Local 8251 Reunion News

You may find here news of pending and completed reunions or events related to the P-3 Flight Engineer Community.

        8251 Day (resked) was held January 22-24, 2009. I am proud to have taken part in this event and look forward to many more of the same...kinda.

      For the general public, 8251 is the Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) for a P-3 Flight Engineer. Taken in Julian Date context (The Julian Date is the interval of time in days and fractions of a day, since January 1, 4713 BC Greenwich noon, Julian proleptic calendar) 8251 Day would be the 251st day of the year. However, since the first digit is for the year, 8251 Day would only occur each 10 years. Forget that! It's a long time to wait on a beer with your brothers...

        First; I'd like to point out that a reunion, any reunion be it small or large will require a great degree of planning. Time and fiscal constraints have and will continue to have the biggest impact on its success or failure. Due to the tenacity of our brother Chris N., this reunion would not have been possible. Thanks Chris...From your home in the Gulf you managed to pull off that which seemed distant and almost impossible. That Chris coordinated this of his own accord highlights his belief in the continued existence of an organization (More on that later).  

        Note: All the pictures are thumb nailed...clicking on a picture will present you with a very large view as these are high resolution and large files. Enjoy...

        Thursday, January 22

        The wife and I rolled into town Thursday around noon, checked into the digs and immediately thereafter set out for Murrays. Having been away from the Jacksonville area for so long, my GPS got us to Murrays on time. Yes...for shame I did not remember the way!

Welcome To Murrays

        We checked into Murrays at 1400 and were met by Phil C. and Dale H. Then the fight started! Only kidding...We soon found out from the staff at Murrays that Chris would be unable to attend. Not one to sit around and watch the grass grow, Flight Engineers present hastily threw together a known schedule of events and posted same in bar area. Can't say I remember much after that. She said I had a good time course I don't always understand what that means either...I will say this; Phil, you're a damn good man and I am happy to have met you. We didn't talk a whole lotta' Flight Engineer shit but I sure learned alot.

        Friday, January 23

        Friday morning we had a shitty Embassy Suites breakfast and then headed out to Jax. Met up with Rick R. and his wife at NADEP for an aircraft tour given by Leroy D. Thanks Leroy, after having to deal with some of that Zone 5 stuff it was nice to see the work in progress. After the tour we four went to Hangar 1000...gave the wives a look see at a real 4 engine turboprop aircraft and then had a coming home to Jesus session with a Flight Engineer getting an IFE flight. Many thanks to our VP-62 brethren for allowing us to crawl on the warhorse once again.

        We then made our way across the street to the Simulators. This was so cool; To have once again the opportunity to operate (fly) the Orion in a simulated environment was priceless. Gil W., Rick S., and Carl C. took the time to show us the improvements made in hardware and software upgrades. A helluva lot different than when I grew up and overall quite an effective training tool. Leroy, Rick, and I did some flying to include touch and go's here and there then turned the controls over to the wives with Leroy as center seat. They adapted quite well and were quite happy...Boys being boys or should I say Engineers being Engineers, after requesting they take up a head through the middle of a bay, engines 1,2, and 3 developed malfunctions and had to be shut down. A single outboard engine ditch ensued...the outcome of which I decline to discuss. Well done ladies!

        A short break for lunch and then a meet at Murrays at 1700. I believe this was met with greater attendance than all other meets and I thank all that showed. I'm still wondering if Phil C. ever left the previous evening as he was found straddling the same stool. I'm elated to have met brethren I had only heard of previously and only happier to make acquaintance once again with those from whom I had spent a great portion of my Naval career striving to be a Naval Flight Engineer...I hope history shows I served both my "shipmates" and the Navy well. I sat back for a time and peered into the faces of those around me, memories cascading through my mind and feeling as if this were only yesterday and thought...Today there are greater lines in many of our faces, no doubt an indicator of our mortality, yet I cannot fail to note the same twinkle that exists in our eyes. It is the same as yesterday...it is the "knowing", the being of a Flight Engineer.  Well dome all!

The pictures below are necessarily those of us at Murrays as there are to all familiar, security issues with respect to pictures at our other site visits.

        Saturday, January 24

        Amongst certain circles, a widely held belief is that the consummation of beer would make one smarter. At the tender age of 47 I am just beginning to think this may not be so as I once again found myself choking down the morning eats at the hotel. But it was free right!?

        As eight of our brothers assembled for the golfex at Fleming Island, the wife and I wheeled down A1A toward Daytona Beach, stopping at a few Harley dealers for trinkets. We as well as those golfing had a blast. Pics of the golf outing can be seen on http://www.centerseat.net until I can lift a few for this site.

        1800; At Whiteys Fish Camp Local 8251 gathered on this last day of celebration. I can't say enough about the fine job Chris N. did setting this up...we had 7 reserved tables set aside for our party asses! So cool! A thank you goes to Whiteys and that of their staff, especially Leslie for keeping the tab straight and allowing us to be who we were.

        What ensued this evening was essentially 5 hours of swilling, eating, talk, and laughter. Given the public atmosphere, I think the potential for an outlandish act or two was played down. Some of us nonetheless were almost witness to the willingness of Tim W. to get nekkid'. Thanks...and no thanks brother, I'll wait for the YouTube version.

        I cannot bear witness to all that occurred this evening and I really did try to be cognizant of everything. What I was witness to were the looks on the faces of other patrons...That of admiration of men unafraid to hug one another, of compassion and understanding, of a common bond. Somehow I felt they knew who we were, who we are...Flight Engineers.

        To underscore what I feel is the importance of camaraderie, the value of brotherhood, let me inform you that we had a brother Flight Engineer present himself for a short period of time. Accompanied by his wife who had just had surgery was John H. and he was looking for Phil C. What was not most significant was that John was there, the significance of this act was that his wife wanted him to be there. Maybe to do as I...to revel in remembrance...being there again...being a Flight Engineer. Look at the pics and let's do it again!

        So there you are. Thanks brothers for making my time at the reunion an enjoyable one.

        Running out of time this weekend as the Superbowl approaches...An update to this page will be a few opinions I have on how we may best proceed with future endeavors. In the interim, please do not hesitate to mail me with your own opinions...perhaps they are shared, as it should be.

        Fly safe...