Grumman Memorial Park History Center
Photo of XFF1, the first Grumman Aircraft, 1932
Welcome to our history center. We are just getting started in creating this feature of the website. Look forward to information on and lots of photos of all Grumman products. The Photo Gallery will contain lots for photos of Grumman Products. The first two sections are "reprints" of a Newsday articles from the Long Island: Our Story series. These articles are used with permission and are copyright Newsday. The next two section are links to the Newsday Long Island History website dealing with the LEM. Other sections:
Calendar of major events at Calverton with some Plane News excerpts.
F-14 Ceremonial Last Flight at NAS Oceana, Virginia, Sept 22, 2006
Newsday - PIONEERS ON THE RUNWAY |
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| Click Here |
Raising Grumman
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| Click Here | The Women Who Tested Grumman's Hellcat |
| Click Here |
Obituaries |
Grumman Memorial Park "Current Events" Archives
Calendar of Major Events: Navy/Grumman Calverton Facilities
| March 1952 |
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| August 1952 |
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| October 1952 |
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| June 1953 |
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| September 1953 |
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| March 1954 |
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| April 1954 |
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| May 1954 |
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| June 1954 |
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| August 1954 |
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| June 1956 |
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| March 1958 |
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| December 1958 |
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| August 1959 |
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| January 1960 |
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| June 1961 |
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| September 1961 |
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| January 1966 |
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| October 1967 |
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| November 1968 |
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| December 1968 |
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| May 1969 |
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| May 1970 |
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| December 1973 |
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July 2, 1921 – September 2, 2001 President Grumman Aerospace Corporation - 1974 President Grumman Corporation - 1985 Upon graduation from the University of Michigan in 1944, George Martin Skurla began his 42-year career at Grumman as an apprentice engineer. He worked on many projects including the Aerobilt trailer bodies, but he will be most remembered for heading up the Florida operations for the Lunar Module. In 1973, Skurla became general manager of Calverton operations and revitalized production of the F-14 Tomcat. Elected president of Grumman Aerospace Corporation in 1974, he held this post until becoming president of the parent organization, the Grumman Corporation, in 1985. Skurla retired in 1986. |
portrait by Brian Johnson, Technical Illustrator, Grumman Technical Publications Department, 1984 |
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Thomas J. Kelly 1929 – 2002 President, Space Station Integration Division Grumman Corporation Led the design team for the Lunar Module Born in Brooklyn and raised in Merrick, NY, he attended Wellington C. Mepham High School in Bellmore. Attended Cornell University's five-year engineering program in 1946 on a Grumman scholarship. He joined Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation full time as a propulsion engineer when he graduated and stayed until his retirement in December 1992, leaving only to serve in the Air Force from 1956 to 1958. Tom Kelly led the design team for Lunar Module when Grumman received the contract from NASA in late 1962. Kelly had not yet turned 40 when Neil Armstrong took his historic first step on the moon in 1969. "It was the greatest thing in my career. And, in hindsight, it was even more significant than we thought at the time," Kelly said in 1998. After his work on the lunar module, he served as the vice president and deputy director of Grumman's space shuttle proposal and president of Grumman's Space Station Integration Division in Reston, Va., among other positions. He was awarded NASA's Distinguished Public Service Medal in 1972 for his work on Project Apollo. In May 2001, he published a book titled "Moon Lander: How We Developed the Apollo Lunar Module," which his family said took six years to complete and was in its second printing. On Saturday, March 23, 2002, at the age of 72, Tom Kelly passed away after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis at his home in Cutchogue. |
Thomas J. Kelly |
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Dave ("Grandfather") Scheuer Blue Angels Service Representative 1951 -1969, Passed away on May 6, 2002 Know affectionately as "Grandfather" by every Blue Angels team member, past and present, Dave began his career with Grumman early in 1942 working on Hellcats and Avengers in Plants 2 and 4. Soon after that he joined the Field Service Department and covered Naval Air Stations along the East Coast of the United States. In late 1951, Dave was asked to assist the Blue Angels, who were re-forming in Corpus Christi, Texas after the Korean War. There he assisted the Team while they operated Panthers, Cougars and Tigers until early 1969, when the Blues transitioned to the F-4 Phantom. |
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F-14 Tomcats Come Home!By William C. Barto |
 Photo US Navy |
On Friday, March 10, 2006, the last two F-14D Tomcat squadrons, VF-31 “Tomcatters and VF-213 “Blacklions” returned to NAS Oceana ending their six-month deployment with Carrier Air Wing Eight aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. This ended some thirty-plus years of combat deployment for the F-14. Twenty-two Tomcats thundered overhead before touching down.
