PEDRO RESCUE HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION

 

PEDRO RESCUE HELICOPTER REUNION 2006

PRHA REUNION
Windsor , Connecticut Aug 3-5, 2006

POST REUNION REPORT

Another great reunion!!!  Several of the attendees mentioned that this was one of the best reunions that they have attended.   The reunion was held in the Hartford , CT, area due to its proximity to the Kaman Aircraft Corporation (KAC) headquarters and plant.  This proved to be a big drawing point for several of the attendees and they were not disappointed.   We had 31 members attend, more than double the number at each of the two previous reunions.

  John McGonagle, a PRHA member and former Kaman test pilot, did much of the initial reunion legwork, research and coordination.  He has since moved on to another position with Lockheed, again testing helicopters.   George Haliscak and Frank Gallagher, also Kaman test pilots, picked up where John left off.

  Our central location was the Marriott Hartford/Windsor Airport hotel in Windsor , CT, a few miles north of Hartford.  This proved to be an excellent choice as the hotel, its facilities and staff, were outstanding.  They really treated us great. 

  The large hospitality room was well stocked with all the necessities needed to facilitate a welcoming atmosphere for the PRHA members, their spouses, and guests.  Many of the members brought their Pedro or other military mementos for display.  We all spent time looking though the photograph albums, watching video presentations on laptops or just sat around discussing the past, present and future. We came up with solutions to solve all the world’s problems, but no one was asking for our input.  It was a low-key reunion and by all accounts, a very successful one. 

  While some of us arrived a couple days early to make sure that everything was taken care of, registration began in the hospitality room on Thursday, 3 Aug, and continued late into the evening.  It was great to greet and meet old and new friends as they came into the room.

  Friday was the day for our visit at Kaman—and what a visit it was, even though the temperature was in the high 90’s and a humidity to match.  While George Haliscak conducted the group a tour of the KAC facilities, its aircraft and hangars, Frank Gallagher gave a flight demonstration in the Huskie.  When Frank hit the starter button and we heard the igniters snap and the T-53 turbine wind up, the group had a myriad of emotions.  Most had not heard those sounds for nearly 35 years or more.  Sure brought back a lot of memories.  Almost everyone had their camera out taking pictures of a hovering, flying, or autorotating H-43.  Many of us mentally graded Frank on his performance, and he did pass. 

  Frank and George also gave briefings on the K-Max and the Sea Sprite.  After this portion of the tour was completed, Kaman treated us to a lunch in their cafeteria.  It was during this lunch that one of our members and former pilot, Nathan Greene, introduced a friend of his from back in their SEA days.  It seems that his friend, Bruce Melton, had to leave his crippled F-105 via the ejection seat out over the South China Sea , off the coast of Vietnam . 

  Nathan was on Pedro alert and was scrambled for the mission.  Pedro arrived on scene some time later as Bruce was floating in his LPU awaiting rescue.  As Pedro went in and made the hoist pickup, this rescue was photographed by another rescue bird also on scene.  It isn’t too often that we have a photographic record of any rescue.  Bruce and Nathan went their separate ways over the ensuing years but were able to make contact earlier this spring—some 35 + years since they last saw each other.  Bruce and his wife Sharon were Nathan’s guests and the reunion and we all appreciated their story.

  On Saturday, the majority of the attendees made their way to the New England Air Museum (NEAM),  Bradley Int’l Airport for a tour of that facility, which included both an HH-43B and a Kaman display.  A lunch was provided the group by the NEAM.  The PRHA made a substantial monetary donation to the museum.

  While the museum tour was taking place, about 10 wives made their way into Hartford for a guided bus tour of the city.  The wives really enjoyed this tour and learned quite a bit about Samuel Colt of Colt firearms fame, Katharine Hepburn, and many other notables and firsts for the city.

  Saturday evening culminated in the banquet which included, once again, the POW/MIA ceremony.  PRHA’s former president and his wife, Bob and Vicki Gerstenberg, made a POW/MIA banner on a white background, which was used during the ceremony.  As in previous reunions, this ceremony was very moving to many of the members.  Frank Gallagher was our evening’s speaker and he gave us the complete rundown on Kaman’s current posture and what it plans to accomplish in the future.  Not only was he informative, he was also articulate and humorous.

  It was during our KAC tour that two of the Kaman employees, Alice Leong and Scott Zeno, took many photographs of the group as it toured.  Scott and Alice put together a great photographic CD of those pictures and also several large photographs of the group in front of the KAC H-43 Huskie.  These large photographs were given out as door prizes to the winning ticket holders.

  During the Saturday PRHA business meeting, the group decided to hold an official reunion every two years and an unofficial one jointly with the Air Rescue Association during the off-years.  Len Shults has offered to host our next official reunion in 2008 in Montgomery, Alabama .  Additionally, PRHA memorials at the Air Force Museum in Dayton , OH and a couple of other locations were discussed.  When more information is available, it will be disseminated to the organization.

  All in all, this reunion was a resounding success and we look forward to those in the future.

  Sincerely,

  John Christianson

President, PRHA 

Link to Group Photo
Check Out The Group Photo

 

This page last updated: May 29, 2008


Home The HH-43 "Huskie" Membership Information
and Application
 

President's Message January 2010

Enlisted Heritage Hall Brick Order Form
PRHA Reunion 2006 PRHA Reunion 2008 Report  

Chief Master Sergeant Wayne L. Fisk
Park Dedication

Guest Book Links
  Email the Webmaster or any of the officers.
Email the Webmaster
     
The Pedro Air Rescue Helicopter Association is an IRS qualified 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Charitable Association. We are Corporately Chartered in the State of Washington.  The association is not a 527 political group. As required by law, the association has no political interests or agenda.
PRHA Members: Send your comment and suggestions regarding the web site to the  Web Master.
Copyright © 1999 through 2010 The Pedro Rescue Helicopter Association All rights reserved.