OAE's - William's Field / Willy Field

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1960's

Rowland Bliss (ASA - 1961) - Stafford,CT USA      In 1961 ASA stood for Antarctic Support Activities, It was a Seabee outfit, we were summer support based in Davisville, RI. I was stationed at Williams field. We hauled freight off the ships up to McMurdo Station. In February 1962 I broke my leg at McMurdo Station and was flown to Christchurch NZ, then to Oahu ,Trippler Army Hospital. I finally ended up in Newport Naval Hospital.

Sinkler Alexander Casselle (Willy Field strip rat - 69-70) - Lauderhill -   Can you see a "snipe" subsailor gaffing a telephone pole to string wire while snorkeling two main engines dbf????

Carl Evans (McMurdo and Williams Field - 1962-63) - Naperville, Illinois  AT2.  VX-6 Winter Over 1963, Crew R4D #17239.

Ole H Hougen (Willy Field - 67/69) - Tacoma  I ran the AME Shop on the Ice and flew as a half crew on 19. Absolutely the best time of my seven years in the navy. Great friends were made and lost. My question is how many of the Deep Freeze crew had succumbed to cancer related to the "Atomic shitter." This far the most well known case is Charley Sweeny and now me. I married the Wave Greg White was going out with. We just celebrated our 50th anniversary this year.

Jim Jones (Williams Field  VXE6 - 1967-1969) - South Carolina  First year spent at Williams field driving a cat and loading C-130. Crew member C-121 starting in 1968.  Flew from Christchurch to Williams Field every other day.  I loved this tour.  Great guys and crew.  Missed it when I went on board the U.S.S. Roosevelt for my last nine months in the Navy.  My plane crashed the after I left the squadron.  I have former students (air controllers) who have been there since my departure and told me about the crash.

Max Johnson "Little John" (1967-1968 summer) - Terre Haute, Indiana, USA -   Kind of primitive in those days lots of drinking. I did my 19 year old share. Like to think it was a real turning point in my life. I learned how to be alone, how to make friends, how to work hard and party hard.  

Walter Magee (1964-1966) - Texas    Cook at Williams Field

John Marty Martinak (McMurdo, Williams Field 1963) -    Belle Vernon Pa. Wintered over at Williams field 1963 lived in a Jamesway

Ed North (McMurdo, Willie Field, 1965-1966) - Wolcottville, US   Was in Sea Bees, worked with crash crew during summer at Willie Field. Moved into Mac Town during winter and worked at fire house.

Ed Tarker "Tach" (ASA McMurdo, Williams Field, Summer support 1967,8,9) - Berlin, Pa  

 

1970's

Steve Ashinhurst (Strip rat - 72-75) - Clayton NC  Amh2. Repaired 29 at dome charlie and flew it back to pt mugu in 1976,a long,long ride. Stopped at every hill of dirt all the way home.

Willie C. Barr (Willy field, 1970) - Woodbridge USA email

Tedd Duke Belcher (Pt. Mugu, McMurdo, Willy - 1977-1981) - Whidbey Island WA   Worked Christchurch and Willy field. AME/PR shop. Advanced Det for WINFLY 3 out of 4 years.

John Boyle (Williams Field - 1971 thru 1974) - Oak Harbor, Wa USA    Attached to the ame shop. had the best time of my life during my tour there.

James Burke (VXE6 1978, 1980) - Montrose CO  email  Summer Support - LC-130 Maintenance Control at Christchurch and Williams Field 1978 - 1980. The summer of 1978 - 1979 I was at Williams Field for the rescue of the Soviet Scientists that crashed on the far side of the continent. They had to be flown to the hospital in Dunedin, NZ. This mission required an open field refueling on the far side of South Pole Station. The summer of 1979 - 1980 I was at Christchurch, NZ When Air New Zealand Flight 901 crashed into the side of Mt. Erebus.

