Silicon Valley Chapter Military Ofcers Association of America Volume XIII Issue 10 Oct 2016 OCTOBER LUNCHEONThe SPEAKER Bulletin The chapter’s October speaker will be Luncheon Frederick “Fritz” M. Trapnell Jr, who will 20 October 2016 make an illustrated presentation about his father’s life and achievements. He and his daughter Dana Trapnell Tibbitts wrote Harnessing the Sky: Frederick "Trap" Trapnell, the U.S. Navy's Aviation Pioneer, 1923-1952, a July 2015 book that describes the legacy of the man who has been called “the godfather of current naval aviation and which is said to be one of the best untold stories in 100 years of naval aviation. In 1986, VADM Frederick M. "Trap" Trapnell, USN (July 9, 1902 – January 30, 1975) was inducted into the United States Naval Aviation Hall of Honor, located at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida, which enshrines those "who by their actions or achievements made outstanding contributions to Naval Aviation." As chief of Navy flight testing going into WWII, Trap personally defined major Frederick “Fritz” M. Trapnell Jr, design changes to the Vought F4U Corsair that changed the inadequate prototype into Social Hour: 11:00 AM one of the best fighter planes of WWII. Also, with the Pacific War raging, the Navy Luncheon: 11:45 AM Bureau of Aeronautics scrapped the usual Luncheon is $26.00 month’s-long Navy testing and instead See Back Page for Reservations Form and Directions relied on Trap’s judgment to okay production of Grumman’s F6F Hellcat after SEE Page 4 for important changes to a brief test flight. Trap was the first US membership dues and payment dates. Navy pilot to fly a jet aircraft and was considered the outstanding naval test pilot CALENDAR OF EVENTS of his generation. He was instrumental in founding the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School 6 Oct Board Meeting 10:30 AM and played a pivotal role in both the 20 Oct Luncheon 11:00 AM 3 Nov Board Meeting 10:30 AM Cont'd pg 3 17 Nov Luncheon 11:00 AM PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE Hope all enjoyed the talk regarding the high speed rail. Regardless of your views, I and others I talked with enjoyed the history of the project that lead us up to today. Rod's comments, and those of the public naysayers, brought back memories of the late forties, in Los Angeles/Hollywood, when they stared to put the freeway through down towns and the residential areas. WOW, the press/radio commentators sure had fun with that. As Rod said, OFFICERS, BOARD, AND CHAIRS suppose they had not started back then, where would we be PRESIDENT: CAPT Gil Borgardt USN today? 650-342-1270 1st VP: CDR Ralph Hunt USN I am very sorry to have missed the CALMOAA seminar that 650-967-8467 was held in Las Vegas Sept 22, 23, 24. The Chapter was 2nd VP: CWO5 Robert Landgraf USMC 408-323-8838 represented by Bob Landgraf, our 2nd VP. I look forward to his Secretary: COL Warren Enos AUS report to the Board and I will ask him to give a summary to all at 408-245-2217 Treasurer: CAPT Keith Ott USN the Oct chapter lunch. 530-219-2404 Past President: Lt Col Mike Sampognaro USAF Remember bring a MOAA friend/MOAA prospect with you. 408-779-7389 see you there. DIRECTORS & COMMITTEE CHAIRS CALMOAA CAPT Gil Borgardt USN 650-342-1270 Gil Chaplain vacant Chapter Outreach CWO5 Robert Landgraf USMC 408-323-8838 Commissary/Exchange Advisory SEE Page 4 about MEMBERSHIP DUES!! CDR Ralph Hunt USN 650-967-8467 Directors at Large Lt. Col. Jesse Craddock USAF 650-968-0446 CAPT Lloyd McBeth USN 408-241-3514 Friends-in-Need (FIN) Program CDR Al Mouns USN 408-257-5629 Legislation & Navy League Liaison LCDR Tom Winant USN 650-678-7120 Membership/Recruitment We oppose Proposition 61 because we believe CWO5 Robert Landgraf USMC 408-323-8838 Personal Affairs it could increase the cost of prescription CAPT Robert French USN 650-363-1188 Programs drugs for veterans. CDR Ralph Hunt USN 650-967-8467 ROTC The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs CWO4 Patrick Clark USA 831-402-8548 Surviving Spouse Liason LtCol Charlene Lee USA 510-427-7145 receives special discounts on prescription Scholarship CAPT Paul Barrish USN 408-356-7531 drugs for veterans in honor of their service Travel (Space-A Advisory) vacant to our country. This measure could eliminate Veteran Affairs Lt Col Neil Miles USAF 408-929-1142 these special discounts and increase Web Master Lt Col Mike Sampognaro USAF 408-779-7389 prescription drug costs. A recent analysis by Sergeant at Arms Capt Chris Kachulis USAF 408-395-2853 the VA noted that if Prop. 61 passes it could The Chapter Board meets at the Moffett Air Traffic increase costs to the VA by $3.8 billion Control Tower, Moffett Federal Airfield dollars