Today, the USS John C. Stennis Battle Group arrived in San Diego Bay after an 8 month deployment to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf. The Stennis will leave to head up to Washington State where she is home ported. The USS Mobile Bay is home ported here in San Diego.

The Planes of Fame Media Day

On Wednesday, the 24th of April, the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, CA opened their doors to the Media for an Air2Air event to help promote their annual air show, which will be held May 4-5, this year.

We were promised up to 4 P-38 Lightning fighters to fly in formation for our Air2Air photo session, but it was not to be, so we were fortunate to get a P-51 Mustang and one P-38 Lightning. Anytime  you get to fly and shoot any Warbird, it's a great day.

It was partly cloudy and just a little wind, at least on the ground. Three of us got into a Cessna and went up to meet up with the fighters who were already airborne. After about 15 minutes of very bumpy flying conditions, we met up with the P-51 first and then was joined by the P-38. They flew with us singularly and then in formation. After about 10 minutes of shooting, we separated and landed back at the Chino Airport.

This is a wonderful airshow, and truly appreciate the time that the pilots and staff of the Plane of Fame gave tom us to share in this event.

Busy Day on San Diego Bay

Today, US Navy ships seemed to passing each other as some were deploying and some were coming home from deployment.

The USS Decatur DDG-73 came home from a 8 month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean and the Persian Gulf. As she arrived, the USS Preble DDG-88 left shortly thereafter on her way to the western Pacific.

While waiting for the Preble to depart, the USS Carl Vinson CVN-70 arrived at NAS North Island, where the USS Ronald Reagan CVN-76 and the USS Nimitz CVN-68 were anchored. The USS Nimitz had her flight deck completely covered with aircraft, as she departed in the early afternoon, on her way, also to the western Pacific, maybe even later to be seen sitting off the coast of the Korean Peninsular.

After the Nimitz left San Diego Bay, the USNS Henry J. Kaiser, a fleet oiler (fuel ship) arrived with an unknown Los Angeles Class Attack submarine following behind the large tanker.

Famous B-17 arrives

The Liberty Belle arrived earlier in the week at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, CA. for a short tour by the Liberty group. Now the reason why this plan is famous is that it's currently called the "Memphis Belle" and portrayed the Original Memphis Belle for the Movie by the same name.

The plane is on tour and allowing the public several opportunities to fly for a fee. When I went to see the plane, unfortunately they were working on it and the ladder and other crap was in the way.

USS Ronald Reagan comes home

Well she's finally home. The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) came back to San Diego today, after being up in Washington for the last 14 months undergoing some overhauls and maintenance.

This is a special ship to me. She is my ship, and I'm so proud of her. First, she was named after one of the greatest men and President of these United States of America. If we would only listen to his wise words of wisdom from back in the 60's now, maybe we wouldn't be in the situation we are now.

 

But she (the Ship) is special in other ways. When I was in the Marines, my first duty station was at 8th & I St. Marine Barracks in Washington D.C., and I was assigned to the Presidential Guard. The first time I met the President, I thought I was going to pee my pants. I was only 19, and he was the President, but he was so kind and his voice just came out like he had known you forever.

 

 

President Reagan was also my father's favorite President, and my father spent his entire life defending this great Country. he served in the Navy and Air Force for a total of 37 1/2 years (active duty and reserves) and work for the Defense Department for 20 years serving the Navy and Marine Corps. When my father passed away in July of 2011, he requested to be buried at sea from the USS Ronald Reagan, and the Navy came through and did as requested. Therefore, the USS Ronald Reagan will always be my special ship. The best carrier in the United States Navy!

 

 

 

 

The 2013 El Centro Air Show

This may have been the only opportunity for the public to view the US Navy Blue Angels, Congress still can't get their act together and fix the budget. I certainly feel for the Air Show director "Michelle Dee" as it seemed that her show's performers kept pulling a disappearing act from her schedule this year. But the Show went on.

Now I only went to the show this year (as Non-Media) so I could shoot the British Army's AH-64 Apache helicopters and they did not disappoint. I had originally planned on attending the Luke Air Force base's show, but it was one of the first shows cancelled due to budget cuts.The pilot of the Apache put on a great show of the helicopters abilities, and it is one impressive ship. One of the reason's I did not stay for the Blue Angels and the rest of the performers was I have seen many of the performers often and I personally just can't take the heat of the Imperial Valley without some sort of shade. As I was leaving, the crowd attendance seemed to be much lower than last years, but maybe people started showing up after I left.

The Commerative Air Force comes to San Diego

For the last three days, the CAF, came to Brown Field with several of their planes including "FiFi", the last Boeing B-29 Bomber still flying. She was accompanied by a P-51 Mustang called "Man O War", a C-45 Commando named "Bucket of Bolts", and a T-6 Trainer.

The CAF changed their name recently from Confederate Air Force to the Commerative for Political Correctness. The group has several chapters throughout the Country including "Air Group One", stationed at Gillespi Field in El Cajon.

I spent a small part of all 3 days, shooting these planes, with Monday's arrivals, later back towards evening for a softer light photo shoot, back on Tuesday for the Mustang flying customers around, and then back on Wednesday for more shots of "FiFi" taking off and landing.

If your unfamiliar with History, it was a B-29 that dropped both of the Atomic bombs on Japan, bringing a quicker end to that bloody war. By dropping the bombs, while sadly thousands were killed, millions were saved by ending the war, when Japan realized they would be wiped out with this new weapon of mass destruction.