Notam Board Bulletin board for the latest FAC news and announcements

To return to the website Home page click here.

Announcements:

• 15 Oct 24: Ft Walton Beach FAC Reunion Update:

• Gentlemen,

  Planning for our final FAC Association reunion (23-27 Oct) is going well. It looks like the weather will be cooperating as well. We expect sunny days, temperatures about 80/66 degrees. 

  See attachments. (Reunion Attendees and Airport Arrivals. Both are being posted on the FAC Association’s Website.)  

  Airport Arrivals. If you are arriving by air at the Destin-Ft Walton Beach airport, you might meet someone who is not renting a car and you can give them a ride to the reunion hotel.

  About 180 are arriving on Wednesday, 23 Oct. That should make for a rousing Pre-party that night.

  Looking forward to seeing everyone here on the Emerald Coast. 

  Reunion Coordinator, 

  Claude Newland, Rustic 19 

• 30 Sep 24: Hurricane Helene did minimal damage to the Ft. Walton area and the reunion will proceed as planned. Per Claude Newland!

• 13 Jul 24: The July 2024 FAC Newsletter is out! It contains reunion registration forms, a schedule of events, hotel reservation in formation and much more.  Please note that the US Mail copy of the letter has been discontinued.  The website copy is downloadable and printable.  If you want a paper copy of the letter, move your pointer (Cursor) near the bottom center of the page where a block of four buttons will appear.  The button on the right will cause a PDF copy of the document to be deposited in your download folder.  The button at the center right will cause a printable copy of the document to appear on your screen.  Press the printer symbol in the PDF tool bar at the top of the page to print your copy.  The remaining two buttons are self-explanatory.
  

• 22 May 24: Legacy Pictures Request: Former members of the 20 TASS are being asked for pictures of themselves or activities in which they participated during their tour in South East Asia. The pictures are to be preserved in a museum display honoring our efforts.  If you are willing to share some of your pictures, please click here to read the details.
  

• 15 Mar 24:  FACNET Reunion Update - Mar 15, 2024  Latest news from the reunion organizers.  Click here to read it.
• 
  
• 01 Feb 24:  FAC TRIBUTE PRESENTATION THE SURVIVORS!  For years the FAC Association has presented a tribute to the families of those of us who flew west.  Given that the association will itself fly west, it seems appropriate to offer to those of the survivors a copy of that tribute, its history and a letter from its author and long time presenter Colonel Dale Hill, Nail 49.  All three documents are down loadable. For a copy of Colonel Hill's letter click here.  For a copy of Crew Chief Bob's History click here.  For a copy of the tribute click here. 
  

• 30 Nov 23: IT'S ABOUT REUNION 2024, HELP US GET A COUNT!  ARE YOU COMING?  FOR THE LATEST NEWS CLICK HERE

NOTE: To download a copy, move your cursor to the bottom center of the page.  A block of four buttons will appear.  The button on the right will cause a PDF copy to be deposited in your computer's download folder.  The button on the center right will cause a printable PDF copy to appear on your screen.  Press the printer symbol in the PDF tool bar at the top of the page. The remaining buttons are self explanatory.

• 29 Nov 23:CLICK HERE TO READ THE RUSTIC NEWSLETTER, DECEMBER 1ST EDITION.

• 04 Sep 23: The FAC Association's FINI FAC Reunion dates are October 24-27, 2024 here in Ft Walton Beach, FL.   Early arrival day will be Wednesday, 23 October 2024.
  

  The reunion hotel is the re-branded and renovated "The Island Resort Hotel"
  on Okaloosa Island. This is the former Ramada Plaza Beach Hotel where we
  held our 2000 and 2014 FAC Association reunions. 
  I will have additional reunion information for you to post about the
  reunion, to include how to make reservations. 

  Claude Newland, Rustic 19

   

• 19 JAN 23: Special: "The Rescuers, Leave No Man Behind"  is an interesting article from the Skyhawk Association Journal, Winter 22-23 edition about the rescue of two Marine A-4 pilots shot down over Laos in December 1969.  The Nails, FACs from the 23rd TASS out of Nakhom Phanom, are played an important role.  Click here to read it.  The artIcle is printed two pages on a screen.  To read it, move your curser to the middle of the bottom of the screen an click on the plus symbol. 
  

