May Field Day 2009

June 12, 2009

All Hands,

May has come and gone aboard DD850 but it was one of the busiest months we have had in quite awhile.  Our May major field day was undertaken in mostly rain while Peter Papadakos and a group of Gearing class DASH sailors delivered and installed our latest QH-50D Snoopy Drone.  

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May 2009 Field Day (Our 58th MAJOR Consecutive field day!):

The May major field day was highlighted by 7 first time attendee's and a visit by Captain Jack Casey (Executive Director of the Museum),  Mr. Carl Sawejko (President of the Board of Directors), and RADM James Wisecup to our Saturday night dinner.  

Attendee's (See Partial crew photo img_0634):

Don Furlong
Jeff Furlong
Bob Cramer
Bobby Young  (USS Patterson FF-1061)
Ed Zajkowski (USS Keppler DD765)
Rich Angelini (NAVSEA)
Rob Angelini (NAVSEA)
Ronald Almeida (USS Franklin D. Roosevelt CV-42)
Andrew Feighery
Ron Larsen (USS Forrest Royal DD871)
Tony Accatata (USS Harwood DD861)
Gary Strouse
Bill Hamilton (USS Barry DD933)
Jim Caruso
Mike Tranquilli
Bob Washburn (USS William R. Rush DD715)
Dan Pillie (USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr DD850)
Bob Kilkelly (USS Perkins DD877)
Wayne White (USS Charles R. Ware DD865)
Howard Swanson (USS Brownson DD868)
Carl Swanson
Rich Calabro (USS Charles Roan DD853)
Bob Jenson (USS Barb SSN)
Vincent Rositani (USS Fiske DD842)
Vincent Rositani Jr
William Albert
Robert Hanrahan (USS New DD818)
Phil Martorano
Bill Rader (WW2 Vet, USS Compton)
Jim Ganley (USS Brush DD745)
Paul Rousseau (USS Biddle)
Dave Stawicki (Shipkeeper)
Chris Nardi (Cove Curator)
Tom Publicover  (USS Robert Owens DD827)
Al Lundgren (USS John Paul Jones DD932)
Jim Mulvihill (USS Waldron DD692)
Owen Hayes (USS Waldron DD692)
Lee Levesque (JPK Sea Cadet Corps)
Dave Levesque (JPK Sea Cadet Corps)
Ben Levesque (JPK Sea Cadet Corps)
Charlotte Levesque (JPK Sea Cadet Corps)
Nate Levesque (JPK Sea Cadet Corps)

Field Day work Projects:


MK 25 Fire Control Radar Room:

--Finished removing all old paint from overhead and bulkhead (Rob Angelini).  
--Worked to remove obsolete commercial summer/winter vent controls and associated wiring to ensure room is in original condition (Wayne White, Bob Hanrahan).

DASH Hangar:

--Replaced all lamps and starters (Wayne White, Bob Hanrahan)

Nautical Charts:

--Sorted and relocated thousands of charts into temporary storage.  Also preparing Pilot House, CIC, and Chart Room chart tables to have Vietnam, US Northeast, MED, Caribbean areas of concentration.  (Bob Cramer, Jim Ganley)

Aux Radio Room:

--Mounted large SRW-4 DASH electrical connection box in Radio room to complete major DASH electronic component installation in this space.  (Rob Angelini, Rich Angelini, Ed Zajkowski, Wayne White, Bob Hanrahan)

DASH Flight Deck:

-- Replaced missing safety bolts on flight nets.  (Bob Jensen)
-- Stripped caulk, prepped, and re-caulked two flat hatches. (Richie Calabro, Bob Jensen)
-- Removed obsolete Burke Museum boiler stack and sealed (Tony Accattata, Gary Strouse, Ron Larsen)
-- Disassembled and repaired 2 clogged rain drains (Tony Accattata, Gary Strouse, Ron Larsen)

IC Room:

-- Replaced 1MC amplifier (Chris Nardi)
-- Installed 24 hr pwr circuit for backup battery. (Chris Nardi)

Supply Office:

-- Reorganized furniture according to General Plans and photos from DD850.  Began painting all furniture the correct light equipment gray.  (The Levesque family)
-- Folded T-shirts to give out to the crew. (Lee Levesque)

ASROC Control Station:

-- repaired cables and red light on port side of Control station. (Wayne White, Bob Hanrahan)
-- rewired and reinstalled Sound powered phone box to forward bulkhead of Control station. (Wayne White)

ASROC Magazine:

-- Repaired/replaced much fiberglas insulation (Vincent Rositani Sr , Vincent Rositani Jr.)
-- Repaired overhead lighting (Wayne White)
-- Removed and relocated unneeded material to stowage.  (Dan Pillie, Bob Cramer)
-- Began to rework ASROC missile carts.  Dan is our sonarman from DD850 who really wants to get the ASROC missiles loaded in their racks.  He took it upon himself to clean and empty the magazine for restoration.  The tentative plan is to do the complete missile loading into the missile racks during the September Major field day. (Dan Pillie)

Aft Mast  (See Photo 850_may_09_FD_015):

-- Installed the DASH Antenna to its original 1960s location on the aft mast.  This antenna has not been in place since the DASH program was shut down for Gearing class Destroyers in the early 70s.  (Vincent Rositani Sr , Vincent Rositani Jr., Bob Cramer)

Engineering Spaces:

--Troubleshot high pressure problem on #1 compressor in B4 Aft Engine Room.
-- Began Touch up painting in Aft Diesel.  (Bobby Young, Jim Ganley)
-- Removed electrical grounds from Section B and C.
-- Cleaned out all tool and small parts stowed around Aft Diesel Generator Room to make it look "smart".  Put new hasp on locker outside generator room and stored parts and items within it.  ATTN to all hands: This is now the Diesel parts and cleaner storage locker.  (Ron Almeida, Bill Albert, Phil Mortarano)
-- Removed trash and debris from the bilges all 4 Main Engineering spaces.  (Andrew Feighery, Carl Swanson, Richie Calabro)

Anchor Windlass:

-- Semi-annual exercise.  (Ed Zajkowski)

Main Passageway:

-- Rebuilt cover on electrical box FB-429. (Wayne White, Bob Hanrahan)

Steam Line:

-- Began Fabricating plexi cover for display of trays, utensils, and glasses.  Metal framework was cut and bolted into place while plexiglas was cut and installed for two sides of the display.  We hope to finish this display soon.  (Ron Almeida, Bill Albert, Phil Mortarano, Bill Rader)
-- Removed non-original rack that was the old microwave table. (Ed Zajkowski, Rich Angelini)

Galley/Mess Decks:

-- Repaired sink drain that runs through B-1 Fwd Fireroom.  This was a tough job.  This allows the FWD sink in the galley to be utilized.  (Don Furlong, Tom Publicover)
-- Prepared and served 6 Meals.  Also supported the serving line.  (Bill Hamilton, Jim Caruso, Mike Tranquilli, Lee Levesque, Dave Levesque, Nate Levesque, Ben Levesque, Charlotte Levesque)
-  Repaired and operated original Coffee Urn.

Storeroom:

-- Rebuilt power tools and organized parts (Howard Swanson)
-- Supported Storeroom efforts (Bob Kilkelly)

Bridge Wings:

--Sanded and painted wood coaming. (Bob Washburn)

Fox Division:

-- Mounted three compartment checkoff sheets and holders in this berthing area to enhance restoration appearance.  Copied from USS Basilone DD824 original compartment checkoff sheet booklet. (Bob Jensen)

Line/Rope Work:

-- Monkey's Fists - 5ea - 1/4" line over a plaster filled ping-pong balls for various displays.  Two on display currently in the Deck Office.  (Paul Rousseau)

-- Mooring lines - Starboard side: by the brow and about 1/3 of the way forward.  Removed electrical tape and whipped line ends with 1.8mm braided cord on 3ea  2" mooring lines.  Also whipped several smaller lines at the same locations. Ditto for the port side aft eye-splice on the rope leading to the sub.  (Paul Rousseau)

Tourist/other:

-- Met with and gave talks to visitors about ship and crew.  (The whole crew)
-- Attended and participated in Cove's Memorial Day service (The whole crew)
-- Worked on the Gun crew for 21 gun salute in the 5"38 mounts on MASSACHUSETTS. (Don Furlong, Tom Lowney)
-- Began to tape railings on Port side main deck to initiate detailing with diamonds where the rail meets the bulkhead  (Carl Swanson, Andrew Feighery, Jeff Furlong)

Saturday night of the field day gave most of us a chance to relax and unwind a bit.   I gave a brief talk thanking all for coming aboard, about what we had done on KENNEDY in the past year, what we did during the field day, and how we plan to use these completed tasks to improve the ship.  All Hands took a moment to introduce themselves and the usual teasing reared its head.   Captain Casey (Executive Director of the Museum) and Carl Swejko (President of the Board of Directors of the Museum) took time to thank and point out how valuable our volunteers are to the museum, the KENNEDY, and to preserving the history of the Navy.  We appreciate both of them for taking the time to come down to the ship and visiting with us.  We are in the front lines of preserving history.