Doug Crouse (1975-1979)  - Wildomar, Calif.  Spent 4 trips as a cook. Had a great time. I worked all the galleys the Hill, Willy Field, South Pole and Byrd Station. Looking to hear from anyone during that time.

Bill George CM2 (Williams Field /Summer, McMurdo/Winter- WO '69-70) - South Lyon, MI  Spent the summer at Williams Field in Public Works. We had the nicest hut (jamesway) on the base. Wood paneling in our lounge, separate personal cubicles for racks, and an indoor urinal in the vestibule. The cooks were always giving us a case of lobster tails because we serviced their reefers and snow melter.

Mark Grant (McMurdo strip cargo, Williams field, 74-75-76) - Ojai CA.  Just checking your group out

Tom Gregg (Willy Field Aircrew 318 320 321 - 70) - Sedona

J.B. Hall (NSFA Summer Support Williams Field Year/s 1977-79) - Port Orchard,   Public Works Officer, Williams Field 1977-78 and 1978-79 Summer Support.

Bill Hames ATC, USN (McMurdo, Willy Field, South Pole, Su Support 1976-79, WO 1986-87) - Oklahoma City    Best duty of my Navy time. Great experience and some awesome people. Happy to be an OAE!!

Floyd Jarrells, Max (69-70 and 70 - 71) - Newport News Va   VXE6 Williams Field worked on the flight line. Retired after 32 years. ABCM (AW)

Rick McKay (78-81) - Thornton, Colorado 

Steven Murray (1970-71 Williams Field McMurdo St.) - Clearlake, CA  EOCN Murray at Willy's field. I fueled the huts and pushed snow with my D-8 Dozer. I was known as a guitar player and singer that formed a 4 piece rock & country band that entertained get-togethers like the Las Vegas Night party in the helicopter hanger during the summer of 71, I have pictures I will post soon. I miss my shipmate's, EOCN "Killa", Carl Austin. EOCN Scott Hall, Starsky-Electrician, Frank Porcorney he could make great home made wine and good friend. My finest Master Chief CMC Griner in charge of operations at Williams Field.

Ray (Nodwell) Norwood ADCS Ret. (1971-1973 - McMurdo/Williams Field) - Henderson, North Carolina   VXE-6 assigned to Williams Field Power Plants. Member of Antarctic Para-rescue Team. I would love to do it all again.

Jim Rolston AT1 (1978-81) - Temecula, CA  Fantastic memories of a fantastic tour.

Leo - Sunshine Superman - Schumaker (McMurdo 71 72 Williams Field Winfly 72 73) - Santa Barbara CA   Greetings, stationed in McMurdo. I was an EO and did fuel king for 71-72 Summer Support. Then went to Williams Field, Winfly, 72-73. Remember Frank Porcorney from Idaho, Bill Miller, deceased, from San Jose, and Bill Williams builder. Also Delray Kerlin. Now living in Santa Barbara, Ca. Please if you would like to connect. Wish I had pictures.

Mike Widstrom (Willy field - 1970 thru 1972) - Brooklyn park Mn  email 

Mike "Woody" Wood (Willy Field - 1971-1974) - Jacksonville Fla. -  Damn I'd like to do that again

Fred Wilson (Williams Field Crash Crew - Summer support 72, 74) - email Browns Mills NJ

Woodeye the Goodguy- Vancouver USA -   I consider my tour with VX6/VXE6 my best rewarding tour of duty in the 24Yrs. having made the Navy a Career. I was able to travel and experience places and events that most people don't get the chance to see and do. Making an open field landing on the Ice, and then taking-off with JATO is one for the books. AMHC(NAC/AWS) George P. Wood Jr.

 

1980's

Earl K. Austin (McMurdo, Point Mugu, Willy field - 1980-1981) - Juneau, Alaska,99802  When is the next reunion going to be, and where?

