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Vol. 82, No. 23
June 8, 2018
USCGC Decisive arrives at NASP By Kaitlyn Peacock Gosport Staff Writer
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Decisive (WMEC 629) arrived to cheering crowds welcoming the ship and crew to their new home at Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) June 5. The Decisive has had a permanent homeport shift from Pascagoula, Miss. to NASP. The ship is the first of up to three more cutters to shift homeports to NASP, including the USCGC Dauntless (WMEC 624), which is scheduled to arrive in July or August. Decisive’s Commanding Officer (CO) Cmdr. Blake Novak was greeted by NASP CO Capt. Christopher Martin and other officials from the base, military support organizations and the Pensacola community. “For the Coast Guard, this is a big move to come to a facility like this Navy base that has a lot of support,” Novak said. “The support the Navy has here is exceptional and to our people it makes a big difference. I can tell you our crew is very excited to be here.”
Martin was equally appreciative to have the ship and its crew onboard NASP. “It shows that our mission continues to grow,” he said. Novak assisted in the process of shifting the Decisive’s homeport in 2014, when he was still working at the Coast Guard headquarters. He said he was proud to have been a part of the operation. “One of the reasons I stuck around for another three weeks was to see this through to the end,” he said. A change of command will take place June 11, when Novak will be relieved by Cmdr. Jose Martis as CO of the Decisive. As with cutters of its class, Decisive’s primary mission is counter-drug operations. The ship’s bridge is marked with the crew’s successful drug interdictions: 19 marijuana busts, nine cocaine busts, five drug boat seizures and one semi-submersible. From NASP, Decisive will continue to patrol the Gulf and South American coasts. The ship has also been involved in rescue operations in the Gulf.
USCGC Decisive (WMEC 629) arrives in Pensacola June 5, passing Fort Pickens (above) and docking at NAS Pensacola’s Port Operations (below left). NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer (CO) Capt. Christopher Martin welcomes the ship’s CO Cmdr. Blake Novak (below right). Photos by Mike O’Connor For more photos of USCGC Decisive’s arrival, visit www.GosportPensacola.com
455th FTS’ heritage aircraft wears WWII colors By Robert Goetz 502nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Just weeks after painting a T-38C Talon in the colors of the Vietnam Warera F-4 Phantom II for the 560th Flying Training Squadron’s 45th annual Freedom Flyers Reunion in March, the 12th Maintenance Group’s corrosion control team has completed a similar project for a 12th Flying Training Wing squadron that’s some 700 miles away. This time, the corrosion control team used a green and gray color scheme that hearkens back to World War II to trans-
A T-6 Texan ll aircraft with World War II-era B-26 Marauder paint scheme is drawing attention at NAS Pensacola. The aircraft is assigned to the base’s 455th Flying Training Squadron. Photo by Joel Martinez
form the look of a T-6A Texan II for the 455th Flying Training Squadron at Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP).
“Our squadron was constituted the 455th Bombardment Squadron with the Martin B-26 Marauder in August of 1942,” Lt. Col. Douglas Kabel, 455th FTS commander said. “This paint scheme is a replica of our June 6, 1944, B-26 paint scheme as we supported Operation Overlord on the beaches of Normandy, France.” The T-6A heritage aircraft is back at NAS Pensacola after Lt. Col. Nik Stathopoulos, 455th FTS director of operations, and Capt. Kais Heimburger, 455th FTS instructor pilot, came to Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph May 8 to pick up the aircraft.
Pensacola Navy commands remember the Battle of Midway
See USAF on page 2
NASP Notes ... NASP Safety Snippets ... Boating safety reminder: Florida had 766 boating accidents in 2017, 52 more accidents than in 2016. Falls overboard were the leading type of fatal accident with drowning as the leading cause of death. Eighty-one percent of these victins were not wearing a life jacket. Boating accident statistics support an important message: Life Jackets Save Lives.
By Ed Barker Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center (NETPDC) Public Affairs
Area Navy commands and the local community gathered June 4 to commemorate the Battle of Midway during a ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Museum onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP). Hosted by the Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center (NETPDC), the ceremony honored the service of those who fought in the decisive World War II battle 76 years ago. NETPDC Commanding Officer Capt. Kertreck Brooks welcomed the guests and noted that observances like the Battle of Midway play an important part in highlighting the Navy’s history. “An integral part of our mission as naval professionals is to preserve and celebrate our rich naval history and heritage,” Brooks said. “Understanding our past is key to effectively handling the challenges of the future, and is fundamental to building and operating the 21st century Navy and Marine Corps forces our nation requires.”
The aircraft will be an important part of the squadron’s 75th anniversary reunion June 7 to 8 at NASP. That event will bring together present and former members of the 455th FTS and members of the World War II-era 323rd Bombardment Group, which included the 455th BS. The 455th BS played a major role in the European theater, Capt. Matt Carver, 455th FTS chief of standardization and evaluations said. “The squadron took part in bombardment missions from England before
Guest speaker retired Navy Capt. Kevin Miller addresses personnel attending the Battle of Midway commemoration June 4. Photo by Mike O’Connor. For more Midway ceremony photos, go to www.GosportPensacola.com
Considered by many military historians to be the turning point of World War II in the Pacific theater, the Battle of Midway was fought in the vicinity of Midway Island June 4 to 7, 1942. As a response to their sending planes to See Midway on page 2
NHP rodeo ... Naval Hospital Pensacola (NHP’s) annual School/Sports/Camp Physical Rodeo will kick off June 23 from 8 a.m. to noon. The rodeo allows parents enrolled to the Family Medicine Clinic to bring their children to the hospital on specific Saturdays throughout the summer to complete a physical. The physical exams are for children 4 and older, including children new to the area. Appointments are encouraged; however, walk-ins will be accepted from 8 to 11 a.m. Remember to bring any required paperwork to the rodeo. Only school/sports physicals will be addressed at the rodeo. Additional dates for the rodeo will be July 21, July 28 and Aug. 4. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 505-7120.
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