Aerospace Museum of California Update

"The first phase of the USCG Exhibit at the Aerospace Museum of California was completed with the dedication of the permanent exhibit on August 9, 2008. Over 150 people witnessed the ribbon cutting, which included speeches by MAJ GEN (ret) James Hopp, President Aerospace Museum of California, RADM John Currier, Commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District and the last Coast Guard pilot still on active duty to have flown the venerable HU-16E, CAPT (ret) Paul Langlois, the Vice President of the Coast Guard Aviation Association, and CAPT (ret) Jerry Mohlenbrok, Senior USCG Exhibit Team Leader.

The visitor to the new Coast Guard exhibit experiences an overhead projected rescue by an H-65 helicopter, and can view four video screens showing Coast Guard Aviation history, current aviation operations, future resources, and a donor's honor roll. In addition, an I-Mac computer allows the visitor to view the development of the helicopter, which the Coast Guard pioneered as a tool for Search and Rescue. The Museum's HU-16E was recently meticulously restored by CGAS Sacramento volunteers and currently occupies a prominent display position in the airpark.

Team USCG Exhibit would like to thank all of our donors for giving so generously. We are still raising funds for the Exhibit for upgrades, upkeep, and the next phase which will include large scale aircraft models, historical documents and search and rescue video games. Your continuing support will be greatly appreciated! Please donate by credit card at the Aerospace Museum of California web site - www.aerospacemuseumofcalifornia.org - or mail your donation to the Museum at 3200 Freedom Park Drive, McClellan, CA 95652. Please indicate on your check that is for the USCG Exhibit. Again, thank you for your generous support - we hope you are pleased with the results."

Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony
21 November 2008

The Coast Guard Aviation Association, the Ancient Order of the Pterodactyl, inducted Master Chief Aviation Survivalman Larry E. Farmer and Chief Aviation Machinist Mate Chief  Oliver F. Berry into the Coast Guard Aviation Hall of Honor at 1300 on Friday, 21 November 2008 at ATC Mobile.
Prior to the ceremony, Master Chief Farmer and family were guests of the Ptero’s at lunch in the ATC Mobile Wardroom hosted by ATC Commanding Officer Captain Steve Truhlar.  Immediately following lunch Master Chief Farmer accompanied by his family, guests and the Official Party proceeded to Hanger 2 at ATC for the induction ceremony. (Hanger-2, for those not familiar, is the newest hangar at ATC and was constructed to accommodate the new HC-144 Ocean Sentry patrol aircraft as well as the HH-65 and HH-40 rotary wing aircraft at ATC).

Following the invocation, Captain Truhlar welcomed the guests which included Master Chief Farmer’s family, friends and business associates from around the country, Captain Jeff Pettitt from the CG Liaison Office in Pensacola, former Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard and Enlisted Ancient Albatross Eric A. Trent, and many others.

Past Ptero President Captain George Krietemeyer gave the introduction to the Hall of Honor Ceremony, recalling the history of Coast Guard Aviation and briefly describing the contributions to Coast Guard Aviation of each of the previous Hall of Honor recipients, leading up to ASMCM Farmer and ACCM Berry.

Ptero President Captain Mont Smith officiated in presenting the plaques and the relating the accomplishments of ACMM Berry and ASMCM Farmer, including messages of congratulations from many of Master Chief  Farmer’s past shipmates.

Following receiving his plaque and being officially inducted into the Hall of Honor, Master Chief Farmer took to the lectern and acknowledged the honor of being inducted into the Hall of Honor and the support of the many shipmates and mentors that had helped to bring him to the dais on this day.  Master Chief Farmer was then presented with a special gift of recognition from his family, a large framed photograph of Larry in his flight suit and helmet from his early days in Coast Guard Aviation.

Following the benediction, Master Chief Farmer, friends and guests were invited to a reception in the ATC Officers Lounge, courtesy of the Ptero’s.

At the end of the day, all of the remaining refreshments, and there was quite a bit, was provided to the duty section as was fitting.

July 2008

CITATION TO ACCOMPANY THE AWARD OF

THE COAST GUARD COMMENDATION MEDAL

TO

 SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER VICKI CATES

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

Senior Chief Petty Officer CATES is cited for outstanding achievement in the performance of duty while serving as the Coast Guard Academy Charlie Company Chief from July 2004 to July 2005 and Golf Company Chief from July 2005 to July 2008.  An outstanding mentor and role model, Senior Chief CATES provided daily direction to 125 cadets.  She diligently worked to ensure the sound professional development of these aspiring junior officers to prepare them to effectively lead the Coast Guard’s 32,000 member enlisted workforce.  During three Swab Summers, Senior Chief CATES adeptly assumed the role of Platoon Chief, providing years of operational and organizational experience that greatly facilitated the development of the Corp’s supervisory leaders and the indoctrination of over 800 new cadets to the military and Coast Guard.  As a member of the Guide to Officer and Leadership Development (GOLD) Team, Senior Chief CATES dedicated hundreds of hours counseling cadets on their Cadet Individual Development Plans (CIDP’s) to address personal, academic and professional issues. She innovatively developed opportunities for small groups of cadets to present their CIDP’s to peers and Company Advisory Team members, fostering a stronger support system for cadets.  This highly effective process was implemented throughout the corps, vastly improving the CIDP program. Senior Chief CATES planned and executed three aviation career days, coordinating numerous Coast Guard aircraft from four different air stations to be on display as well as discussion panels with pilots for all Academy personnel.  This provided cadets with significant exposure to Coast Guard aviation opportunities, helping them make informed career decisions.  As the advisor to 600 cadets in the Aviation Club, she implemented improvements to the Air Station aviator program, allowing cadets to gain a more in-depth knowledge of Coast Guard air operations and aviation principles as well as develop their piloting skills.  Senior Chief Petty Officer CATES’ dedication, judgment and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.

