Dear Tomcat Flyers, Fixers, and Fans
The 2015 reunion is fast approaching! We are 6 weeks from launch time in beautiful Pensacola Florida. A few details have been added to the agenda below, but I urge to register, and get your hotel and airline reservations now. Six weeks out is the best time to book, so don’t delay.
First, I am proud and excited to announce that the planned speaker at the Saturday banquet is RADM Mike “Nasty” Manazir. A west coast Tomcat driver who went on to command the Tomcatters of Fighter Squadron, USS Sacramento (AOE1), USS Nimitz (CVN68) and Carrier Strike Group 8 embarked on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Nasty is currently the Director, Air Warfare (OPNAV N98) where he is responsible for the development, programming, and budgeting of all U.S. Naval aviation warfighting requirements, resourcing and manpower. He is/was qualified in the F-14A/D and F/A-18E/F aircraft and has flown more than 3750 hours and 1200 arrested landings during 15 deployments aboard aircraft carriers on both coasts. I can’t think of a better person to talk to us about the state of Naval Aviation than RADM Mike Manazir.
Second, I want to thank Training Air Wing SIX Commodore, Captain Ted “Tag” Heflin. Tag spent 12 years in the Tomcat community with VF-102, SWATSLANT, VF-32, and VF-103. As the current Commodore at Pensacola, Tag has graciously volunteered to support our group with special events on base on both Wednesday, after the Blue Angel’s practice, and Friday afternoon, with a TW-6 winging ceremony in the National Naval Aviation Museum atrium where RDML Roy "Trigger" Kelley, CNATRA -- a former Tomcat pilot and VF-102 CO -- is the planned guest speaker for the winging ceremony, to be followed by a TW-6 winging Ceremony reception at the Mustin Beach Club. Those that prefer may continue to tour the museum until time to return to the hotel.
The panel discussions promise to be very lively. Tom Reilly is confirmed to tell the story of aircraft#1’s fateful last flight, and we are organizing other panels that promise to be both interesting and stimulating.
Hampton Inn and Suites on Pensacola Beach
Room Reservations: 1-800-320-8108
(Ask for Group Reservations – F-14 Association)
Gulf Front with Balcony – $179, South Side Rooms - $149
The day was April First. The year was 1945. The place was Ready Room Three onboard USS Bunker HIll, on station one hundred miles off the coast of Okinawa.