Christmas Run 2019

The Christmas Run 2019 took place today and you may find the dispensers for Ladies and Gentlemen on your Fleet/Group main landings or at Third Fleet's locations. This year, the gift is made of a Midshipmen inspired set of jacket and sneakers for both women and men! Remember you will need to have the land group of the place where the dispensers are located to retrieve the gift!

You can find dispensers at NAS PAX by clicking HERE! [Paragon group required]

The women's jacket is inspired by the Midshipmen's QB Malcom Perry jersey #10, and the men's jacket by the Midshipmen's Captain Nizaire Cromartie jersey #56, worn on the Army Navy 2019 game - yes we categorically won 7 - 31! GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!

Enjoy your gifts and Happy Holidays from Third Fleet! Fear the Goat!

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron
PAXCO / TFCOM

* The use of the Midshipmen logos and imagery is exclusive to this limited GIFT edition and intended as a celebration of the Navy Midshipmen victory over the Army Black Knights football team. It is NOT FOR SALE and no profit is or will be obtained from these gifts.

Complete guide to Christmas Run gift dispensers:

NAF Eagles Nest - Blue Angels - Click Here! [Blue Angels land group required]
NAS Firespire - The BIG E - Click Here! [Friendly Airport group required]
NACCS - SL Marine Corps - Click Here! [SLMC group required]
NAF Boonootoo - TAW 6 - Click Here! [Paragon group required]
MONA Museum of Naval Aviation - Click Here! [SLMC group required]
USS Kitty Hawk - CVA-63 - Click Here! [7th Fleet group required]

Third Fleet Christmas Run 2019

The Midshipmen Year

Click images to enlarge

Starting at NAF Boonootoo, CAPT Kron, CPO Black and Nurse Heart.

The Joly Reindeer at MONA!

At the Marines Naval Air Crew Candidate School main entrance.

Main hangar at NAFEN, nest of the Blue Angels.

On the BIG E deck, spreading the love to WW2 era sailors.

Back home at PAX. GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!

The USS Kitty Hawk skipper, CAPT Sheridan, receives the Reindeer on deck.

The gift dispensers at the CVA-63 Mess Hall, as usual. Happy holidays!

Third Fleet wishes a merry Christmas and a great New Year to all who serve in Second Life, their families and friends and all who made our lives richer in 2019. Hooyah!

SL United States Navy Third Fleet 2019

2017 Miramar 3rd Fleet Christmas Run

Thor all packed and good to go on Miramar's East apron with "Cougar", "Mistell" and "QB", the Flyin' Reindeer.

"We come bearing gifts and we're not Greek!"
Yes 'tis the season for flying reindeer and this year's Miramar Third Fleet Christmas Run went on as scheduled on December 17. Following the run's tradition, the volunteer Christmas detail visited naval service locations and handed gifts to the local crews, leaving behind the season's gift dispensers. This year the Flyin' Reindeer were CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron, LCDR. An "Mistell" Rainbow and LCDR. Jenny "QB" Kaz. We visited Third Fleet, Seventh Fleet, Second Fleet and (Virtual) U.S. Coast Guard locations. As usual, Patron 4 Embraer 120 "Thor" AK-901, BuNo 16034, was picked for the mission (see here).
Here is the photographic record and report of the mission.

Christmas gift dispensers locations
3rd Fleet - N.A.S. Miramar - main gate
3rd Fleet - N.A.F. Eagles Nest - main landing
7th Fleet - CV-63 U.S.S. Kitty Hawk - enlisted mess
2nd Fleet - N.S.T.C. Velinissimo - South gate at Southern Cross airfield
2nd Fleet - N.S. Bull Rock - West pier
SLMC - MCAS Chase Field - main landing
(v) U.S. Coast Guard - CGAS Majipoor - HQ building

Note: As usually, click on the images to see enlarged version.

Ready or not, Ho Ho Ho! "Mistell" and "Cougar" in the cockpit with "QB" standing by and... a hula girl dashboard doll?

