Help the POM's running dry at the mouth,
and you though that the POM WOULD NEVER STOP
O'Hare Airport
Butch O'Hare: A Short History Lesson
World War II produced many heroes. One such man was a Lieutenant Commander
Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to an aircraft carrier
Lexington in the South Pacific.
One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he
looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off
his fuel tank.
He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his
ship.
His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly he dropped
out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the
Lexington, he saw something that turned his blood cold.
A squadron of Japanese bombers were speeding their way toward the American
fleet.
The American fighters were gone on a sortie and the fleet was all but
defenceless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to
save the fleet. Nor, could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger.
There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet.
Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of
Japanese planes.
Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one
surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch weaved in and out of the now
broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until finally all
his ammunition was spent.
Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to at
least clip off a wing or tail, in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as
possible and rendering them unfit to fly.
He was desperate to do anything he could to keep them from reaching the
American ships.
Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another
direction.
Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the
carrier.
Upon arrival he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The
film from the camera mounted on his plane told the tale.
It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had
destroyed five enemy bombers. This heroic event occurred on February 20,
1942, and for that action he became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II and the
first Naval Aviator to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.
A year later he was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29.
His home town would not allow the memory of that heroic action die......and
today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this
great man.
So, the next time you're in O'Hare visit his memorial with his statue and
Medal of Honour. It is located between terminal 1 and 2.
" Starlight 22 " Commendation
Bob
Here is the best I could do with Lawries letter. Thought you may like to
post it somewhere on your site. I have individual copies for everyone in the
action. They are going out one day this week.
Here is the names of everyone on this Op.
No 2 Section
c/s "Starlight 22"
Cpl Lawrie Gay (commanding), AC Warren Driese (2i/c), AC Michael Bryson
AC Trevor Petith, AC Mick Ryan, AC Alan Ross (Gunner), AC Bob Hegarty,
AC Jimmy Hogan, AC Tom Graham, AC Alan Atherton, (AR), AC Bruce Smith.
on attachment from Vung Tau, Cpl Norm Mc Kenzie and AC Russ MacKenzie
Mark brooks
Starlight was the callsign before changing to Watchdog
ADGie Signature Rings
. ADGie Rings
Till the Fall of Saigon
Will be compiling a list of those ADGies still in country till the Fall of Saigon in 1975, ( Sumo )Mic Sheean is assisting with this list and hopefully it will be on site soon.
We will endevour to fill in the gaps between 1972-75 with the names of those who stayed and served till the end.
Thereby covering 9 years of ADGies involved in South Vietnam.
1966-1975
Linking up with the R.A.F.Regiment
Hi Robert,
Thanks for the contact, nice to know that we have counterparts "Down under".We will be merging with the RAF Regt Comrades Assn on 1Sept, there will be over 2000 members then including those in Aussie,Canada & New Zealand.Keep in touch.
regards
Graham
The Poms not Sure
Was this fellas name Alan Paul or Pahl ??
This pic was taken by myself at Phan-Rang 70-71
Hi Pom,
Yes, that is certainly my brother, Alan. He was posted to Vung Tau from November 69 - November 70 (I think the months are correct) and I am fairly certain that he had an attachment to Phan Rang on an exchange basis for a week or so.
Tony Pahl
Our Northern Brothers
. R.A.F. Regiment
Help from up Above
Thanks Brett what ever you have on the boy's would be greatly appreciated and enjoyed by all young and old alike.
Thanking you in anticipation
The POM
POM
Thanks for replying. I'm impressed with your site. I found the site by doing "another" random search.
In my entry I went on to say how important I thought your site could be for the young guys currently serving, to have such a tangible link to their ADG brothers from years gone by. I suggested that we attempt obtaining images from as many operational and exercise deployments as possible. The AFDW (Airfield Defence Wing) appears to be keen to have good quality advertising of ADGIES. But they are a little gun shy due to some of the less organised sites that guys have attempted to set up.
If you are interested please contact the AFDW HQ at AMBERLEY. If no joy there and you are still keen please get in touch with me and I will try and have one of the Boggies tasked with producing something on TIMOR or anything else you and the association might be keen on.
Keep up with the good work
Brett
.>From: "Robert Cornwell"
>To:
>Subject: Good morning Sir
>Date: Mon, 28 May 2001 11:45:44 +1000
>
>Flt Lt Brett Harrison
>Gday Brett,
>
>Read you entry in the Guest book on site but noticed that you sort of ran out of room, if you would care to send me a message along similier lines, but via a normal email then i would only be to happy to post it on our news page, looking forward to keeping ADGies informed and up to date on all aspects of the mustering especially the newer guys.
>
>Thanking you
>The POM
Frontin' the Boss's Mat
Paid uncle Col a bit of a visit at Waratah Mayfield RSL this morning returning a couple of items and saying a social howdy to the boys nice to see you's again.
Peter Beckwith lookin' over the shoulder of Col Davies Checkin' out the photo of the boy's from vungers on this page
Photo of 3/99 course
Yo Pom
I don't have any info on this course at all - it was before we were back on the good list at the School, but now we have a pretty good relationship with them, I'll try to scare up a photo for you.
Still working on all the other stuff and will get back to you soon.
Regards
Jim
An Invitation to Newcastle
August the 31st Get Together??
Just a request for those who may be interested in a get together in late August possibly the 31st a Friday Night and if its OK with everyone at the Waratah-Mayfield RSL I'm sure that Col Davies would love to see all our faces at this club, proberly tea and a bit of social harmony would be envisaged and i suppose for those not driving a few Beers.
How about it Fellas get those Ladies spuced up and out we'll go
the POM
If i could have some idea of numbers to help Col with, please email me and let me know so as tables and seats can be reserved for us and its a family night.
More faces from Vungers
