2012 The Year in Review

This was my year of learning. I have been doing photography professionally for several years. I was doing wildlife and nature photography, and was very fortunate over time to have been published on a world-wide basis on several occasions. But even thou, I was an early adopter of digital photography, it is this very technology that is killing professional photography, because non-professionals want to see their photo (name) credit when they get their images published, and they don't care about getting paid for their work. So now publishers are not paying a whole lot for images. Hell, alot of the print media is going strictly digital, look at "Newsweek: magazine. Oh well the times are a changing.

With that said, I started working in the surf industry and it was great at first, and there was alot of opportunities to make some money, but again non-pros showed up, and started to kill that industry. I made the decision a few years ago to make a go at Motorsports and Aviation photography, since i love the speed and and I'm a former U.S. Marine. Having to find a way to make it work, I was told by several people with alot more knowledge than myself, suggested that I start writing a story along with my photography, thus my career as a freelance photojournalist has thus begun in 2012.

2012 was a huge learning curve. I started off by upsetting some folks, who apparently was reading my earlier blog. I wrote about an event that was I wasn't happy with, and learned what a mistake I had made. I paid a large price for upsetting these folks and to those people, if your reading this, I apologize for the hurt feelings.

Lots of good things did happen in 2012 also, I was picked up by the Military Press Newspaper (www.militarypress.com) as a Photojournalist and also by a Online Aviation Magazine called PhotoRecon (www.Photorecon.net). Thank you to both of these organizations for having faith in me.

In May, I was able to purchase a Nikon D3. This a one of the best pro digital cameras ever made, and adding it to my camera bag, has improved my photography greatly. I also was able to do my first Air2Air photo session. (see image above- story also on this site). This is something that all aviation photographers want, but few are able to get. Thank you to the Collings Foundation.

I covered many of the Southwest USA air shows in 2012,and the highlites were the Planes of Fame Air Show, The Miramar Airshow, and Aviation Nation. Aviation Nation was just amazing in the planes that were featured and the show that was put on.

Due to going to so many of the air shows, you begin to see many of the same photographers, and I have been fortunate enough to make friends with many of the local & military folks. At the bigger air shows, I made friends with several international photographers and love the ability to network with them.

Probably the most important events for me, was the covering of several news events, and actually working as a photojournalist. Those stories included the dedication of the Medal Of Honor F-18B, that the Marines will be using in the training of their fighter pilots, and then I was invited to cover the arrival of F-35B's being to the Marine Corps, and the Ceremony that took place in Yuma, AZ.

I am looking forward to 2013 already as I will be attending the U.S. Air Forces "Red Flag" events throughout the year, and will be covering alot more stories in the coming year. Thank you to you, the reader of this Blog and Viewers of my website (www.military-fotos.com), and Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Military-Fotos/191868700884830)

Have great 2013 and stay safe folks..........



Giving back and more…Meet MSGT Shayne Meder USAF (Ret)

Everyone in San Diego County, and probably most people in Southern California, are use to seeing U.S. Navy helicopters flying back and forth across the skies. But every now and then, you spot one that looks just a little different. It’s not just that typical Navy gray in color, but the occasional one has a very visible and colorful painted tail.
Throughout history, military planes had what was called nose art, where pilots had their squadron logos, or pictures of pretty girls painted onto the front of their planes, along with a nick name. The most remembered and famous was the Flying Tigers, a group of American volunteer pilots who flew for China against the Japanese in the early stages of what was to become the Second World War
For several years, the tradition seemed to have been waning away, and there has been plenty of discussion on the aviation Internet forums as to whether the new generation of fighters will ever have tail art as in the past.
I, among others have always assumed that the tail art that we do see, is done by the military themselves, and then I found out about Master Sergeant Shayne Meder USAF Ret. (a.k.a. Flygirl Painter). Meder served for 20 years in the United States Air Force, and once out of the USAF, she went to work at the March Air Field Museum, near Riverside, CA., where she did maintenance and restoration, and then later she was hired to work at the Wings and Rotors Air Museum at the French Valley Airport in Murrieta, CA., doing aircraft maintenance and marketing for the Museum.
She has helped restore and painted all types of planes from B-17’s and B-52’s to F-4’s. As “Flygirl Painter” (as she has become to be known), she volunteers her time and skills, along with her husband, Scott Donnell, who does a lot of the prep and layout work, to paint the different helicopters of the local U.S. Navy and Marine Corps squadrons that have requested her. That’s right; she volunteers to do the work. The various squadrons will supply the polyurethane paints, and if Meder has to travel, being retired military, she stays on base. Meder says she does this “for love of the military, and giving back what the military gave her”. When asked if she would do civilian planes?, she quickly said “No way, they are boring! And laughed”, She is all military. Meder also states that if it weren’t for her employer, Pat Rodgers, “Pat, supports the work I do, and allows me the non-paid time off to complete these projects, as he understand my passion for the military” Mr. Rodgers is the Director of the Wings and Rotors Air Museum.
The helicopters that get painted are usually the Commanding Officer’s helicopter, or the CAG’s (Commander Air Group), but any of the squadron’s pilots can, and will fly the painted helicopter. These helicopters are also used in Air Show’s and other promotional events. Meder started painting Navy Helicopters in 1999, and 2012 has been her busiest year. As we’re chatting about her current project, another squadron, HSM-75 The Wolfpack, had already approached her, and asked for her to paint yet another helicopter for them, as the one she had painted before, for the squadron had just been damaged in a hard landing. Meder states that it usually takes about a week to do each helicopter, so this is a time consuming passion as she is on her 12th project this year.
The project, that Meder is currently working on is for U.S. Navy Squadron HSM-77, the “Sabrehawks”, commanded by Commander Brent C. Guat. HSM-77 is an Anti-Ship/ Anti-Submarine squadron, currently based at Naval Air Station North Island, but will be transferring in 2013 to Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. The Squadron won the coveted Secretary of Defense’s Maintenance Award for 2012, and is the 1^st Naval Squadron in the history of the award to do so. This is a great honor and Meder will also make sure that the award’s logo will be on the helicopter as well.
For more info on MSgt. Meder, and her work, go to her web site www.flygirlpainter.com
I want to thank not only MSgt Meder for taking time out of her precious volunteer time for this interview, but also the United States Navy, CMDR Brent Guat, and Lt. JG Adam Arndt of HSM-77 for access to their squadron and helicopters, and to Lt. Kagle and CPO Raile of the US Naval Air Forces, West Coast Public Affairs Office for coordinating my visit to NAS North Island.

