Rod Forbis has Passed Away

US-2B BUNO 136404 UPDATE

  Date Posted 13 December, 2004

  The following is an email I recently received. If anyone has any information on the history on this aircraft, please contact Bob Fryer at Planenutti@aol.com.

 Dan,
  It is time that you and the rest of your squadron mates have an update on the CAF's US-2B BUNO 136404. it has been a long 14 months for the airplane and our squadron but both are doing well.

  The Tracker was sent to have its avionics updated and a second radio installed at our local field. Upon completionone of our crews was taking it back to another airport where we have rented hangar space and the owner of the FBO is an old C-1A crew chief. Well to keep this short, on takeoff there was a chip light on the number two engine, so they went to feather and nothing happened. With the strength of 3 great airman and the grace of a higher helping hand they got the Tracker safely back on the ground. Only damage that resulted was a blown starboard main tire and one radio antenna. The cause of the trouble was a blown oil line from the tank to the feathering pump. Needless to say, the number 2 was making big chunks of metal. It took a lot of time, effort and money but the airplane was back flying for the end of the show season. It made trips to Elkhart, IN, Southern Pines, NC, Chesapeake and Suffolk and Chesterfield, VA and one long haul out to Midland, TX. The airplane is currenting up and awaiting its turn in the hangar for its annual maintenance, our Lodestar is currenting getting annualed.
  On another note, we have been able to get VC-2 patches remanufactured to be worn on our flight suits and for sale in our air show PX. If any VC-2 members would like to buy one, they can connect me and I will make the arrangements.
  Attached you will find a few new pictures of the Tracker at our field in Chesapeake, VA when we were holding a Wings and Wheels show in October.
  We are still looking for more history of '404' during its time with the Blue Falcons. I did get some pictures that you also have posted on your site but have lost the flyer who provided them.
Keep'em Flying,
Bob

F-8 Model

Date Posted 06 September, 2004

Don Bells son, Mike has commissioned a VC-2 F8 model to be made. It has all the VC-2 insignias and paint schemes incorporated. The detail of this model is very good as you can see by the photos. If you would like to contact the builder to have one made for yourself, email Gptrckmrtn7009@aol.com.

To see pictures of the model go to the F8 model page

Trader Jon's Closes

Date Posted 21 November 13, 2003

Buno #136404 Flying

Date Posted 21 October 28, 2003

Tracker is flying and has done 3 air shows since August and has two more before Christmas including Camden, SC in two weeks and then a fly over of the First Flight monument in December as part of the activities. See Bulletin below.

 Web Site Moved

Date Posted 21 September, 2003

The web address of this web site has changed. You might want to remark it in your favorites selections. Unfortunately the new web site provider does not have all  bells and whistles as my last provider, so any data submission must be done manually. Until further notice, anyone sending in roster data, please do so by forwarding the info to me via email. The group discussion page is no longer available. The number of pictures will also have to be limited due to the size restraint on the web site.

Sorry for the inconvenience........

Also note my new email address is  --  dlee0005@earthlink.net

 Aircraft # 146985 located

Date Posted 17August, 2003

I stopped at the Titusville Warbird Museum in May and found the Crusader in great shape. It is being stored inside the Warbird Museum hangar. If you are in the Cape Kennedy area of Florida, I highly recommend a visit to this museum. It is located at the Titusville Airport. They have quite a few war birds from our era on display ( T2, F9, F-4, A7, S2F ).

Another VC-2 Aircraft being Restored

Date Posted 9 May, 2003

I recently received an email from Bob Fryer asking for some help on the history of a VC-2 --- S2 B  aircraft (BU #  136404) that the Old Dominion Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force has in their possession. The airplane is currently undergoing heavy maintenance at Franklin, VA (FKN) but once up and flying it will reside at Hampton Roads Executive Airport (PVG) in Chesapeake, VA.  If any one out there flew this bird, you might want to get in touch with Bob. Drop him an email at Planenutti@aol.com. They are going to keep the VC-2 paint scheme and are also in the process of reproducing our squadron patch, so that the crew can wear them on their flight suits.

Aircraft #146985 Restored

Date Posted 20 December, 2002

Chip Harris has given me a heads up on BU #146985. It has been completely restored and is shown here recently being rolling out at Titusville. This aircraft as shown is an F-8F model which has been converted from the  F-8C flown at VC-2. It was in service at VC-2 from 1965 to 1966. It's great to see one of our Crusaders restored.

Sean Paul Milligan has sent the following request

Date Posted 20 March, 2002

        I am a former Marine and published Naval Aviation Historian now completing a book that details the history of US Navy and Marine Corps Utility Squadrons called “Serve The Fleet! - Threat - Adversary - Target - Utility Aviation of the US Navy and Marine Corps since 1925”  that, hopefully, will be published later this year. This work is a culmination of more than fifteen years of independent, self funded,  research that I began in 1984 but in truth began much earlier when, as a fourteen year old Civil Air Patrol Cadet student pilot, I had the great honor to go up in a VU-2 JD-1 Jig Dog at Quonset. 

The book will cover All Utility Squadrons from the first NAVY one, Utility Squadron ONE, VJ-1, at North Island in 1925, and MARINES VJ-6M in 1927 at QUANTICO to the last offsprings, today’s Fleet Composite Squadron VC-8, The Red Tails at NS ‘Rosey Roads’ and VU-6 at Oceana and MARINE VMGRs.

Navy Utility Squadrons covered will include VJ-1 through VJ-20, VU-1 through VU-10, XVJ-25, ZJ-1, VX-2, GMSS-1, GMGRU-2, Fleet Composite Squadrons VC-1 through VC-12, VFC-12 and VFC-13, all Utility Squadron Detachments, NAS, Carrier and Tender based Utility Units, seagoing VU KD Drone Units  both Utility Wings, Atlantic and Pacific plus ALL MARINE VMJ Utility Squadrons as well as MARINE JM Tow Units

The quantity and quality of the material on each Squadron will be as extensive as historical resources allow.  This means you!  Each Squadron will be given as much space in the book as there are stories to tell and photos to justify.  I want to hear from all hands from all Squadrons so that each Squadron can have at least SOME representation.  Especially needed are memories and photos from the short lived WW II “double digit” Squadrons that were raised up in a hurry during “the big one” and were then quickly chopped by President Truman right after V-J Day.  All info and photos on these and all other Squadrons and Units will be greatly appreciated, fully credited, and returned, if so required.

The title, “Serve The Fleet!”, is no accident.  For more than three quarters of a century, the indispensable labors and sacrifices, the Dedication to Duty of every man in the Utility Squadrons has been neglected.  The professionalism and savvy of every aircrew and ground personnel, officer, petty officer and sailor, in the Utility Squadron Family of the United States Navy has been sadly and wrongly ignored and neglected by most every segment of the aviation and naval history community - until now!  Service in the Navy’s and Marine Corps Utility Squadrons, tough and good, was your Service. This is your book!  It is now time, long over due, to have your story told.  Please help me to do you all  Proud. THANKS!!