• 16 JUL 22: Notam: The Military Reunion Planners site is now open for Reunion 2022 registration!  Click on the link below to go there

  https://militaryreunionplanners.com/SR/index.php?folder=FAC 
  
  

  For more information and a link to Registration, click here.
  

  
  

• 03 JUL 22: Notam, Interment for Jay Barnes, Jake 26, will be at 1000 on 20 July 2022 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.  Obituary

• 31MAY22: CLICK HERE TO READ THE RUSTIC NEWSLETTER, JUNE 1st EDITION 
  

• 21FEB 22: REUNION 2022 IS ON!  COLORADO SPRINGS 17-21 OCTOBER CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
  

• 27 Aug 21: Rustic Reunion Cancelled!

I regret to inform you that events of this past week have dictated that we cancel our October 2021 Rustic Reunion in Tucson. This was a tough decision by your Board, but we think it is a prudent one. The cancellation is due to the reunion hotel’s executive leadership cancelling our hospitality suite and placing restrictions on our group gatherings. In addition, many of you have rising concerns about the resurgent Covid crisis. 
 
COVID restrictions in Arizona and by the hotel recently caused the planning committee to find other options for several of our event venues, but these options are tenuous in light of the current Covid situation. With two months until our planned reunion, there is a significant possibility that those secondary options might be lost. As always, the safety of Rustics and their families is paramount. So, after careful discussion and consideration by your Rustic Board, we are canceling our October 2021 reunion. Whether we attempt to find a future alternative date is to be determined.  
 
There will be no financial loss for the Rustics. For those who have reserved their hotel room, the Desert Diamond Hotel and Casino will cancel your reservation and will send you an email confirming the cancellation. If you have not heard from them soon, please contact the hotel (520-294-7777) and confirm your reservation has been cancelled. Additionally, Lendy Edwards will refund all registration fees sent to him. This means we will not be placing an order for Rustic shirts or caps.   
 
I want to personally thank Claude Newland and all of the Arizona Rustics who have been working hard over the past many months to build what was going to be a great event. They continued their work over the months in a "constantly changing sand" of COVID.
 
The Rustic Board will begin looking at future Reunion opportunities and keep you informed.
 
Johnny Drury
Rustic 04
President, Rustic FAC Association

• 28 Apr 21: Impressive OV-10 flying model.  A Tribute to the Assies, Kiwis and 19th TASS.  Click here to see the pictures and say G'day.

• 06 APR 21: The JAKE FACs ARE PLANNING A REUNION!  WE ARE ALL INVITED, THIS FALL, DAYTON, DETAILS, TBD!

• With the current concerns we all deal with - COVID, health issues, losses of friends, budgetary challenges, et al, my apologies for "Running silent, running deep" for quite a while, a reminder that, depending on the future of threats (COVID, among others), we are still planning a fall Jakes/MATs reunion near the NMUSAF near Dayton, dates TBA for this fall, most likely a week in Oct which won't conflict with any FAC Assn (all-FAC) event, like BroncoFest or a FACA "skinny reunion".
  

• All Jake Reunions are open to all members of the FAC Community, all ranks, spouses, friends, anyone who has an interest in the FAC mission, especially those grants we supported.  We have a few scheduled activities, much free time for camaraderie, ant the pay-as you go hooch every evening, nothing dressier than a polo, and I try to keep the cost down.  More info to be posted as this "one-we'll-never-forget" year unfolds. 

   

  Jay Barnes, Jake 26, Tam Ky'70,  jake26tamky.70@gmail.com

  President, Jake FAC Assn 

   

• 20 MAR 21: BRONCO FEST XIII INVITATION!  WE ARE ALL INVITED!  DETAILS:

   

  Good afternoon!  In an effort to keep you all updated on the reunion scheduled for November, please see the below information.  If you have any questions, please reach out to me directly at aengele@ftwaviation.com

• DATES:              10-14 NOVEMBER 2021
  

  LOCATION:       FORT WORTH, TX

  FOR WHO:        FOR ALL!!!  We are the OV-10 Bronco Association (OBA), but all (FAC, AO's, etc.) are welcome to join us.  Many have already reserved their hotel accommodations!  Join us!!

