THE T-BOLTER - VMFA-251

THE T-BOLTER
A publication for all Marines who have served
with VMFA-251 from World War II to the present.
Volume 1, Number 2
Tel: 404-944-1268 | E-mail: [email protected] | Web: www.vmfa251.org
Want to contribute?
20,000 Hours
The following is from the MCAS Beaufort base
presented to the Colonel, Captain Space, and the
This semi-regular newsletter, if it is to
paper dated Aug 23, 1968, Pg. 5. Sent in by Gary
youngest Marine of the squadron.
have a long life, will depend on you to
Herrmann.
contribute. Articles and stories can be
any
length,
whatever
you
are
Marine Aviation Safety was scored at Marine Corps
comfortable with. So put those pen and
Air Station when a Marine Aircraft Group 32
pencils to paper or start striking that
surpassed 20,000 hrs of accident-free flying.
keyboard, and send them my way!
The safety mark, over four years in the making, was
I prefer articles and stories to be in either
chalked up by Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251
.doc or docx format, but any will do.
(VMFA-251) which flies the F-4 "Phantoms".
Pictures should be jpeg format and at
high resolution. When sending them, be
According to Captain C.A. Brumbaugh, safety
Above: U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. William Gillespie
sure to include your name for proper
officer for VMFA-251, who confirmed the record
gives the all systems are good signal for an F/A-
attribution.
with Major L.A. Whiple, F-4 and RF-4 Safety officer,
18 Hornet aircraft on the flight deck aboard the
Naval Safety Norfolk, Va., VMFA,251 is the only
aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) under
Marine Phantom Squadron with more accident free
way in the Arabian Sea June 2, 2011. Gillespie is
hours.
a mechanic assigned to Marine Fighter Attack
Items
can
be
sent
to
[email protected] or snail mailed to
Steve
Dixon,
404
Calgary
Peachtree City, Georgia, 30269.
Drive,
Squadron (VMFA) 251. (U.S. Marine Corps photo
The present record came at mid-morning last
Monday when Colonel R.J. Schriver, commanding
officer of MAG-32 and Captain F. W. Space, radar
intercept officer, flew the 20,000 hours during local
radar training.
In a formal observance of the feat, a squadron
formation in front of the 251 hangar was formed,
with a cake cutting ceremony, and an address from
Colonel Schriver. Afterward, models of the F-4 were
by Lance Cpl. Courtney)
ACE MIKE YUNCK
Credited with shooting down five Japanese planes during
World War II.
Mike Yunck was born in Detroit,
Later, while leading a four-plane fighter
Michigan. He was a First Lieutenant
group, he personally accounted for three
when he was awarded the Silver Star.
of six enemy aircraft shot down in a
vigorous engagement, and in this action
The President of the United States of
received such extensive damage to his
America takes pleasure in presenting the
own plane that all the navigational
Silver Star to Michael Ryan Yunck
instruments ceased to function. Despite
(MCSN: 0-7484), United States Marine
this
Corps
conspicuous
extremely adverse conditions imposed
gallantry and intrepidity in action while
by darkness and heavy rain, First
detached to a detachment of Marine
Lieutenant
Observation Squadron TWO HUNDRED
judgment
FIFTY-ONE
action
ability, successfully returned to his base.
against enemy Japanese forces in the
His dauntless courage and valiant
Solomon Islands Area from 26 October
devotion to duty in the face of great odds
to 10 December 1942. In this prolonged
were
series of intense hostile activities, First
traditions of the Untied States Naval
Lieutenant Yunck, displaying superb
Service. Action Date: October 26 -
airmanship participated in numerous
December 10, 1942
Reserve,
for
(VMO-251),
in
severe
in
handicap
Yunck,
and
with
superior
keeping
and
with
under
excellent
professional
the
highest
hazardous missions, serving as leader of
an eight-plane flight of fighters during the
latter part of the period. On one occasion
ent?
” mom
p
a
r
C
,
“O h
Go t a n
h an
oto wit
h
p
e
Send th
ation to
explan
g and
251.or
fa
m
v
@
frenchy
future
ar in a
e
p
p
a
it may
issue!
when his plane was so badly damaged
by anti-aircraft fire that he was forced to
land in the sea, First Lieutenant Yunck,
through his own resourcefulness and
sheer determination, made his way back,
after three weeks, to his base on
Guadalcanal to resume flight duties.
Marine Corps ace Mike Yunck
What happened to the Crusader?
Dated 13 Feb, 1962 on board USS Shangri-La CVA38 Med Cruise. Pilot is Lt/Col E. E. Poor in A/C 201 Bu
No 145401. Starboard axle broke on touchdown and
you can see wheel assy flying off toward # 3 elevator
on the left. I was standing next to the Navy photog
when he took the photo from the 07 level. Photo: Doug
Crawford.
VMO-251 Wildcat quenches its thirst. Espiritu Santo, 1942. USMC photo.
THE PLANES
The North American Fury:
The Planes of 251
During its existence as an USMC aviation
squadron, VMFA-251 has flown several
types of military aircraft. Here’s a photo
synopsis of those planes.
Vought F4U Corsair:
The Vought Crusader:
Picture Notes (above):
Inset: A VMFA-251 FA-18 takes off from a
US Navy aircraft carrier. DoD photo.
Top: A pair of 251 F-4J Phantom II’s over the
The Douglas Skyraider:
skies of Japan during the 1977-78 WestPac
tour.
VMA-251 patch -- 1950s
Grumman F4F Wildcat:
ROBERT M. HANSEN AWARD
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron of the
Year – VMFA-251 “Thunderbolts”
2012
Presented by the Marine Corps Aviation Association
Photo: Flight deck crew observe flight deck
intent on every single occasion, had 100% valid
safety as an F/A-18C Hornet from Fighter Attack
ordnance deliveries, and achieved 99% sortie
Squadron Two Five One (VMFA-251), assigned
completion rate - the highest in the air wing -
to Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1), launches with
during 432 sorties and 2,605 flight hours,
full afterburner from the flight deck of USS
maintaining the highest level of flight leadership
GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73).
George
and exceeding the requirements for training
Washington and Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1)
readiness. Deployed for nine months, their
are in the Persian Gulf to support UN efforts to
professionalism was displayed by surpassing
compel Iraqi compliance with UN resolutions.
50,000 mishap-free flight hours, maintaining
69.8% Fleet Marine Corps, 77.8% Marine
After
returning
deployment
from
only
eight
a
previous
months
combat
prior
and
conducting two pre-deployment detachments in
Corps rates during combat operations, and
being awarded the “Golden Wrench” for best
maintenance practices in the air wing.
the interim, the “Thunderbolts” deployed on 10
March aboard USS Enterprise, which was the
The combat effectiveness of VMFA-251 and
25th and final deployment for the ship. As part of
their enviable success achieved throughout
Carrier Air Wing One, the squadron conducted
2012 is keeping with the highest traditions of
combat operations in support of Operation
Marine Corps aviation.
ENDURING FREEDOM. squadron was also
reviewed for cleanliness of maintenance areas,
accuracy of maintenance logs, maintenance
practices and other criteria set by CVW-1.
The squadron met the ground commanders’
The combat effectiveness of VMFA-251 and their enviable success
achieved throughout 2012 is keeping with the highest traditions of
Marine Corps aviation.