Pacific Aviation Museum

The mission of the Pacific Aviation Museum – Pearl Harbor is be the internationally recognized aviation museum on historic Ford Island that educates young and old alike, honors aviators and their support personnel who defended freedom in the Pacific Region, and preserve Pacific aviation history.

We would be interested in sharing a lot of stories and benefits – like free admission to anyone one that shows up at our ticket counter with one of your membership cards.

Kenneth DeHoff
Executive Director
Pacific Aviation Museum - Pearl Harbor
319 Lexington Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96818

April 2008

Coast Guard Art -Ptero Edition
by Bryan Snuffer

Bryan Snuffer May CG Art Newsletter

Click here for details

March 2008

John Pershing Greathouse honored at ATC

Master Chief Greathouse crossed the bar on August 30, 2005 as Hurricane Katrina ravaged the gulf coast. Because of the chaos that ensued, his passing did not receive the military honors that he had earned. The ceremony at ATC corrected this.

The following are the remarks of the Coast Guards Ancient Albatross, RADM Kunkel.

Photographs curtesy of U. S. Coast Guard and Ptero Webmaster

Thanks, Dave, for your kind introduction.  It is wonderful to be back in Mobile.  It is particularly an honor to be here to celebrate Master Chief John Pershing Greathouse, Aviator number 334 and our sixth Ancient Albatross.

I will do my best to keep my remarks short. But, if you can bear with me, I would like to speak briefly about today’s ceremony…our desire to recognize a pilot, a master chief and a leader in our aviation history.  At occasions such as this, I normally would be wearing either SDBs or our tropical blue long uniform.  However, I don’t think that Master Chief Greathouse would object to having me here today, wearing the Ancient Albatross Garb.  If you have the opportunity after the ceremony, look closely at a few pictures and you’ll see the Master Chief in the Ancient Garb.

As CAPT Callahan mentioned, Master Chief Greathouse joined our service in 1941, and served with us for just over 37 years…But not before completing a few firsts, a few lasts, and certain other feats that have never again been repeated.

Master Chief Greathouse was the first pilot to ever surpass 10,000 hours of flight time.  And then he became the first pilot to ever pass 12,000 and again later, he was the first to surpass 14,000 hours of flight time.

On September 25, 1945, he was part of the first-ever bail out from a helicopter – and lived to tell about it.  While on temporary duty at Coast Guard Air Station Brooklyn, he and AD3 John Smith bailed out of their HOS-1G helicopter over Philadelphia after control of the helicopter was lost due to heavy winds.

Master Chief Greathouse was the first enlisted pilot to become Ancient Albatross, earning the title as #6 in July of 1977.  He was also the last enlisted pilot to be Ancient Albatross and the last Coast Guard enlisted aircraft pilot on active duty.

I must say that I regret never being lucky enough to fly with Master Chief Greathouse.  I first met the Master Chief right here, in Mobile.  He was flying the HU-16 and the C-131.  Just meeting Master Chief, I knew instantly that he was a charismatic pilot, instructor, and mentor.  He was and remains  a legend in our field, and I am certain that his leadership and devotion to serve affected countless Coastguardsmen.  Whether by performing a rescue, coordinating a rescue, or mentoring those who would later be the rescuers – he had a hand in it.  And rightfully so.  Flawless at his trade, engaging of those trying to learn, and ready to lead, John Greathouse was larger than life. 

Those of you who know me, know that I consider the senior enlisted corps to be the glue that binds the Coast Guard together, the true anchor of our service.  We must never overlook the importance of senior enlisted members, and the value they bring to our service.  Chiefs provide sound guidance and leadership to all members those with crows or those with two stars, we all respect what they offer.

Today’s ceremony is important, because it is regrettably rare in our service that we recognize -to this distinction- the great affect our senior enlisted leadership has had on us.  In remembering Master Chief Greathouse today, we remember that we have all relied on a Chief at one time or another to keep us glued together.

Before I close, I would like to just briefly touch upon another reason why today’s ceremony is so very important.

It is only from our history that we can gain the knowledge and insight necessary to look forward and make the best possible choices as coastguardsmen.  Now, I do not mean to imply that we should study coast guard aviation history ad nauseam and learn why the service chose a certain aircraft or base over another frame or location.  Those are important lessons that we must try and learn from, yes – but we must not forget another important side of our history.

We, as a service and as aviators, must look into our history to remember and celebrate those that came before us.  Those such as CDR Elmer Stone, CDR William Kossler and LCDR Frank Erickson, without whose devotion to duty we may not have an effective Coast Guard aviation program.  Their efforts and impacts were tremendous, and the Coast Guard’s everyday success would not be so without their persistence and dedication to our nation.

As you each continue with your careers and your lives, I ask you to consider our past, and find inspiration in the Ericksons and Greathouses of Coast Guard aviation.  If not for them, we –as aviators and as a service– may not be where we are today.

Thank you again for allowing me to be here and share my thoughts with you today.  It truly has been an honor.

January 2008

In recognition of Elmer Stone's Birthday, the Mayor and City Council declare January 22, 2008 as Coast Guard Aviation Day in Mobile

l

Mayor of Mobile Alabama Samuel Jones presents proclamation to Capt Dave Callahan, Commanding Officer of ATC Mobile.