VW-11 EC121K Aircraft Test Hop Argentia, Newfoundland

VW-11 Super Connie Aircraft Crew 1 Test Hop Argentia, NFLD 1965

[@keithcaulkins8775]

Wow, what memories! I was a Navy Brat from 58 to 61. What a great place to be a kid. Playing on the cannons, and in the ammo caves overlooking the bay. Fishing off the pier and catching dinner. Courting young ladies at the base movie, pool, or skate rink. I was there for the opening of the Arthur L. Bristol school. Winter time, dressing warm and sledding down the street, because the cars couldn't get up the hill our apartments was built on. Joining the scouts, riding the base Tug out to May West in the bay. Almost forgot the Capelin runs at the main side beach. Catch them by the bushel, and have a great fish fry. The Newfies would do them Sushi style right on the beach. Loved that place, wish I could have got back before they tore it down. So glad we have an internet full of memories. Thanks so much for you video.

[@alexbrunton9800]

Hi John, I was in the hanger upstairs when you first brought Joan to office area. VW 11 Still got her I hope. I bought the record from the base exchange about the time you did. Jimmy D. Billy Yank and Johnny Reb. Thanks for test hop. watched it many times. Went on google map street view and didn't recognize the road we used to live on it is so built up. We lived with a nice Newf family. The house is still there. After hearing that everything is gone on base I have no desire to go back. It just wouldn't be fun seeing all the changes. Alex Brunton ATW2. Went to Arg. as E 3 left 2 years later an E5. life was good. I am an old country boy so I fit right in. Forget the bad times.

[@Sundancetr4]

My daddy was stationed there from '62-65 Super people and great scenery. He was airbourne eletctronics officer on the willy wictors. I remember bowling in the BOQ, movies in north end rec center. the old silver mine We lived in Dunville, and Freshwater, before moving on base to 200 housing. wow great memories flashing back. Thank for posting this.

[@kengraff3874]

I never had the honor to serve with an active VW squadron but was stationed at NAS Glynco in Brunswick, GA from 1960-63. I was a ATR2 and a crew chief on a "Connie" and discharged from the Navy from there in April 1963. I enjoyed this video immensely. Out unit supported the NATTC and trained the controllers. Thanks again for posting this video, it warmed and old man's heart.

[@dkenmiller9829]

I trained at Glynco in 1963. We may have crossed paths. I was at Glynco from April to July in Airborne CIC Training. From there I was assigned AEWBARRONPAC HQ Barbers Point flying the Barrier out of Midway. 2000+ flight hours on the Barrier. I would love to visit with you.

[@placentiabayman]

GREAT VIDEO. I AM FROM THE PLACENTIA AREA AND REMEMBER GOING TO THE BASE YEARS AGO. THERES NOT MUCH LEFT FROM THOSE DAYS, ALL THE BUILDINGS WERE TORN DOWN. BUT THE BASE IS STILL A PART OF THE RICH HISTORY OF THE PLACENTIA AREA. THANKS SO MUCH FOR POSTING.

[@wbpacat]

Good videos and pix. There are 11 of us, most from VW-11 radio, who have found each other and correspond. Most have good memories of their visit to Arg.. Tom Major '63 - '65

[@EdFertik]

I spent a year at NAVCOMSTA Iceland in 67-68 as a Navy RM2. But i volunteered to fly in an AWAC with these guys over the Artic. Great experience especially coming back in a terrible storm.

[@keflavic]

@placentiabayman We drove up to Newfoundland last summer and took the Smallwood from North Sidney to Argentia. The area sure looked baron with all of the base facilities gone. We traveled around NFLD for a few days and spent our last night at the Rosedale Manor in Placentia. Dunville, where we lived in the mid 60's, has changed so much since the new highway that we didn't recognize most of it. We still loved Newfoundland and cherish the memories of our life there. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@jeffingram9916]

I was in VW-11 from November 1961 to April 1963. I was an ACW-3 radar operator. I also flew in AEWBARRONPAC. It is great to see HD video of the restored Yanks Museum EC-121. What an experience that I didn't begin to appreciate until the last 10 years or so. To be a kid and go to Iceland and Scotland plus good ole Newfoundland. We would go into Scotland with a couple hundred dollars in our pockets and have a blast. The idea was to stay awake and party every hour!

