COVERING WHIDBEY ISLAND’S NAVAL AIR STATION COMMUNITY
CROSSWIND Whidbey
VOLUME 1, NO. 18 | 29 JULY 2011
www.whidbeycrosswind.com
Centennial PBY splash down canceled The PBY Catalina aircraft scheduled to splash down in Crescent Harbor Saturday afternoon as part of the Centennial of Naval Aviation celebration will not be available after all, according to a release from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island public affairs. However, there will still be plenty to see on the Seaplane Base, according to officials. The PBY Catalina may not be landing, but there will be several other seaplanes splashing down, specifically the De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver. In addition, there will be a Search and Rescue demonstration at noon, the Maritime Expeditionary Security
SEE PBY | PAGE 6
Clockwise from top left: An A-1 Skyraider from the Heritage Flight Museum in Bellingham is just one of the planes that will be on display Saturday during the Centennial of Naval Aviation event at NAS Whidbey Island. Oak Harbor resident Mike Dilley views Navy artifacts at the PBY Memorial Foundation Aviation History Center on Seaplane Base. The SNJ (T-6 Texan) will also be on display courtesy of the Heritage Flight Museum. Memorabilia from the WWII Normandy Beach landing is one of many historic displays at the PBY Memorial Foundation. AIRCRAFT PHOTOS COURTESY OF NAS WHIDBEY PUBLIC AFFAIRS / PBY PHOTOS BY MELANIE HAMMONS/WHIDBEY CROSSWIND
Aviation history comes to life By MELANIE HAMMONS
Whidbey Crosswind
If you’re looking to get a jump start on commemorating the Centennial of Naval Aviation this weekend, there’s no better place to begin than with a journey into naval aviation history at Oak Harbor’s very own Naval History Center at the PBY Memorial Foundation, located on the Seaplane Base at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.
Start your tour of aviation history with some local background information. View a hallway lined with framed, color photos of all the planes flown on NAS Whidbey Island, including the famous PBY Catalina. There are also models of each aircraft. Volunteer Richard Rezabek said the Memorial not only honors the PBY Catalina, its pilots and crew, but is also an authorized Naval History Center as well. “That is one reason the Navy is sending
us three dioramas that will help illustrate the unique history of the Seaplane Base,” said Rezabek, who also serves as chairman of the PBY board of directors. One diorama will show the Seaplane base as it was originally constructed back in 1942. The other two will depict mockups of Hangar One and the navigation trainer for the PBY. Continue your journey from 1940’s-era
THIS EDITION New leader at helm of MATSG-53 ..............pg. 2 Oak Harbor woman’s son leaves on Stennis ...pg. 8 WWII novel penned in Coupeville ..............pg. 9 VRC Stand Down makes connections ........ pg. 16
SEE HISTORY | PAGE 6
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