Published in the Online Magazine PhotoRecon.net 2012

F-35B’s Delivered to MCAS Yuma

Tuesday, November 20^th, 2012 and it’s a beautiful day in Yuma, AZ. A large crowd of hundreds is gathering at MCAS Yuma, and the crowds included dignitaries such as General James Amos, the 37^th Commandant of the Marine Corps, former U.S. Navy pilot and Vietnam War P.O.W., Senator John McCain, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, and many others including the media, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 personnel and family members.
The reason for this gathering was to hold a ceremony to re-designate Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 121, formerly an F/A-18 Hornet squadron to the Corps’ first operational F-35 squadron, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121. This was s a historic day for Marine Corps Aviation, as the first two Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II’s, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter were delivered to the newly designated Marine squadron.
The F-35B, a short takeoff and vertical landing fighter, is slated to replace the Marine Corps’ F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier and EA-6B Prowler. It will provide multi-role, fifth-generation capabilities in the form of one common tactical fixed-wing aircraft, reducing maintenance costs while ensuring the Marine Corps maintains the tactical aircraft dominance required to deter potential adversaries and protect the nation’s interests.
“For the first time in aviation history, the most lethal fighter characteristics, supersonic speed, radar-evading stealth, extreme agility, short takeoff/vertical landing capability, and an impressive array of 21st Century weapons have been combined in a single platform” stated Amos.
The F-35B supports the Marine Corps’ tactical and operational needs for close air support in austere conditions and locations that may be inaccessible to traditional fighters. Thanks to its short takeoff and vertical landing capabilities, the F-35B can operate from expeditionary airfields in remote, non-permissive environments with shorter runways, contributing to the Marine Corps’ role as the nation’s expeditionary force-in-readiness.
I was able to spend a few minutes with Major Aric Liberman, who flew both Lightning II’s from Fort Worth, Texas, to MCAS Yuma. I had three specific questions for him.

Q: “How does she fly?”
A: “Smooth, she’s fly-by-wire and she handles very well. I haven’t had the chance to go vertical yet, and I believe all of the pilots will be really impressed with her handling and controls.”

Q: “Since Hornet pilots don’t do the whole vertical thing, and Harrier pilots don’t do a lot of supersonic flight and air combat training, who will have the hardest time transitioning into the F-35?”
A: “I believe that both Hornet and Harrier pilots will have sufficient training, and since Marine pilots are highly skilled aviators, there should be a short learning curve for all.”

Q: “Since the majority of their mission is ground support, will the Harrier pilots be pulled from their units, and sent to the VMFAT F/A-18 training units to get more air to air combat training,
A: “No, I don’t believe that will happen. Harrier pilots do get some air combat training right now, and when going through the training with the F-35, they will see plenty of air combat training”.

