Hawkeye Greyhound Ball

A couple of weekends ago was the 2012 Hawkeye Greyhound Ball. Glenn and I have attended the Badman Ball in Japan, but this was our first East Coast HEGH Ball. We just missed the 2008 ball before we moved to Japan. They are always a good time and it is fun to catch up with friends we haven't seen since flight school or who are in other squadrons and we don't see too often. And it's always fun to get dressed up.

What's a pregnant girl to do? Vanilla or chocolate? It's hard to tell from these pics, but there are over 500 people that attend the ball from 5 Hawkeye (E2) squadrons, 1 greyhound (C2) squadron, the FRS (VAW-120, that's us) and several tables of contractors and VIPs. Pretty much, it's a dinner and party, but they present the colors (flags) at the beginning.

I love those choker whites! If only they weren't so uncomfortable.

Gizelle and I. I am not ready for them to get new orders in just a couple weeks!

The Gilberts were in town from Newport for the ball. Yay!

The after party is always a good time. More pics on that later! An olympic swimming pool of packing peanuts? Sounds like fun!

Ice luge champions! It was definitely a different experience being sober at a Navy event, but they are always fun regardless. And I was able to drive home and spend the night in my own bed which I always enjoy. One thing we did learn, never stash your bag under the table with the ice luge! My tote bag was filled with 8 inches of water! Unfortunately so were Glenn's after-party clothes. Nothing an iron, blow dryer and a little body heat couldn't fix though.

Happy Hawkeye Greyhound Ball! I love this Navy community!

41.667 Days!

Yesterday Glenn received his 1000 hours patch! That means that he has spent 1000 hours or 41.667 DAYS flying the E-2C Hawkeye. Wow! Congratulations, Mr!

Who Glenn was playing with in Guam

Here is the photo exercise photo from Cope North 2011. It was a multinational joint exercise of some sort or something. Glenn got to ride in the B-52 (the plane in the front) on one of the days too. Neato!

You won't see this at the mall

Santa coming in on the E-2C Hawkeye! Merry Christmas to everyone!

Wordless Wednesday: Homecoming!

 

601!

 Glenn is senior enough in the squadron that he has his name on the plane now! I saw it for the first time at the fly in last week. Glenn's call sign is SLaP. Sweats Like A Pig.

Looks good, baby!

Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day here doesn't feel quite like it does in the States. No picnics, no parades, the pool is opening, but it was in the 50's yesterday so I don't think it will be a big hit. I guess when I was little it is a turning point for summer- only a few weeks of school left. Here, it feels much different.

Being here, on a military base, reminds me exactly why we have Memorial Day. I'm very proud of Glenn and what he does for our country. Today is for him and all the other men and women who fight for our country and have fought for our country. I miss you babe.

LT Zilberman

If you have a chance, watch the video on the webpage below. It's a nice tribute to a hero who saved his crew. The E-2 community is a small one and although Glenn and I didn't personally know LT Zilberman, we know many people did. We're all thinking about our Bluetail family today.

Memorial service held for E-2C aviator

Lt. Miroslav Steven Zilberman died in March crash

Updated: Thursday, 08 Apr 2010, 5:17 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 08 Apr 2010, 9:17 AM EDT

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The Navy held a private memorial service Thursday morning at the Naval Station Norfolk Chapel for Lt. Miroslav Steven Zilberman.

Zilberman, 31, of Columbus, Ohio, was killed in the crash of an E-2C Hawkeye aircraft on March 31st in the North Arabian Sea.

The aircraft, assigned to Norfolk-based Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, the "Bluetails," was returning to the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) following a mission over Afghanistan when the crash occurred.

It was learned at the memorial service that the starboard engine on the plane developed problems and had to be shut down.

According to the Navy, the propeller failed to feather or turn freely in the wind after the shutdown, causing unequal thrust on each wing. As a result, the plane began a descent that could not be corrected.
With the auto-pilot incapable of holding the aircraft, Lt. Zilberman ordered his crew to bailout.  He stayed at the controls, allowing his three fellow crewmates to successfully exit the plane.  The three were recovered uninjured.

Following an extensive three-day search involving several ships and aircraft, LT Zilberman was declared deceased.

The Navy posthumously awarded Zilberman the Distinguished Flying Cross for "extraordinary heroism."

He leaves behind a wife and two small children.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Please find him....

It's times like this that we realize how dangerous their jobs are and how small our community is... 

1 still missing in Arabian Sea Hawkeye crash

By Andrew Tilghman - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 31, 2010 14:36:18 EDT

One crew member remains missing nearly seven hours after an E-2C Hawkeye crashed into the North Arabian Sea, a Navy official said.
A mechanical failure forced the crew of four to bail out of the plane; a search-and-rescue team rescued three crew members within 30 minutes of the crash, according to a statement from the Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain.
The Navy withheld the names of the crew members pending notification of their families.
The Hawkeye, from Norfolk, Va.-based Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 121, was returning to the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower following a mission supporting operations in Afghanistan.
The crash occurred at about 2 p.m. local time Wednesday, which is 5 a.m. on the East Coast. The crash site was about five miles from the Eisenhower.
Crew members contacted the ship about a mechanical problem and told the tower they planned to do a “controlled bailout” from the plane, said Lt. Matthew Allen, a spokesman for 5th Fleet.
The carrier air wing dispatched a search and rescue teams immediately, and several other rescue aircraft from nearby ships began assisting in the search shortly afterward Navy officials said.
It was at least the third major mishap involving an E-2C Hawkeye in recent years.
In August 2007, Lts. Ryan Betton, Cameron Hall and Jerry Smith were killed when their Hawkeye crashed in the Atlantic Ocean off North Carolina. An investigation was unable to determine the cause of the crash, according to a copy of the Judge Advocate General final report — known as a JAGMAN —- obtained by Navy Times. The plane catapulted off the deck of the carrier Harry S. Truman and crashed into the water moments later. The carrier never received any emergency radio transmissions or acknowledgement by the mishap crew, according to the report.
In March 2009, an E-2 Hawkeye veered off a runway in Norfolk and broke its landing gear. An investigation found pilot error and brakes that did not slow down the aircraft quickly enough were the cause.

ANNUALEX 21G

Glenn got to come home a little earlier than some of the other planes because he took part in an annual photo exercise. That's Glenn in the plane in the very front of the formation.

The exercise consisted of 9 airplanes and over 30 ships, boats and submarines. From what Glenn told me, it sounded like he had an important part in keeping things organized for the photoex.

Very cool, baby! I'm proud of you and pretty excited that you got to come home early! It's wonderful to have you home!!