[@Musings-From-Mike]

As a boy, I always urged our family to fly in the Lockheed Super Constellation from New York to Miami as we became annual snow birds. Serendipity that my first squadron in the Navy was VW-13 flying as a navigator for two years from 1964 through 1965 just before the two squadrons were decommissioned. Over 1,000 hours flown in those two years; they kept me hopping!

[@jpatterson181]

Served as a radioman on the base in 1961 until the command moved to Keflavik and was with AEWINGLANT and COMBARLANT and NAVCOMSTA ICELAND until 1962 when I went to the USS Independence. I actually went on a WV2 barrier flight as radioman and loved it. It made me wish I had been an Airdale. Good luck to all.

[@CaesarInVa]

My father, Cdr, "Bud" Keister, was Ops Officer of VW-11 from '56 or '58 through '60. I didn't come into the world until after he and the family rotated back to NRL in early '60, but to this day when my brothers talk about spending a couple years as boys growing up there, it really sounds fantastic. They certainly shared some truly unique experiences that civvies friends just couldn't relate to.

[@BobTuttle]

I was in VW1 flying out of NAS Agana Guam from 1966-68. Had >5000 hours flight time North of the DMZ in Nam. VW1 was a great experience,

[@genebob007]

Was in VW-13 1961 to 1964 hard to believe it is all gone there is another post on youtube of a guy and his wife (Robert Brown's Newfoundland ) standing on the old runway and pan's his camera and there is nothing there all gone. Thanks for the memories !

[@SkipFlem]

My dad flew with VW-13 in 1957. 'They' gave me a SILVER baby dish when I was born in March. "LARRY from V.W-13" We moved to Lake Hurst NJ and he flew in the ZPG-2Ns, both in LH and So. Weymouth...

[@novom2001]

Boy does this bring back memories. My Navy days were nearly 10 years later, but the aircraft were the same. The aircraft on the test flight, 145940 was later refitted as EC121M and transferred to VQ1. I knew her as PR25. We were home based on Guam and took part in the South East Asia War Games, this aircraft was was flown to the bone yard in 1974. We also had 145936 which I think was also in VW11.

[@ronaldcmoore1323]

VW-11 1964-65. Flew the last flight with the late Capt. Bunce. We sent a poem to Opcon. I worked in MC while I was not flying or in Kef. My specialty- meal prep in the Connie kitchen. I still remember all the bureau numbers 312 to 940 RC Moore AX3 Frostproof FL/Erie Pa.

[@frankconwell6199]

I served in vw11 1959-1961 I was made a plane captain after the entanglement of 2 WV's in 1960. We called them the tailless wonders at the time. One had the empenage replaced then flew to Arizona . I also advanced in rank to AM 1 and married a Newfi. Still have her 65 years 😂

[@bobnsusie]

Many memories of VW-11, was stationed there in 1965.

[@ronscala7484]

I was in Argentia from 1959 to1961 VW11 crew 5 ACW 3 I flew about 180 12hr flights. I see about 6:18 the plane is dumping fuel

[@budcannon6146]

My father was a patrol plane commander in the late 50s at Argentia, Newfoundland and WV 11

[@keflavic]

@wbpacat I got a phone call from one of you today. Was gret to hear from Al. We covered a lot of great memories. Thanks, John Phillips

[@edremeika9788]

After training, I was assigned to vw11 which at that time would rotate between Pax river and Argentia along with vw13 and vw15. Within one month vw11 was permanently based in Argentia. I spent over 2 years there.