With the delivery of these two planes to MCAS Yuma, VMFA-121, will become the first operation F-35 squadron in the world, and will be receiving approximately two planes per month, until the squadron is complete with 16 planes, and the plans are for there to be 5 squadrons of F-35’s by 2016.
I’d like to thank the Base’s Public Affairs Officer, Captain Redinger, Gunnery Sergeant Dunk, and the rest of MCAS Yuma’s PAO staff for making my visit extremely pleasurable and given easy access to the plane, the flight line, and to the F-35B’s pilot Major Aric Liberman

Publsihed in the Military Press Newspaper and the Online Magazine PhotoRecon.net 2012

The Medal of Honor(s) Marine F/A 18

A few weeks ago, I was photographing the U.S. Marines VMFAT-101 “The Sharp-shooters” squadron at a civilian airport outside of San Diego, when I noticed an all white F/A-18 with no markings on the plane.

VMFAT-101 is a Fighter training squadron, based out of MCAS Miramar, and during their lunch break, I asked several of the pilots about the odd paint scheme of the plane in question. All they knew was that the plane was a very early model of the F/A-18, and it was transferred from NASA to the Marine Corps.

Today, at MCAS Miramar, this plane has a new paint job, and a new honor, as it has been memorialized for 4 different Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, 2 U.S. Marines and 2 U.S. Sailors. This plane not only has a new paint job, but these 4 men’s names are listed where the pilot and co-pilots names would be placed, and the citation of their heroic efforts is listed on the outside of the intakes of the aircraft.

The four men are: Sergeant Dakota Meyers USMC, Corporal Jason Dunham USMC, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Moonsor USN (SEAL), and Lt. Michael Murphy USN (SEAL).

The plane was introduced to the invited guest and media as it flew over in a missing man formation with 3 other F/A-18s from the Sharp-shooters. The major highlight of the dedication ceremony was the fact that the co-pilot of this plane was the 35th and current Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General James Amos. His pilot was Lt. Colonel R.B. Brodie, the Commanding Officer of Sharp-shooters.

General Amos has piloted F-4 Phantom II’s and F/A-18 Hornets during his Marine Corps career, and in typical Marine Corps fashion, he opened his speech with” Well you saw me flying up there, and I’m not sure how it looked from down here, but it looked shit hot from up there” and he received a large OOH RAH from his Marines and applause from the civilian audience.

After the General spoke of about each man who was being honored today, he then met with the family of Michael Monsoor who were in attendance, and personally showed them the plane and Monsoor’s citation.

The plane will remain with VMFAT-101 and be used in training and will keep its new paint job for the future of its remaining life.

Semper Fidelis Sergeant Dakota Meyers USMC, Corporal Jason Dunham USMC, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Moonsor USN (SEAL), and Lt. Michael Murphy USN (SEAL).

This story was published in the Military Press Newspaper and the Online Magazine PhotoRecon 2012

