More noteriety!

Today's mail brought the latest edition of the "POP-A-SMOKE" newsletter, the poop sheet put out by the Marine Corps Combat Helicopter Pilot and Aircrew Association. In this latest edition "Charlie" had a nice column about her restoration project. We are very pleased that the editors of  POP-A-SMOKE were kind enough to publish that blurb about the project.

If anybody want to know more about the association, go to www.popasmoke.org There are thousands of pictures of Marine Corps helicopter operations posted there, from all aspects of the USMC history, including Korea and the modern operations in Iraq and Afganistan.

Charlie is all ready for the 4th of July parade Monday. Today she got some touch-up painting, and got lettering MARINES (Huge letters) on her right side, and UNITED STATES ARMY (smaller letters, but a recreation of previous work) on her left side. Consider this and endorsement of black Gorilla Tape. It works wonderfully for temporary lettering. John Pugh says he is also an experienced painter, and will, at a later time, redo the lettering with paint. Thank you John!

News Flash!  Today's mail also brought the paperwork and records for Charlie. Charlie truly is a 1950's model. Her first log entry was 1957. This makes her the genuine article for the "Lost in the 50's" parade next year. We were going to enter her anyway as a "50's era" helicopter, but now we know she really is a "Girl of a certain age." Charlie spent time in Germany and Michigan before going to Davis-Monthan. More details as they emerge. We even got our bill of sale.  Thank you Tim Adamson.

That said, it is time for a little more cyber begging! Project Charlie is about a thousand dollars over budget, so anyone who can afford to make a small donation in these hard times, please do so.

To send a tax deductible donation, make check out to V.V.A. Chapter 890, Sandpoint, Idaho
Mail to:

Bill Collier
402 Sandpoint Ave. No. 224
Sandpoint,
ID 83864
also, feel free to call: 208-597-0622

Thank you in avance for any donation, however small.

Lots of pictures after the 4th of July parade;
Perhaps a short video or two!
And I WILL get to the mystery of "What's in dem black boxes anyway?" soon.