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The "PBY CATALINA" INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
THIRD 1990 EDITION "NEWSLETTER"
Volume 2 Number 3
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SECRETARY/TREASURER: JAMES P. THOMPSON, 1510 KABEL DR., NEW ORLEANS, LA 70131 USA
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INT'NL COORD: WARREN L. MARTIN, 60 CHEVIOT RD., R.D.2, NO. AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
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NEWSLETTER EDITOR: I. JAMES MORRISON, P.O.BOX #2, GILMANTON, NH 03237 USA
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NOTICE: This association is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to promote enjoyable camaraderie within the "Catalina" airplane international community and within the purview of non-political relations or commerical gains.
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Dear associates
I am opening this letter with a special tribute to "Enlisted Personnel Designated Aviation Pilots". I believe one of the most reknown of this "breed", was Boatswain Mate Patrick J. "PAPPY" BYRNE, who commenced flying multi-engine seaplanes in World War I, became a legend well within his lifetime. Then there was a bomber squadron "VP-2B" that consisted mostly of U.S.Navy enlisted Naval Aviation Pilots (NAP) known as the "High Hat Squadron". They formed the "Three Sea Hawks" aerobatic team, flying the Boeing F2B-1s. These enlisted pilots performed a feat that has not been duplicated since! A nine plane formation with three planes per section tied together with ribbons between the wings; took off, flew some rather interesting maneuvers and landed without the ribbons being disengaged. Reportedly this was done to salvage their challenged pilot's skills. They perhaps intimidated certain observers, because thereafter there were no more all enlisted piloted squadrons! In fact most NAPs were assigned to multi-engine aircraft, most being to PBYs. Of course with protocol or as generally termed, "rank has its privilege", "NAPs" became very proficient navigators with many squadrons. This was too often the situation for these enlisted pilots, who competed for their "Wings" with as much or more challenge than other flight students. Pity the "fortunate lower-rated flight student graduates" ie. those still wearing a "white hat". Not to be unfair to the more reasonable organizations that evenly rotated all pilots for complete pilot qualifications and performance opportunities. However, for any readers' edification, make inquiries and note official records for publicity comparisions in the instances of noted accomplishments! This brings me to the feature done on Joseph HIGBEE in "The PBY Catalina International Association" newsletter; Vol.2, No.1 (1990). Joseph demonstrated superior airmanship and seamanship in his tenacious determination to fly his PBY-5A into a treacherous north sea remote part of Iceland to remove a deathly-ill eleven year old child to hospital at Reykjavik on 29 November 1943. To Joe, as he completed this task, simply registered it in his flight log as another mission completed and no one else seemed to take cognizance of the value for his very courageous and life-saving mission. That is until an Icelandic Aviation Historian, Ragnar RAGNARSSON researched the particulars of HIBGEE's historic life-saving flight. The results were made known to the President of Iceland, Madame Vigdis FINNBOGGADOTTIR to which she responded on 11 February, 1986 by awarding retired ex-Naval Aviation Pilot, Joseph HIGBEE, the highest award given to non-official dignataries, the "Service Medal of the President of Iceland"! This award was followed by a letter from the "Chairman, House Armed Services Committee, Senator Sam NUNN" informing Mr. Higbee that his actions in 1943 has had a significant role in the United States relations preserving access to such a vital nation! Various national repositories for this recognition and the "Icelandic Medal" that went with it have been suggested, however for Joe, he prefers for this significance to be exhibited as a contribution made by "NAVAL AVIATION PILOTS" of the enlisted personnel's community, rather than a singular recognition. It has been confirmed, that this highest "Icelandic Award" and associated letters, will be placed appropriately in the "Enlisted Naval Aviation Pilot's" display area of the "Naval Aviation Museum" at Pensacola, Florida. Reportedly for the formal opening of the New Wing of this museum. Within the Silver Eagles Association" (Ex enlisted NAPs priviledged organization.) there remains mostly proud major |
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