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Information needed on NAS Cecil Field, FL

retnavycpo

New Member
Howdy,

I am a retired AMEC(AW), living in Southeast TN. Nowadays, my main hobby is flight simulation; specifically Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2004.

I assist a payware aircraft designer, Ron Zambrano, with obtaining technical data for the models he creates for FS2004 (and now for FSX) Ron is the founder of RAZBAM. You can see his creations at:

http://www.razbam.org

One project that I am personally working on, is the recreation of NAS Cecil Field, FL as it was in its heyday, prior to BRAC closing it as a military installation.

I spent nine years based at Cecil (1981-1990), assigned to VA-15, VFA-106, and lastly at VFA-83.

I am hopeful that some of you on this forum can assist me with providing some pictures of the base, and more importantly, a map of the base as it was when still in operation. Reason is, I plan to depict the flight line as it was, with the squadron aircraft parked in correct locations; along with placing buildings on the base too.

Hope to hear from you. Thanks!

Peter C. Ward
AMEC(AW), USN, (Ret.)

I have attached some screenshots of Ron's work. All of his models are extremely detailed. He is presently working on the A-6 Intruder and EA-6B Prowler. Following that, the A-7E Corsair II will be on the design table. The SLUF is my personal favorite, as I was in two different Corsair squadrons. FLY NAVY!
 

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FastMover

NFO
None
Here is a website that has a photo journal of the Yellow Water nuclear weapons facility that used to be down the road from NAS Cecil. I know it's not exactly what you asked for, but I think that it would be cool to be able to "fly" over it on the simulator once it's finished.

Pb270026.jpg





Also, be sure to check out the VFP-62 website. They've got lots of pics of the old flight line dating back to the 60's.

checking_it_over.jpg


2seat_rf8.jpg


Cecil_flight_line.jpg


I spent many a day out at NAS Cecil back in the late '80s-early '90s. My Grandfather was a P-3 ordie over at NAS Jax. My Grandmother kept me and my brother during the day when my parents were at work, so we would get to go out to the base when my grandparents had to run errands out there.

Good luck with your project. I play Flight Simulator X quite a bit and would love to have the NAS Cecil addition.
 

retnavycpo

New Member
Thanks Fastmover, for the pictures. I visited Yellow Water only a couple times during my time at Cecil. I do recall that when weapons were being moved in and from Yellow Water, that the security was very tight. There was zero traffic allowed on either Normandy Blvd, or 103rd. Everything was brought to a halt. The Marines saw to that!

Pete
 

phrogpilot73

Well-Known Member
Thanks Fastmover, for the pictures. I visited Yellow Water only a couple times during my time at Cecil. I do recall that when weapons were being moved in and from Yellow Water, that the security was very tight. There was zero traffic allowed on either Normandy Blvd, or 103rd. Everything was brought to a halt. The Marines saw to that!
God Bless 'Em... ;)
 

FastMover

NFO
None
I bought a book about NAS Cecil when I was a kid from the NEX there on the base. I have no idea what happened to it, but would love to have a copy of it now.

I can't remember the name of it, but I think that the cover was dark blue with yellow script and had an A-7 on the cover. I remember it had the name "Fast Eddie" on the canopy rail. It had lots of good pics of the base, the airplanes stationed there, etc. I've looked all over the web, Amazon, etc. and couldn't find it.

Any ideas where I may be able to find one now? I'm out of ideas...
 

The Warden

New Member
I work at Cecil Field currently, so if you want any modern pictures let me know. I was 16 when the base closed, but I can still remember it back when my dad work there.
 

retnavycpo

New Member
Hey Warden,

If you can get in touch with John Leenhouts for me, I would appreciate it. I was told that he works for Boeing there. He was, at one time, I believe, the Commanding Officer of Cecil. I also know he commanded a A-7 Squadron there.

If anyone has info on how Cecil USED to be, it will be him.

If you could just get me an email address, I can take it from there.

Thanks.

Pete Ward
AMEC(AW), USN, (Ret.)
 

FastMover

NFO
None
Hey Warden,

If you can get in touch with John Leenhouts for me, I would appreciate it. I was told that he works for Boeing there. He was, at one time, I believe, the Commanding Officer of Cecil. I also know he commanded a A-7 Squadron there.

If anyone has info on how Cecil USED to be, it will be him.

If you could just get me an email address, I can take it from there.

Thanks.

Pete Ward
AMEC(AW), USN, (Ret.)

PM Sent
 

HeyJoe

Fly Navy! ...or USMC
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
Hey Warden,

If you can get in touch with John Leenhouts for me, I would appreciate it. I was told that he works for Boeing there. He was, at one time, I believe, the Commanding Officer of Cecil. I also know he commanded a A-7 Squadron there.

If anyone has info on how Cecil USED to be, it will be him.

If you could just get me an email address, I can take it from there.

Thanks.

Pete Ward
AMEC(AW), USN, (Ret.)

Lites (2nd on list of high time traps) was XO of VA-72 when Desert Shield went down, which resulted in VA-72 being disestablished so he went to a F/A-18 squadron as XO and his command tour and later became the Commodore (Commander Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic) ushering in the move to Oceana where he retired upon completion of his tenure there. At any rate, he joined Northrop Grumman and returned to the area where he flew most of his career.

lites-23l.jpg


Lites classic self portrait while Commodore
 

retnavycpo

New Member
Thanks for the info Fastmover. I emailed him; noting it might be a while before I hear back from him.

Also emailed the webmaster of the VFP-62 page: http://www.vfp62.com/

As they were homebased at Cecil, I am hopeful for more information from them also.

Pete
 

FastMover

NFO
None
Lites (2nd on list of high time traps) was XO of VA-72 when Desert Shield went down, which resulted in VA-72 being disestablished so he went to a F/A-18 squadron as XO and his command tour and later became the Commodore (Commander Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic) ushering in the move to Oceana where he retired upon completion of his tenure there. At any rate, he joined Northrop Grumman and returned to the area where he flew most of his career.

lites-23l.jpg


Lites classic self portrait while Commodore

Lites is, without a doubt, a first-class guy. My Dad knew him through work, and when he found out that my brother and I intended to pursue a career in military aviation he invited us out to his hangar at Herlong Airport (in Jax) to discuss the pros and cons of being a Naval Aviator. Needless to say, we were very enlightened by the things he had to say.

To top it all off, he took us up in his Stearman....such a good looking plane! Here are a few pics taken after we landed.

DSCN2003.jpg


DSCN2004.jpg
 

xmid

Registered User
pilot
Contributor
Now those are some cool pics, and looks like a real cool guy. I got a ride in a stearman one time and it was an undescribable experience.

On a side note, whats up with the old school O2 mask in the picture above? Do some guys just like them better? And for what reason?
 

MasterBates

Well-Known Member
Old school?

I have one of those! (And the new side-hose jobber, which is on the WRONG side for the T-34..)

The side hoses are new, but the "front hose" models are not that old..
 

xmid

Registered User
pilot
Contributor
I know the "front hose" masks aren't old, but hes wearing a MBU-5 which is Vietnam era. Look close and you can tell its not a normal MBU-12/14. It has the crossing straps for the bayonets across the nose. I was just wondering why someone would still want to wear one of those?...
 

Brett327

Well-Known Member
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
I know the "front hose" masks aren't old, but hes wearing a MBU-5 which is Vietnam era. Look close and you can tell its not a normal MBU-12/14. It has the crossing straps for the bayonets across the nose. I was just wondering why someone would still want to wear one of those?...

Way to pay attention to detail there, MB. :rolleyes:

Brett
 
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