annually. Bulletin Editor Lt. Col. Mike Sampognaro, USAF [email protected] “The Bulletin” is published 11 or 12 times annually P.O. BOX 2, Moffett Federal Airfield, CA 94035 Check our website for updates on our Please direct all correspondence to above address fellow Military Association's meetings. RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE (RAO) Bldg 587 on Wescoat Court, 650-603-8047 http://www.svcmoaa.org/Calendar.html - 2 - OCTOBER LUNCHEON SPEAKER contd Our Stories development of WWII Naval aircraft and in B-25s IN THE BRENNER PASS converting the post-World War II Navy's air arm to jet The aircraft touched down on Corsica after a aircraft. bombing mission to the Brenner Pass, a mountain pass through the Alps which forms the border Fritz Trapnell, the author, had a fifty-year career in between Italy and Austria. As the maintenance crew computer and software engineering and engineering conducted a post-flight inspection it was noted that a management – starting with IBM and retiring in 2007 German 88mm projectile entered through the bomb from Hewlett-Packard. He is a life-long aviation bay doors and exited through the top of the aircraft, enthusiast with a special affection for naval aviation. failing to explode. It was a close call for chapter He lives with his wife in Los Altos. member and four term president Lt. Col. Jay Craddock, USAF-Ret, then a 22 year-old Army Air Forces lieutenant and B-25 command pilot. B-25s crossing the Alps… VADM Trapnell There was only one way the Germans were going to re-supply their beleaguered army in Italy against the relentless assault of the Allies pushing northwards - and that was through the Brenner Pass. The Allies knew that if they could destroy this strategic labyrinth of heavily defended road and rail bridges, the enemy would be forced to surrender or perish. Beginning in January 1944 missions were scheduled to destroy all bridges over the Po River, which paid dividends over nine months later. Corsica as a base proved valuable in the invasion of Southern France. The B-25 Mitchell's did some of the most outstanding work of the war against bridges and gun positions. Lt. Craddock completed flight training at Mather The Three Flying Fish, Naval Air Station Field, was assigned as an instructor pilot at Yuma, Anacostia, 1930. Trapnell is on the right. Arizona flying the AT-6 and at La Junta, Colorado US Naval Historical Center the B-25, and ultimately began air combat operations Cont'd on Pg 7 - 3 - SEPTEMBER SPEAKER REPORT Amtrak’s train #11, the Seattle-Los Angeles MOAA Silicon Valley Chapter (SVC) Coast Starlight, departs San Jose southbound at Membership dues: 10:07 am daily, making 9 intermediate stops including Salinas, San Luis Obispo, Santa This is an early announcement regarding the SVC Barbara, and Van Nuys, arriving at Los Angeles 2017 dues. Union Station at 9:00 pm with total elapsed time As you are aware, each year the SVC annual dues of about 11 hours. Top speed is 79 mph. It has (which are separate from MOAA National dues) been reported to be one of Amtrak’s most popular are required for all SVC Members but not trains in terms of ridership. If all goes according required for Surviving Spouse (formerly called to plan, beginning in 2024-25 it will be possible to Auxiliary). take a high speed train from downtown San Francisco to downtown Los Angeles in about 2 The SVC Board recently approved the following hours and 40 minutes, following the Inland related to dues for 2017: Empire route through the state's major cities in Renew by 1 December 2016 – $25.00 the Bay Area, Central Valley, and Los Angeles Renew by 31 January 2017 - $30.00 Basin. Top speed will be 220 mph. Renew after 1 February 2017 – $35.00 These dates are required because the SVC Membership Committee needs to report to MOAA National, the names of all the “SVC 2017 Renewed Members” on/or before the date stated. These dues are to be received by the Chapter Treasurer in our SVC PO Box on or before the stated date (or deliver in person at a SVC luncheon on or before the stated date). Along with the completed renewal form found on the inside-back page of the monthly SVC Bulletin, please mail your check, made out to the “SVC- MOAA”, to the following: The chapter’s September speaker was Mr. Rod Diridon, Sr., known as the father of modern transit SVC-MOAA service in Silicon Valley. He provided an illustrated PO Box 2 presentation about a need to move away from Moffett Field Federal Airfield, CA 94035 automobile transportation in the Bay Area and beyond, a description of high speed rail travel Again, this early announcement is to let you know systems in Asia and Europe, and a history of efforts the details of the SVC 2017 Renewal program.