Miramar Airshow 2012

Every year for 3 days in October, an estimated crowd of over 700,000 make the journey to MCAS Miramar near San Diego, CA. It was no different this year, and the 2012 Miramar Air Show continued to bring smiles and a lot of noise to the San Diego community. This year marked the 57th year of the air show, the 100th year of Marine Corps Aviation, and 50 years in space exploration.
Miramar started its long military history in 1917, during World War I; the U.S. Army purchased the 2,130-acre Miramar Ranch for an infantry training center. It named the facility Camp Kearny in honor of Brigadier General S. W. Kearny, who was Commander of the Army of the West during the Mexican War and a former military governor of California. Army aircraft occasionally landed on the camp’s parade ground, but an official airfield was not established.
World War II began in Europe, and the U.S. military began a precautionary buildup. In December, 1940, the Navy began to improve and expand the airfield. On December 21, the First Marine Air Wing arrived and set up a tent city, remaining until August, 1942, when it moved to Guadalcanal. Meanwhile, the Navy began the construction of an air station at the camp and commissioned NAAS Camp Kearny on February 20, 1943, as an auxiliary of San Diego. The station was also known as Kearny Mesa. The primary Navy mission at Camp Kearny was training in Consolidated PB4Y Liberators, supervised by the Transition Liberator Unit. The asphalt runways began to deteriorate under the PB4Y’s weight, and two concrete runways were added in 1943. Camp Kearny now had one 3,000 x 500-ft. asphalt runway, used mainly for aircraft parking, and two 6,000 x 200-ft. concrete runways. In mid-1944, station personnel numbered 611 officers and 4076 enlisted men. After VJ-Day, the Navy used the station as a separation center, returning 25,000 men to civilian life.
On May 1, 1946, the Navy departed Camp Kearny, and the station became MCAS Miramar. A year later, the Marines closed the base and moved all units to El Toro.
On June 30, 1947, the Navy commissioned NAAS Miramar. In July 1949, the Navy began a project to improve the runways and establish a Master Jet Base. The station upgraded to an NAS on April 1, 1952. Following the Korean War, the Navy embarked on a cutback and offered the Miramar airfield to the City of San Diego for $1. The city turned down the offer.
The Navy decided to keep Miramar open and built the station into one of the Navy’s biggest bases. In 1961, Miramar was designated for fighter squadrons only and became known as “Fightertown USA.” During the Vietnam War, Miramar trained fighter jet crews in air combat maneuvering and fleet air defense through the creation of Top Gun, a graduated-level training school. Camp Elliot and other government properties were eventually added to Miramar, and the station grew to almost 24,000 acres.
The 1993 Base Realignment and Closure Commission caused major changes. The first Marine squadrons, support units, and their F/A-18 Hornets began making the move from MCAS El Toro in August 1994. The Navy F-14 Tomcat and E-2 Hawkeye squadrons moved to Oceana, Virginia, and Top Gun was transferred to Fallon, Nevada, in 1996. On October 1, 1997. Miramar once again became a Marine Corps Air Station. The Marine Air Museum also moved to Miramar. On July 2, 1999, the closing ceremony for MCAS El Toro and MCAF Tustin marked an end to a 52-year Marine presence in Orange County.
With the move complete, all of Miramar’s fixed-wing F/A-18 and KC-130 Hercules squadrons, as well as its CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters, are in place. Additionally, the support commands Marine Wing Support Group 37 and Marine Air Control Group 38 have been established. The station averages 250 aircraft aboard on any given day, with up to 200,000 flight operations per year. With near completion of approximately $400 million in construction, MCAS Miramar has become the home of the Marine Corps’ West Coast air power.
The show started early on Friday morning, when two German Air Force Tornados landed surprising many of the photographers, and there were huge billowy clouds in the sky, due to rain, the previous evening, giving a dramatic effect for the day. The actual show began with several civilian acts including Sean Tucker with his “Oracle Challenger”, John Colliver with “War Dog”, The LUCAS OIL AIR SHOW team including Pilot Michael Wiskus, the Red Bull Helo piloted by Charles “Chuck” P. Aaron, and the Red Bull’s Sky diving team, The Patriots Jet Team, flying this year with a 6 plane formation, and may more civilian acts.
We were honored by the Opening Ceremony on Saturday by having Major General (Ret), former Marine Astronaut, and now Administrator of NASA, Charles F. Bolden Jr. who gave a short speech, about the Marine Corps history into Space.
This air show is billed as the largest Military Air Show in the U.S.A., and it’s show on Friday was a little Friday lite for the first time in this author’s memory, when it came to the MARINE AIR-GROUND TASK FORCE (MAGTF) DEMO, with fewer planes, armored vehicles, and troops, but on Saturday, the complete show returned with maximum firepower, explosions, and noise.
Then we had the Demonstration pilots of the US Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet, providing wonderful photographic opportunities, as he broke the water vapor barrier around his plane, as he did his high speed passes by the grandstands/ The USMC’s AV-8B Harrier showed it’s hovering skills, and then there was the U.S. Air Forces’ F-22 Raptor. This plane will make you drop your jaw and just stare as it pulled off several acrobatic maneuvers, that most modern day fighters planes can not pull off.
Then it’s time for the Main Act, the United States Navy’s Blue Angels! While they have done the same performance for so many years, it never gets old. Such perfection, and such grace, this group of pilots and all of their predecessors has always put me into a state of awe, and brings out the patriotism in all of us. To see the children’s faces in the crowd while watching the Angels fly, I can only just imagine, that there will be a future Blue Angel in one of them.

Printed in the Online magazine PhotoRecon.net 2012

Wings over Gillespi Field Air Show 2012

This is San Diego County’s #2 Air show, and while the County’s #1 Miramar Air show is considered one of the best in the World, “Wings Over Gillespie” is a very well performed and organized show put on by the San Diego-based Air Group One of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), over a two day period. This year’s weather was perfect, bright sunshine and temps staying in the 80’s by mid-day. While there is allot more planes on the static line, than in the air, the show has a very friendly family atmosphere about it, with lots of vendors, and things for kids to do. Even a D-Day of Normandy reenactment battle between German and U.S./English Army infantry took place in the middle of show center, with a .50 caliber machine gun blazing away from the top of a US Army Jeep, reminding me of the old 1960’s show “Rat Patrol”.The actual air show began with some lady fliers doing several laps around the air field, and the Northrop Flying Wing from the Plane of Fame group in Chino, CA. that eventually led up to the well known pilot John Collver in his U.S. Marine version of a SNJ-5 Texan. John always puts on a very graceful show, and is a mainstay at almost every air show in Southern California in his plane known as “War dog” and then several aircraft from WWII flew, including a P-51 Mustang, F4U Corsair, F4F Hellcat, F8F Bearcat, DC-53 Skytrooper, TBM-3 Avenger, and several British planes such as the Fairey Firefly and a Spitfire, The plane of the show was a Vought F2G-1 Super Corsair, a racing version of the F4U Corsair. Bright Red with white stripes and a single white blade in the propellers. After the show ended, rides were offered for a fee to the general public onboard a CAF B-17 Flying Fortress and a B-25 Mitchell. Again, while it’s a smaller, more local of a show, it still delights the thousands of aviation fans and families that show up every year for this annual event.