Lastly, our latest paint chipper, RADM Jame Wisecup gave a great discussion on current happenings within the Navy,  what it means to volunteer, what being a Destroyer sailor meant to him, and how important he feels that our work continue to preserve ships such as KENNEDY.   The most important part of the discussion in my opinion was about shipmates.  While two people could have been on the same ship, they werent shipmates unless they served together for a joint cause.   Everyone who supports this ship, whether from a distance or comes aboard each week, is a shipmate.   I feel that we are a lucky group to have so many shipmates dedicated to our common goal.

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QH-50D SNOOPY delivery and Crane lift (14-16 May 2009):

For those who might not know, "SNOOPY" is the nickname given to the Gyrodyne QH-50D helicopters outfitted with camera and Naval Gun Fire Support systems rather than the typical DASH ASW suite.  Developed and predominantly used on WESTPAC Gearing and Sumner class Destroyers in the late 1960s, not a single example survived operational shipboard duty or combat over Vietnam.   A few years ago, Peter Papakakos, son of the founder of the Gyrodyne Helicopter Company, contacted myself and Chris Nardi regarding any possible desire for us to show a SNOOPY aircraft alongside our current DASH ASW variant, DS-1284.  While we wanted a QH-50D version of DASH to be in the hangar with our QH-50C model, KENNEDY never carried SNOOPY.   After thinking long and hard, we decided it was in the best interest of all parties to display both famous variants of the QH-50 series helicopters that operated aboard Gearing class Destroyers in the 1960s.  Thus, the effort to resurrect a Snoopy Aircraft from scratch began.  



Let's let Peter Papadakos tell you the story of the weekend in his own words:



"Well Shipmates,
    After having spent the better part of the last 5 years with my son Alex, researching and then building first the payload and then the QH-50 to the Curator's specifications for the USS JOSEPH P. KENNEDY JR. (DD-850), it was time to deliver the Aircraft.  With DASH historical losses of 5% just attributed to transportation mishaps, I decided that there was just no room for that variable - this was the only aircraft of her kind. So, with a boxed in structure to protect the bird, blades and parts the 2,900 mile trip to Massachusetts, I set off solo on May 9 to meet up with a crane barge in Massachusetts.

The weather the entire TRIP EAST was mostly sunny along Interstate 80.....although I did hit some Snow in Wyoming, it wasn't sticking to the road. I arrived at Somerset (outside Fall River) 4 days later on the 12th and the next morning drove over to the Kennedy to meet up with the Staff of Battleship Cove to get the details on how we were going to do this lift.

The following day, the 14th, I met up with Gyrodyne Foundation volunteer Bob Mack and his best friend Jim Weiskel who sailed with him on the USS FRED T. BERRY,....at Battleship Cove.........it seemed the crane would be lifting the KENNEDY assets on the 15th, so we checked-out of our area motels and set up shop on KENNEDY - we still had pickup trucks to unload of assets from the now-closed Qh-50 program at White Sands.

With the SNOOPY bird coming into the DASH Hangar, the Target Control Systems that had been on display in the hangar needed to leave, so Jim Weiskel, who worked on the DASH SRM-4 and -6 Cabinets in the Navy, helped take them a part for the lift that would take them to the main deck so they could go where they originally were located on ship: Emergency Radio Room.   (See DASH Transmitter photo img_4051)

On the morning of May 15, Jim Weiskel and I started taking apart the QH-50 enclosure. The Bird had traveled well with nothing more than some chipped paint on the landing gear.
The early morning rain got everything soaked, but the ARMY's MAST cover had held together the entire trip as well....

The deal with the crane operator was essentially this: you bring me the hook and I'll connect the bird to the hook using the only certified QH-50 hoist that remained with all her cert tags from the ARMY's White Sands operation in place.

