian room that reminds me of Colonel Gene Grimm, USAF (Retired), former Flight 7 Captain and a contributor to Daedalian fellowship and many other Air Force communities. Colonel Grimm recently took his last flight and I had the opportunity to relate this story at his memorial luncheon. Many of you know Colonel Grimm as “Gene” – but my experience with Colonel Grimm occurred when I was a Captain assigned as a Contracting Officer at Space Division from 1979 – 1982. Colonel Grimm was not my supervisor; he was my “boss’s boss!” To me, he was, and remains, “Colonel” Grimm. Getting summoned to his office, the Deputy for Contracting, was enough to peg my anxiety meter wondering what kind of trouble I was in. As it turned out, Colonel Grimm knew I was a fellow pilot and wanted to mentor me with challenging assignments to broaden my experience during a tour in Air Force space systems acquisition. Additionally, he guided me into Daedalian Flight 7 membership. Colonel Grimm was Flight Captain and appointed me Flight 7 Adjutant to assist with the administrative workload. During his Flight 7 leadership, Colonel Grimm issued a call to contribute flying memorabilia to decorate the newly established Daedalian room adjacent to the basement O’Club at Los Angeles Air Force Base Area “A.” As adjutant, many of the donated items passed through my office enroute to the Daedalian room. One day in the summer of 1980, I received a call from a Daedalian Flight 7 member, Dr. Dave(?) Dean asking if we could use some gear he shipped home after “the war.” Of course! The items were sitting in his garage and he would have them delivered to the base. A few days later, I received a call from the guard station advising a crate had been delivered to the parking lot outside the building. There it was on the parking lot asphalt – a WWI Spad propeller. At the close of WWI, Dr. Dean asked his mechanic to remove, crate and ship the propeller on his Spad to his home address. The propeller was packed in its original crate and packing material and had been sitting in Dr. Dean’s garage since the end of WWI. I moved the propeller to my office for safekeeping, advised Colonel Grimm we had the propeller and ruminated how best to display and protect the item. I called Civil Engineering and was told to submit a series of forms and they would get back if approved. After about a week without a response, I decided I could mount the propeller by drilling through the O’Club kitchen concrete wall and installing the propeller with two lag bolts and wheel locking nuts. I showed up in the O’Club kitchen with a drill and masonry bit ready to go. A kitchen supervisor called CE – who promptly showed up and said, “Let us take care of that for you Captain.” They did so promptly, and we had our propeller mounted on the wall. In response to Colonel Grimm’s call for memorabilia we accumulated numerous packages, models, pictures and news articles. We also received a single blade off a Flight 7 member’s P-51 Mustang. The propeller blade weighed about 135 pounds and I enlisted the help of a Lieutenant to carry it down to the Daedalian room and rest it in a corner – no wall mounting for that one. As the Daedalian room transitioned from Area A to new quarters in Space and Missile Systems Center, most decorations appear to have made the move. The Spad propeller occupies a prominent place in the Flight 7 Daedalian room today. Every time I visit the room, I am reminded of Colonel Gene Grimm, his passion for the Daedalians, the fine example he set giving back to the Air Force community, and the mentoring, guidance and leadership example he provided to a young Air Force Captain. Perhaps, when you see the Spad propeller in our Flight 7 Daedalian room, you too will remember Colonel Gene Grimm. Contributed by Walt Crandall, Colonel, USAF (Retired)
The Intercom... Post Office Box 1338
Hawthorne CA 90251
Order of Daedalians The National Fraternity of Military Pilots
7th flight (Harold L. George)
Los Angeles, California
July 2017 - Vol 32: No 4
July 2017 Rank First Name Last name suffix Address City, State Zip
July Luncheon May Luncheon Review From the Skipper Luncheon Photos Last Flight Blasts from the Afterburner
July 20, 2017 Luncheon Dues paid through
The Intercom: Editor LtCol Patricia Murray 2001 Warfield Avenue, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 (805) 551-9393 [email protected] Membership questions: Col Dave Bockelman 231 North Broadway, #7 Redondo Beach, CA 90277 310-374-0281 [email protected]
The Intercom...