Published in the Online Magazine PhotoRecon.net 2012

March Air Force Resrve Air Field Air Show 2012

This was a 2 day show in the middle of the Inland Empire of Southern California, known for its hot days and cold nights. Instead of going on Saturday fighting the crowds and the heat. I instead went hunting for whales off of the San Diego coastline, and planned on making it a day at the air show on the Sunday. I was so happy that I had made that decision, when I arrived early to the Main gate of March ARB, I was greeted by some Airmen, who gladly gave me directions on where the Media parking was and where the Media tent was setup. Traffic was light. Well I got lost, which seems highly unlikely, since they sent me to a numbered gate which was locked with no one to open it. I finally found an airman, who told me to go to different gate and show my Media credentials, and I would be let in to park. So I go to the said gate, show my credentials, and drive on in. When I got to the flight line, I realized “Hey maybe I should not be here”, as two Air Police (AP) officers with guns and a dog were staring at me. I slowly backed up and just went and found some parking where there was some other vehicles parked, went through the security tent, and off to the Media tent. There I was greeted by several Public Affairs types and soon was sitting on the fence next to the flight line. As the public started to arrive, I noticed that the Media area was staying empty. As the show started, there still wasn’t any Media or fake Media types in the fenced off area, except for a Volunteer from the San Diego Air & Space Museum, and some guy with Media passes for him and his family, but he never left his chair or photographed anything. Turns out that most of the photographers had come out for the Saturday show, and from what the AP’s told me, it was elbow to elbow with some angry words being passed back and forth. By the time, the Thunderbirds flew, there was only about 3 photographers and the families of the Public Affairs office in the Media tent The day started off warm, and it was sunny and bright, but luckily the sun was to our backs and the planes glowed in the sunlight. There were performances by several civilian groups, with aerobatics and fly-bys of World War II, Korean War, and modern day planes, while everyone was waiting for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. There was one group of performers who I thought stole the show and that were the civilian-based Patriots group. Sponsored by Fry’s Electronics, this was the first show where they were flying in a six plane configuration and they were just amazing. Flying in Boeing/Aero-Vodochody L-39C’s, these military turned civilian pilots put on a show that rivals many Military flights teams. And there was more to come with Thunderbirds, now that they had a few shows under their belts, they looked much more precise in this show than when I had seen them in Yuma, AZ for their first show of the 2012 Air Show season, back in March. My only complaint of the Thunderbirds is the ground crew performance where they are checking the planes and dancing around under the planes. This is a designed performance, but it took approx. 20 minutes from start to finish, and just doesn’t look as professional as the Navy’s Blue Angels ground crew in my opinion, and people want to see the planes in the air, not ground crew swinging around on the under carriage of the planes, looking like kids on the monkey bars on a playground. The Thunderbirds put on a nice show, and the crowd approved with screams and shouts of delight. While it was a very hot day, the U.S. Air Force provided water to the masses and I saw only one person taken away by paramedics for heat stroke. Overall, it was a great show, and one I look forward to seeing it again the next time.