First stop, snow covered CGAS Majipoor in Corsica, where the U.S. Coast Guard headquarters is located. The flyin' reindeer were received by Admiral Toxic Lemon and several of his crew members, who greeted us in Santa hats to match the mission spirit. The officers present got their gifts and we enjoyed our short visit to one of the oldest naval service institutions in Second Life. Founded 2008, the Virtual Coast Guard is finally embracing the call and assuming real life like United States Coast Guard protocols and procedure, which brings it to the SL United States naval service fold. We gladly welcome the coasties and are happy to see how the VCG tradition matches the (v)USCG new image. Later the dispensers were placed indoors in the headquarters building hall.

                                                     Top: Reindeer salute, a Chistmas tradition we are proud to hold.                                              Bottom: Patron 4's Thor warms up for taxi and take off from CGAS Majipoor to MCAS Chase Field and VADM Eliza Belis checks the dispensers indoors later that week, sporting the ladies' gift "Proud to Serve" jacket.

The flight to MCAS Chase Field from CGAS Majipoor was not without "twabble" and the crew braved rough SL weather and stupid zero second security orbs all the way through. Well, some braved it harder than others...

"Cougar" muttering words not suitable for publication. "... And while Asra was in a life raft..." someone was ordering margaritas.

The crew shifted to Southern Cross for recovery and would take the chance to place the Naval Service Training Center dispensers there. Due to the current relations between Third and Second fleets it was a way to extend our Christmas greetings to all who serve at NSTC and neighboring North valley.

       Top: The Flyin' Reindeer place the dispensers by NSTC's South gate and pose for a photo at Southern Cross airfield.        Bottom: "Mistell" tries to smuggle an add on to the official outfit, but the monkey gave it away. Thor hot and static at SC.

MCAS Chase field was going through changes, but the detail carried out the deed and later the Christmas gift dispensers were placed securely after the removal of the command building that still stood on December 17. Since then the air station saw some improvements to maximize resources.

Left: The dispensers by the old command building at MCAS Chase Field. Right: Later on with Col. Kangas, securing them.

Next on the list was a 2nd Fleet location that is also home to the Bull Rock Hornets, N.S. Bull Rock in the Blake and Islands continent. The local XO, LTJG. Sara Llewellyn greeted us and got her gifts, plural, as this year the girls get to wear the boys gift but the reverse is not true! Always good to visit CDR. Connie Mistwalker's command and the Hornets home. All being set, the Christmas detail headed to Southeast Asia.

LTJG. Sara Llewellyn salutes the Flyin' Reindeer at Naval Station Bull Rock.

LCDR. An "Mistell" Rainbow had to leave due to the late hour but the remaining reindeer finished the job, this time switching to the more suitable HS-4 VK-07 Huey that serves with the Blue Angels in the Indochina regions. Taking off from Phu Yen, we landed on the Battle Cat deck and were greeted by the skipper, CAPT. Sidney Pobieski, and LCDR. Bambi "BamBam" Baxter, themselves already in Secret Santa party attires (see here). The season spirit was all around and the skipper got her camera for "Here is a photo op if I ever saw one."

Top to bottom, clockwise: "Cougar" and "QB" aboard the VK-07 at Phu Yen airfield. Flyin' Reindeer on the Kitty Hawk deck. Unloading the gift dispensers. CAPT. Pobieski poses with Miramar Third Fleet's Christmas Run detail.

The Skipper oversees the dispensers placement in the enlisted mess. Happy Holidays 7th Fleet!

We were most pleased to be able to keep this tradition and again fly the skies of SL as reindeer to bring gifts to all who serve in this great Navy and happy to extend the mission to include the Marines and the U.S. Coast Guard. It is, as always, our privilege to serve in this Fleet and this Navy. Merry Christmas to all and to all a happy New Year! Hooyah!

