NAVAL WEATHER SERVICE ASSOCIATION

An association of Aerographers & Mates,
Meteorologists & Oceanographers

NWSA NEWSLETTER



 

Email:  aerograph@navalweather.org

Editor: AG1 Steven "Smitty" Smith, USN (Ret.)

Email: aerograph@navalweather.org

Aerograph Content Submission Guidelines

(Feel free to submit anything appropriate, in any manner; if there is a problem, I'll let you know.) 

As always, Ihopethis finds youand yourloved onessafe anddoing well, especially duringthesedifficultand challenging
times.Undoubtedly, the speed at which events havechanged life as we know it,not only here in America,butall around the world,has beenliterallybreathtakingandwill no doubt lead to much discussion atreunion #46.
Source: Aerograph November 2024

Greetings everybody,

 

I hope everyone had a great summer and this finds you safe and well. This production of the Aerograph was a fun one. It was kind of like putting a jigsaw puzzle together and for you dissectologists, you know the feeling of putting that last piece in place!

 

As you will see, the variety of member contributions for this issue is awesome! And I am thrilled to introduce a new section titled ‘At Large Member News’ as presented by NWSA member Dennis Ruth. Not only did Dennis send me a wonderful introduction, he contributed the very first article. You will find both immediately after ‘Chapter News’.

 

I’d like to thank all contributors for making this edition of the Aerograph a publication all our shipmates can enjoy and take pride in. Well done!

 

Smitty


Thursday, 25 January 2025, is the cut-off date for the February issue of The Aerograph.

E-Mail Steve at sumisus@mac.com

USPS Address: AG1 Steven Smith, USN (Ret.)

750 Avenida De La Barca

Chula Vista, CA 91910

(571) 278-5259 (If I don’t answer, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you ASAP)


In lighter vein: © Jeff Bacon 2017



 

Source: Aerograph August 2024

Greetings everybody,

 

As the lazy dog days of summer make their annual trek towards autumn, I hope this finds you and your families safe and well!


Our summer has been blessed by times spent with family. There is much I could write about our adventures but will limit it to an event that occurred on Independence Day during the celebration of our nation’s 248th birthday. Son Brian and family came out from El Paso, TX, to join us for the festivities and take a reprieve from the desert heat. Once again my attempts to get tickets to view the fireworks from the flight deck of the USS Midway Museum were dashed. It’s unbelievable how fast those suckers get sold out!  While searching for an alternate venue I came upon information about the first annual Freedom Fest VIP Experience held at Naval Base Point Loma, Harbor Drive Annex. Initially I had some reservations because the ticket prices were steep and you had to pay for parking to boot!  After giving it a little thought though, I said “what the heck, let’s go for it!”  After all, something that’s a first time event with VIP EXPERIENCE in the headline can’t be that much of a gamble. The cost included reserved seating in a beautiful outdoor covered patio area with a spectacular view of San Diego Bay and city skyline, delicious catered meals for lunch and dinner, a variety of veggie trays, fresh fruit and deserts, unlimited water, tea, juice and sodas at no cost, and adult beverages of choice for a reasonable price. And if all that wasn’t enough, they rolled out soft serve ice cream and S’mores in the evening!  It truly was a gluttonous affair if ever there was one, ha!  And did I mention the fireworks?  Well, this will be a little challenging to describe if you’ve never been to San Diego, but I have a feeling many of you have. So  imagine sitting outside in the cool of the evening  and gazing down the bay as countless small boats, and not so small yachts, glide easily through the water. The colorful lights of the city sparkle in the distance as do the lights of Harbor and Shelter Islands, the Coronado Bay Bridge and NAS North Island. And amidst that beautiful setting, fireworks from four barges around the bay go off promptly at 9:00pm, lasting for a glorious 20 to 25 minutes before ending in a round of enthusiastic patriotic applause! Yes the day was long, and by the time we arrived home late that evening we were totally wiped out. But we were happy and thoroughly content because once again, the Navy did it right!

 

To echo what President Ed mentioned regarding Reunion #48, it will be held May 5-9 in lovely Gulfport, MS, so please save the dates! Bob & FJ tell me the preliminary schedule of events includes tours of NASA Stennis Space Center and Keesler AFB, home of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters”. Complete Reunion details will be published in the November Aerograph.

 

Smitty


Thursday, 24 October 2024, is the cut-off date for the November issue of The Aerograph.

E-Mail Steve at sumisus@mac.com

USPS Address: AG1 Steven Smith, USN (Ret)

750 Avenida De La Barca

Chula Vista, CA 91910

(571) 278-5259 (If I don’t answer, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you ASAP)



In Lighter Vein: (c) Jeff Bacon 2024

EDITOR’S CLOSING THOUGHTS

Sadly, Secretary/Treasurer Tom Miovas’ assessment about our world being in turmoil cannot be denied. Hence my reason to close this issue with a little levity and a couple of ridiculously cute pictures of kids being kids, that for some reason, made me think of the old Art Linkletter show from years ago that included a segment called “Kids Say the Darndest Things”.


Art Linkletter's Kids Say The Darndest Things (youtube.com)


A Wee Bit of Irish Humor

Paddy is doing some roofing for Murphy.

He nears the top of the ladder and starts shaking and going dizzy.
He calls down to Murphy and says, “I think I will ave to go home. I’ve gone all giddy and I feel sick.

Murphy asks “Ave you got vertigo Paddy?”

Paddy replies “No, I only live round the corner.”

Kids enjoy a day of fishing at Convict Lake in the Eastern Sierras of California.

Until next time, may the grace, peace and love of God be with us all. Take good care everybody and stay safe.