Published in the Online Magazine PhotoRecon.net 2012

Planes of Fame Airshow 2012

This was my first time at the Planes of Fames Air show, located in Chino, CA. I first went on Friday for the semi-practice day, and then to the Saturday show. First off, the staff at the Planes of Fame was very nice and professional. Having never been there before, they were extremely helpful with getting me in and situated and offered some great advice for the weekend’s show. On Friday, a lot of the planes involved in the show were doing practice runs, and it was quite enjoyable with the weather being sunny with a few clouds and a cool breeze blowing across the tarmac, and I was able to spend time with some other friends/photographers. At one point, while I was standing with a few other photographers and joking around, I made the comment that I was really surprised that since the Collings Foundation was in Southern California at the time, that I would think that they would be here at this air show. Then about 5 minutes after this conversation died, I saw 3 blips flying towards the airport coming from the southeast. As the blips got closer, I recognized 2 large blips and 1 much smaller blip, and by the time, they were within a mile of the airport, I just knew it was the 3 ship formation of the Collins Foundation, the B17 “Nine O Nine” Flying Fortress, the B24 “Witchcraft” Liberator, and the P-51 “Betty Jane” Mustang, after all, I had just flown on the “Witchcraft” and did some air to air with the “Betty Jane”, the week before in San Diego County. What a treat it was, that in two days, to be able to see the 3 major American Heavy Bombers from World War II flying once again, as the Planes of Fames folks had three B25 Mitchells flying once again for the show. On Saturday morning, I setup along the flight line and was immediately joined by some WWII and Korean War vets. It was great to sit there, and chat with them and listen to them as they shared their memories and stories. The show also turned out to be a Fighter Pilot’s dream show with many, many P-51 Mustangs, P-40’s Warhawks, P-38 Lightnings, a P-47 Thunderbolt, a F-3Wildcat, a F-4F Hellcat, a F-6 Bearcat, a F-8 Tigercat, and my personal favorite an F4U Corsair, There was also British Spitfire, Hurricane, and Fireflies, a RussianYak-3, 3 Japanese Zeros, a German FW 109, and so many more planes. One of the exciting parts of the show for me was the Fighter jets, with a Russian Mig 15 and a US F-86 Sabre going back and forth in a simulated dogfight, and then for the end of the show, the Planes of Fame saved the Very Best for Last. As the show was in its late stages, you could hear roaring every now and then coming from the foothills to the south of the runways. You could also pick up a dot going back and forth over the said hills, and then suddenly, there she was…The Phantom II! The F4 came cruising in over the show center, with her engines blazing. The noise was incredible. She was an US Air Force model painted in the green/brown camouflage that you may have seen if you were standing in a rice paddy in Vietnam. She was absolutely wonderful, she put on quite a show with her afterburners, and then they finished the show with her doing the heritage flight with P-51’s and P-38’s. The F4 Phantom II is special to me, as my late father was the DOD Publication Specialist for the Navy & Marine Corps F4’s, based out of NAS North Island, so if any modifications were to be done to the Planes, he and his staff would have to approve all of the manuals before the work could get done, and this his favorite plane. After spending 37 years in the Navy and Air Force. He was buried at Sea, by his favorite ship last November 2011, the USS Ronald Reagan. I personally was not very impressed with my own photography, as I was having major dust issues, and could not fix it at the show, so my apologies, but this was my first Planes of Fame Air show, but won’t be my last.

Published in the Online Magazine Photorecon 2012

Bring back 1981

She once felt the wind rushing against her airframe as she was thrown with a controlled violence into the blues skies of the Pacific Ocean, off of the USS Midway CV-41. Number 1981 was a McDonald Douglas RF-4B Phantom II, and a member of VMFP-3, a U.S. Marine Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron that was assigned to Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and then rotating to the USS Midway. Their mission was to conduct aerial, multi-sensor imagery reconnaissance to include aerial photographic, infrared, and side looking airborne radar reconnaissance in support of Fleet Marine Forces operations. VMFP-3 was activated on July 1, 1975 as part of the3^rd Marine Corps Aircraft Wing, stationed at MCAS El Toro, Orange County, California. The squadron was deactivated on 30 September 1990. Photo and electronic reconnaissance had previously been conducted by three Marine Composite Reconnaissance Squadrons (VMCJ-1, 2, 3) located at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. MCAS Cherry Point and MCAS El Toro respectively. These squadrons, (each flying RF-4Bs and EA-6As) were consolidated into two squadrons- VMAQ-2 at MCAS Cherry Point operating all the EA-6s, and VMFP-3 operating all the RF-4Bs. Each squadron would deploy detachments to Iwakuni to fly missions previously flown by VMCJ-1. Overseas detachments, in addition to supporting FMF operations, continued the 7th fleet support started by VMCJ-1 in 1974. RF-4Bs of VMFP-3 were permanently deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway CV-41 from 1975 to 1984. A six-plane detachment operated as part of Carrier Air Wing, although retaining their own tail code “RF”.In 1990 Marine tactical reconnaissance was taken over by the Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System carried by McDonnell Douglas F/A 18D Hornet aircraft of Marine fighter attack squadrons (VMFA). Consequently all RF-4Bs were retired and VMFP-3 was disbanded. Back to our plane, 1981. It was a few months ago, and she was sitting in a back corner of the outside displays at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, and she’d been sitting there for awhile. One could see her from just inside the fence line along Miramar Road. The Museum is located at MCAS Miramar, San Diego, CA, but it’s by civilians (mostly retired Marines), and the Curator Steve Smith and his assistant Leon Simon, just happen to be across the street conducting business at a local shop, when they looked across the street, and 1981 was sticking out like a sore thumb. Her paint was faded, she was dirty, and a green mold was taking form. Both Smith and Simon, jumped to action, they pulled 1981 off of the display grounds, and Simon and with several Marines, that different Commands sent over to the Museum’s hanger and started the process of removing all of her old paint, right down to the shiny new looking aluminum that was under that old paint job. Then the primer and new paint was added. The Marine Corps Community Services recreated the historical stickers that once graced this magnificent plane. She’s now back out on display where she belongs, looking just like the first day, the U.S. Marine Corps took possession of her.

