VC-10Squadron Off-Duty AlbumWhile working night shift as a young strapping ADRAN and reading the squadron Plan of the Day, I noticed an announcement that the skipper was holding a contest to design the paint scheme for the new squadron A-4s that we were to transition to. The winner was to receive the first back seat checkout in the TA-4J after transition. Just for my own entertainment, I tore off the thin white paper wrapping from a tube of paper coffee cups, picked up an "Approach" magazine and found a picture of an A-4F. I traced the picture onto the torn off paper wrap and colored a design incorporating red, white and blue stripes in the aircraft wings and across the saddle area along with the red, white and blue vertical stab colors and JH squadron identifier already adorning the current F-8s assigned to the squadron. After completing the design I looked it over and decided that it didn't look all that bad. I put my name on the paper and put it in CDR Miller's suggestion box. Awhile later I was notified that I had won the contest! I unfortunately never did collect on the prize as I rotated out of the squadron prior to the receipt of even our first aircraft. It would have been a great treat to fly in the TA-4J as I was already qualified and flying as a Utility Aircrewman in the US-2B & US-2C aircraft as a tow reel operator. Jim Harvey AD-1, USN (Ret) |