Ramon A Aviles (1983)- Northern Calif   to all the winter-overs out there . . . 1983-84 you all are still in my thoughts . . . . made my entire life easier . . . work in my field late into my 40s . . . retired early due to a nice wallet . . . and if you see a robot delivering your pizza . . . it ain't Amazon or Walmart . . . it's me . . . Aileron 1 . . . and if any of you would like to go into zero gravity . . . drop me a line . . . I'll make it possible . . . the USN and the McMurdo Station in particular set my mind into overdrive and I never stop seeing things early

M. Davis (McM/Siple/Willy/Byrd/SP - 79/80 80/81 81/82 91 thru 96) - Vanc, WA   Construction Electrical Foreman for: Holmes & Narver / ITT / ASA

Rita Garland (1988-1989) - Christchurch New Zealand    Worked as barber at McMurdo and Williams Field .

Brian Graham or Guntha (Willy Field and McMurdo RNZAF - 1981) - Pukekohe New Zealand,   Worked with  the aircraft loading team in 72 flew with VXE6 as exchange load master in 81. Many other visits with the RNZAF.

Steve Hollenbach "Pogo" (NSFA Williams Field FM shop and Field radios, Winter Over 1983 summer 1984) - Phoenix Arizona, email  Feel free to drop a line.

YN2 Susan Hubbard (Summer 86/87) -Poulsbo, WA   Learned of this site from the VXE6/ANTARCTICDEVRON Facebook page. My summer in Antarctica was an experience I will never forget!

Ken Jones (Willy field - 84-86) - YELM , WA

Tim Leistico (South Pole '80 / McMurdo '82 / Williams Fld Year/s 80-85) - Oakland CA   Nice to find this site.

D Scott Liberati (Willy Field 1st Lt. Div. - 1984-1985) - Mainesburg, Pa.   If I only had it to do over again. I worked the salad bar on willy field. They were talking about it in Christchurch

Frank Lightbourn (1984-1987) - Palmdale, CA    I'll never forget the ice cold milk at the CH-CH cafeteria. I also have bad memories of Dot! I was drunk....

Rick Lyons (1982-1986) - Virginia, Illinois  

Dennis McMaster (Williams Field and McMurdo, 1987) - Tularosa, New Mexico -   Winter over

Rick Morales (1979 to 1984) - Los Angeles, CA. USA  Worked at Willy Field as an AE on C-130's and also served on the Para Rescue Team during 2 of my 4 deployments down to the ice. I spent half of my time in Christchurch during two of those deployments.

Kurt Pitz (McMurdo, Willy Field, South Pole Stations - 1987-90)- New Providence PA -  Summer Support for two years, home port rep my last year.  Spent first season in Mactown as FM Radio Comm Tech, second season spent time at Willy and South Pole as Radar Technician, also was at Byrd Surface camp for repairs.  Love to touch base with any other folks from my time.

Rocky Wrather (79-83 and 86-89) - Valrico/ Tampa Fl.  I didn't get enough the first time around. On the recovery crew of 321. Nose ski repair at Star shot Glacier, Repair broken nose gear at Pole station. So I had to come back for more Antarctic abuse. I loved every second I was there. Had some great guys working with me. Robert Vinas. Jim Gas., Keith. Loab, Chris Foy, Troy Antill. And a bunch of others to many to add. I Retired in 92 at Whidby Island. Hope to see you all at the reunion in Ky.

Timothy Smurf Zarnay (Williams Field - 1988 to 1992) - Florida  

1990's

J Kaehr (VXE 6 - 1990-1992) - Lynden WA -   Willy Field 90-92 Support Equipment

Dave "Moose" Rothchild (1990-1992) - Cleveland, Ohio, USA 

Shane (Willie Field - 1991) - St. George UT 

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 Trying to find... To use this option, fill in the registration form, but include your own name and email as a contact, requests kept online approx. 2 years

I'm sure I did this already... every now and then I send out emails, a proportion of these bounce back as "not found", often because it was a former work email or an ISP that no longer exists, as there is no longer any way to make contact I delete the record to keep things as current as I can.