Barrett

We're down to the wire on profiles for the Osprey squadron history. I'd like to include "the last Buick", seen here: http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m180/F1...k1609201994.jpg Does anybody know the BuNo and name on the RIO canopy? I've not been able to locate Tom Joyce but would welcome any leads. Barrett

Obviously I came late to this thread but I can add a bit of info. The 'Tiger' on the tail stripe was the assigned pilot's callsign (though I am unfamiliar with Buzz McCoy). 'Roadrunner' was the first callsign of the colorful Joe Satrapa, better known as 'Hoser' later on. In any case, a gorgeous piece of work.

Does anyone have a good-quality shot of Garry Weigand and Bill Freckleton in 1971-72? I need a fairly hi-res image (300 dpi & 500 kb or better) for the Osprey book, and it's astonishing how hard it is to find a decent picture. Farkle only has wartime pix of himself and various reunion pix with Garry. Many thanx. btillman63@hotmail.com

Sundowner Fans: Be advised that I just confirmed the death of Vern Graham, who died in California in January 2006. He was the squadron's first ace, being credited with 5 Zeros near the Russel Islands on 12 June 43. If there was previous news of his passing, I was unaware of it. Break-break I'm looking for complete markings info on any 111 Tomcat from the last cruise. I don't necessarily need a photo for publication (though it'd be appropriate) but I want to pass info to the Osprey artist who's doing the colo(u)r profiles. Henk provided the following photo link which shows NL 201 taxiing

Guys: 1963 Sundowners CO Al Wellons died in October: https://www.usna.com/SSLPage.aspx?RSS=alumn...r=&pid=6161 I'm uncertain as to the length of his CO tenure; apparently it was a brief period in 1963, succeeded by Charles E Ray. Also, it appears that Doyle Lynn was exec for a long time: during Ray and Haye's tours. Evidently he was not intended to command 111, as he had orders out of the squadron when Haye was killed. Lynn volunteered to remain and of course was killed three weeks later. Barrett

The Osprey book is limited to 35,000 words of text, and so far WW II has about 15k so you'll understand that the ensuing 50 years involve cramming 12 pounds into an 8-pound bag! The Tomcat era is necessarily "once over lightly" but I intend to include one or two F-5 pix plus a colo(u)r profile for variety. Fuji and Henk are significant allies in that campaign!

Thanks for your kind offer! As yet there's been no discussion of the cover artiste but Tom Tullis is starting on the a/c profiles. I'm getting more replies from the F-8 to '14 era, and while post-Vietnam text is necessarily limited by word count, there definitely will be photos and profiles of 'saders, Phantoms and Toms.

Hi Guys: A quick update on progress of Osprey's VF-11/111 entry in the Elite Units series. The text is about 3/4 done and I'm now working with Tom Tullis on 28 aircraft profiles. There's time to consider "new" planes for colo(u)r profiles if you have any favorites with full markings info. In the jet age, it helps to know what name(s) go on the canopy rail. I'll have at least two Tomcats. Break-break Recently I was "scolded" by a 1970 vintage Red Ripper who ordered a copy of my VF-11 in WW II monograph from 1993. he was shocked--SHOCKED!--to see I'd made such a huge mistake as to confus

Sundowners Fans: For you history guys, something to consider. The Navy has always (AFAIK) listed 10 Oct 42 as the squadron establishment date, but that's clearly wrong. Rich Leonard (son of Bill, of honored memory) and I have narrowed it to early August for the following reasons: The 30 July '42 aircraft allowance and location report says CAG-11 to be established at San Diego. The 27 August report shows all four squadrons fully equipped with a total 76 aircraft. (Incidentally, if you wonder what became of Scouting 11, it became VB-21 which remained with the air group.) The foregoing fit

Thanx guys; this is almost like a hometown visit! A brief update on things: Far as I know Gene Fairfax, the two-time VF-11 CO, is still living in Albuquerque. He was Annapolis class of '39 and must be about 91-92. Vern Graham is the only Sundowner ace still with us; I've not seen him in years. Tony Nargi the F-8 MiG killer was last reported in Italy while the very colorful Hoser Satrapa is flying air tankers in California. F-4 guys Gary Weigand and Bill Freckelton are out & about. I see Farkle at odd intervals. Also Bunga Clement, who's usually at Tailhook. I'm hoping to obtain mo

What a treat to be here! I've enjoyed long affiliation with Henk and more recently with Fuji, both of whom are supportive of my upcoming Sundowners history for Osprey's Elite Units series. (And as we all know, '111 definitely was elite!) So far I have excellent WW II coverage, so-so Korea, and pretty good Vietnam. The biggest gap thus far is the 1975-95 era but I'll be investigating that as time permits. Check six, Barrett Tillman