   

  HOTEL:              RADISSON AT FOSSIL CREEK, link below & screen shot attached (Complimentary breakfast buffet for up to 2 guests/room; coupons given at check-in)

   

  THEME:            30th ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAST OV-10 COMBAT MISSION (Desert Storm era)

   

  ACTIVITIES:      While the official schedule is not ready yet, we are planning such things as:

                               -  Marine Corps Birthday

                               -  Fort Worth Veteran's Day Parade attendance/participation

                               -  Top Golf event 

                               -  Gun Range event

                               -  Historical Aviation Tours

                               -  Flight Crew Dinner

                               -  Fort Worth Aviation Museum day & picnic

                               -  OV-10, and other aircraft, flights

                               -  Archery event

                               -  Stockyards Tours

                               -  Stockyards Ghost Tours

                               -  Rodeo event

   

  If anyone has any suggestions for other event ideas, please let me know as soon as possible, so that I can look into them!

   

  If anyone has any special needs, please let me know immediately.

   

  Please be on the lookout for additional registration information; however, I highly recommend you make your hotel reservations as quickly as possible.  If we run out of rooms at the Radisson, I will do my best to find alternative solutions for you.  There are many hotels in the area, and you are welcome to stay wherever you would like, just be aware that our dinners and hotel-located events will be at the Radisson, as it is our "home base hotel".

   

  If you have any questions, please reach out to me!  Feel free to share this email (please "forward" it so that you capture the attachment, as well) to whomever you feel would be interested in joining us.

   

  Below you will find the link to the hotel that we have contracted with for Bronco Fest XIII.

   

  If the link does not work, please copy/paste it into your browser, that should work.

   

   https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/booking/room-display?checkInDate=2021-11-10&checkOutDate=2021-11-15&adults%5B%5D=1&children%5B%5D=0&searchType=pac&promotionCode=BRONCO&brandFirst=rad&hotelCode=TXFTWNO

   

  Hope to see you all there!!  Further information regarding Bronco Fest XIII is coming soon.

   

  If you are interested in receiving additional information on this reunion, please email me directly at aengele@ftwaviation.com    I will add you to my list of contacts for the event!

   

  Very respectfully,

   

  Angela

   

   Angela Bennett-Engele,
 President, OV-10 Bronco Association

  aengele@ftwaviation.com

  214-601-8055

• Who is it? Who was the fellow FAC in the January 2021 Newsletter and which one was he? The Rushforths circa 1945 The young man on the right in short pants is Covey 252,152 and Trail 67, Toby Rushforth. The young man on the left is his brother Dr. David J. Rushforth, LT USN, doctor for the US Navy Seabees at Marble Mountain near DaNang while Toby was at DaNang.  Exposure to Agent Orange while at DaNang finally took him a couple of years ago.

  
  


• 11/23/20: FACNET transfer to groups.io status report.

As of today it appears that all 693 members have been added to the FACNET@groups.io list server.  As an initial membership vetting, the moderator is required to approve the first TWO messages you submit to FACNET@groups.io.  So, please don't get too worried if I am not available to instantly approve your first two messages. 

As your moderator, I request that all future FACNET messages be sent to our NEW HOME

 FACNET@groups.io.

A copy of the groups.io member manual (97 pages) should be attached to an email sent to all 693 members.  If you have any questions about the operation of groups.io, please send an email to FACNET because you are probably having a problem that other members are running into and we all (moderator included) need to become more familiar with the groups.io environment.

***Acknowledgement***

Please be advised that FACNET survives because the Forward Air Controllers Association is dedicating a portion of their annual budget to our premium groups.io subscription of $20 per month.

