www.VP-21.org
and www.VPB-111.org
A Message from the Left Seat:
Since this will be the last
newsletter before the holidays, I want to take this opportunity to wish you all
a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Drive
safe, fly safe, and be safe.
Please find the time to view the
rosters on our web site and, if you notice any acquaintances with a “U”
following their names whose current location you know, kindly send us the
information so we can get them back in the fold.
One of our squadron mates, Russell Warnberg (62-64) has written a story called “Edge of
Redemption” that is being published by Tate Publishing and will hit the book
stores (those that still exist) in time for Christmas. It’s a mystery that takes place in Maine (Russ
settled in Windham, ME after he left VP-21 and spent the last 40 years as a
teacher in the Windham school system). I want to wish Russ all the best with
this first novel and hope that its success will be followed by many more.
Again, have a wonderful holiday
season and I’ll be back with you in the spring.
Bill
Donations Received:
The following persons have
graciously made donations to our organization:
Bill Kearney, Rudolph F. Falkenstein, H. Clark Island, Daniel Carew, Charles F. Brinegar, H.H. Ashton, William B. Oconnell
JR., Reinhold Gene Mcghghy, Geraldine M. Raab and Vincent R. Raab in
memory of her father, Henry H. Hubner, LTJG in
VPB-111, Joseph E. Sheehan, Eugene T. Sullivan. This is all that I have for the fall newsletter.
Thanks for helping to keep
our group airborne.
Tiny
PLEASE NOTE: The VPB-111/VP-21 Veterans Association charges no
dues. Our operations are totally supported by the generous contributions of our
membership, and by the sale of our squadron products. The association comes
under section 501(C) 19, of the Internal Revenue Code as a "Not for
Profit" organization. As such,
contributions are legitimate tax deductions. Please make your contribution
checks payable to the "VPB-111/VP-21 Veterans Association" and
forward them to the Treasurer, Leland Ledford,127 Pete
St., Waterloo, SC, 29384-4647.
Taps:
It is with a heavy heart that
we bid farewell to our shipmates on their final flight.
Wallace E. Derryberry, Cmdr. USN: Joined the Navy
in 1942. Passed
away 11 August, 2011. Received his wings in March, 1943. Tours of duty were in the
Pacific, in the Black Cat Squadron. He returned to the states with 2
Distinguished Flying Crosses and 5 Air medals. In 1946, his orders took him to
Miami, where he was a member of the 1st Hurricane Squadron..
He served in VP B-111 from 1943 to 1945
where he was Dick Webb’s Pilot.
May they rest in peace.
A MESSAGE FROM THE WEBMASTER:
WELCOME (BACK) ABOARD:
John Swobland: Served with VP21 from ‘56 to ‘60. He flew with crew 4.
Welcome back aboard, John.
From the Storekeeper:
Looking for a gift idea for
your significant other to get you for a Christmas present? Look no further than
your Association Small Stores that has a great selection of gift items such as
the popular P-2 Neptune "Two Turning VP Two Burning" gold embroidered
Navy Blue color ball cap with a gold "scrambled egg" design on the
visor. This handsome ball cap can be yours for a modest $18.00 cost that
includes shipping and handling. Other popular Small Stores items include the
VP-21 Squadron "Blackjack" Patch (5" Large at $10 or a 3"
Small at $6); VP-21 "Blackjack" Lapel/Hat Pin at $4; VPB-111 "Dumbo" or "Truculent Turtle" 3" Small
Squadron Patches at $6; White Outer Banks brand Polo Shirts with embroidered
Naval Aviator Gold Wings and VPB-111/VP-21 Veterans Association
lettering at $25 (available in medium, large and X Large sizes), and an incredible
book, The Story of One Eleven, about our rich heritage as a Navy PB4Y
squadron that served in England, North Africa and the far Pacific during World
War II. We also have a related book, Low Level Liberators, that tells the story of Patrol
Bombing Squadron 104 in the South Pacific during World War II. Both books sells
for $29 each and each tell incredible stories about the brave young men who
fought valiant battles in these marvelous flying machines. These and other gift
items may be viewed on the Association Website at www.vp-21.org.
For further information or to place your order, contact Storekeeper, Carter Nute, at (352) 335-1293 or by e-mail at ccnute@earthlink.net.
From the Online Coordinator:
The associations Email Roster
that lists all members with Email addresses on file with the association is
updated quarterly, and provided via Email to all members on the roster. To take advantage of this benefit (what
better way to keep track of old shipmates?), all you need to do is send your
Email address to the Email Roster coordinator, Dan Dwyer, at DDwyer1@Maine.RR.Com and he’ll add you to
the roster and send a copy back to you of the then current roster. Please be sure to provide the following
information with your request to be on the Email roster. Below is the information needed for the roster:
Last Name, First Name, City
and State of Residence, Years in the Squadron,
Email Address
What’s it cost? NOTHING!
However, we do ask that the roster only be used to establish one on one
contact with fellow shipmates, and that it never be used for any commercial
activity or mass mailings. Respect for
the privacy of other members on the roster is a paramount concern.
Currently we have four hundred and
sixty four members who have submitted their Email address for inclusion on the
roster. Sadly, we have an additional one
hundred and twenty three members with whom we’ve lost Email contact due to
their having changed their Email address without notifying the association. So,
if you haven’t heard from us in the last four months?? Please update your email
address and service provider information.
Feel like being a detective??? Then join up to receive the Email roster
and help us find those one hundred and twenty three missing squadron
mates. Who knows, some of you might be
in daily contact with these members, and neither you nor they realize they’ve
“”gone missing”” and we don’t know where they are.
FALL 2011
A non-profit, fraternal, and historical association
devoted to the reestablishment of contact with shipmates of the past, to
strengthen the camaraderie among its members, to record and preserve the
memories and incidents of the Association, to preserve the memory of departed
shipmates, and to promote the comfort and welfare of its members and survivors.
No dues are assessed!
Directors:
The ‘Vagabond News’ is the official
publication of the Association, and is circulated quarterly in the Winter
(January/March), Spring (April/June), Summer (July/September), and Fall
(October/December), as a third class bulk-rate mail from Southampton, PA, Post
Office (Permit #61). All costs of the publication are supported by voluntary
contribution only. To ensure that materials of interest are promptly published,
members should submit same prior to the publishing quarter to John G. Esposito,
862 Central Ave., Southampton, PA 18966. All inputs will be published in a
timely manner.
NOVEMBER
2011
U.S.
Postage
PAID
Permit #61
Southampton, PA 18966
VPB-111/VP21 VETERANS ASSOCIATION
Non Profit Org.
255 Mere Point Rd
Brunswick, ME
04011
Return Service Requested