Static display participants and aircraft types:  Confirmed Mike Carroll's Authentically Restored Huey #425 that accumulated 1977 lodged combat hours in Vietnam: U.S. Coast Guard Air Rescue Helicopter; minimum of 2 World War II aircraft which will fly in. Pitts Specials; Xtra 300; L-39 Jet Trainer; Grumman OV - 1 Mowhawk Airborne Radar System;  Pt 17 Stearman; Cessna 01 Bird Dog; Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum; Group 6 Florida Wing Civil Air Patrol; Historic Military display provided by Pat Regis Antiques Fort Lauderdale; various pieces of military equipment from Joint Command U.S. Army and Air Force Reserve, per Colonel James Evans.

Benefits to the community and the airport:  Positive media coverage, TV and print, free attendance for the community, the opportunity to promote a tremendous spirit of PATRIOTISM, and to thank all those who have served and their families.       

IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT DAY AT SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT!    
To Participate Contact Jim Costa: 954-980-9400

The young man Jose, is an eight year regular Navy man and his wife is in the Navy reserve. The family resides in Maryland. They were impressed with the Museum's collection saying it is different from other Navy Museum. Jose said his interest was in finding out about the navy men who went on before him making the American Navy that we have today, the Navy he is very proud to be a part of. Jose said new recruits complain about the uncomfortable fabrics used in today's navy uniforms but if they were to see what navy seamen wore in the past they would not complain as much.

Tim Ryan Broward County Commissioner, District 7, talks with David White, who was a Flight Instructor at NAS Fort Lauderdale, during World War II. David participated in the search for Flight 19. Also present is NASFL Museum founder Allan McElhiney, and vice-president of Museum John Bloom talking with Commissioner Tim Ryan and Frank Loconto, from BECON Education TV Channel-SBBC

George Beyer Fairchild
USN WWII, Korea, and Vietnam
Chief Petty Officer (ADRC)

George Beyer Fairchild was a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He enlisted in the U.S Navy in 1945, and served his country during World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He received several medals for his service to his country. George Fairchild served on the Seaplane Tender USS Pine Island (AV-12), during the Antarctic Expedition "Operation Highjump."

In November 1946 the U.S. Navy launched the largest Antarctic expedition ever organized. Code-named Operation Highjump (OpHjp), officially titled The United States Navy Antarctic Developments Program (1946-1947). Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd led 4700 men, aboard thirteen ships with twenty-three aircraft. As Byrd said, "The object lesson of all this is obvious. The shortest distance between the new and old worlds is across the Arctic Ocean and the north polar regions. It is freely predicted that here will be one of the great battle areas of future wars". Operation Highjump commenced 26 August 1946 and ended in late February 1947. The primary mission was to establish the Antarctic research base Little America IV.

George Fairchild's ship the USS Pine Island was commanded by Capt. Henry H. Caldwell USN, and was part of EAST GROUP (Task Group 68.3). Departing Norfolk on 4 December, the ship crossed the Antarctic Circle on 25 December 1946. Carrying one Sikorsky HO3S-1 helicopter, one Curtiss SOC Seagull amphibian, and tending three Martin PBM-5 Mariner flying boats. The ship contributed to the aerial exploration of Antarctica, and also saved several downed aviators from the hostile climate: on December 30, 1946, aviation radiomen Wendell K. Hendersin, Fredrick W. Williams, and Ensign Maxwell A. Lopez were killed when their PBM Mariner George 1 crashed during a blizzard. The surviving six crew-members, including Aviation Radioman James H. Robbins and co-pilot William Kearns, were rescued 13 days later.  A plaque was later erected at the McMurdo Station research base honoring the three killed crewmen. In addition, a bay in Antarctica, Pine Island Bay, was named in honor of the USS Pine Island, and a glacier on Thurston Island was also named after the ship.

George retired from the Navy in 1966, with the rank of Chief Petty Officer (ADRC) and moved to Headland, Alabama with his wife Betty Sue. They had 3 daughters, 2 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandsons. George attended The University of Maryland, The University of Guam, Pensacola Junior College and Wallace Community College in Dothan. He later graduated from Troy State University with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education and a Masters Degree in Education to teach reading. George worked for the State of Alabama as a GED Instructor. He was also a graduate of the Alabama Aviation & Technical College in Ozark, and retired in 2012, from Ft. Rucker as an A&P helicopter inspector. Well into his eighties, George completed a 25 mile bicycle ride at the Tri States-100 on August 25, 2007. He was also involved with various causes in his community. George passed away August 25, 2013. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Sue Baxter Fairchild. The Fairchild family were kind in donating Mr. Fairchild's WWII Uniform: Class A, U.S Navy jacket with insignia and two WWII dress trousers.


Photos from Operation Highjump Expedition
© Copyright South-Pole.com

Eleven Months and Nineteen Days: A Vietnam Illustrator's Memoir

In his new book, John Bowen documents the physical and emotional trials of his Vietnam experience, and his readjustment to civilian life. The story is beautifully supplemented by his original drawings. Bowen was stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base outside of Saigon in 1968. Being the only illustrator in the 834th Air Division Headquarters Unit, he had to quickly acclimate himself and get to work supporting the division - graphically. One of the jobs assigned to him was documenting the Airlift resupply by drawing and painting the actual operations on site, in action. He sketched in the field and on the Tan Son Nhut flight line. Join him for a different view of Vietnam - that of an Air Force Illustrator.