 

Smitty




Source: Aerograph May 2024

Greetings and happy spring everyone,

A potpourri of fine articles awaits you in this edition of the Aerograph.  Among them is the biography of LCDR John Dungan Jr., USN (Ret), the first Chief Aerographer of the United States Navy. It was provided by his grandson, AWCM John David Dungan Jr., USN (Ret), and wonderfully complements the painstaking research and write up done years ago by AGCS Enrique Acosta Gonzalez, USN (Ret). Needless to say, the biography, historical documents, and pictures donated by John are an invaluable contribution to the history of the Naval Weather Service. Thank you Master Chief! 

And on this issue’s back cover, there is a great picture of USS Iowa (BB-61) firing her guns with a link discussing the ship’s displacement, or lack thereof; as well as a link to an old classic training video about the structure and operation of a battleship’s gun turret. I’m guessing a few 2 memories will be stirred by those who served onboard those amazing ships. 

Smitty 

Thursday, 25 July 2024, is the cut-off date for the August issue of The Aerograph  E-Mail Steve at sumisus@mac.com USPS Address: AG1 Steven Smith, USN (Ret) 750 Avenida De La Barca Chula Vista, CA 91910 (571) 278-5259 (If I don’t answer, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.) 
                                                    In lighter vein: © Jeff Bacon 2020

EDITOR’S CLOSING THOUGHTS

It just so happens that this issue of the Aerograph has weather articles regarding typhoons. Perhaps not a bad thing since hurricane season is right around the corner. And although it wasn’t on my radar, no pun intended, it allows me to effortlessly segue into the “climate change” fiasco. A topic that has a lot of people worked up, some to the point of violence and others towards making unnecessary laws. No doubt climate variability is real, and we know that it changes from year to year, decade to decade, century to century. It always has, and always will. But, is it really the existential threat to mankind that the elitists and a growing number of government leaders worldwide tell us it is? I guess what frustrates me about the whole climate debate is the untruthfulness of those with an agenda that have driven a wedge between people to the point where it can’t even be discussed in a civil and reasonable manner. Like so many things in our world today, it has been politicized to the point of insanity. Thankfully however, like an anchor in a storm, the never changing truthfulness of God’s word remains. In fact, the promise of climate’s fate was written about long ago in Genesis 8:22:

 

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest; cold and heat; summer and winter; day and night; will never cease.”

And in those words, unlike the destabilizing divisive rhetoric of man, I find peace and stability for my soul, and hope you do also. So until next time dear friends, take good care of yourselves and the ones you love.

 

Smitty



Source: Aerograph February 2024

Greetings everybody,

 

I hope you and your loved ones had a beautiful holiday season and are off to a great start in the New Year!  Harumi and I spent a fantastic Christmas with our son Brian, daughter in law Rosemary, and eight year old grandson Noah in El Paso, TX.  We had a lot of fun with Noah playing many games of Uno, getting in some catch, and taking nice walks. We enjoyed a plethora of good meals and conversation courtesy of Brian, Rosemary, and the Texas Roadhouse, ha! I also managed to get in some long morning walks with Brian to a couple of coffee shops, making for some good ole father and son bonding. One of the highlights of our visit however, had to be the night we all hopped in the car and drove through the “Magic of Lights” holiday show, especially when we got to the “Twelve Days of Christmas” section where difficulty in remembering lyrics resulted in more laughing than singing. It was a blast!

 

Have a wonderful transition into spring and I wish you all the best of health and happiness in 2024!

 

Smitty


Wednesday, 24 April 2024, is the cut-off date for the May issue of The Aerograph

E-Mail Steve at sumisus@mac.com

USPS Address: AG1 Steven Smith, USN (Ret)

750 Avenida De La Barca

Chula Vista, CA 91910

(571) 278-5259 (If I don’t answer, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.)






In lighter vein: © Jeff Bacon 2011




Source: Aerograph November 2023


Greetings everybody,

 

Ah, autumn….my favorite season. I love its gentleness as lengthening shadows cast a softer light, temperatures begin to fall, and trees make their glorious transition from a wardrobe of green to a festive multicolor display. It is a time when all creation seems to slow down in advance of winter’s solitude. But thereby I digress. Unlike other parts of the country, our summer was relatively short and rather mild. And on August 20th during what is typically one of our driest months, we logged 2.50 inches of rain in our backyard gauge (1.84 inches at San Diego International) courtesy of remnants from Tropical Storm Hilary. In light of last year’s unseasonably cold (for San Diego) and wetter than average winter that caught the local experts by surprise during a La Nina year, I am curious to see what this winter brings, especially under the influence of a strengthening El Nino. Ah, weather….I still love its beauty and times of fickleness that have a way of keeping this retired sailor, humble and amazed.

 

Being editor certainly has its perks, none more gratifying than the wonderful inputs I receive from members who assist me in filling its pages. This issue continues that tradition with a fantastic variety of interesting and entertaining articles. Among them, just to name a few, is a totally unexpected biography featuring AGC W.S. McFarland, USN (Ret). Chief McFarland joined the Navy in 1934 and was an “A” School classmate of Don Cruse in 1940. For those who love the call of nature, there is an epic story of family, fishing, and the great outdoors! And for you history buffs, you’ll take a moving journey to the depths of the Pacific, revealing the fate of American and Japanese aircraft carriers and their crews lost during WWII in the Battle of Midway.

 

Have a great November everybody and as always, my heartfelt thanks to ALL contributors!

 

Smitty


Thursday, 25 January 2024, is the cut-off date for the February issue of The Aerograph

E-Mail Steve at aerograph@navalweather.org

USPS Address: AG1 Steven Smith, USN (Ret)

750 Avenida De La Barca

Chula Vista, CA 91910

(571) 278-5259 (If I don’t answer, please leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.)



In Lighter Vein: © Bacon 2020 Broadside.net
.