Since the first aircraft entered operational service the Grumman Aerospace Corporation-built Tomcat has seen numerous upgrades and modifications as the premier carrier-based multi-role strike fighter. Throughout its US Navy service the F-14 has been synonymous with excellence.
The F-14B, introduced in November 1987, incorporated new General Electric F-110 engines. This was a giant step in performance improvements for the Tomcat. An upgrade improvement program in 1995 brought the F-14 new digital avionics and weapon system.
How do you improve on a good thing? Grumman developed the advanced F-14D in 1990. This was a major upgrade with F-110 engines, APG-71 radar system, Airborne Self Protection Jammer, Joint Tactical Information Distribution System and Infrared Search and Track (IRST). Then all F-14A’s, B’s and D’s received the LANTIRN targeting system for precision strike capability, new defensive countermeasures systems, new digital flight control system, and night vision compatibility.
During this last deployment, VF-31 and VF-213 provided invaluable close air support to the troops on the ground, completed 1,163 combat missions totaling 6,876 flight hours and dropped 9,500 pounds of ordnance on enemy positions.
“To see the Sailors of this command perform so magnificently throughout five months of arduous combat operations has been inspirational for me,” said CDR Richard LaBranche, commanding officer of VF-31 Tomcatters. “Team ‘FELIX’ has met every challenge head-on, succeeded in every endeavor and left a legacy befitting our new slogan as ‘The Last Cat Standing’.”
VF-213 will immediately transition to the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, while VF-31 will remain the one and only last operational Tomcat squadron until official retirement on September 22 of this year.
LAST F-14 TOMCAT COMBAT MISSION ENDS |
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By William C. Barto, Historian, Grumman Memorial Park |
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F-14D Tomcat, BuNo. 161159 from the "Blacklions" of VF-213 engages the arresting wire on the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are currently underway on a regularly scheduled deployment conducting maritime security operations. They are due back in Norfolk around mid-March, 2006 |
February 8, 2006 marked the end of F-14 Tomcats role in combat with the US Navy. Aboard the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) an F-14 from VF-213 "Blacklions" made the last combat "trap" (landing on a carrier).
Piloted by Capt. William G. Sizemore II, USN, commander, Carrier Air Wing Eight, "Lion 204" was recovered at 12:35 a.m. "It’s the end of an era and it just kind of worked out that I was the last trap," commented Capt. Sizemore. "This is one of the best airplanes ever built, and it’s sad to see it go away. It’s just a beautiful airplane. It’s powerful, it has presence, and it just looks like the ultimate fighter."
Lt. Bill Frank, USN, of sister squadron VF-31 "Tomcatters" also took part in the last mission, and is credited with being the last Tomcat pilot to drop a bomb from an F-14. "We were called on to drop, and that’s what we did," said Lt. Frank. "It’s special and it’s something I can say I did, but what’s more important is the work of the Sailors who made it possible. They have worked so hard during this cruise to make every Tomcat operational."
"I don’t think there is anything better than a Tomcat, but it’s probably a good time for it to go away," said Senior Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate (AW) Gene Casterlin, VF-31. "The Navy is getting smaller and more efficient, and it will only get harder to maintain the Tomcat. But no matter what, the Tomcat is the sexiest airplane in the sky."
