‘71, was logging almost 100 hrs per month at SAR Jacksonville; H-34, H-1, T-28, S-2, C-47, C-131, and the HU-16 Seaplane. Great two years, almost 2000 hrs,  before going HS-15 pre-com and the first SH-3Hs. Did VT-1 Saufley in ‘68 as a AOCS cadet before commissioning. First reverse flow class. Our solo flights were out of Saufley down to  Summerdale for t/g bounces-sometimes bounces were harder than others. That Fri gathered in BOQ courtyard for tie cutting. Not allowed into O’club as cadets like the Ens/JGs ceremony. Great memories! Nothing beats “fly Navy”.
Sent from my iPad

On Nov 14, 2025, at 12:22, mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com wrote:



Wow Don, that is a great bit of Inside Baseball. Watched all the BBC drama on this topic over the years but never really new anything about her first husband.  Thanks for that addition….mgb

 

From: Donald Steuer <steuerfamily@aol.com>
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2025 12:10 PM
To: mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com
Cc: HeloBubbas <helobubbas@helobubbas.com>
Subject: [Helobubbas] Re: VT-1 Solo Instructors-Summerdale, AL

 

Earl Spencer went on to be the first CO at NASNI (then called NAS San Diego). He was the first husband (1916-1927) of Wallis Simpson. He and Simpson divorced and she later she went on to marry King Edward the VIII after he had abdicated the throne of England.



On Nov 14, 2025, at 10:48 AM, <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> <mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com> wrote:

 

This picture reminds me of Summerdale in Fall of 1971 where you did your solo flights in the “Tiny Winny.”   The instructor would get out and sit in the shade adjacent to a small building like this in the center of the old airfield and keep track of their students in the pattern……..I suspect the picture if someplace more central to Pensacola, but the same principal…..waiting to fly or keeping track of your students…mgb

 

 

CDR Mike Brattland, USN (Ret.) mgbrattland@gerlecreek.com

Admin/Moderator SanDiegoCarGuys List & Calendar of Events

619 454-0496  ’38 Willys 2 Dr Sedan

 

 

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