Shortly after the outbreak of the Korean Conflict, I was recalled to active duty with the U. S. Navy. Being a PBY Catalina Flight Engineer, I was assigned to the Air Sea Rescue Unit at Corry Field, Pensacola, Florida. The PBY is a high wing, twin engine amphibian patrol aircraft which is especially suited for search and rescue missions. Many joked about the air speed characteristics of the PBY, and, the crews in some circles were known to be members of Club 90. The aircraft took off at 90, cruised at 90, and landed at 90 knots per hours. Hence, the name. Some called the PBY "Dumbo" for obvious reasons - the long broad wings.

 The main mission of the unit was to provide rescue support and coverage for the many flight training programs conducted in and around Pensacola. The training programs included Pilot Aircraft Carrier Qualification, Advanced Pilot Training, and Helicopter Pilot Training. In addition, the rescue unit performed a variety of services such as removing seriously ill seaman from commercial ships at sea so that they could be treated in hospitals, responding to reports of small craft missing, serving the Eglin AFB, Panama City, Florida, as needed, or responding to any reported emergency condition within a 200-mile radius of the base - one mission was to investigate a reported UFO sighting. A helicopter would be part of the rescue effort as needed, as was the U.S. Coast Guard.

 I was proud to have served with and been a member of the elite group of men who would depart from certain standard flight practices in order to rescue those in need. The circle closes in the early hours of 3 July 2002, when I had a medical episode and found myself in the Candor EMS Ambulance on my way to Packer Hospital in Sayre. The EMS team treated me kindly, gently, and assured me I was in safe hands after the life savings measures were applied. I was fortunate that all worked out well for me. It was on my way to the hospital that my mind drifted back some 50 years ago and relived some of the rescue missions I was on.

 Finally, from the bottom of my heart, I wish to thank all of the fine people involved in the life saving effort. May God bless and watch over you, as he watched over me and the aircrews I flew with.