2/5/2014
I have updated our VP40 member roster today. There are some new members and some changes to current members.
It is presented in 3 different formats for you. You can view it/print it on the MEMBERS ONLY page.
login to access it and please logout when you are finished.

I found a web site www.vpnavy.org
They have a VP40 section on it and you can add comments on the page for anyone to read.
I found 80 people from our VP40 seaplane era that are NOT members of our group. I sent them all emails
and so far I have received about 10 back. Some of them will join our group.
Most of the comments are OLD (1998-2000) and their emails have been changes/cancelled/ or ???
I ask if anyone reads this post AND you are from VP40 seaplane era (1946-1967)and want to join our group, please email me at
[email protected] or leave a comment here to this post.
I am sure some of the email comments from that site have been changed and perhaps
you are reading this now.
I posted another death today of 1 of our members. We are now falling into a negative position where we are losing more members than we are gaining new members.
We had been staying pretty much even but as of 2014 we are falling behind. LET US ALL beat the bushes and turn this around.
thank you
Guy Fisk
[email protected]
(828)654-7812

It was reported to me today from James Stull that John King AO3 (1965-1968) passed away on 12/27/2013.

This was also posted on VPNAVY.org

UTGOFF, CAPTAIN Vadym V…My father, CAPTAIN Vadym V. Utgoff, was Commanding
Officer of VP-34 during World War II from May 12, 1944
to January 1945 and Commanding Officer of VP-40 and
stationed at NAS Iwakuni, Japan from June 1, 1951
to December 15, 1951. I’m trying to find out if anyone who served with him is
still alive or how I could locate relatives. Dad, passed away on July 18, 2002
of Parkinson’s disease and complications from a stroke. Dad retired in 1963 from
active duty in the Navy after 24 years of service. He became a civilian
professor of aerospace engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy in 1964. He retired
from his second career in 1983 and was named Professor Emeritus in 1985. Dad
wrote a book, Pilot Error (a naval aviator’s career — WWII Black Cats to Korean War PBYs to Annapolis Professor), that mentions some of the
men he served with. They might be interested in a copy of his book but I don’t
know how to try and track them down. Any help you could give me would be most
appreciated. Thank you. Marina Utgoff Braswell [email protected]…”
[E-Mail Updated 25JAN2013 | 23OCT2009]

I found this today also.

STEBBINS, LCDR Donald J. [Deceased] c/o His Son Craig Stebbins [email protected] “…My father (LCDR Donald J. Stebbins) died as a result of an operational aircraft accident while participating in 1968 WESTPAC aboard the USS Yorktown (CVS-10), as a pilot in VS-23. I’d be grateful to hear from anyone who knew him while at VP-40 (7/59 to 9/61), VP-42 (12/61 to 3/63) , VT-1, NABTC (3/63 to 3/66), and VS-23 (9/66 to 1/68)…” [BIO/PIX Updated 26OCT2002 | 25MAR2000]

I also found this today on VPNAVY.org

…SMOLINSKI, Joseph P…Article from local Utica, NY paper this morning, June
10, 1999: Captain Joseph P Smolinski, USN Ret., a native of Utica, NY died June
7, 1999 at his home in Onancock, VA. Captain Smolinski, former commanding
officer of VP-40, flew the last seaplane of it’s kind used for anti-submarine
patrol, the Martin P5M, at San Diego, CA in 1967…” Contributed by James F.
Garnsey [email protected] [11JUN99]

I found this posted today on VPNavy.org. I thought I would pass it along for those who knew him.

SELL, Norm [email protected] “…I was attached to VP-40 during 1961 & 1962…I am sorry to say that Norman R. Sell AE1 has pass away the second week of Sept 2000 from a mass of heart attack in OK after 2 months of being just married. He was in VP-40 and VT-21. I will miss him as will others. Bless you Norm…Arthur J. Kingsland [email protected]…” [Passed Away 15SEP2000 | 13AUG98]

I have posted the 2014 Military Pay scale for your viewing.

They are receiving a litle more $$$ than we did.

look under the  WELCOME SHIPMATES TAB / NEWS section

Guy

I have added some info on our reunion on the REUNION TAB for the 2014 reunion in Pensacola, FL.

I will be mailing/emailing a newsletter this month with the signup sheet and more detailed information about the agenda and pricing.

We will have a retired Veteran Administration person as a guest speaker and I am hopefull that will provide some answers to those of us that need help with addressing our VA and Agent Orange concerns.

If I can help my email is

[email protected]

my phone is (828) 654-7812

I received an email today from Archie’s son-in-law that Archie Bigewood passed away in September 2013 from a brief bout of cancer.

He is listed in our roster BUT I do not have his rank/rate nor his years of service in VP40. Can someone please provide me with this data and I will update our database.

The last address I have was Bottineu, North Dakota.

Welcome Aboard our newest member

DAVID L MOLNAR

VP40 1960-1961 He was an ATS3 in crew 4.

His data is now posted on our VP40 MEMBERS ONLY page on this web site.

please welcome him to our group.