Summer certainly flew by in a hurry. Fall has begun and your Operations
Officer, Andy Gilcrest, has two great trips setup for your pleasure. Andy has
also done a great job setting up speakers this year. Thanks, Andy!

Nominating and voting on next year's slate of GPS officers is coming up soon.
We have not been able to fill the Public Affairs Officer slot either this year
or for next year. It is a good job and you get lots of help doing it. Will
someone come forward to fill this position? If you are interested talk to your
Executive Officer, Mel Locke, he will help you get started. Also, we are
looking for a replacement for Chuck Howe, your OP-Plan distribution officer. He
has given years of great service to the Squadron in that position. He wants to
retire and he has earned that privilege! Will another Marine step forward and
relieve Chuck so he can go on a well deserved R and R?

I will be on vacation for the first two weeks of October. Thus, I will miss
the Staff and Luncheon meetings. Mel Locke, your XO, will replace me and your
OPS O, Andy Gilcrest, will do his usual great job.

GPS CO,

Jim Menees

The Air Force Weapons Demonstration field trip at Nellis in Las Vegas is on.
We will leave at 1200 on Thursday, Oct. 7 from the Elks Lodge parking lot and
stay at the Park Plaza Lady Luck in Vegas that night. The Park Plaza is located
across the street from one end of Fremont Street. Make sure you take in the
"Fremont Street Experience Light Show" which is on the hour later in the
evening. We will go to the static display at Nellis AFB Friday morning and then
go to the Nellis range for the 1300 demonstration. We will start for home about
1430 with a dinner stop and should arrive in Orange County before 2100. All Air
Force delivery systems are demonstrated including the B-1 which can drop 24
2000 pound GPS guided bombs, the B-2 dropping 16 of the same, carpet bombing by
the B-52, and various tactical aircraft delivering various weapons including
A-10's, F-16's, and F-15's. There is also a pilot rescue operation demonstrated
with tactical aircraft supporting the helo rescue ship. By the time you read
this, it will only be a few days before the trip. If you did not sign up or you
did sign up and wish to bring a friend, please call me at 949-854-6617 or e-mail
me at tiger9@cox.net . The cost is $105 double occupancy or $125 single
occupancy per person. If I still have seats available on the bus, hotel rooms
are still available, and the paperwork at Nellis can be changed, it might work –
no promises though.

The San Diego field trip to the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum is on for
Tuesday, Nov. 16. We will leave at 0800. The only morning elevator operation
is at 1030 and some of you might want to take advantage of it. You will be able
to purchase lunch at the Fantail Café on the ship. Again, you are welcome to
invite guests. Please call or e-mail me if interested.

In November, our speaker will be our own Ted Heineman who has for years had
the hobby of studying about the Wright brothers and the development of their
early fliers as well as other early attempts in that time period. I have heard
his talk and you will not want to miss it. He does an excellent job. His talk
will be one month prior to the 101 year anniversary of the first flight.
Last month, I mentioned that GPS members Doc Helton, Cliff Nord, and yours
truly have won rides in WWII aircraft at the monthly presentation at Planes of
Fame Museum in Chino (in fact Doc Helton has won 2 rides). I accidentally
omitted GPS member Tony Serdahely who won a ride in a T-33 which I believe is
presently valued at $1200. The prop rides won by the rest of us are valued at
$600. Congratulations Tony!!!

Andy, GPS OPS

Guest Speaker - Col. Harry Sexton, USMC(Ret)

By Ray LeCompte, Assistant PAO

September Luncheon Program

On September 9, 2004, Vietnam Operation Tailwind was presented by Col Harry
Sexton, USMC (Ret.) and Capt Joe Driscoll of Marine Helicopter Squadron HML 367.
With the power point presentation they showed photographs taken by pilots and
film from the gun cameras of the aircraft. This revealed the intensity of the
operation.

They were stationed with Marine Air Group 16 at Marble Mountain Air Field in
Da Nang, Vietnam, during September 1970. The top secret plan for Operation
Tailwind was to insert 140 combat Marines in Laos to disrupt the Vietnam troop
operation base.

Aircraft needed for this operation included the AD-1 Skyraider, the CH53 Sea
Stallion, the AC-130 Specter, the OVO Bronco and the AH-1 Cobra. This was a
joint effort by the Marine Corps, the Navy, and the Air Force.

The flight plan was from Da Nang to Kontum, then to refuel at Dak To, prior to
inserting Marines near Chavane, Laos. Inclement weather closed in while at Dak
To, delaying the operation. During this time C-130s did touch and go landings,
kicking out fuel packages on the runway at Dak To.

With a green light from the Forward Air Controller the mission began. After
the landing zone was marked, four CH 53s landed, one at a time, to insert the
Marine troops. Air security was provided by the C-130 gunships (Puff the Magic
Dragon) while six Cobra gunships circled counter clockwise around the landing
zone. The Cobras engaged the enemy gun positions. Aircraft shuttled to Da Nang
to repair, refuel, and reload.