Publsihed in the Online Magazine PhotoRecon 2012

A Chance of a Lifetime


Almost all aviation photographers have one dream, crave one chance, an event that can make or break a career, and that is to be able to shoot Air 2 Air! Shooting an aircraft while up in another aircraft. This is where the magic really happens. Most photographers never get the chance at this, but on April 27th, 2012, I did. Now, while I have flown in C-130’s, CH-53’s and CH-46’s, when I served as a grunt in the U.S. Marine Corps, I was really excited about the opportunity that was to befall me. The Collings Foundation is a historical group based in Massachusetts, and they own several World War II, Korean and Vietnam Wars era aircraft that are available for Air Shows, and other events. Every year, the Foundation puts on a Country-wide Tour called the Freedom Tour, where they travel from State to State, from airport to airport, and attendees, are given up-close tours of the planes, and even the chance to go for a flight on them for a fee. The planes include the B-17G Flying Fortress “Nine O Nine” , the B-24J Liberator “Witchcraft”, the only one left in the world that’s capable of flight, and of course, the P-51C Mustang, named the “Betty Jane”.Finding out about the tour in March, I made contact with Hunter Chaney of the Foundation, and I was able to secure a flight on the Witchcraft, when they would be moving the planes from Gillespi Field in El Cajon, CA. to Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, CA. Arriving at Gillespi Field, I met many of the great volunteers and employees, who keep the show going. Wonderful people who all share a love of these warbirds, their histories, and love of Country. I also met several men who were former P.O.W.’s from WWII, some of which had actually been shot down by the Germans while flying in a B-17 or B-24. Truly as said before it’s our Greatest Generation of Americans. Once, I was in the B-24, and we were ready for flight, we rumbled down the tarmac, and everything seemed to be shaking and creaking as the old girl made her way to the end of the runway. Suddenly, the roar of the engines drowned out any other noise, and we were rolling down runway, and then suddenly we were airborne and quickly climbing in attitude. After several minutes, we given permission to stand and move from our seats, and the Mustang came along side of the B-24, and I started shooting away. Now I will say this, thank god for the Vibration Reduction (anti-shake) device in my lens. I shoot with Nikon, and I was using the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens. While the bomber was a fairly steady platform to shoot from, it still was bouncing quite a bit, as I stood at the waste gunners windows, while the Mustang flew along side. Sure I could have shot at a very fast shutter speed to get sharp images, but the propellers on the Mustang would not have looked natural, and the VR helped me get sharp images with slower shutter speeds. We flew towards the ocean passing MCAS Miramar along the way, and finally out over the Pacific and then north along the coast, even if the P-51 had not been present, it was still a beautiful day to fly along the coastline. After 20 minutes in the air, we landed at Palomar Airport, with a big bang, and standing, waiting for the those planes to arrive, were several hundred people, who wanted to tour the planes. I want to thank Hunter Chaney and the rest of the Collings Foundation for giving me my first Air 2 Air experience, but for also preserving these wonderful warbirds, and to Joe Kates of Photorecon, who’s advise I sought and used while in the air.

Publsihed in the Online Magazine PhotoRecon.net 2012

Yuma Air Show 2012

The MCAS Yuma played out a little different from the original way I was planning on doing the show. The weather people in San Diego had been predicting a large winter storm to hit Southern California with lots of rain, snow, and major winds, on the weekend for the schedule Yuma 2012 Airshow. I started to think that the show may be affected by the approaching storm. I had planned on driving into Yuma early on Saturday morning from San Diego, and meeting with the Public Affairs Officer, along with the other Media types to shoot the show, but while at the NAF El Centro 2012 Airshow, the weekend before, I learned that the Marines were having an unofficial Media day on the Friday before the show. With the weather coming and my thinking that it might interfere with the actual show, I contacted the PAO office at MCAS Yuma, and got put on the Media list immediately for the Friday practice show. I have to say, this PAO office was one of the best that I’ve dealt with, a big thank you to Captain Reidinger, Gunnery Sergeant Dunk, Corporals Bopp and Diamante. Arriving Friday morning, I met with approximately 15 other photographers and news crews. The photographers came from as far as Europe, and as close as Yuma, itself. The day was beautiful with no clouds in the sky, temps in the low 80’s and a cooling breeze sometimes blowing through. It was a perfect day, and the Marines gave us full access to the flight line. Most of the static displays were not in place yet, but that was okay, because we were able to walk up and touch the US Air Force Thunderbirds F-16’s, and the Marines Aggressor Squadron’s F-5 II’s. Performances from Tora, Tora, Tora and CAF groups were awesome, and to see these old war birds still flying, they just hold one’s attention, when you see a P-51 Mustang in a steep dive or a F4U Corsair streaking by just above your head. The Navy’s F/A 18 Demo Team is never boring, nor are the Marine’s AV-8B with it’s noise and hovering abilities. The Marines F-5’s put on what appeared to be extended fly-bys, and what a joy it was to see as each plane, painted in different camouflaged colors. It was finally late afternoon and time for the Thunderbirds to fly. The paint scheme on those F-16’s alone make it a great time for watching them fly, as they pull off maneuver after maneuver, and after having just seen the US Navy Blue Angels the weekend before, it was just amazing few days out in America’s southwest deserts.

