Whidbey News Times
Sound Off: PBY Memorial gets big lift
Jul 03 2008
By Win Stites
Whoever said community spirit
is gone, needs to read this! The PBY Memorial Foundation, a non-profit
historical group established in 1998, recently made the big move
from its downtown location on 1081 SE Pioneer Way to their new
quarters, lock-stock and aircraft paraphernalia to Building 12
on the NAS seaplane base.
This was no small task and
with all of the files, artifacts, aviation parts, flight simulator,
and even a 1940?s working juke box, the assignment was an immense
one!
The files, books, uniforms,
documents and all small articles were packed and color coded,
thanks to our creative and industrious PBY Memorial staff. Then,
the word went out for the move. A truck suddenly appeared, then
a flatbed and a forklift arrived to pick up the 800-pound Pratt
and Whitney radial engine for delivery to AIMD for some clean-up
work.
With the manpower in place,
?the plan? was launched ? at both ends! First, the truck, donated
by Whidbey Island Movers, was packed with big articles including
office furniture, display cabinets, a propeller, book cases and
tables. It was filled to the brim. This scenario was repeated
for several trips to Building 12 where the other crew was there
to unload.
You could say it truly was
a joint effort by the Oak Harbor Fire Department personnel on
the loading end and the NAS Fire Department on the unloading
end. The crews all eagerly volunteered their muscles to the cause
of the mission, on their off-duty hours and break time.
We members of PBY Memorial
Foundation were overwhelmed by their dedication to the cause.
We couldn?t thank them enough, from the fire and battalion chiefs
down to the firefighter personnel. And a big ?thank you? to the
Whidbey Island Movers, who loaned the truck for all the time
needed to complete the move.
We would like to extend our
grateful thanks for the support from NAS Base Commander Capt.
Gerral David. Capt. David, himself a champion of naval aviation
history, helped spearhead our move to Building 12. Tentative
plans are to make it a center for NAS Whidbey aviation history.
We also want to recognize the
effort put forth by the NAS Public Works office that helped us
through the red tape over the last nine years. Building 12 was
the first administration building, and is itself, along with
other structures on the Seaplane Base, a piece of history. It
is where the ?watch was set? Sept. 21, 1942, and is listed on
the state historical register.
It certainly is true. The community
spirit is ?alive and well.?
Win Stites is president of
the PBY Memorial Foundation.
Whidbey News Times
Life on Whidbey:
History is only important if you don't record it
Jul 03 2008
Members of the PBY Memorial
Foundation were happy to see each other, upright and breathing,
as one said, at last week?s picnic at the home of ADOLPH and
DOLORES MEISCH. After all, Adolph was hospitalized in serious
condition a few months ago, which meant DONNA STITES handled
the phone tree with updates as Dolores kept watch by his side.
Some members may have health
challenges but for most, a fire still burns within when they
tell a newcomer stories of life here in the early 1940s. They
worked and lived aboard the Seaplane Base where PBYs would make
the ramp and be secured to pad eyes still in the asphalt.
I never tire of hearing their
stories about the PBYs flying to the Aleutians, the PBYs painted
pitch black, thus the name Black Cats, patrolling the South Pacific,
and tales such as one of two hapless sailors who hugged the shoreline
to head to town but had to face the sentry on their return. High
tide.
Small town boys stepped off
the bus at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, sea bags over their
shoulders and a set of orders in hand. Training would begin immediately
in the fight for the Aleutians.
Thirty of the original members
of the PBY Memorial Foundation have died since 2001, when they
began keeping track of such things. Their names are in a simple
wood frame in the foundation?s office downtown. Whether or not
they were wounded in action, taken prisoner in Vietnam or waited
at home for word about a plane lost in the mountains, they are
all national treasures.
SHORTY SCHLATTER left us in
August 2001; DOC STRADER lost his valiant fight in July 2003;
former Vietnam POW CMDR. ROGER LERSETH and historian DOROTHY
NEIL died in early 2004; BUD FISCHER and HANK BUDDY MOODY both
died in 2005; and ED SPROMBERG in May 2006.
They had one fervent wish:
to see the PBY Memorial Foundation survive and thrive. That?s
where you come in. You can help preserve history.
Civilians who love history,
servicemen and women especially from patrol squadrons and other
commands, and military spouses are all welcome.
Become a member. It only
costs $25 for individuals and $35 for family.
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“The
first PBY landed here in December 1942 when Lieutenant J.A. Morrison
brought in the first Catalina, but had to land about five miles
out until a log boat could clear Crescent Harbor,” said
David. “This event may define the beginnings of naval history
at this air station, but it’s important to realize that
the mission of the base hasn’t really changed since the
1940s.” David added that today’s men and women are
still committed to protecting America’s freedoms and defending
the Constitution.