Page 4
Our July luncheon speaker, Captain Marc Liebman began his Naval career as an ensign in the U.S. Navy in June 1968. He was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1969. During his active duty career, he made deployments to Vietnam, the Mediterranean as well as to the Persian Gulf, Norwegian and Black Sea. He is a combat veteran of Vietnam and Desert Shield/Storm and flew helicopters on combat search and rescue, special operations missions, antisubmarine warfare and logistics support missions. Leading up to his retirement as a reservist he became actively involved in the business world, holding executive positions in aerospace manufacturing; editor of a national magazine; director of advertising and marketing for a general aircraft manufacturer; and founder of a marketing communications agency. Along the way, he has written five novels.
May 18, 2017 Luncheon Ruby members over $500 Diamond Member over $1000 *since program inception
Dave Bockelman Ken Caviness Walter Crandall* Richard Dingman Jack Downhill Russel Drosendahl* Rolf Dummermuth
Century Club 2016 Gail Edwards* Clint Ferguson David Fey* Jim Garber III* Jacque Johnson The Keeling Family* Loyd Kenworthy*
Richard McKay Robert McNamara Sam Melvin Bill Meyer Patricia Murray* Bob Nelson Joe Onesty
Marc Liebman
Ron Warner
* Indicates CC Founder Member
Roy Pursche Tom Reiter* Ed Richardson* James Shelton* Keith Smith* Henry Steinkamp* John Wagner*
The Order of Daedalians, the National Fraternity of Military Pilots, was organized on 26 March 1934 by a group of World War I commissioned Army pilots to perpetuate the spirit of patriotism, love of country and ideals of self-sacrifice which place service to nation above personal safety or position. Membership is open to pilots (commissioned, warrant officers, USAAF flight officers, and WASPs) of all US armed services and who can be on active duty, retired or have left the service, under honorable conditions, prior to retirement. Help bring a member in the Order, now!
On behalf of Flight Seven, Order of Daedalian members, we wish to express our appreciation to Ron for meeting with us and outlining his charitable program’s efforts in promoting Army aviation. We Daedalians are similarly involved through our Century Club ROTC scholarship program. This program, similar to your program, is intended to foster interest in military aviation and perhaps eventual careers as military pilots. So we thank you for introducing your program to us.
July 20, 2017 - Luncheon Meeting Daedalian Room, LA AFB 1100-1500
The Intercom...
Page 2
Our %irst Daedalian %ield trip of the year, visiting the March Field Air Museum turned out exceptionally well. Part of our group traveled by coach from LAAFB and others drove, joining up at March Field. Upon arrival the group received an overview of the facility, followed by a tram tour of the aircraft parked on the ramp. A docent guided walking tour of aircraft and artifacts located within the hangers followed. The docent support was extensive and impressive. The aircraft on display ranged from vintage 1920 aircraft up to and including aircraft in the active Air Force. Of prominence in the main hanger was an actual Mach 3+ SR 71 that was retired after space assets assumed its missions. Our Flight Seven member, Colonel James Shelton, a former SR-71 pilot will be discussing the merits of the SR-71 at our September luncheon. It will be a stirring discussion, mark your calendar now. We will be continuing our Field Trip series as summer comes on. Our next trip is a visit to the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda in late July/early August. Driving time from LAAFB is approximately one hour and admission is quite inexpensive. Those interested in joining in the Nixon Library visit are requested to signify your interest on the Intercom luncheon reservation form, indicating a telephone and email point of contact. Details as to travel options and other details will be provided to Nixon Library respondee’s. We plan on two additional %ield trips in the fall, the Reagan Presidential Library and the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino. Details will be provided in the August Intercom. Flight Seven received an unexpected and exceptionally pleasant surprise in early June. The daughter of General Harold George, Mrs. Loretta George Palmer presented the %light with a painting of her father, General Harold George, Daedalian One and our %light’s namesake. Mrs Palmer also made a very generous contribution to our scholarship program. Mrs. Palmer and her family have been invited to join our members at our September luncheon at which this year’s ROTC scholars will be honored. Members are reminded that membership is the core ingredient of our existence and we encourage all our members to reach out to other military pilot acquaintances to encourage them to consider joining our ranks. Invite them to join us at one of our future luncheons. Member camaraderie, excellent food and an inspired speakers program await them. The Century Club Ruby pin awards will be presented at our July luncheon. The Ruby Century Club Pin is awarded to those contributing $500 or more to our Century Club scholarship program. We encourage our Ruby Century Club members to attend the July luncheon. Lastly, a reminder to those few that have yet to submit their dues for either 2016 or the current year. Please take a moment now to take care of this important task. In fact. be aggressive and submit payment for dues for 2018 as well. Annual dues are $25 and should be submitted to Colonel Dave Bockelman, membership Chairman, 231 North Broadway, #7, Redondo Beach CA 90277.
