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)

Marines, listen up. Wings are meant to fly...

The Little Fatso over Blake. Crew wanted!

To all Second Life USMC members:

Welcome to Fat Albert Airlines!
The Navy Flight Demonstration Team, part of U.S.N.S.L. Third Fleet, is yet to complete the USMC component that both makes for the Fat Albert crew and the team's ground crew. Both roles are essential, in a complementary but important way, for the full display of the team's routines, in the air and on the ground. Fat Albert, the team's C-130 Hercules support airplane, is a USMC aircraft with a crew of 8; pilots are USMC aviators, remaining crew is composed of USMC and USN enlisted. "Fat Albert" is a nickname given to the plane by Marine Corps Blue Angel pilots in the 1970s because of its size and shape. It is a reference to the popular children's cartoon of the same era.

In real life there are 13 Marines on the 2017 team. There are three C-130 pilots and four enlisted aircrew in Fat Albert Airlines. There are six enlisted on the jet maintenance team. For 2017, seven Marines are assigned to operate Fat Albert Airlines: three pilots, two crew masters and two flight engineers. In second life we are aiming to fill all those positions as well.

Important note on deployments:
The U.S.N.S.L. Blue Angels favor deployments where the team members stay with their original units/squadrons - this means that if you are active duty you will remain with your unit/squadron, and practice/perform with the Blue Angels as well. Full time deployments (transfers) are a possibility. Partial OR full time deployments must be approved by U.S.N.S.L. chains of command (origin and destination).

The few, the proud, the Navy Flight Demonstration Team United States Marines in SL. Be one.

Requirements for USMC in SL members willing to deploy with the Blue Angels are as follows:

1. To be a member of a Second Life USMC unit.
2. To be a certified USMC naval aviator for the C-130 pilots/co-pilots positions.
3. To be a certified AWO (Naval Aircrewmen Operator) for the C-130 crew master positions.
4. To be a certified AWO (Naval Aircrewmen Operator) for the C-130 flight engineer positions.
5. To be a certified AWO (Naval Aircrewmen Operator) for the jet ground crew positions.
6. To have an OCS/RTC certificate recognized by the Naval Service Training Center (NSTC) Nautilus - Third Fleet, U.S.N.S.L.
7. To have deployment and/or transfer orders signed by their unit's CO.
8. To stay with the N.F.D.T. for the on boarding period and if in a leadership position go through the Blue Angels acceptance protocol. (*)
9. To pledge to a full Season with the N.F.D.T. - Seasons start January and end December.
10. To maintain the level of commitment, professionalism and responsibility that are standards of the U.S.N.S.L. ambassador squadron: The Blue Angels.

(*) BAAP - Blue Angels Acceptance Protocol
Each member of the Blue Angels in SL is vetted by their squadron fellows. In the jet team the process is one of unanimity - if even one aviator in the jet team opposes the candidate after the on boarding period he/she is not allowed in. With the C-130 crew, the process is similar regarding Fat Albert naval aviators. After their selection, these officers will start that tradition within Fat Albert Airlines, however, the Squadron CO will always have last word on enlisted to be deployed with the team, coming from the USMC or the USN alike.

See more about the U.S.N.S.L. Blue Angels here!

For details and application, please contact the N.F.D.T. Blue Angels CO or XO.
CDR. Vickster Kuhn - Angel 1 (Boss)
CDR. Asra Kron - Angel 7

N.F.D.T. / U.S.N.S.L. 2017