THANK YOU Forward Air Controllers Association!

allen dyer, covey 577
FACNET Moderator

Note: Anyone, support personnel or pilot, who was part of the FAC mission during the war in Southeast Asia is encouraged to join the FACNET at no cost - just email the moderator Allen Dyer mailto:aldyer@lawlab.com

• 11/02/20:FACNET to move from Yahoo groups!  In light of the complete shutdown of yahoogroups on December 17, 2020, I have been ordered by the FAC Association to move FACNET from yahoogroups to groups.io.  Accordingly, yesterday FACNET@groups.io was claimed by FAC association and approved by groups.io.

   

  At this point, the possibility of moving the entire email list addresses -- in bulk -- to groups.io is being explored.  However, in the event the I can’t figure out a bulk move, Brad Wright, Covey 251, FAC Association president, has already established a beach head and has found the initial FACNET@groups.io sign-up process to be a piece-of-cake.   

   

  However, in order to avoid the possibility of duplicate memberships, please wait until I give up on the bulk-move before you try to sign up individually, or, in military terminology --- hurry up & wait.

   

  I might  add, the features available on groups.io look pretty sweet.  I think everyone will enjoy “stepping-up” to a fully fledged email group environment.  

   

  SAYONARA VERIZON.

   

  allen dyer, covey 577

  FACNET moderator

• 
  
• 06/09/20: Go Around, Go Around, Go Around!  The 2020 FAC Reunion at Colorado Springs this Fall has been postponed to 2022.  Complications and uncertainties brought about by the Covid-19 outbreak has caused the FACA Board of Directors to re-think this year's reunion.  Consequently, they passed the following resolution by Phil Litts:
  
  I move that we postpone FR 2020 to 2022, that we keep the Reunion in COS and further that Mike Lyons and his crew continue with communications with Hotel Elegante, MRP, and all involved venders, to make this happen.
  
  There are plans in the making for a mini get together next year.  More details are forthcoming in the July 2020 Newsletter.
  
  ***************
  
  
  

• 03/14/20:  Wave Off! Wave Off! Wave Off! Because of the coronavirus spreading across the world, the Australian War Memorial has postponed the 27 March 2020 Unveiling of its USAF OV-10 FAC aircraft No. 639 to a date yet to be decided. It will be the only USAF aircraft in the AWM collection; but there are other US manufactured aircraft in the collection.
  
  Cheers,
  Peter Condon,
  Tamale15 (O-1) /Sidewinder 23 (OV-10)
  

• Restored OV-10 #639 then (2001) and now.

  
  

• 03/12/2020: From the FACNET: On 27 March, the Australian War Memorial will dedicate OV-10 #639 which has been renovated for display. This has been a 10 year project.
  
  
  
  Our Aussie brothers have put together a great dedication ceremony and dinner to mark the occasion. As one of many of us on this net, I personally flew this aircraft, and planned to go down to the event. I had my tickets and hotel reservations. However this whole dust up with the COVID-19 forced me to reconsider, and after a bunch of study and consideration as a 72 y/o with some medical issues, I decided, reluctantly, that it was prudent for me to cancel. 
  
  
  My primary concern was that if I was somehow exposed while down there, I would have to go into quarantine for an indeterminate time in a foreign country. Perhaps that sounds a bit paranoid, but I would be in a country with different laws, medical programs, and customs, and a long way from home.
  
  
  
  Needless to say, the Tom Hanks announcement just a few hours after I made my decision, just reinforced my action.
  
  
  
  When I called to cancel my airline tickets, I asked the agent how bad it was. He said that for the last two days, all he had been doing was cancelling reservations for airline trips, cruises, conventions, seminars, Disney World, etc.
  
  
  
  Seems we may have a bit more to go through in all of this before it turns around.
  
  
  Darrel
  
  
  
  
• 10/06/2019: FREE FLU SHOTS! for veterans at your local Walgreens Drug store.
  


• 10/06/2019: Beginning January 2020, the VA will share your health records with health providers without obtaining your specific authorization.  However, there is an opt out provision.  To understand the details click on  HEALTH RECORDS!.

•