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Post by pat perry on Dec 6, 2005 0:06:38 GMT 9
Hey all you 456ers and F-106 friends, The 456th FIS will conduct their 4th reunion at Castle Air Museum on June 1-4, 2006. We hope that the F-102 will be ready for display by then but if not, we will visit her in the restoration hangar and get the grand tour from Ralph! We are expecting both Ralph and the Old Sarge (Jim Gier) to be our special guests for dinner. Send me an email if you are interested in attending and have not already contacted me. popperry@hotmail.com Take care and Merry Christmas to all! Pat Perry PS: If you want to see the Old Sarge's latest clock, built for his brother, go to this link - It's the most beautiful clock I've ever seen! community.webshots.com/album/382041832hZhsMD
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chiefothedarts
F-106 Qualified
Currently: Offline
Posts: 70
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Joined: April 2004
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Post by chiefothedarts on Dec 14, 2005 12:00:13 GMT 9
:(Hi Pat , Thanks for the invitation to dinner. I gladly accept. It will be my pleasure to meet and visit with the older than me sarge. We were hoping to have the F102A ready for the reunion, but Pat, we might not make it . There is just too much work and not enough bodies. We are working on the F14D, TF102A, an A4 from Pensacola, the F15A from Wichita Falls, and whatever else is in the mill. Progress report on the F102A is as follows. The afterburner can is installed, the tail cone is installed, the radome is installed and it will have a pitot tube from an F106 at WSMR, the corrosion in the cockpit floor has been taken care of due to some fantastic sheet metal work by Ken Simmons, The ribs above the fuselage have been replaced by Dave Prince, the cockpit will have a complete instrument panel and radar scope, and optical sight, the doors will be operational and loaded with missiles and maybe a rocket or two, the ejection seat will be complete and installed. With a good effort by all, a lot of sanding and a good paint job, we might have it ready. I will give it my best effort. Ralph
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Post by pat perry on Dec 15, 2005 5:18:36 GMT 9
Hey Ralph, Sounds like you guys are covered up in work!
Don't worry if the F-102 isn't ready by June 2006. We'll just organize a lunch at the restoration hangar and let you give us the 50 cent tour. Sounds like a great deal has already been accomplished - can't wait to see her regardless of condition. Send me some pics when you get time and I'll put them in your album on WebShots.com.
I can't wait to see the Old Sarge too. He's making up some nice projects for the reunion.
How's the fund raising going for the F-15A. I understand that about $20 grand is needed of which, $9 grand would go for a double drop lo-boy for the Jamesons to do the hauling. I know the museum had some fund raisers planned but have not heard how they came out. I'm also wondering if they have named a new permanent executive director Later, Pat Perry
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Post by pat perry on Jun 6, 2006 10:38:41 GMT 9
(This is a reprint to get this on the 456th 2006 Reunion folder)
Many Kudos from the 456th FIS Alumni to Ralph Robledo and the CAM Restoration Team for the outstanding work they did on the F-102. This bird came from Chino, CA and was in very deteriorated condition from all the years of sitting in the sun and elements.
The CAM Team had to do a great deal of patching and corrosion control to get her in shape to paint. They even replaced the entire floor in the cockpit and the instruments now look like she's still on flying status. The missile bay doors can be lowered with air and the racks lowered. The nav beacons were converted to 12v. and are operational. The missiles on the racks were made from PVC pipe and you have to tap on them to see if they are the real item!
Ralph can now add spray painting to his MA-1 AFSC. He did a remarkable job!
Thanks to Jim Gier for making the clock awards that were presented to Ralph, Al Mueller for coordinating the event, Ted Feasel (former Fresno Det 1 CO) and wife Frankie and would you believe... The winner of the last Flag and Eagle clock (4 of 4) that Jim built was won by Leon "Woodie" Spears, the Tuskegee Airmen pilot who was our key note speaker at the banquet. This was ironic since Jim just finished the special raffle clock for the Tuskegee Airmen Red Tail P-51 restoration project in Michigan! We were also fortunate to have John Collins speak - one of the few remaining Buffalo Soldiers from WWII.
The 456th FIS would also like to thank CAM Executive Director, Joe Pruzzo, and the entire CAM volunteer team who did all the work to set up the dedication day ceremony. The Merced VFW chapter for the 21 gun salute. And last but not least, the 144th FW of the CA Air Guard at Fresno for the F-16 fly over.
This was our 4th reunion in 5 years and every one seems to get better! The raffle of Jim's clock awards raised over $400 for CAM. THANKS OLD SARGE!
The next project that the 456th is helping CAM with is the acquisition of an F-15 that is currently sitting at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls,TX. CAM needs about $15K more to get the bird moved home. So if you got a few bucks you'd like to donate send a check to Attn: Joe Pruzzo F-15 Project Castle Air Museum 5050 Santa Fe Drive Atwater, CA 95301-5154
I'll post the url for the reunion photos when I get them all uploaded. Thanks, Pat Perry 456th FIS
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Post by pat perry on Jun 9, 2006 3:46:19 GMT 9
(This is a reprint to get this on the 456th Reunion folder) I have added 7 albums with 300 pics of the 456th FIS Reunion, CAM F-102 Dedication, McClellan Air Museum and Pacific Coast Air Museum to the webshots site at community.webshots.com/user/popperryEnjoy! Pat Perry 456th FIS PS: Thanks once again to The Old Sarge for his excellent raffle award clocks that raised over $400 for CAM! And thanks again to Ralph Robledo and the CAM Restoration team for a beautiful F-102 Delta Dagger! PPS: Also, thanks to a tip, the Special Ops Forces, two F-16s, two 500 pounders - Zarqawi is no more!
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