Memorial Day, 2014

There are new crew photos for the Shortlidge crew and the King crew, along with new crew info. 

VPB-118 lost 31 members in action.

Lasater Crew (missing in action 6 May, 1945):
Lt. J.A. Lasater
Ens. M.L. Gibson
Ens. C.J. Milner
AMM2c E.W. Smith
ARM3c W.J. Hawkins
AMM3c C.W. Jacobs
AOM2c R.E. Miller
AMM2c S.C. Bryant
ARM3c D. McAllsiter
ARM3c H.F. Brockhorst
AOM3c W.L. Thornton
AMM3c R.A. Carr

McCutcheon Crew (killed in action 21 July, 1945):
Lt. L.P. McCutcheon
Lt.(jg) F. Reeve
Ens. W.E. Bucklew
AFC1c O.A. Bunkers
AMM2c A.D. Nelson
AMM3c J.N. Welch

Park Crew (killed in action 8 August, 1945):
Lt.(jg) J.R. Park
Ens. G.W. Lewton
Ens. H.L. Lowe
ARM3c E.K. Hall
S1c M.E. Hedrick
AMM3c J.M. James
AOM3c R.A. Koontz
S1c C.A. McKinney, Jr.
ACOM(AA)(T) M.M. Marice
AMM2c J.E. Piquette
S1c P. Prietz
ARM3c R.R. Reinhart
ARM3c H.J. Wartzack

Veterans Day 2013

I marvel often at how the guys of VPB-118 could fly thousands of miles over open ocean, with the possibility of combat always an element. So I hold those guys, as well as all of the members of the United States armed forces, past and present, in highest regard.

Memorial Day 2013

Thirty-one young guys from VPB-118 made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Many more thousands did the same since the beginnings of this nation. In my opinion each one lost and each one that made it home are best honored by remembering their contribution to history, and by learning from that history.

Techincal Difficulties

My hosting service erroneously deleted the hypercontiuum.com account, even though it had a lot of time left on it. I am working on restoring everything; updates to follow. [2013-01-26,8-47] Site has been back up for a while now. I'm still seeing some problems of another sort off and on, however. Anyway, things are mostly back to normal. [2013-02-20,15-44]

Copy of the VPB-118 book on eBay

This is rather rare: a copy of the VPB-118 book is for sale on eBay. Auction ends January 23. VPB-118 book auction.

Veterans' Day 2012

Thanks to all of America's veterans who sacrificed so that we could live in a nation such as America. May their efforts always be remembered. May there be less wars in the future, also.

Memorial Day 2012

So, another Memorial Day rolls around. I won't post the names of the missing and killed in action from VPB-118; you can see that list by scrolling down a little bit and looking at last year's post. One of the names on that list is Otto Bunkers, of Crew 11, McCutcheon's crew. That was the only VPB-118 plane lost from which survivors were recovered, about half the crew. Otto didn't make it, which makes this photo all the more poignant. Let's not forget those that came before us.