Publsihed in the Online Magazine PhotoRecon.net 2012

 

 



The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum

I

It all started on May 22, 1912, when Lt. Alfred A. Cunningham reported for flight training at the Naval Academy at Annaplois, it wasn’t until August 20, at Marblehead, Massachusetts, that Cunningham soloed in a Curtiss B-1 Seaplane and became Naval Aviator number 5. Since then, Marine pilots have done their job to defend America and each other, with names like Col. Gregory “Pappy” Boyington (Medal of Honor awardee) of the Flying Tigers in China, and the infamous VMF-214 “Black Sheep” squadron of WWII, and Lt. Col John Bolt, the only Marine aviator to achieve the title of “Ace” in both WWII and the Korean War; and remains to this day the only Marine “Jet Pilot” ace. Because of these men and many more, 2012 brings us the 100 year Anniversary of United States Marine Corps Aviation, and no place is that history better represented, than at the little known Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, based at MCAS Miramar, in San Diego, CA. This museum is probably the best kept secret in the aviation world, which is not something this museum wants. Every branch of the U.S, Armed Forces is allowed only one official museum, and is funded by Congress. The Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum has undergone a rigorous certification process and is one of only three certified Marine Corps Command Museums. The museum is the only museum in the world dedicated to the primary purpose of preserving the history of U.S. Marine Corps aviation The museum was originally founded and based at MCAS El Toro, in Orange County, CA but with base closures in the 1990’s El Toro was shut down and NAS Miramar, became MCAS Miramar, after the U.S. Navy’s move to Fallon, Nevada (including it’s famous “Top Gun” school). Along with the Marines came the Command Museum in 1999, opening in the year 2000 to the general public. Steve “Smitty” Smith (USMC Ret.) is currently the Curator of the Museum. He started working at the museum, back when it was located at MCAS El Toro, where Smitty was stationed and he decided to volunteer at the museum. He worked as the museum’s librarian, and then he became the Assistant Curator. After the museum moved to MCAS Miramar, Smitty was promoted to his current position. Along with Asst. Curator Leon Simon (served in the US Navy), both men are responsible for all of the aircraft maintenance, and restoration, along with over 100 volunteers who either work in the museum as docents, or work in various positions from the gift shop, office, to restoring the planes that are acquired from the military. Most volunteers are former and retired Military. Former US Senator and Retired Marine Colonel John Glenn is the Chairman of the Board of the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum Foundation that runs the museum. The museum currently has approx. 40 planes and vehicles that are either displayed outside of the museum, or in its restoration hanger nearby. Most planes date from the WWII era to the Present day, and the helicopters from the Korean War to the present. Inside the current building, housing the museum are rooms full of Marine Corps aviation history with paintings, pictures, documents, and other displays showing that the Marine Corps’ proud history and tradition isn’t only held by the Marines hitting the beaches and fighting on the ground for over 236 years. The current plans are for a new two story 90,000 square foot building to be built as soon as the Marines make a final decision on the museum. They have already decided where the new building will be built and funding does not seem to be an issue, it’s strictly some red tape that is slowing down the process of getting the final okay’s done. The new building will house a library, a small theater, a gift shop, and more rooms for the many displays. Modern technology will be made available to watch videos and other films. There will be more room for more planes as “Smitty” is constantly attempting to add more to the museum’s inventory. The museum, while located on MCAS Miramar, it has its own entrance, and is located directly across the street from 8604 Miramar Road. From I-15, proceed west for 1.3 miles and turn left into the parking lot. From I-805, proceed east for 3.9 miles and turn right into the parking lot. Look for the American flag and Marine Corps flag on the fence, and the museum is open from Tuesday through Sunday (except on Federal holidays) from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Main website: http://flyingleathernecks.org/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Flying-Leatherneck-Aviation-Museum-Hangar/115458738559141

This story was published online by Photorecon.net & both online and in print in the Military Press Newspaper 2012