UNITED STATES AIR FORCE C-5
FLYBY HONORS THE CREW OF THE U.S.S. IOWA
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE C-5
FLYBY HONORS THE CREW OF THE U.S.S. IOWA
Trademark 2002
On Saturday, June 8, 2002 hundreds of former crew members of the battleship IOWA gathered on a large barge alongside BB-61. This was ground zero for the emotional 27th annual reunion of the crew at their ship, moored with almost 100 other vessels in the reserve fleet in Suisun Bay, just north of San Francisco. This event as well as the reunion was extensively supported by HSMPS and the Navy League of the United States.
HSMPS
has a long-term relationship with the Navy League of the United States ("NLUS").
Thus it should come as no surprise that HSMPS worked closely with NLUS on the
occasion of the Veterans Association of the U.S.S. Iowa reunion in San Francisco
in June 2002. We were extremely pleased that the NLUS had successfully
petitioned DOD for a flyover of the battleship in commemoration of the upcoming
Flag Day. In a real tribute to inter-service cooperation, Travis Air Force
Base eagerly complied to the request for a flyover by fielding one of the free
world’s largest aircraft, a C-5 cargo plane from the 30th Air Mobility Wing.
So it was that we gathered on Saturday, June 8, at the IOWA to observe and celebrate with the crew their reunion while enjoying a sight never before seen, a low level C-5 flyover of an IOWA-class battleship. It was a stunning sight to see this enormous aircraft flyover over the 886 foot IOWA at 1,200 feet, as depicted in the photo above. The C-5 was so large that it seemed to be suspended or simply float, as it slowly passed overhead with its landing gear and flaps down with landing lights turned on. Following its initial pass over the battleship, the aircraft turned around over the Benicia Railroad Bridge and returned for a second low level fly-by! At this point, some people were jumping up and down they were so excited and there was a sense of exhilaration onboard. The flyby was a spectacular sight, enormously impressive and full of meaning.
Keynote speakers at this event included
HSMPS President Ed Cummings, Captain Lawrence Jones, head of the Navy's Inactive Ship Program, and Paul
Gomez, HSMPS and the Veterans Association of the U.S.S. Iowa Director. These
men, all associated with one of America’s greatest ships, showed that indeed
IOWA is a national trust. HSMPS was proud to be on that barge, with the
crew, commemorating our ongoing quest to preserve and honor the IOWA.
As you might image, there was an Air Force presence on the barge as well. Indeed, relatives and friends of the flight crew were in attendance as were officers from Travis AFB helping to coordinate the C-5's approach. They were introduced to the crew and spectators during the ceremonies. HSMPS and the Navy League applaud the Air Force for making this event possible. There can be no question as to the outstanding service the Air Force provides the nation.
HSMPS’s reputation and stamina are clearly shown through events such as these. It takes determination and a good relationship with the nation’s armed services and its supporters to generate events like that which occurred on June 8. This is another outstanding example of HSMPS and Navy League teamwork to honor BB-61 and her crew. "BRAVO ZULU" (Well Done)!