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February’s
monthly meeting was followed with a workday helping the McChord AFB
Museum with some cleaning of the C-124 and the C-141B aircraft.
Mold fungus builds up in the interior area of the C-124 and requires
scrubbing with a bleach solution to keep it under control. The
regular volunteers who support the museum needed help and the
Northwest Chapter responded with three work days scheduled
throughout the year.
This first
workday was a huge success with over 20 loadmasters (11 Active Duty
7AS and 10 AS, 1 Reserve 313AS) and was finished in only 2 ½ hours.
Loadmasters vacuumed the C-141B and dusted the displays. The C-124
was much more involved as all the walls and ceiling needed scrubbing
along with moping floors. Great fellowship took place when Bill
Cannon and Harold Edvalds had to the opportunity to instruct
loadmasters on how to lower and then raise the auxiliary floor.
Harold stated “Old Shaky checkout is almost complete as soon and
they figure out the doors and ramp.” Many stories flowed both ways
during the day.
The second
workday was completed on Friday the 20th of April. The
turn out for this event was just as successful as the first one with
about 20 loadmasters making the event. Great support from the
active duty and reserves even with a mandatory “Wing wide Fun Run”
conflicting at the same time. Marion Cannon stopped by to do a
“no-notice inspection” as Bill was out of town and I think we got a
Q-1. The highlight was when Levi Ware and Harold Edvalds downloaded
a B-4 stand through the elevator well of the aircraft. Levi handled
the controls like an old pro as he moved the stand within a half
inch of the elevator shaft. A young loadmaster stated “This looks
like a Q-3 waiting to happen”.
The airplanes are
ready for display during Rodeo 2007 and the 10 year PLA
anniversary picnic on 27 July 2007. The next workday is
scheduled for 13 October 2007 following our monthly meeting. During
this event we hope to schedule a C-17 static to load a B-4 stand,
and then load the stand in the C-124 again to see how time and
technology have changed the loadmaster business. Put this on your
calendar to come out and give us a hand to preserve history. By the
October meeting the C-130 should also be on display at the
museum.
Reminder: The
Northwest Chapter meets the second Saturday of the month at the Club
on McChord AFB at 9 am for breakfast and the meeting starts at 10
am. Story and photos by Ron Pierce, PLA, Northwest Chapter, Vice
President
Northwest
Chapter Report
The Northwest
Chapter is humming along with it’s preparations for the up coming
AIRLIFT RODEO 2007; We have had very energetic work parties twice at
the McChord Air Museum,s C124 and C141 aircraft, getting them
spiffed up for the event. Plans for the PLA booth at the RODEO
Hanger have been finalized, where our teams will explain what the
PLA is all about, and hopefully recruit some new members.
Additionally, the chapter is in the final stage of planning the
10th Anniversary PLA Picnic/Dinner to be held at Holiday
Park on 27 July 2007 at 1800 hrs –2200hrs. All Loadmasters are
welcome to this event, where we certainly intend to show them great
comradeship, as well as supply good food and drinks for their
enjoyment.
We made our
annual Memorial Day trek to two local cemeteries in the Tacoma area,
to recognize our fallen comrades of the Loadmaster Profession. The
roster of deceased Loadmasters was read, and they were eulogized and
prayed for. Bill and Marion Cannon went to Tahoma National Cemetery
and placed a remembrance flag at the graves of those who are buried
there. A flag and flowers were placed at the Loadmaster Plaza in
memorial park. I think it is also an appropriate time for us all to
recognize our active duty Loadmasters who continually put themselves
in harms way while performing their duties in dangerous places
throughout the world fighting the war on terrorism; May they stay
safe and accomplish their duties well with the professionalism
inherent of all Loadmasters, past and present. That is it for now,
be safe through the summer travel period, and come see us up here in
the great Northwest where the sun shines (in July- August).
Vic Fredlund
NW Chapter President
victorfredlund@msn.com |