With  a slight drizzle falling, DS-1543 took flight........

The bird was swung onto the barge for the trip around the Battleship, USS MASSACHUSETTS, for off-load to the KENNEDY......

Remember all the DASH radio equipment? It got moved first to clear out the hangar.....the volunteers of Kennedy -had gotten the Radio Space for these 600 lbs units ready in months prior. These DASH radios came also from the ARMY back in 2004.  I didn't take any more shots of the radio movements because I was on main-deck unsecuring the straps once the radios landed on Main deck and we didn't want the rain to get on them so in the ship they went in quick order.

The crane Operator did a great job and landed the bird exactly where we needed her to be.....SLOT 1 into the Hangar.  I unhooked DS-1543......and for that Qh-50, the Trip was over.  (See photo of the SNOOPY about to hit our deck in img_4056)

In the later afternoon, the skies cleared and Bob "Red" McClure, who flew the original DS-1543 off the USS CHEVALIER (DD-805), showed up and so......we put him to work. I figured after 40 years he ought to recall how to put on the Rotor Blades!

With the Lower Rotor blades installed, it was time for a photo with the only SNOOPY RECON Qh-50 in the world! Red gave an oral history to the Battleship Cove Videogragher, as did Bob Mack and myself.
Later with the Oral Histories done, we posed for a team shot of all the volunteers that worked that day on the lift.....

(Photo img_4074) From left to right top - Chris Nardi, Curator of Battleship Cove; Red McClure, DASH Controller, Rich Angelini, Ass't Curator-Kennedy, Ed. Zajkowski, Bob Mack (USS Fred T Berry DD858), Jim Weiskel (USS Fred T Berry DD858),  Rob Angelini. Bottom from left to right is me (Peter P. Papadakos) and Mike Angelini , The Crypto man who served on KENNEDY - Mike takes care of the DASH display on ship.

After the photos, it was back to work......we installed the UPPER ROTOR BLADES, put in 8 Qts of Oil into the Transmission to keep the gears lubed and we spun the rotor a bit to get oil into the system. The Aircraft is fully functional and the mast articulates as a 1000 Hr-time Transmission ought to.

Now, that ought to be the end of a successful story, but as we were installing the rotorblades that evening, we noted the arrival of some 500 over-night Boyscouts and parents that arrived to stay on the Battleship.....the next morning, the DASH Flight deck was full of curious people who wanted to know what we were doing! I had spoken to a dozen NAVY Officer Candidates earlier in the AM so I was ready. We pushed the SNOOPY Bird out and provided the Scouts some valuable information.

With my voice now gone a few hours later, it was time to leave - The Scouts would be taking over my Junior Officer Quarters on Kennedy and I needed to depart. So with Mike Angelini and DD-850 in the background, I departed around 5 pm on a Saturday (16th) night and as I expected, there was no traffic outside New York City at the Tapenzee Bridge and I sailed onto I-80 WEST smoothly. 4 days later, I arrived back at Reno having covered a little less than 6000 miles without any incident or equipment malfunction.

Many thanks to all those shipmates that have helped with these restorations, provided the placards- as original as they could be made, restored torpedoes, provided the inert bombs, the radio gear......the photos of the SNOOPY systems on their ships so we could replicate the payload as accurately as possible.

While DS-1543-A may not be any one specific bird, it is a co-mingling of many of the technologies SNOOPY employed, such as the added radio transponders, double generator drive and of course the operational CAMERA and MOUNT - all into one aircraft as a representative of the SNOOPY system employed by Western Pacific Destroyers.

The KENNEDY is now the only place on the planet where you can see the NAVY's ASW QH-50C DASH drone as well as the WESTPAC QH-50D SNOOPY used for Naval Gun Fire Support Missions. I urge you to go and see it and support the ship.
Regards to all,
Peter"


This was a very successful weekend for the ship and everyone was amazed at what we accomplished in a very short time.  Mike, Rob, and Rich Angelini took time off from work to support the lift while Ed Zajkowski drove down from PA to ensure things went well.   It was also great to have Peter Papadakos and Bob Mack aboard ship working with us again as well as meeting our new volunteer Jim Weiskel.


