June 2015 Meeting Reminder

The next Seattle Base meeting is this coming Wednesday, June 17. We will meet at VFW Post #2995 (4330 148th Ave N.E., Redmond WA 98052). Social hour starts at 6 PM with business meeting at 7PM.

Our guest speaker will be Charles Smith, a former Naval Aviator who flew the Lockheed P-3 Orion in PATRON 10 and also had responsibilities for the Trident C-4 missile recovery and range accuracy testing program from Cape Canaveral. Charles also spent some familiarization time sailing aboard USS Trepang (SSN-674), USS Turner Joy (DD-951) and several other Navy ships during overseas deployments. Following a distinguished Naval Career, he retired in 1982 as a LCDR. He has been a docent at the Museum of Flight since 2007 and was one of the first docents at the LeMay “America’s Auto Museum” in Tacoma.

Captain Eddie Rickenbacker

An engaging speaker and sought after because of his keen sense of and love of American History, Charles will offer us an excellent presentation on the life and successes of American hero Edward “Eddie” Rickenbacker. Rickenbacker flew a total of 300 combat hours, reportedly more than any other U.S. pilot in World War I, and is credited with 26 victories (thirteen Fokker D.VIIs, four other German fighters, five highly defended observation balloons, and four two-seated reconnaissance planes). Rickenbacker remained the top scoring American Ace until well into WWII.

A SPAD XIII painted in Rickenbacker's colors

"Capt Eddie’s” WWI Military awards included the Medal of Honor, Nine Distinguished Service Crosses, the Legion of Honor (France), and the Croix de Guerre (France). There is much more as well. Between WWI and WWII Rickenbacker was the most celebrated Aviator in American and wrote a book about his WWI flying experiences, was President of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for over a decade, scripted a successful comic strip about “Ace Drummond” and founded Eastern Airlines.

During WWII as a civilian and at the request of Secretary of War Stimson, he made a tour in a B-17 of Air Bases in the Pacific to review both operations and living conditions. At one point the Bomber had to ditch and the passengers and crew drifted thousands of miles and for 24 days before “Capt Eddie” and the others were rescued.

The story does not end there and Charles will provide us an image of an American icon and patriot that you will enjoy. Put this on your calendar because you will not want to miss this presentation!

All area Submarine Veterans, current members or not, friends, and family are invited to join with us for this informative and interesting talk.