During their final deployment aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt, VF-31 and 213 collectively completed 1,163 combat sorties totaling 6,876 flight hours, and dropped 9,500 pounds of ordnance during reconnaissance, surveillance, and close air support missions in support of OIF.
"As we near the end of the Tomcat’s last deployment, we are proud of our legacy and take solace in the fact that the Tomcat is going out at the top of its game, but also regret saying farewell to an old, revered and trusted friend," said CDR. Richard LaBranche, USN, VF-31 commanding officer.
"From its inception, the Tomcat has been the icon of Naval Aviation with its striking appearance, speed, formidable lethality and versatility," said CDR. LaBranche. "It is more capable today than at any other time during its existence because of the innovation, dedication, and tenacity of every maintainer and pilot who has ever been associated with it."
VF-213 will be making the transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet in April. VF-31 will remain last and only official Tomcat squadron in the Navy until September 2006. They, too, will transition to the Super Hornet a month later marking the Tomcat’s end of a thirty-six year association with the US Navy.
Last F-14 Tomcat Training Squadron Disestablished
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| Grumman F-14D, BuNo. 164601 – Gunfighter 160 photo by William C. Barto | |
By William C. Barto
Historian, Grumman Memorial Park
Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia – September 15, 2005. Fighter Squadron One Zero One (VF-101) "Grim Reapers", the last of the two F-14 training squadrons, was disestablished (decommissioned) in a formal ceremony. VF-101 was charged with the training of replacement aircrews and maintainers for all east coast based F-14 squadrons. (VF-124 had a similar task for all west coast F-14 squadrons at NAS Miramar, California).
In attendance were Naval personnel from the F-14 community, past and present, as well as contractors, and former contractors, who worked on the F-14 sometime during its thirty-five years in Naval Aviation.
Presiding over the ceremony was CDR. Paul A. "Butkus" Hass, the last skipper of VF-101. The "Grim Reapers" were originally formed in 1942 by Lt. James "Jimmy" Flatley. They flew Grumman F4F Wildcats. It was Flatley who designed the squadron logo and gave the squadron its name. Also on the dais was Vice Admiral James H. Flatley III, USN, retired, son of "Jimmy" Flatley. In the audience CDR James "Seamus" Flatley represented the third generation of "Grim Reapers". As the ceremony came to a close, the squadron insignia was presented to Vice Admiral Flatley on behalf of the Flatley family to safeguard until which time the squadron is re-established (hopefully) sometime in the not too distant future.
Of the thirty F-14 fleet squadrons that existed since 1972, only two remain. VF-31 "Tomcatters" and VF-213 "Blacklions" are presently serving aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt in the war against global terrorism. Upon their return in May 2006, VF-213 will immediately transition to the Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, while VF-31 will remain as the very last F-14 squadron until September 2006 when the F-14 will be officially retired. The Tomcat has served with the US Navy for thirty-six years - an unprecedented record. The aircraft operated well past its planned life and performed brilliantly in both the air-to-air role and the ground attack role, something it wasn’t originally designed to do.
Well-done Tomcat!
