Dino Carpi, a World War II veteran from Brazil visited the Museum. Dino was part of the 1st, Expeditionary Infantry Divisions (EID) arriving at Naples, Italy, on July 1944.

Brazil became the only Latin American country to send troops to Europe. The total strength of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (BEF) was 25,334 military personnel. The BEF lost 509 men, having 451 killed in action, and 58 missing in action. And 1,577 wounded in action during the Italian campaign. Since the Paraguay War in 1865, the Brazilian Armed Forces had not lost so many personnel in less than a year. There is still much study in this area and these statistics differ across several historical sources.

Prior to World War II, for over one hundred years, Brazil had accepted a large number of Italian and German immigrants.  Many of the BEF soldiers like Dino Carpi were of Italian ancestry. Dino remembers how it surprised him to see the segregation in the Allied Armies because of race or skin color, as the Brazilian forces didn't segregate. He also remembers how ill prepared the BEF was when they first arrived in Italy: wearing their olive-green uniforms, they got a bad reception from the Italian population, as they thought they were Nazi prisoners. Furthermore, after a long grueling journey across the Atlantic, they arrived disarmed because the agreement between Brazil and the USA stated they would get their weapons in Italy. The BEF had to overcome more than anybody else in difficult and sometimes embarrassing situations, due to inadequate training, coordination, health conditions, uniforms, coats, and shoes. The U.S Army provided adequate clothing and equipment. After several losses, the BEF proved themselves, and went onto achieving battlefield successes at Massarosa, Camaiore, Mount Prano, Monte Acuto, San Quirico, Gallicano, Barga, Monte Castello, La Serra, Castelnuovo di Vergato, Soprassasso, Montese, Paravento, Zocca, Marano sul Panaro, Collecchio and Fornovo di Taro. Brazil was able to provide a meaningful tactical and strategic contribution.

The Brazilian Expeditionary Force called themselves Cobras Fumantes (Smoking Snakes). They created a shoulder patch which showed a snake smoking a pipe. According to popular belief, this was because someone supposedly said "snakes will start smoking pipes before Brazil joins the Allies." or "It's more likely for a snake to smoke a pipe, than for the BEF to go to the front and fight."  Until the BEF entered combat, the expression "a cobra vai fumar" ("the snake will smoke") was often used in Brazil in a context similar to "when pigs fly". After the war the meaning was reversed, signifying that something will definitively happen, in a furious and aggressive way. With that meaning, the use of the expression "a cobra vai fumar" has been retained in Brazil until the present times.

After the war, Dino Carpi became a Policeman, and then a Judge, until his retirement. He is currently writing a book of his experience in Italy during World War II.

The American Legion Riders

invite you to help Celebrate
as they Pay Tribute to the 70th Anniversary of D-Day
 
American Legion Post 222,
4250 NE 5th Ave, Oakland Park, FL


Friday June 13th, 2014  6pm to 10 pm

 
$10.00 pp  Dinner........Lasagna..........Sausage & Peppers.............Cabbage Roll. etc
 
Cash Bar .............Music.........Military Vehicle Display & Motorcycles
 
All Veterans and Non-Veterans Welcome!
 
Info: Russ G
954-560-5412
russ@russgevents.com

Boomer Times & Senior Life
Presents

A Day of Fun, Discovery, Surprises and

Special Veterans Recognition
(see attached)
at the

12th Boomer EXPO at
SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO
Friday, July 25, 2014  10am-4pm
WIN! WIN! WIN!
over 50 Premium Prizes!
FREE ADMISSION      FREE PARKING

Fabulous Exhibits on Travel, Health, Wealth & Entertainment

WIN! WIN! WIN!

*Flat Screen TV *Cruise for 2, *Weekend for 2
at a S. Florida Resort *$25 Gift Certificates
to Publix, Macy’s, Movies & More plus much, much, more!

 Check out these videos on YOUTUBE:

   Expo Veterans Ceremony:                  http://youtu.be/cP8SLHOj2KQ
Boomer Times Expo:                            http://youtu.be/863GLL6niuA

Lieutenant Alexander Ramsey "Sandy" Nininger
Hero of Bataan, Philippine Scouts
 U.S. Army, 57th Infantry

Exhibit Curated by Matthew J. Bloom
FSU graduate - NASFL Museum Intern

Lt. Nininger was the first Army soldier to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II, for his extraordinary actions in combat during the Japanese invasion of the Phillipines. After charging through the Japanese lines, Nininger eventually succumbed to his wounds, and his body was found in a foxhole, surrounded by the bodies of 3 Japanese soldiers (including an officer). Recommended by General MacArthur, Nininger was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. Lt. Nininger was a Fort Lauderdale, Florida resident.

Visit Nininger's Exhibit bio page and slideshow

George Hinton from the United Kingdom, trained as a TBM Avenger aviator at the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale during World War II. He lived in the NASFL Barracks and he remembers lots of details of life at the base, and about his experience in the city of Fort Lauderdale. George was part of a group of Aviators from the United Kingdom living and training at the former naval base. We will be writing down his biography which we'll share here at a later time.  George donated an original photograph of a group of Aviators at the NAS Fort Lauderdale in December of 1944. He is in the photograph, among with a group of training pilots from the UK, New Zealand and Canada. George and his wife Patricia visited the NASFL Museum over the weekend.