Some projects accomplished this day were:

-- Loading 6 ASROC Missiles onto the DASH Flight Deck for installation in the Magazine.
-- Moved and installed two DASH transmitters, the power supply, decoders, and the SRM4 and SRM6 simulators into their correct positions in Aux Radio.  The first time since the late 1960s that these items were in this space!
-- Lifted items into storage.
-- Detailed the QH-50 SNOOPY, installing blades, testing camera components, and adding lubricants.
-- Reorganized Hangar for display.
-- Installed DASH work platform on DS-1284.
-- Acquired Oral Histories on DASH.
-- Planned and talked about shipboard life with DASH, arrangements of Hangar by crewmen on DD858,  and had DASH veterans talk to visitors.
-- Stowed and sorted spare parts and equipment

Some acquisitions Peter sent to us were:

-- QH-50D DASH Operation and Parts Manuals
-- Vacuum Tube Test sets, Oscilloscopes, Multimeters, and much more 1960s USN test equipment.
-- (4) DD710 class Manuals related to ASROC Installation and operating procedures.
-- Dozens of US Navy Training Manuals.
-- Spare DASH test sets and parts, including another deck controller.

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General

A. Larry Ransom (USS Beatty DD756) rebuilt a status board in CIC, changed the bulbs in the main 64" plotter, and has repaired a good deal of lighting in this space.  Larry also recently worked to fix the lighting in the Aft Steering Compartment.  Larry is working with Jim Gere to rewire the WLR-1 and other components of ECM Room No 1.


B. Bob Ledux(USAF) has restored power to the the right hand SPA-8 Radar Repeater near the CIC Officers Command Center.  

C.  Maury Crotteau is currently rewiring the Radio operator area of CIC.  The RHMS Radio control units, speakers, and switchboards are all be undertaken.

D.  Al Lundgren has painted the deck in SONAR and ASROC in CIC again to ensure these spaces remain pristine.  Al also has put some sound powered headsets and their corresponding hooks in their original locations.

E.  Tom Publicover has been fixing leaks from sinks in the After Head.

F.  Jim Mulvihill is cleaning brass and signage items in ECM Room No 1.

G.  Owen Hayes repairs lighting throughout the ship.

Upcoming and Continuing Projects:

1. Finish Aft Diesel Generator
2. Complete Steam line
3. Complete Prep/Prime of 01 Torpedo Deck and Tubes
4. Complete MK 25 Fire Control Room
5. Continue CIC restoration
6.  Move Welder in ASROC Magazine and load up remaining 6 missiles received from the US Navy
7.  Complete painting and detailing of Port side main deck
8.  Sort and display all Nautical Charts.
9.  Complete BOSUN Locker

Notes: As always, Special thanks to the increased helping hand from cove employees Rui Moniz and Dave Stawicki.

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Special News:

1. The USS Myles C Fox DD829 plans to hold a reunion/field day in October 2009 to help support KENNEDY. We look forward to seeing you all aboard!

2. The New England Tin Can Sailors Bull Session for 2009 will include a visit to KENNEDY. I ask that all volunteers consider participating aboard the ship to welcome members and show off our Gearing class DD.

3. Our field day listing for the whole year can be found by going to http://jpkennedyjr.webs.com/field.html <http://jpkennedyjr.webs.com/field.html>

4.  I gave a call to our shipmate Blair Sandri a few weeks ago.  He reported the sad news that one of our KENNEDY volunteers, Neil Swanson (USS Shelton DD790) has passed away. We will always remember Neil painting the Aft Mast on Kennedy with Blair and Phil Zeglin in one weekend as well as our strip trip visits to Philly.  Please take a moment to remember Neil.


5.  Our June mini field day that was scheduled for June 12 and 13th is going to be rescheduled for the 19th and 20th.   At this time,  We are not sure if any cooks will be aboard for the 20th.  Will advise if Jim Caruso or Bill Hamilton can support the field day but we will have a work part aboard on Saturday 20 June.  Please advise if you can attend.  


6.  We have extra USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. DD850 T-shirts in various sizes left over from the field day.  They are red and blue with the ship's crest on the front left breast and the  FRAM outline of a Gearing Class on the back with the words, USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr DD850 Volunteer.   We are asking $10/shirt with a few bucks extra for mailing.  If you want to pick them up next time you are at the ship, we can hold onto them for you.  All proceeds go towards the Ship!  Please email with any requests.

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History and this ship depend on You! Join the effort.
Fair winds and following seas,
Rich Angelini
Asst Curator, JPK DD850