When we go to visit Mom and Dad, we always manage to spend time outdoors if the weather is nice. Today, was one of those days. We spent time outdoors and I took a lot of pictures.
On the west side of the yard, Mom has a ‘nightshade’ tree that has dozens of trumpet-shaped flowers every spring. I took this image of Mom and the trumpets while we were enjoying the nice weather and the pretty garden flowers. Click on the image to enlarge.
On our visit to Mom and Dad’s today, I went into the back yard as usual. While there I took this picture of one of Mom’s tiny yellow roses.
Click image to enlarge.
It has been over sixty years since Verna’s Dad served in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed at Gibraltar in 1948 where Navy Patrol Squadron 26 had a detachment at the time.
The Cold War was fully in progress, and Dad’s Squadron was right in the thick of it all. He was a flight crew member and flew missions on the Navy version of the old B24 – the PB4Y-2 ‘Privateer.’ He flew missions all over the Mediterranean, Europe, the North Atlantic Ocean and back to the US for logistics and repairs.
Image: PB4Y-2 similar to ones in Dad’s squadron.
I did the research on his old squadron and brought him a package of information and history about VP-26, complete with pictures and the squadron patch seen above. That triggered a lot of old memories and discussions with Bill about his adventures in VP-26.
This mission statement is taken from the VP-26 Website:
Patrol Squadron VP-26, a member of Patrol Wing FIVE, is a Maritime Patrol Squadron with a worldwide theater of operations. Mission areas include: Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASU), Command and Control Warfare (C2W), Command, Control, and Communications (CCC), Intelligence (INT), Mine Warfare (MIW), and Mobility (MOB). Although the “TRIDENTS” are homeported at U.S. (Naval Air Station) NAS Brunswick, Maine, their reputation is known throughout the world. The Tridents have demonstrated success in all of these tasks and in all the services performed, one thing remains constant: Team Trident is at the ready, supporting the mission… Anytime… Anywhere!
I downloaded the history file that I found on the VP-26 website and have made it available here in case you want to read about Dad’s old squadron. Click here for the Complete VP-26 History (PDF).
I stood under Mom’s avocado tree today and took this artsy shot of a sunbeam streaming through the foliage. Click on the image to enlarge.
Much of the winter and early spring the weather and our recently busy schedule have kept us off of the backyard swing. Now, as milder weather approaches, we’re spending more time relaxing on the swing. I usually bring the laptop computer to the swing and Verna often brings out her favorite reading material. I recently ordered a 9-inch notebook computer for Verna, so she can use it when we head out to the swing.
UPDATE: This Arrived Today!!
