CAM looking for F-101B squadron sponsor (Read 820 times)

I received this email from our Dart Mach Buster, Ralph Robledo at CAM, aka Chief o' the Darts & Daggers.  He catches us up on his 8 months of pain following hip replacement surgery and asks if we can find a F-101 Squadron that might sponsor some fund raising to buy paint to refurbish the F-101B at Castle Air Museum.  Give a reply if you have any ideas.


On 6-2-2013 Ralph Robledo wrote:
I just about gave up but the MRI has revealed that I
have a pinched nerve in my back that control the muscles on my left thigh and
the back of the thigh.  These muscles control my ability to stand  and walk on
the leg and hip  joint that was replaced.  So, it looks like we found a fix. It
is called pain management which can be done in place of surgery. I understand
that they burn the end of the nerve. I have told myself, no more surgeries. But
you know how that goes.  I have and old mailman's back and had surgery on L 4
and L5 . with herniated discs, and fragmentation in the spinal column back in
the 90's. I have a referral to a new Doc, so I will keep you posted.

Yes, Dean [Ralph's son] has done a great job with [crew chief duties on] the Dart. We had the
10th anniversary of having the Dart on display at Castle. We had a great turnout
on Memorial Day open cockpit day.

I have started doing some work in the Hanger as I
need some work and therapy on my leg.  I hope to be riding a bicycle soon.    I
have some info and a question on the F-101B that we have at the museum.  We
brought it back to the hanger as it was fading away fast, sheet metal rotting
away, so it is back in for restoration.  It came from the Portland ANG and was
painted in the colors of the 84th FIS at Hamilton AFB , CA since the 84th was at
Castle at the time that we got it.  AFTER MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF FAIR WEAR AND
TEAR,  THE AIRCRAFT NEEDS TO BE RESTORED.   That is my understanding of how it
got painted as an 84th aircraft..  Since we do not have any 84FIS alumni support, I
would like to put it up for bid for an F101B squadron to sponsor and cover the
cost  of the restoration, mostly paint.  I checked the Voodoo website and there
is not much of a forum there.  There are probably more medicine men taking part
in the F106 fORUM.  I just thought that I would toss these ideas and see if
you had any ideas on how to contact the one o wonder guys.    I was a medicine
man for two years at the 60th FIS, Otis AFB, Ma.  I worked on the MG 13 Radar
system from 63 to 65 and then went on to F106's with the 329th FIS at George
AFB, CA.

Let Ralph know if you know of any former F-101 squadrons whose active alumni would like to see their squadron colors on this aircraft.

Thanks,
Pat P.