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron
NASMCO / TFCOM

From last year: 2016 Miramar Third Fleet Christmas Run. (click link)

2016 Miramar 3rd Fleet Christmas Run

Patron 4 Embraer E/D-120 AK-901, BuNo 16034, being loaded with gift dispensers at Miramar, 12/24/16

'Tis the Season...
As planned, the Patron 4 AK-901 was loaded and initiated the 2016 Miramar 3rd Fleet Christmas Run, covering all locations where 3rd Fleet has a foothold. Present as part of this entirely voluntary detail were LCDR. An "Mistell" Rainbow, LT. Jenny "QB" Kaz and CDR. Asra "Cougar" Kron. Also along for the ride was ENS. Declan "Raven" O'Mara, who was a great addition considering the amount of folded dispensers we had to haul on the E/D-120. The configuration of some of the installations we were to drop by excluded the use of one of the N.A.S.M. VR-54 Hercules.
Here is the photographic record and report of the mission. 

Note: As usually, click on the images to see enlarged version.

                 Top: Busy N.A.S.M. East Apron on Christmas Eve. The folded dispensers fit in the AK-901 cargo area perfectly.                   Bottom: ENS O'Mara joins the detail just in time to haul dispensers. The crew good to go Ho-Ho-Ho.

First stop: N.R.S. Oryx, Corsica, just across the Aldabra Sea from Miramar. The Christmas gifts dispensers were delivered to the station commander, LCDR. Alli Eberdeen, and placed by the station's arrival area, near the front entrance to the main building. "We come bearing gifts, and we are not Greek!"
Good weather, just a little turbulence before landing, a cordial welcome and pleasant visit, as Oryx always provides, and the AK-901 was ready to take off for the second leg of the run. As expected, the short runway was just about right for the E/D-120 and the reversed thrust on touchdown managed to avoid the rotors parked by the strip. Take off was not a problem.

LCDR. Eberdeen welcoming the "Flying Reindeer" at N.R.S.O. and the gift dispensers in position.

Facing severe weather half way to N.S.T.C. Nautilus, the crew was forced to recover at the airport of destination, Southern Cross, where fixed wings visiting the Training Center can land and take off. Due to the nature of the day, we found no CO's present and had to postpone the placement of the dispensers that need to be set to 3rd Fleet group to operate. Auto return has been known to send stuff back so better safe than sorry! After a quick check, the AK-901 was ready for the long third leg to Avignon.

At Southern Cross, by NSTC. In the E/D-120, LT. Kaz and ENS. O'Mara watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas".

The flight to N.A.F. Avignon, Satori, was smooth at 500 meters ASL, and weather permitted an uneventful trip. As N.A.F.A. also had no CO's present the crew made a short stop to refuel and secure the AK-901. The next leg would be out of her reach. N.B.N.V., in Cumberland.

 Arriving at North Valley. The Christmas detail salutes N.B.N.V. CO, LCDR. Harcassle. Mission accomplished.

At Naval Base North Valley, Cumberland, we were greeted by the local CO, LCDR. Daniella Harcassle, CWO Natalia Arevelo and Mr. Mac Gaelyth. The place seems to have extreme weather as well and snow was way above 6 inches! A problem Tuarua Fiji does not know, but a few miss during this season. Warm reception by the local officers and a lovely visit that we will repeat soon in an attire that fits both aircraft cockpits and Navy regulations better. The dispensers were placed on a strategic location right past the main gate and all got their gifts. Big smiles on, the crew clicked their Navy issued boot heels three times and poofed to Miramar.

There's no place like home, but it's not Kansas to us. The crew on the last stop with the dispensers placed at Miramar.

The Christmas Run is meant to be the first of many to come in future years and from Miramar we extend to all 3rd Fleet members, their families and friends sincere wishes of a bright and merry Christmas. It is our privilege to serve in this Fleet and this Navy. Hooyah.

CDR. Asra "Cougar" Kron
NASMCO