Joint Base Charleston
Vol. 2, No. 14
Patriot Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Air Expo 2011 draws nearly 80,000 By Airman 1st Class Jared Trimarchi Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs Nearly 80,000 people attended the Charleston Air Expo 2011 April 9, at Joint Base Charleston - Air Base to see performances by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the GEICO Skytypers and Tora! Tora! Tora! "The 2011 Air Expo was a resounding success," said Maj. Scott Suazo, Charleston Air Expo 2011 director. "It was amazing to see how many people from our community came out to support the air show," he said. "Everybody was smiling, the children were amazed and everyone looked like they were having a good time. We had some future Airmen do their enlistment into the Air Force Delayed Entry Program alongside the Thunderbirds. The crowd was clapping, cheering and proud to support those new Airmen who were making a commitment to defend this nation." The show began at 10 a.m. when members of the U.S. Army Black Daggers jumped out of a plane while holding a full size American Flag as the National Anthem played. Then the GEICO Skytypers took flight and filled the Charleston sky with a message reading, "Welcome to the 2011 Air Expo at Charleston." In the afternoon with the sun high in the sky, the Commemorative Air Force heated things up even more by performing Tora! Tora! Tora!, a re-enactment of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and set the runway ablaze with pyrotechnics. At approximately 3:30 p.m. the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds took to the sky and performed precision stunts and loops for approximately 45 minutes, ending the show. The Air Expo also had static displays of planes from a C17 Globemaster III to an A-10 Thunderbolt II, where lines formed to see inside the cockpit. Mike Diamond, an electronics technician for the Scientific Research Cooperation, and his son Jackson, enjoyed being able to see the inside of an A-10. "I mainly came to show my son the airplanes because we have started to notice that he has an interest in playing with toy planes," Mr. Diamond said. "But I'm having a wonderful time as well. I remember when I was little I used to build model planes. It's an incredible feeling to see them this big and this close." Jackson said when he grows up he wants to be a pilot, but for now ...
U.S. Air Force Photo/Tech. Sgt. Chrissy Best
Nearly 80,000 people came out to Charleston Air Expo 2011 April 9, 2011, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Performances included the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the Black Daggers U.S. Army Special Operations Command parachute demonstration team, the Commemorative Air Force's Tora! Tora! Tora! and other aerial acts as well as dozens of static displays.
"I love watching the planes fly," he said. Major Suazo would like to thank all of the workers that participated from JB CHS, local law enforcement, all of the volunteers, the performers and all of those who attended and supported the event. "The weather was a major concern due to potential thunderstorms that were scattered north of the air base," said Major Suazo. "Though it was extremely hot, the weather was on our side. We had some wind, but never felt any rain." "The key to the success of the air show was the team work performed by all agencies," he said. "The traffic was a major improvement from the last air show in 2008. We all came together and though we faced some challenges, we stuck
together and made it through." Clarence Gist, once a corporal and communications specialist for the U.S. Army Air Corps, said the air show was simply amazing. "I remember flying on those to go overseas," he said pointing at a C-47 in flight. A C-17 took off shortly after the C-47 as part of a Heritage flight. Mr. Gist said the growth of the Air Force and the advancements of today's technology show that we have the greatest air power in the world. "I'm proud to be an American," he said. See more photos on Page 12
World War II vet relives Pearl Harbor By 2nd Lt. Susan Carlson Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
INSIDE
Spending an entire day in the scorching sun is not the way most 89-year-olds spend their birthday; however, Buck Morris, a Lowcountry native, is not your typical 89year-old. Attending this year's Charleston Air Expo 2011 meant more to Mr. Morris than just the aura and flare of modern air superiority; it was a time of reflection, remembrance and reverence. While most spectators had come to marvel at the awe-inspiring magnificence of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the main attraction for Mr. Morris was a demonstration from another era - one that gave this country the freedoms it has today. As a survivor of the attacks on Pearl Harbor, spending his 89th birthday watching the re-enactment of the events of that tragic day, the Commemorative Air Force's Tora! Tora! Tora! was a moment he will never forget. The memories the simulated battle stirred are remembered by only a small number of heroes. In fact, there are only an estimated 2,000-4,000 Pearl Harbor veterans alive today
destroyer USS Phelps (DD 360) when the Japanese aircraft attacked. "When the attack came on Pearl Harbor we were right in the middle of the harbor, so we saw it all," Mr. Morris said. "Luckily we didn't get hit; we were one of the few survivors." Amazingly, his ship was able to escape the attacks virtually unscathed. They were able to get under way and put out to sea quickly; however, like 90 percent of the ships in the harbor, they went without their captain aboard, he said. "It was turmoil first class around there that day," Mr. Morris said. "We didn't have time to get scared. When the See Pearl Harbor, Page 8 U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Nicole Mickle
Buck Morris watches the various demonstration during the Charleston Air Expo 2011 April 9, 2011, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Mr. Morris is a Navy veteran and a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He celebrated his 89th birthday by attending the Air Expo.
according to recent statistics. Mr. Morris was a signalman on board the U.S. Navy
HOMETOWN HERO JB CHS HONORED Flying with the Thunderbirds Page 6
AIR EXPO
Parking lot closing The parking area on South Graves Ave. (McCaw Street to the flight line) will be closed to all parking from May 31 to June 5. All vehicles currently parked there must make arrangements to move their vehicle(s) no later than May 30.
SERVICE DOGS
Food bank names JB CHS Volunteer of the Year
80,000 turn skyward
NAVCONBRIG places two dogs with veterans
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Operational Readiness Inspection Countdown:
33 Weeks
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