During the six day siege, the American landing zone became hot. The Marines
were out of water, low on ammo, and wounded. The wounded were extracted by C-130
gunships. The original landing zone was abandoned. A new landing zone was
created by attaching Claymore mines to the base of the trees. The landing zone
was too narrow for the helicopters so three CH 53s lowered ladders to take out
the Marines. During this time Cobra gunships were used for enemy suppression.
AD-Skyraiders dropped tear gas on the enemy. Air Cobras fired Willie Peter
rockets forming a smoke screen to protect the total evacuation. Results of
Operation Tailwind revealed 432 of the enemy killed and 34 significant documents
discovered.

In June 1998, a CNN program on the then declassified Operation Tailwind,
accused the Americans of using nerve gas to kill American defectors in Laos.
Later in their Valley of Death report they issued an apology for reporting the
use of nerve gas.

Col Harry Sexton gave recognition and commendation to GPS member Art Bishop
who was also a pilot in Operation Tailwind. We give our thanks to Col Sexton and
Capt Joe Driscoll for an intense, informative, and inspirational program.

IN MEMORIAM

Gramps was informed that LtCol Don Tooker, USMC (Ret) died on September 7th
after a long battle with cancer. Don's flight training commenced in 1943. He
flew combat missions in Korea and Vietnam and was awarded two DFC's, 10 air
medals and others while flying fighters and helos, amassing more than 7000 pilot
hours. He Commanded VMF-323 and VMO-5.Don was an Aviation writer in popular and
professional publications, and author of two books: "The Second Luckiest Pilot"
and "Stand Well Clear". Don was an active member of ANA and GPS, and twice was
the guest speaker at GPS luncheons (10/92 and 5/00).

Gramps has also been informed of the passing of another fine Marine fighter
pilot. Long time Gramps member and stalwart attendee Capt Jack "Shanty"
Callahan USMCR (Ret) passed away in August this year. His always smiling face
and Irish wit will be missed.

Ol Gramps says
Semper Fi
to both
GRAMPS FROM YESTERYEAR

ELECTION OF GPS OFFICERS NOTICE

Pursuant to the by-laws of the GRAM PAW PETTIBONE SQUADRON, a slate of
nominees for squadron officers for the year 2005 has been drawn up. All of the
nominees have volunteered to serve GPS for 2005. The election will be held
during the October luncheon meeting on October 14, 2004 at the Garden Grove ELKS
Club. PLEASE PLAN ON BEING THERE TO VOTE, or MAIL YOUR BALLOT ASAP to: GRAMPAW
PETTIBONE SQUADRON, 14022 Howland Way, Tustin, CA 92780-2132.
BALLOT
VOTE "X" for approval
TO VOTE FOR ALL, CHECK HERE ____
WRITE-IN
____ James (Jim) Menees Commanding Officer ___________________________________
____ Melvin E.(MeI) Locke Executive Officer ___________________________________
____ Andrew S.(Andy) Gilcrest Operations Officer__________________________________
____ Earl F. Skinner Asst. Operations Officer___________________________________
____ Francis P. (Fran) Pieri Membership Officer___________________________________
____ Timothy D. (Tim) Brown Asst. Membership - Recruiting___________________________________
____ Charles J. (Andy) Andresen Treasurer ___________________________________
____ Dolores M. Hardy Asst. Treasurer ___________________________________
____ VACANT Public Affairs Officer ___________________________________
____ Ray E. LeCompte Asst. Public Affairs ___________________________________
____ Harold A. (Hal) McDonnel Admin. & Op-Plan Editor___________________________________
____ Melvin D. (Don) Palmer Personnel & Asst. Op-Plan___________________________________
____ Clifford E. (Cliff) Nord Personnel & Asst. Op-Plan___________________________________
____ Charles R. (Chuck) Howe Op-Plan Distribution___________________________________
____ Vance L. (Bud) Yount, Jr Deputy Op-Plan Dist___________________________________
____ Lorin R. (Larry) Lammers Quarterdeck Officer___________________________________
____ Robert N. (Bob) Helton, MD Flight Surgeon___________________________________

FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIP OFFICER
FRAN PIERI

I want to thank those of you who brought a guest to the luncheon. I'm sorry
that I was unable to bring the mike around for you to introduce your friends.
But, with two speakers and the length of their presentation; the luncheon would
have lasted longer than it already did. Those of you who were kind enough to
bring a guest, do the "follow up". Ask them if they liked the camaraderie,
food, speakers etc. If so, get them to fill out the membership form and mail it
to me ASAP so we can put their name on the mailing list for next months
luncheon.

The Ray Pett "let me buy you a drink" contest is still running
strong. Any member who signs up a new member into the GRAMPS SQDN.,before the
November 2004 luncheon will claim the $150.00 award. The national contest for
ANA membership ends on Dec. 31st 2004. When you sign up five (5) or more new
members, you become an "ACE" and will receive a FREE annual membership.

If you know of anyone who would like a copy of the Op-Plan, let me know and I will
mail them one. The Grampaw Pettybone Squadron is open to anyone interested in
Naval Aviation. They don't have to have had any prior military service to join.
I hope to see you all at the luncheon on Thursday, October 14th. Bring a
friend.

Keep the blue side up. FRAN PIERI