VV Art
The Skipper
The
The Intercom...
Page 3
An Enduring Remembrance There is an artifact in our Flight 7 Daedalian room that reminds me of Colonel Gene Grimm, USAF (Retired), former Flight 7 Captain and a contributor to Daedalian fellowship and many other Air Force communities. Colonel Grimm recently took his last flight and I had the opportunity to relate this story at his memorial luncheon. Many of you know Colonel Grimm as “Gene” – but my experience with Colonel Grimm occurred when I was a Captain assigned as a Contracting Officer at Space Division from 1979 – 1982. Colonel Grimm was not my supervisor; he was my “boss’s boss!” To me, he was, and remains, “Colonel” Grimm. Getting summoned to his office, the Deputy for Contracting, was enough to peg my anxiety meter wondering what kind of trouble I was in. As it turned out, Colonel Grimm knew I was a fellow pilot and wanted to mentor me with challenging assignments to broaden my experience during a tour in Air Force space systems acquisition. Additionally, he guided me into Daedalian Flight 7 membership. Colonel Grimm was Flight Captain and appointed me Flight 7 Adjutant to assist with the administrative workload. During his Flight 7 leadership, Colonel Grimm issued a call to contribute flying memorabilia to decorate the newly established Daedalian room adjacent to the basement O’Club at Los Angeles Air Force Base Area “A.” As adjutant, many of the donated items passed through my office enroute to the Daedalian room. One day in the summer of 1980, I received a call from a Daedalian Flight 7 member, Dr. Dave(?) Dean asking if we could use some gear he shipped home after “the war.” Of course! The items were sitting in his garage and he would have them delivered to the base. A few days later, I received a call from the guard station advising a crate had been delivered to the parking lot outside the building. There it was on the parking lot asphalt – a WWI Spad propeller. At the close of WWI, Dr. Dean asked his mechanic to remove, crate and ship the propeller on his Spad to his home address. The propeller was packed in its original crate and packing material and had been sitting in Dr. Dean’s garage since the end of WWI. I moved the propeller to my office for safekeeping, advised Colonel Grimm we had the propeller and ruminated how best to display and protect the item. I called Civil Engineering and was told to submit a series of forms and they would get back if approved. After about a week without a response, I decided I could mount the propeller by drilling through the O’Club kitchen concrete wall and installing the propeller with two lag bolts and wheel locking nuts. I showed up in the O’Club kitchen with a drill and masonry bit ready to go. A kitchen supervisor called CE – who promptly showed up and said, “Let us take care of that for you Captain.” They did so promptly, and we had our propeller mounted on the wall. In response to Colonel Grimm’s call for memorabilia we accumulated numerous packages, models, pictures and news articles. We also received a single blade off a Flight 7 member’s P-51 Mustang. The propeller blade weighed about 135 pounds and I enlisted the help of a Lieutenant to carry it down to the Daedalian room and rest it in a corner – no wall mounting for that one. As the Daedalian room transitioned from Area A to new quarters in Space and Missile Systems Center, most decorations appear to have made the move. The Spad propeller occupies a prominent place in the Flight 7 Daedalian room today. Every time I visit the room, I am reminded of Colonel Gene Grimm, his passion for the Daedalians, the fine example he set giving back to the Air Force community, and the mentoring, guidance and leadership example he provided to a young Air Force Captain. Perhaps, when you see the Spad propeller in our Flight 7 Daedalian room, you too will remember Colonel Gene Grimm. Contributed by Walt Crandall, Colonel, USAF (Retired)