BOOK SPECS:
ISBN #: 978-0-9857295-5-4
Softbound
269 pages
43 black & white drawings
Size:  9"x 6"

Eleven Months and Nineteen Days
Introduction by John Bowen

    "At twenty-five and married with two young children, I had finally gotten a handle on my life. My responsibility had been growing steadily as an Air Force Illustrator. I had received a promotion to Staff Sergeant at an air base outside of Austin, Texas where I was running the base graphics shop. My world had become predictable and secure. But it all changed abruptly one day with a phone call. I was suddenly thrust into another world-a distant land torn by turmoil and poverty, far from those I loved. This is the testament of my inner struggle as I fought to survive the harsh realities of the Vietnam War. These twelve months would be the longest I had ever known. They would test my strength as an individual and the bonds of my marriage. My story documents the psychological effects of the war as it unfolded and the lingering aftereffects as I struggled to readjust to the outside world. It is an experience that altered the course of my life, and a story that must be told.

    In Vietnam I served with the 834th Air Division Headquarters Unit at Tan Son Nhut Air Base outside of Saigon. There I served as an Illustrator from November 1967 through November 1968. The 834th handled the airlift resupply for the entire country. Being the sole illustrator in this two hundred man unit proved to be very demanding. Although I had never asked to be sent to ’Nam, I began my tour with a calm acceptance. I was motivated to fulfill my mission. Despite the oppressive heat and crude equipment, I worked efficiently. My time was filled with endless assignments as I helped document the war effort with statistical presentations and briefings. One assignment had me in the field where I completed, over time, a large series of drawings and paintings on all aspects of airlift operations in Vietnam. Being an artist had always given me a keen sensitivity to my surroundings. But in a place like ’Nam it only served to magnify the horrific nature of the war. I observed civilians struggling to maintain a sense of normalcy in a land where their security was constantly threatened. Death was a way of life. The image of a crippled young child was to haunt me for many years. My cousin Dean, who was an Army Radio Operator in a Reconnaissance Platoon, was wounded during a Delta operation, south of Tan Son Nhut. I spent many hours with him as he recuperated at the 3rd field hospital in Saigon. We became very close during that time, and I was glad to finally see him ship back to the states. With the stresses of wartime the friendships developed took on a special intensity too. It became important to have someone to trust, and commiserating made the experience more bearable.

    It was said there were no front lines in Vietnam. Attacks could occur anywhere at any time. We lived with this possibility, and endured several serious attacks during the Tet Offensive and in May, during the Spring Offensive, when the Viet-Cong tried to infiltrate the 1200 Area, where I lived. During February and March the base endured night-time rocket attacks, causing much damage and casualties among the support troops. Being a support troop didn’t exclude me. I was drawn into the war just the same, forced to defend the base, and my life. As time wore on the morale of those around me began to slip. I couldn’t help but be affected. Our mission was no longer clear. We were no closer to victory then when the war began and the threat of violence never diminished. We began to hear about the anti-war protests back home and that further eroded our morale. I agonized over the separation from my family and lived for those brief moments when I could hear their voices on the phone, listen to their tapes and read their letters. I had a loving, supportive wife and two children who had just been getting to know me before I left for Vietnam. I began to wonder if I would be able to pick up the pieces when I returned.

    When that day finally arrived there was no fanfare, no sympathy-not even acknowledgement by the general public. The irony was that for all my personal sacrifices and those of my comrades, our reception was anything but warm upon our return to the states. It was as if people resented being reminded of a war they had never asked for, a war without end, without purpose. It seemed that everyone just wanted to forget about us, so we became known as the “throwaway soldiers”. In the weeks that followed violent memories of ’Nam would invade my sleep and intrude into my consciousness as I tried to fit back into society and my role as husband and father. I felt estranged from everything, including my family. My wife tried patiently to understand, but in the end it was my own battle. I had to face the demons alone. The government offered no psychological counseling to help the troops re-assimilate. It was hard to comprehend how this could have been overlooked. How could our government have been so callous by asking us to risk our lives without a thought for the repercussions of the war? This was yet another hurdle I had to cross on my own.

    After struggling with readjusting to “the world” during my thirty day leave at home, it was with some relief to reunite with military personnel again at my next duty station. It was so good to be able to share stories and experiences that they could understand and relate to. This was the special bond veterans had. In years to come I would feel a special kinship with servicemen, an eagerness to hear of their experiences and share my own. In time the nightmares subsided, but the memories of those Eleven Months and Nineteen Days would never fade."

Click on images to enlarge
Copyright © John Bowen

John Bowen has been an artist and illustrator for more than 45 years. He first studied commercial art at the School of Fine and Industrial Arts in Newark, New Jersey. After two years of experience in advertising agencies, he entered the United States Air Force as an illustrator. His duties in the Air Force included a year of documenting airlift operations in South Vietnam, and his illustrations are on display at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. Upon establishing a residence in South Florida, John discovered the many varied landscapes of the state containing the only subtropical climate in the U.S. and the wonderful lighting that Florida's climate affords.

• Read more about John Bowen's new book
• or browse through his extensive Gallery of artworks: John Bowen Watercolorist