Newsletter Vol 1, No 3


Official Newsletter of Grumman Memorial Park Vol.1, No. 3, October 1, 2000 Calverton, Long Island, New York
*FLASH!!!! GRUMMAN MEMORIAL PARK UNVEILING SCHEDULED FOR OCT 28, 2000*
TOMCAT MATED TO PEDESTAL
On August 24, 2000 F-14 BuNo. 160902 was placed into position atop its pedestal. Before its journey began, the F-14 was power-washed and shrink-wrapped. The shrink-wrapping is to protect the aircraft and give a sense of anticipation leading up to the unveiling ceremony. Just before the actual ceremony, the shrink-wrap will be removed and replaced with a camouflage net from the local Army National Guard unit in Riverhead.
	*F-14 Begins Journey to Site …*
About mid-morning our Tomcat began its journey from the hangar where it’s been kept, across the runway to the North Gate and onto Route 25. The procession made its way to the site where the crane and riggers lifted it off the roadway and placed it temporarily on the site itself. A few moments later it was raised up approximately three feet to enable Director Ken Euring and his volunteers clearance for attaching the specially designed mounting brackets and re-install the external fuel tanks.
ã WCB photo

		*Final Flight…* Once everything was in place, aircraft #331 began its final flight up to rest forever atop the pedestal overlooking Route 25. Hoisting this aircraft was accomplished with the aid of Mr. Bill Mallins and his experienced rigging crew. The aircraft was carefully aligned matching the brackets on the landing gear to the mounting plates on top of each concrete pillar.
ã WCB photo
*Tomcat Welded in Place…* Once all was satisfactory, welding the brackets to the plates commenced. With the aircraft in place, completing Grumman Memorial Park is now in full swing. Water and electric facilities will be connected shortly. Landscaping and concrete work will be followed by construction of the parking lot, erecting light fixtures, positioning the old Plant 7 flag pole, obtaining a genuine Grumman guard booth, and installation of the bricks that will make up the Walk of Honor.
ã WCB photo

Latest Site Plan…

This is the latest configuration of Grumman Memorial Park. The entrance leads directly into the parking lot that can accommodate 20 cars plus two provisions for handicapped visitors. On one side of the driveway stands a genuine Grumman guard shack that will house the computerized access for locating bricks. On the other side will stand the flagpole that was located in front of Plant 7. A sidewalk will lead to the Walk of Honor that surrounds the F-14/Monument along with park benches donated by the various Grumman Retiree organizations, as well as some individuals from across the country.

G R U M M A N will be spelled out across the parking lot as it appeared on the unused east-west runway at Bethpage.

Illustration by William Barto

	*More on BuNo 160902…*
Our Tomcat, as most cats do, has certainly led several lives. In the accompanying photo, our F-14 is shown landing at NAS Oceana during it’s assignment with VF-41, the Black Aces, in 1996. This photo was taken (and provided) by Mr. David F. Brown and appears with other photographs of almost every Tomcat ever produced in his excellent publication entitled Tomcat Alley. For more information regarding this publication, contact the editor.
EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA
Grumman Memorial Park, located at Route 25 / Route 25A, Calverton, N.Y., has scheduled its unveiling ceremony for 11:00 AM, Saturday October 28, 2000, with a rain date of Sunday, October 29, 2000. Visit our web site for any changes.

Published quarterly by East End Aircraft L.I. Corporation P.O. Box 147 Calverton, Long Island, New York 11933 631-369-9488 / Fax 631-369-9489 www.grummanpark.org		Board of Directors Joe Van de Wetering – Co-Chairman and Treasurer John Caruso, Director Ken Euring, Director Jim Petrocelli, Director Bobby Goodale, Director	Site Manager Steven Kirschenbaum Secretary Patricia Van de Wetering Editor William C. Barto, Historian

Back to Main Newsletter Page

Back to Homepage