The White Falcon - 18.07.1986, Side 1

Vol. 26 No. 24 NATO Base, Keflavik, Iceland July 18, 1986
Quick thinking, acting stops possible collision
By J03 Tim Abbott
"I didn't do anything that anyone else wouldn't
have done in the some position. I just happened
to be at the right place at the right time," said
883 lllesley Del wore II, Patrol Squordon Eight
(UP-8).
On the afternoon of June 5, 1986, the winds that
were blowing across the ramp were extremely
strong. Wes, while performing his duties as duty
driver for VP-8, spotted a large ground support
equipment cart being blown across the ramp. He
realized that the cart was heading towards the
rapidly turning propellers of an aircraft. Wes
quickly placed the truck between the cart and the
aircraft to prevent what could of been a very serious
accident.
In the citation for Wes's Navy Achievement Medal,
W.E. Foshay, commanding officer VP-8 stated,
’...Your quick thinking averted a potentially cata-
strophic ground mishap that could have resulted in
the loss of a valuable aircraft and jeopardized the
safety of its crew... “
In Wes's closing remarks he wanted to make sure
that credit was given to four Air Force people that
Photo by PH2 Pamela Cyr
invaluably helped him. "The catastrophe was averted
not only to me moving the truck in the collision path,
but to the fast thinking of four Air Force personnel.
They grasped the chains that were being dragged
behind the cart and slowed it down."
The Navy Lodge is a very important transient home for incoming and outgoing
families, as well as TAD/TDYpersonnel. Lately the lodge has been having
availability problems. What does the lodge consist of and who get s first
priority? story on page 2.