VR-24 Guestbook

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900 Entries
John Christmas 
May 23, 2008

City, State: Perry, Ga.

Comments:

Very cool site. I have seen a lot of people here that spark a load of good memories. I reported to VR-24 in June 85 as a AEAA and left in Oct 88 as an AE2. Give me a hollar if you remember me hanging around.


George Niebler 
May 14, 2008

City, State: Spring Hill Florida 34610

Comments:

I was stationed at Port Lyautey from 1961 to 1963, as an airman, working at the air terminal, loading and unloading VR-24's aircraft of passengers and cargo. (The air terminal operations were transferred to Rota Spain in September 1963.)  While in Port Lyautey I even managed to talk my way into being a guest air crewman on two occasions flying the VR-24 route. This was one of the most enjoyable times of my 28 year Navy career. Two  VR-24 friends that i had while there, were Jerry and Rita pheiffer. ( i hope i spelled their last name right.) They were also there during my tour of duty. Anyone having any information on their present location would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to all for the great VR-24 web site. George Niebler CWO-4 USN (RET) Spring Hill Florida.


Steve Sperry Email
May 11, 2008

City, State: Idalou, Texas

Comments:
Yeah, Commander Murphy became the C.O. after Commander Punches.  He was his X.O.  I remember Moose Carter.  I can't remember those other guys.  I was a loadmaster and AMH.  I was there 91 to 92.  Rich, are you the one that was good friends with Frances McNeil?  Didn't he call you monk?


Rich Email
May 11, 2008

City, State: Kings Park ny

Comments:
i always wondered were you were steve  and thanks. it was a good joke.


Steve Thomas Email
May 4, 2008

City, State: Reno, NV

Comments:
Wasn't the CO after Skipper Punches Cdr. Murphy?(Alan?) I am a little fuzzy as I was leaving VR around that time.
I will always remember Rich R. as you played a practical joke on me my first week in VR. Sent me around Sig looking for an in-flight oxygen mask to fit my (allegedly) big face. Even had the XO Cdr. Dodd in on the joke. I wised up when I was told to put on an old gas mask coated in grease - I refused. If I remember correctly Dave Clark was in on the planning also.
If anyone knows how Juan Sargent, Jeff Klement, Dan Ladewig or Dave Enscoe are doing, please let me know.


Rich Reiman Email
April 23, 2008

City, State: Kings Park ny

Comments:
Id like a heart felt thanks to  Moose carter and jeff hugh for helping me find Mike Ashby long story short  he live now about 10 mins from me and had dinner with him this past thurs. so thank you my brothers but here a Question i hope someone can e-mail back to me we were talking and the last skipper after Punches what was  his first name we remember his last was smith just not to shore of his first?thank again


Carlos B Benavides Email
April 19, 2008

City, State: Corpus Christi, TX

Comments:
QLB.

Served as a C-2A Plane Captain 7-79 thru -5-82.  Where is Mr. Brewer?

I asked some recently retired sailor AMS1 what did the Navy do without VR-24.

C-2s are in Virginia and they detach overseas to serve the fleet.

Horale Bro!

I guess it is more cost effective!

Any comments Bradshaw Buckaroos?

Carlos B. Benavides



Jim Dickerson Email
April 19, 2008

City, State: Naples, Italy

Comments:

It was great browsing this website. Brings back a lot of great memories. I was in VR from April 75 through April 79. Married a local sicilian girl in Dec 78. Hard to believe it will be 30 years in this December. Johnny Johnson was my Best Man. Tom Stayancho was my camera man. I did 31 years active duty and retired in 04 as a LCDR. I'm back in Naples working with SPAWAR. The old VR hanger is about the only structure still standing from 75. It's no longer used but brings back a lot of good memories every time I walk by it. Naples is not as fun as I recall but it's a living. I've found another great website to find old friends. It's http://navy.togetherweserved.com. I've found lots of old shipmates there. Be glad to hear from any old shipmates. r/Jim


William Murphy Email
April 15, 2008

City, State: Atoka, TN

Comments:

There are two photos on the Squadron Scrapbook sigonella page seven that the personell have not been identified.  I can ID them.  In the un-identified C-1A crewman photo that is AD1 John Tindal.  Last time I saw John was in P.I. with a VP squadron.  He was an ADC at the time.  This was around 84.  The gust from VRC-40 was not from 40 but from VRC-50.  He was AMH2 J.D. Williams.  This was around June of 81 about the time I transfered back to VRC-50.  At the time VR-24 was running low on C-2 Loadmasters and VRC-50 was running low on C-130 Flight engineers I think.  So both squadrons swapped some crewman for I beleive a 90 day TAD period.  The three crewman who came to VR-24 were AMH2 J.D. Williams, AD1 Dave Berry and AD2 Stan Denkinger.  It was quite uniqe.  Dave Berry might have been sent from VR-24 det Rota.  It was a while back so I might be a little fuzzy on that.  Dave Berry was a C-2 crewman in VRC-50 back in the seventies.


Mark Mason 
April 12, 2008

City, State: Woodstock Georgia

Comments:


Thought this was a good one to share.

 

Capt. David J. Sperling USN (Ret.)
DAVID JOHN SPERLING,
CAPT. USN, (RET.)
1929-2008


David J. Sperling, 78, of Pensacola passed away on Monday, March 17th, 2008.
His loving wife, Judy, preceded him in death in 2006 as well as son Michael in 1984.
He is survived by his daughter, Michelle Spinner (Ron) of Pensacola; son, Doug (Susan) of Chicago, IL; grandchildren, Jennifer Spinner of Tallahassee and Joshua Spinner of Pensacola. Dave is also survived by his brothers, Harry Sperling Jr. (Anne) of Ocean Shores, WA, William Sperling of Seattle, WA, and sister Mary Ely of Chico, CA, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
David was born April 3, 1929, in Juneau, Alaska to Harry Sperling Sr. and Mary Gertrude (Mamie) Sperling. Having countless adventures growing up in Alaska, none could top the claim to fame (with his sister and father) of being the first to travel on bicycle, on a road from Alaska to Minnesota known as the ALCAN Hwy. This was a trip that took 38 days to travel 1000 miles.
Captain Sperling experienced a prominent naval career beginning at the Naval Academy, graduating with the class of '52. He earned numerous flying medals and citations while flying before, during and after Vietnam. After finishing his sea duty he and his family were transferred throughout Europe as well as the mid-East to allow him to retire from Navy service after 31 years.
Two of the more memorable of his stations of duty was CO of VR-24 in Sigonella, Sicily and as Inspector General of CNET at NAS, Pensacola. His last tour of duty was as Naval and Defense Attaché at the American Embassy in Cairo, Egypt.
Captain Sperling's personality and wisdom of command earned him the greatest respect from his fellow officers, enlisted personnel and friends. The sense of a tremendous loss is evident from those whose lives he has touched. He will always be loved and he will always be missed. His family and friends wish him God speed in joining his lovely wife, Judith.
Special thanks to Dr. Patel and all the staff of Hope Medical Group, Cynthia at Home Care Services and also Emerald Coast Hospice. At Dave's request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Emerald Coast Hospice, 5401 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 800, Pensacola, FL 32504.
Memorial services will be held at All Faiths Chapel, at NAS Pensacola, on Thursday, March 27th at 9:30am.
Inurnment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery, with military honors.
HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements.


Published in the Pensacola News Journal on 3/25/2008.

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