Other CY14 Awards Winners NHA Historical Society
Mark Starr Award
AFCM Bruce Browne, USN (Ret)
Naval Helicopter Association Historical Society (NHAHS) honors AFCM Bruce Browne USN (Ret) with the Mark Starr Award. Master Chief Browne served with distinction from 1958 until his retirement in 1977. Initially serving in fixed wing aircraft, he was promoted to E3 and sent to Memphis for Helicopter school then to HU-1 at Imperial Beach working on HULs, HTLs, H19, H34 and HUPs. Promoted to E5 after the I.B. tour he reported to Sangley Pt, Philippines with H34’s and 43s and then transitioned to the H2B single engine. His next tour was to Erie, PA on recruiting duty in 1966 and that was so exciting that he volunteered to go to Vietnam and went to the USS Valley Forge LPH-8 as an LPO on the H34. Making CPO in 1969 he was transferred from Vietnam to HC-5 at Imperial Beach as the Power Plants CPO. HC-5 was later redesignated HSL-31. He submitted over 30 Beneficial Suggestions for the H2, H3 and H34 Helicopters most of which were adopted and incorporated by NAVAIR. The H3 was experiencing mishaps with some loss of life and the engineering investigation identified that the problem was failure of the main transmission oil filter causing the MGB to seize up. Chief Browne identified what the problem was with the filter and modified the filter to correct the problem. NAVAIR incorporated his modification into the H3 community solving the problem. Promoted to E8 and transferred to the USS Oklahoma City as Crew Chief for C7F in Japan. Promoted to E9 at 15 years and posted to follow on helicopter commands as Squadron Maintenance Chief. He has logged over 2,000 hours of Helo flight time and survived 6 unplanned immediate flight terminations. He retired in 1977. Bruce owns and operates a plastic injection molding business serving commercial aviation employing 70 people. He is on the Board of Directors of Chula Vista Veterans Home, Board of Directors of Fleet Week and has Memberships in NHA, American Legion, VFW, SDMAC and the USS Midway Museum. He also volunteers with the Wounded Warrior Program.
Association of Naval Aviation (ANA) Awards ANA Outstanding Achievement in Helicopter Aviation Sponsored by Association of Naval Aviation (ANA)
Awarded to the aircrew for their performance throughout the year that has consistently demonstrated superior aeronautical ability and performance of their duties.
Maintenance Officer of the Year Sponsored by BAE Systems, Inc.
Awarded to the pilot who throughout the year has consistently demonstrated superior aeronautical ability and performance in his/her assigned billet
Mrs. Sarah Rush
Firewood 75
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NAS Whidbey Island Pilot: ? Crew Chief: ?
Co-Pilot: ? Rescue Swimmer: ?
Rotor Review #128 Double Issue Spring ‘15
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