a publication for all marines who have served with vmfa ... · paper dated aug 23, 1968, pg. 5....
TRANSCRIPT
THE T-BOLTER
The following is from the MCAS Beaufort base
paper dated Aug 23, 1968, Pg. 5. Sent in by Gary
Herrmann.
Marine Aviation Safety was scored at Marine Corps
Air Station when a Marine Aircraft Group 32
surpassed 20,000 hrs of accident-free flying.
The safety mark, over four years in the making, was
chalked up by Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251
(VMFA-251) which flies the F-4 "Phantoms".
According to Captain C.A. Brumbaugh, safety
officer for VMFA-251, who confirmed the record
with Major L.A. Whiple, F-4 and RF-4 Safety officer,
Naval Safety Norfolk, Va., VMFA,251 is the only
Marine Phantom Squadron with more accident free
hours.
The present record came at mid-morning last
Monday when Colonel R.J. Schriver, commanding
officer of MAG-32 and Captain F. W. Space, radar
intercept officer, flew the 20,000 hours during local
radar training.
In a formal observance of the feat, a squadron
formation in front of the 251 hangar was formed,
with a cake cutting ceremony, and an address from
Colonel Schriver. Afterward, models of the F-4 were
presented to the Colonel, Captain Space, and the
youngest Marine of the squadron.
Above: U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. William Gillespie
gives the all systems are good signal for an F/A-
18 Hornet aircraft on the flight deck aboard the
aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) under
way in the Arabian Sea June 2, 2011. Gillespie is
a mechanic assigned to Marine Fighter Attack
Squadron (VMFA) 251. (U.S. Marine Corps photo
by Lance Cpl. Courtney)
A publication for all Marines who have servedwith VMFA-251 from World War II to the present.
Volume 1, Number 2
This semi-regular newsletter, if it is to
have a long life, will depend on you to
contribute. Articles and stories can be
any length, whatever you are
comfortable with. So put those pen and
pencils to paper or start striking that
keyboard, and send them my way!
I prefer articles and stories to be in either
.doc or docx format, but any will do.
Pictures should be jpeg format and at
high resolution. When sending them, be
sure to include your name for proper
attribution.
Items can be sent to
[email protected] or snail mailed to
Steve Dixon, 404 Calgary Drive,
Peachtree City, Georgia, 30269.
20,000 HoursWant to contribute?
Tel: 404-944-1268 | E-mail: [email protected] | Web: www.vmfa251.org
ACE MIKE YUNCK
Mike Yunck was born in Detroit,Michigan. He was a First Lieutenantwhen he was awarded the Silver Star.
The President of the United States of
America takes pleasure in presenting the
Silver Star to Michael Ryan Yunck
(MCSN: 0-7484), United States Marine
Corps Reserve, for conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity in action while
detached to a detachment of Marine
Observation Squadron TWO HUNDRED
FIFTY-ONE (VMO-251), in action
against enemy Japanese forces in the
Solomon Islands Area from 26 October
to 10 December 1942. In this prolonged
series of intense hostile activities, First
Lieutenant Yunck, displaying superb
airmanship participated in numerous
hazardous missions, serving as leader of
an eight-plane flight of fighters during the
latter part of the period. On one occasion
when his plane was so badly damaged
by anti-aircraft fire that he was forced to
land in the sea, First Lieutenant Yunck,
through his own resourcefulness and
sheer determination, made his way back,
after three weeks, to his base on
Guadalcanal to resume flight duties.
Later, while leading a four-plane fighter
group, he personally accounted for three
of six enemy aircraft shot down in a
vigorous engagement, and in this action
received such extensive damage to his
own plane that all the navigational
instruments ceased to function. Despite
this severe handicap and under
extremely adverse conditions imposed
by darkness and heavy rain, First
Lieutenant Yunck, with excellent
judgment and superior professional
ability, successfully returned to his base.
His dauntless courage and valiant
devotion to duty in the face of great odds
were in keeping with the highest
traditions of the Untied States Naval
Service. Action Date: October 26 -
December 10, 1942
Marine Corps ace Mike Yunck
VMO-251 Wildcat quenches its thirst. Espiritu Santo, 1942. USMC photo.
Credited with shooting down five Japanese planes duringWorld War II.
What happened to the Crusader?
Dated 13 Feb, 1962 on board USS Shangri-La CVA-
38 Med Cruise. Pilot is Lt/Col E. E. Poor in A/C 201 Bu
No 145401. Starboard axle broke on touchdown and
you can see wheel assy flying off toward # 3 elevator
on the left. I was standing next to the Navy photog
when he took the photo from the 07 level. Photo: Doug
Crawford.
Got an “Oh, Crap” moment?
Send the photo with an
explanation to
it may appear in a future
issue!
THE PLANES
The Planes of 251
During its existence as an USMC aviationsquadron, VMFA-251 has flown severaltypes of military aircraft. Here’s a photosynopsis of those planes.
Picture Notes (above):
Inset: A VMFA-251 FA-18 takes off from aUS Navy aircraft carrier. DoD photo.
Top: A pair of 251 F-4J Phantom II’s over theskies of Japan during the 1977-78 WestPactour.
Grumman F4F Wildcat:
Vought F4U Corsair:
The Douglas Skyraider:
The North American Fury:
The Vought Crusader:
VMA-251 patch -- 1950s
The combat effectiveness of VMFA-251 and their enviable successachieved throughout 2012 is keeping with the highest traditions ofMarine Corps aviation.
ROBERT M. HANSEN AWARDMarine Fighter Attack Squadron of the
Year – VMFA-251 “Thunderbolts”
2012
Photo: Flight deck crew observe flight deck
safety as an F/A-18C Hornet from Fighter Attack
Squadron Two Five One (VMFA-251), assigned
to Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1), launches with
full afterburner from the flight deck of USS
GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73). George
Washington and Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1)
are in the Persian Gulf to support UN efforts to
compel Iraqi compliance with UN resolutions.
After returning from a previous combat
deployment only eight months prior and
conducting two pre-deployment detachments in
the interim, the “Thunderbolts” deployed on 10
March aboard USS Enterprise, which was the
25th and final deployment for the ship. As part of
Carrier Air Wing One, the squadron conducted
combat operations in support of Operation
ENDURING FREEDOM. squadron was also
reviewed for cleanliness of maintenance areas,
accuracy of maintenance logs, maintenance
practices and other criteria set by CVW-1.
The squadron met the ground commanders’
intent on every single occasion, had 100% valid
ordnance deliveries, and achieved 99% sortie
completion rate - the highest in the air wing -
during 432 sorties and 2,605 flight hours,
maintaining the highest level of flight leadership
and exceeding the requirements for training
readiness. Deployed for nine months, their
professionalism was displayed by surpassing
50,000 mishap-free flight hours, maintaining
69.8% Fleet Marine Corps, 77.8% Marine
Corps rates during combat operations, and
being awarded the “Golden Wrench” for best
maintenance practices in the air wing.
The combat effectiveness of VMFA-251 and
their enviable success achieved throughout
2012 is keeping with the highest traditions of
Marine Corps aviation.
Presented by the Marine Corps Aviation Association