USO Canteen FReeper Style....Aviation Ordnancemen Thank You.......July 3,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

Aviation Ordnancemen (AOs) are aircraft armament (weapons) specialists. They are in charge of storing, servicing, inspecting, and handling all types of weapons and ammunition carried on Naval and Marine aircraft.

Ordnance Attitude Adjustment Tools

What Aviation Ordnancemen do...

Inspect, maintain and repair aircraft mechanical and electrical armament/ordnance systems.

Service aircraft guns and accessories.

Stow, assemble, and load aviation ammunition including aerial mines and torpedoes.

Service releasing and launching devices.

Load supplementary munitions.

Assemble, test, and maintain air-launched guided missiles.

Supervise operation of aviation ordnance shops, armories and stowage facilities.

Possibly function as air crewmen in various types of aircraft.

When training is completed, aviation ordnancemen may be assigned to Navy ships carrying aircraft, air stations, squadrons deployed to aircraft carriers or other aviation facilities in the U.S. or overseas.

The Arabian Gulf, Aug. 12, 2000 — Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Alejandro Montalvo of Mocha, Puerto Rico, and Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Chris Tucker of Ocala, Fla., prepare a 2000 pound, MK-84 JDAM GPS Guided Weapon for loading on an F/A-18 Hornet on the flight deck of USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington and her air wing are operating in the Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class J. Scott Campbell. [000812-N-1407C-004] Aug. 12, 2000.

At sea aboard USS John C. Stennis, Mar. 5, 2002 — An Aviation Ordnanceman supervises the "bomb farm" on the flight deck of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). From the "bomb farm," ordnance is moved out onto the flight deck and onto the aircraft. Since World War II, the U.S. Navy's carriers have been the national force of choice. In over 80% of the times when the World was faced with international violence, the U.S. has responded with one or more carrier task forces. John C. Stennis and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) conducting combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Alta I. Cutler.

At sea aboard USS John C. Stennis, Mar. 5, 2002 — An Aviation Ordnanceman aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) installs an FMU-139BB "electric tail fuse" on a 500-pound BLU-111 penetrating bomb while working in one of the carrier's weapon magazines. Since World War II, the U.S. Navy's carriers have been the national force of choice. In over 80% of the times when the World was faced with international violence, the U.S. has responded with one or more carrier task forces. John C. Stennis and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) conducting combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class James A. Farrally II

Aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Marine Corps ordnance handlers move 500-pound GBU-12 MK 83 laser guided bombs towards an F/A-18 Hornet in preparation for loading. The Hornet strike fighter is assigned to the "Black Knights" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron Three One Four (VMFA-314). Marine aviation, flying from Navy carriers and amphibious ships, demonstrates the close integration of the Navy-Marine Corps team. John C. Stennis and her embarked Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) conducting combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Joshua Word.

Aboard USS Carl Vinson- an Aviation Ordnanceman directs forklift operator while moving bombs in the ships hanger bay.

Steam from the catapult surrounds an aviation ordnanceman as he gives a thumbs up after checking a Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) attached to an F/A-18C Hornet before launching from the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) on Aug. 22, 1999. The Hornet will be releasing the JDAM at the Okinawa, Japan Range Area in the first fleet squadron drop of the newly developed weapon. JDAM uses a global positioning system aided inertial navigation system to guide its 2,000 or 1,000 pound warhead to the target with a high degree of accuracy.

The Legend of Saint Barbara

"The Patron Saint of Cannoneers and Ordnancemen"

Saint Barbara was born in the year 218 A.D., in Nicomedia, a city of northern Asia Minor. Her father, Dioscorus, was a tyrannical Roman. During his absence from home, the girl embraced the teaching of Origen, the great Christian doctor. Dioscorus on his return ordered a new house built for Barbara, who was very beautiful, where she might entertain her suitors.

To symbolize her faith, the maiden induced the builder to put three windows in her bedroom to typify the Trinity, instead of the two windows her father had ordered.

When Dioscorus discovered the third, most significant window and questioned her, Barbara admitted she had become a Christian. Not only did she insist upon clinging to the new religion, but she rejected the suitor whom her father had selected as her husband. She was tried on her father's indictment, found guilty and sentenced to death. Dioscorus called the prefect, "Give me the sword; she shall die at my own hands."

And so did Barbara die at the hands of her own father. Even as the sword fell, lightening fell upon this cruel father and consumed him as he stood.

Because lightening appeared to revenge the death of Barbara, she became the protectress against lightening and thunder. Ordnancemen, regardless of the flags under which they served through the centuries, have claimed Barbara as their patron saint.

[Snow Bunny]

WOW ! Great letter Mr.M ! Thank you so much for sharing it here.

Have a wonderful 4th of July my dear freind.

[Mr_Magoo]

my husband makes the same claims - remembering his scores on the range - but he can't see the tv across the room without his glasses....

Now you know why I chose the screen name I have!!!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Wonderful, just wonderful… about 80 degrees, hehehe. Eat your heart out AC! Hahahaha.

[Snow Bunny]

giggle...that is great...neat idea.

Happy 4th to you and your family.

[Pippin]

I like your screenname!

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Victoria.

That's what a lot of people don't understand, we don't pledge allegiance to just a flag.

We pledge our allegiance to the idea of America and the people who make that idea work.

[MistyCA]

Hiya, Meek! Hope the computer is better! HOpe you survived the ordeal ok! :))

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL!!! Hiya Sam! Always good to see ya.

[Pippin]

80 degrees is nothing but a cold wave! LOL!! try 102 degrees that's how hot it got in Maryland!

[MistyCA]

That's great!

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Well, if you can't see very well then I better describe myself.......I am VERY young and look a little like Rachel Welch............. lol

[MistyCA]

Oh...sorry you have to work on Friday, but maybe it will be slow. :)

[Alberta's Child]

Ya know, someday when you're buried under 3 feet of snow up there for weeks on end . . . I'm going to let you have it!

(of course, I'd rather be buried under 3 feet of snow myself)

:-)

Be back in a bit.

[MeekOneGOP]

Doin' much better now, thanks! :O)

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi Bunny. Nope, no School tomorrow. Looking forward to tomorrow's thread. :-)

[Teacup]

Thank you all so much for all your prayers. We have Billy but it will be shared custody until the court hearing. My daughter called and she's got a job. YEA!! God answers prayers. One step at a time, I tell her. Hopefully soon she can have enough to get her own place and a car. Praise the Lord. He continues to be his silly self, but who cares. We're just praying she'll get full custody once this whole thing is over. I swear I'll need Botox injection by the time all of this os over, LOL,LOL. Love you all ;^)

[MistyCA]

LOL! We missed our chance to drop someone off Pike's Peak! What's next? "Oh, No! Mr. Bill! Not that!!! " Do you remember Mr. Bill?

[Pippin]

Probably will be as a lot of people are taking off Friday. Now, Why didn't I think of doing that?

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hahahaha, dream on, babe! LOL!

. . . . . . .

[MistyCA]

What a neat graphic! How are you doing?