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JUNE 15-16, 2006 |
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Two Grumman F-14D Tomcats from Fighter Squadron Thirty One (VF-31 Tomcatters) are scheduled to make one last trip to their birthplace here on Long Island on June 15. The jets are scheduled to arrive over Long Island skies around 9 am flying over Bethpage and Calverton, including Grumman Memorial Park, before landing at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, NY around 9:30 am. Northrop Grumman is spearheading this event. The Tomcats will be parked on the ramp next to the American Airpower Museum located along New Highway and available for public viewing. Later that evening at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, NY, Northrop Grumman will host a dinner and evening of F-14 reminiscences. The price for anyone who wishes to attend is $50.00. Because the dinner is limited in size, reservations will be taken first come, first serve. Reservations may be made by either calling 516-704-3566, or email at NGEN-Bethpage@ngc.com. You will be contacted as to payment. On Friday, June 16, the American Airpower Museum will host Northrop Grumman employees as the jets prepare to depart for NAS Oceana, Virginia in the afternoon. |
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Illustrations by William C. Barto |
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Tomcats Forever! |
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Text and photos by William C. Barto, GMP Historian |
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| On Thursday, June 15, 2006 two F-14D Tomcats from Fighter Squadron Thirty One flew up from Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia to New York for one last time over Long Island. At approximately 9:00 AM the F-14s first flew over the Calverton facility (to include Grumman Memorial Park) where they were originally flight-tested and then it was on to Bethpage. After completing several passes over the Bethpage facility, the Tomcats proceeded to Republic Airport. Upon making a few passes over the field, the jets landed and were parked on the ramp just to the south of the American Airpower Museum. |
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| The event, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, was augmented with support from the American Airpower Museum. The jets remained on display, available to the public for the rest of the day. Later that evening a banquet, also sponsored by Northrop Grumman, was held at the Cradle of Aviation Museum to honor all those who designed, built, supported and operated the finest fighter the Navy ever had, the F-14 Tomcat. Grumman Memorial Park also supported this event by loaning its tow bar in the event the jets need to be repositioned. This was the first time all three Long Island aviation museums worked in concert together to make this event the success it was. | ||
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Even though Friday, June 16, was
Northrop Grumman employee day, there were many Grumman retirees
in attendance as well. At approximately 1:30 PM, the F-14s prepared
for departure. Before leaving it was announced that the squadron
commander wanted the crowd to know that he and his wingman would
"kneel" the aircraft (as they do to launch off a carrier) as a
symbolic "bow" to all the people who worked on the F-14 program. I can attest that there weren’t too many dry eyes in the crowd after that. The F-14s then proceeded to the runway for departure. |
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take off the leader banked to the right giving the crowd a perfect
view of the top of the Tomcat. The second F-14 banked and turned
hard right and passed directly over the American Airpower Museum low
enough to almost read the names painted on the canopy. The Tomcats
made two more passes over the field and on the final pass pulled up
into a vertical climb right over the crowd, lit the afterburners and
we watched as four orange glows disappeared and closed the chapter
of Grumman F-14 Tomcats on Long Island. I would like to point out that in 1933 when Grumman was located at what is now known as Republic Airport, just a few hundred feet away from where we were standing, its first fighter, the FF-1 rumbled down a grassy airfield in about the same location where the runway is now that the Tomcats used for takeoff. What a fitting way to end Grumman’s involvement with the fighter community of Naval Aviation. Our first and last fighter aircraft both took off from the same field in Farmingdale some seventy-three years apart. |
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Well Done… Baby! | |
F-14 Ceremonial Last Flight at NAS Oceana, Virginia, Sept 22, 2006
By William C. Barto, GMP Historian
photos by author
After thirty-six years of loyal and faithful service, the United States Navy officially retired the Grumman F-14 Tomcat on Friday, September 22, 2006. The Ceremonial Last Flight of the Tomcat was held at Naval Air Station Oceana located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Two F-14D’s were present to represent their brother Tomcats. BuNo. 164350 (Shop No. 625) AJ103 was repainted in a retro paint scheme to reflect the way Tomcats first appeared in the fleet in 1972. BuNo. 163904 (Shop No. 614) AJ102 was poised away from the crowd in preparation for performing the Ceremonial Last Flight.
Beginning with the posting of colors and an invocation by a Navy Chaplain at 1000 hours, we were welcomed by Captain John McCandish, USN. The Honorable Meyera Oberndorf, Mayor of Virginia Beach, and Mr. Scott Seymour, Corporate Vice President and President of Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems also made remarks. Closing the ceremony Admiral John Nathman, Commander US Fleet Forces Command involved the crowd of spectators in giving the Tomcat three "hip-hip hooray" cheers. The F-14 was now officially retired.
