The White Falcon - 14.03.1980, Blaðsíða 4

Page 4
The White Falcon
March 14, 1980
Sea bees assisted
an old aircraft
The B-29 Super Fortress is no
stranger to the Seabees. During
World War II, the Seabees construct-
ed the world's largest air base for
the Army Air Corps B-29 Super For-
tress aircraft. The air base was
built on Tinian, an island in the
Pacific, twelve miles long, six
miles wide. It was fairly flat and
provided a good airfield to place
the B-29s within range of Japan.
To support the huge B-29 fleet
that operated from Tinian, the Sea-
bees built six runways, each a mile
and a half long. Four were built
at North Field, together with eleven
miles of connecting taxiway and hard
stands for two hundred and sixty-
five B-29 planes. At West Field, an
eighteen mile taxiway network was
built.
In addition to the airfield fa-
cilities, the Seabees constructed
nearly one thousand buildings, miles
of roads, fuel and ammunition stor-
age and utility systems for the B-29
base.
When a B-29 enroute from China
Lake, California to the Imperial War
Museum in England, made a stopover
in Iceland, the Seabees again were
called upon to assist one of the few
remaining B-29s. During the journey
across the North Atlantic, the tem-
perature inside the B-29 dropped to
30° below. Seabees from the Public
Works Department, utilizing Seabee
ingenuity and their "can-do" spirit,
were able to provide a heating sys-
tem for the B-29.
Special programs
were used
Three enlisted personnel attached
to the U. S. Naval Communication
Station, Keflavik, Iceland recently
reenlisted.
RM1 Charles S. Phillips reenlist-
ed for four years under the Guard
III program for assignment to U. S.
Naval Communication Station Harold
E. Holt, Exmouth, Australia.
RM2 Patrick A. McPherson reen-
listed for four years under the
Guard III program for assignment to
U. S. Naval Communication Station,
Rota, Spain. Present for the oc-
casion were Petty Officer McPher-
son's wife, Donna, and his son
James.
ET2 Scott W. Michael reenlisted
for six under the STAR program for
guaranteed assignment to Advance
Electronics Technician school.
CW02 William M. Lyman administer-
ed the oaths of reenlist1- ant to the
above individuals.
SEABEES ARE POINTING PROUDLY—to a Seabee emblem placed on a B-29 after
Seabee repairs were completed are (left to right) SW2 Paul Hackenbruch,
SW3 Michael DePumpo, SW1 James L. Phillips and Cmdr. T Dames, the Public
Works Officer, Naval Station, Keflavik, Iceland.
The Y.C. offers many activities
The Youth Center offers the fol-
lowing courses of instruction by
certified teachers. There is ballet
for adults and children. For regis-
tration and information, call the
Youth Center at 7508.
Slimnastics is offered on Tues-
days and Thursdays 7-8 p.m. Regis-
tration is required. Another course
which is given is Belly Dancing for
children and adults. Call for reg-
istration and costs for the above
courses at the Youth Center.
The following programs for youth
are presently being offered at the
Youth Center. For a more complete
description of these programs, call
7508. Arts and Crafts: Mondays 3
to 3:30 p.m. No previous registra-
tion required. Minimum cost. Board
Games: Tuesdays 3 to 3:30 p.m. No,
previous registration required. Ni
expense.
Movies: Fridays 3 -to 3:30 p.m.
No previous registration required.
See page 5 activities