[@loutylee]

That's my dad saluting the nicely dressed officer in the first photo!

[@oldcuby]

I notice in the video at 10:50 min. that there is a still of 141311 connie at Argentia. That aircraft was restored at Rantoul, IL but that museum there went belly up. The WV-2 was transported this year, 2017, to the Yankee Air Museum and will be further restored there.

[@davedawe2420]

So, so sad to see that big base dismantled. At its peak there were over 15 000 American forces and family members living there. Very impressive.

[@PuzzlingEvidenceTV]

The Heller plastic model has this VW's markings....lived around Willie Victors all my life, rode them into Da Nang at the end of the war there...Love those birds....

[@larrythomas5725]

Served as F/E Instructor AEWTULANT at PaxRiver 1962-67. Made two trips to Argentia, very cold,. Previously I flew the barrier out of Midway.

[@genebob007]

Served in VW-13 in Argentia 1959 to 1960....great fishing !

[@mrmelo25]

The sound of those prop engines are so chilling and nostalgic. I wonder what you could have used to record them back then. My dad was in Keflavic in 1965, and Argentia at least twice. You might enjoy looking at slides he took when our family lived there from 1966-68. I have posted part of the documentary on my page.

[@larrybump9925]

My father John Bump took us up there for a while in probably '65.

[@tomhale4259]

Thomas HALE VW11 AK2 Aux One Stores in the Miami Hangar 1960-61. Never wore a survival suit. LIVED in Freshwater.Loved every minute while stationed in Argentia. MY specialty was aviation flight gear issue to all the Officers and Crewmen. Smuggled wife into FLND and had a hell of a time getting her out because no record of her being there. Trip Four was my best friend.

[@davidbunch9362]

The Bunch Family 1961 Dad was also your bartender at the CPO Robert and Dorthy good times.

[@Argentiacorpsman]

Thanks for the memories. Corpsman at Navy 103 hospital 59 -61. Delivered lots of babies with Dr. John Madry. Anyone remember Newfie Screech? How about the CNR railroad that ended in Argentia? Transferred to the CNR boat that took us to the out islands along the coast. Wonderful memories!

[@concrete6935]

EWW I was a corpsman at the base hospital in 1958 - 1959 . Bill Cosby was a corpsman also and was there at the same time.

[@nukeblue]

A salute to all the (Silent) Warriors. MSgt USAF retired

[@BRENTH11100]

This brought a tear to me eye ! thats fur shur....

[@vip01]

Otis afb in Cape Cod Ma had a squadron of these planes. I knew a couple of the radar operators. I was in SAC on the Kc-97's at that time. I was there 1960-1962.

[@jdmanion9679]

I was in VW-4 from 63-66 and we stopped in Argentia for repairs Damn it was cold we had no warm clothing Thats all I remember.

[@kingusmcgee]

Interesting. I was at Argentia, NS with VP5 from Jacksonville NAS, FL 1954 Autumn. The squadron were using P2V-5 Neptunes. Not good memories. Very cold and windy all the time.

[@josephbourque1503]

Was stationed at Nav comm unit 1962- 1965 Scoutmaster Troop 1.

[@PeterNGloor]

Nice with the Nefie music sound track

[@TheLightnbug]

I was in VW11 1964-65 as a radioman. Trained with crew 5. Kenneth Mowery was first radio and Bob Hawley was second radio. I made first radio and moved to crew 2. Tom Major I remember your name. How can I get in contact with the group you mention? Thanks for the video, H.O. (Sam) Haraway

[@MrClarkM]

Was the footage of the F-4 Phantoms in Argentia as well ?

[@davidmurphy8190]

Looked like it was part of video footage of a deployment to NAS PATUXENT RIVER. Quite a few different birds on that segment of film.

[@williamcooley2719]

Was in vw 13 and vw11 1956 to 1958 Will Cooley AC 1 USN ret

[@DennisSmeaton]

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