WILLIAM "BILL" KING - VA OUTPATIENT CLINIC TO HOST VIETNAM VETERANS DAY EVENT

WHEN: March 28, 2014 - 10:00 am to 12:30 pm

WHERE: 9800 W. Commercial Blvd., Sunrise, FL
In the Administrative Conference Room

Activities will include:
The authors of the book Post 8195 share their Vietnam stories. Historical overview of the US involvement in the VN war by Dr. E. Tim Smith of Barry University. Small group discussions led by clinicians and book authors to allow participants to share their experiences. Light refreshments provided by Stone of Hope Program.

Presidential Proclamation Vietnam Veterans Day

1st Lt. Arthur F. Mulock, USA World War II & Korea (POW - MIA)
United States Army - 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment 

Lt. Mulock parachuted into Normandy on D-Day, then at Nijmegen, Holland, and at the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium during World War II.  Then in 1949, at the outbreak of the Korean War, he was commissioned and was assigned to the Far East. He was last seen on July 20, 1945, at 7:00pm.

Mr. William Thomas Wright, author of "My Three Years in the Army Air Forces in World War II" donated one of his books for our Library.

This is the story of an 18-year-old who was always fascinated with airplanes and wanted to learn to fly. He enlisted in the Army air Corps in 1942 and became a fighter pilot in Europe in 1944 and 1945. He flew 65 missions with the 368th Fighter Group primarily in support of the ground forces as they moved from Normandy through France and into Germany. It describes the challenges of learning to fly a military airplane both in training and in combat. It also reveals some details of the life in training and in combat that help mature young men for their future family life and careers.

The Vets Helping Heroes Organization evolved from the Boca West VetDogs Fund, a special fund created by a WWII veteran and a Korean War veteran from Florida. Their goal is to provide the financial support for assistance dogs trained by certified professionals for veterans who have served honorably and active duty military personnel injured during service in the U.S. Armed Forces.

These Assistance dogs provide independence and service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. In addition, they are a source of much needed enjoyment as beloved "family members" - running with children, providing comfort for spouses, and the security of knowing that they can even provide such services as predicting an oncoming seizure.



Vets Helping Heroes strives to raise funds to meet the ever-growing needs of veterans and active duty military personnel who experience visual, physical, and/or emotional trauma. Requests from disabled heroes range from dual-trained dogs for balance/stability (physical therapy), retrieval, responders to alarms, and assistance with activities of independent living to Trekker GPS training to therapy dogs for active military personnel - providing emotional support for those who have PTSD and other combat-related challenges.

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Malcolm Barker USNR WWII, PB4Y-2 Navigator, & Edgar "Buddy" Galvin USNR WWII, B-24 Liberator Navigator, participated in the search for Flight 19. Malcolm Barker was aboard a PB4Y-2 Privateer, on which its crew spent 8 hours on 6 Dec, 1945, searching for Flight 19 out of Master Field, Miami. Buddy Galvin was an Instructor at NAS Miami (Opa-locka), and with his crew searched for 3 days. Below, is the Log Book of Malcolm Barker showing his participation in the search.

Photographs from NAS Fort Lauderdale WWII
from Roy J. Urbanek USNR WWII, TBM/TBF Gunner

Click on thumbnail to enlarge

You're Invited.... Together, We Remember "A Day that will Live in Infamy"
Pearl Harbor Day of Remembrance 72nd Anniversary
Guests of Honor Pearl Harbor Survivors Edward Hammond and Abe Stein.

Sunday, December 8, 2013, 2 p.m. Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale
7000 N. Ocean Dr., Dania, FL (John U. Lloyd State Park) Reception to follow.

Seventy-two years after the Japanese stunned the world with a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and pushed the country into World War II, the last remaining survivors of the attack still living in South Florida will be honored.    Local dignitaries and veterans groups, along with the U.S. Coast Guard and Spruance Division, U.S. Naval Sea Cadets, will participate in the ceremony, sponsored by Broward Navy Days, the non-profit organization that supports and honors our seagoing services in South Florida and sponsors Fleet Week Port Everglades each year. A memorial wreath will be put out to sea and a reception will follow the ceremony. The public is invited to attend.   "There are few survivors still with us 72 years later," said Mary Anne Gray, president and executive director of Broward Navy Days, "but we will remember and pay tribute to all the heroic men and women who were in Pearl Harbor on that day."

Mary Anne Gray,
President & Executive Director Broward Navy Days

BOCA RATON PILOTS' ASSOCIATION: A CELEBRATION OF VETERANS

Thank you to Pilot and Executive Director of the Boca Raton Pilots' Association Mr. Jim Costa and his wife Sandy, for their support of the Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum! 

Mr. Costa put together his love of aviation and respect for war heroes and the military for "A Celebration of Veterans."  This event premiered this year, at the Signature Flight Support, Boca Raton Airport. It was a free event, that will benefit the community. Refreshments, music, exhibits from local military groups and art collectors such as Las Olas Antiques, attended the event. Cadets from the Civil Air Patrol Boca Raton Composite Squadron participated to provide a color guard and other duties. The patrol, is an Air Force auxiliary. Thank you Sandy and Jim, for inviting the Museum to participate! It was a great success, and can't wait for the next one!

AT this event, we got to meet Mr. Irwin Stovroff of Boca Raton, a veteran of World War II, who has made it his new mission to provide assistance and service for combat stress relief to disabled veterans, with his military therapy dogs. We got to meet his golden retriever, Cash, and his Corgi Jenny. Mr. Stovroff founded the Vets Helping Heroes nonprofit organization. Stovroff was a POW in Europe, and received a Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart and the French Legion of Honor. To see the full list of participants: read the Sun-Sentinel article.

Photos by Minerva Bloom

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
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