At 1045 hours attention then focused to the F-14D undergoing pre-flight by VF-31’s excellent maintainers. Poised in the cockpit were LCDR David Faehnle, pilot, and LCDR Robert Gentry, RIO. Engines were started and AJ102 proceeded to the taxiway for its trip to the end of the runway for takeoff. However, AJ102 experienced a generator failure while enroute and could not perform the ceremonial final flight. Waiting just out of sight of the spectators was AJ107 BuNo 163902 (Shop No. 612) standing by as backup. Pressed into immediate service, "Felix 107", crewed by LCDR Chris Richard, pilot, and LT Mike Petronis, RIO, took off and made a long right hand turn to line up with the runway for the final pass. The F-14D banked slightly to the right and performed a slow pass over the crowd, leveled off and climbed into the sky and into Naval Aviation history.
A luncheon was provided immediately following this event where many folks had the chance to reunite with old friends and make new ones. All in all, the underlining theme for the Tomcat-Sunset held true – Last Time Baby!
Tomcat Homecoming, Republic Airport, Farmingdale, October 4, 2006
By William C. Barto, GMP Historian
photos by Tom Kaminski
Aviation history books will need to add a new but final chapter on the story of the legendary F-14 Tomcat.
Future historians will note than on 11:40 a.m., on the morning of October 4, 2006, F-14D BuNo. 164603, the next to last Tomcat manufactured by Grumman, touched down at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, New York, ending an era in naval aviation that began in 1970.
Felix 101, the squadron commander’s assigned aircraft, taxied to the American Airpower Museum at Republic and idled its engines until exhausted of fuel. LCDR Chris "Limp" Richard, pilot, and LCDR "Fitz" Gentry, RIO climbed down from the cockpit of their F-14 for the last time, draping an American flag over the cockpit. On hand to welcome them were Joe Wilkers and Bob Klein of Northrop Grumman, Barbara Nilson, President of the Grumman Retiree Club, along with the officers and men of VF-31 "Tomcatters", to which the jet was assigned and who drove to Long Island from Virginia on their own. Welcoming them were the many volunteer personnel of the American Airpower Museum.
The aforementioned dignitaries, along with Mike Geiger, Republic Airport Director, and Mr. Pat Foye, President and CEO of United Way Long Island and a trustee of the American Airpower Museum, made welcoming remarks as many in the audience stifled heart felt emotions. At the conclusion of the formal ceremony, the aircraft was signed for by Barbara Nilson on behalf of the Grumman Retiree Club, to whom the jet is officially on loan to. The F-14 will remain in the care of the American Airpower Museum until early next year when a site has been prepared in Bethpage for a permanent display. Before leaving for a presentation at Northrop Grumman’s Long Island headquarters in Bethpage, CDR Howe and all the other members of VF-31 signed their names to the aircraft.
In fact, before departing NAS Oceana earlier that morning other members of the squadron signed their names to the inside wheel wells of the Tomcat. With the ceremonies over, and the crowd beginning to leave, the sad task known as demilitarization began. This involved the removal of the ejection seats, instruments from the cockpit, both F110 engines, avionics and the Gatling gun. Some of the items such as the ejection seats and cockpit displays scopes are used in other aircraft and will be turned in to the supply system. Anything else uniquely "Tomcat" will be secured by the Navy to prevent falling into the hands of Iran, the only other user of the F-14.
What also deserves mentioning here is that Grumman fighters have gone full-circle. In 1933, Grumman’s presence in Farmingdale was with a factory located along nearby Conklin Street. What we know today as Republic Airport was once known as the Fairchild Flying Field – all grass, no concrete. Grumman’s first production fighter, the FF-1 was delivered to the Navy from that very field on April 24, 1933. Seventy-three years later Grumman’s last production fighter landed practically on the very same spot.
Perhaps the most poignant comment from the entire ceremony came from CDR Howe, a sentiment that has been felt by every Naval aviator since the days of the Grumman F4F Wildcat:
photo by William Barto
