Anybody out there ever been stationed at Barbers? What command? When? Share memories or photos please. I was in VQ-3 from 83 - 86. A great time at the greatest duty station in the Navy.
I noticed in your link you had a photo of the golf course and thought you might be interested in something that happened when the course was being built. The base CO put out an order that all tenant activities would supply two men each day to build a golf course. Our squadron CO, who was a Cdr, thought his people should be used in a more productive way. So, to protest the order our CO and leading chief were the first two from VP-28 to report for the working party. I can only imagine the reaction of the third class bosn when a Cdr and a chief shows up for his working party. The second day the XO and another chief reports to the bosn and the base CO realizing he was out-foxed threw in the towel and cancelled the order. Over the years I saw other creative ways to protest an unpopular order, but I think this one was my favorite. I was in VP-28 from 1958 until 1961 and this took place in either 58 or 59.
Barbers Pt All Stationed there from 1954 to 1957, VR 21. The best beach on the island, recreation sites also. The Point had old WW2 quonset huts for barracks, palm trees, and sand. I remember a warehouse fire in October, 54, that burned for 2 days. The various squadrons I recall, were the VC, utility aircraft, VR, VP and NAS aircraft. The Point was a major hub for NATS at that time. All CVW aircraft were located at NAS Ford Island. Near by was the Sugar cane fields that had to be burnt off prior to harvest, We had runways blocked with Hawaiian Snow, Burnt ash from the fields.... A great time and later a more expanded base. Understand the rec site is still operating,, end
Tomcatfan, was Admin Chief at VQ-3 90-91 (they kept the great safety record). Was also time period they transitioned to E6A (never saw a Navy plane like it except maybe for VIP's--bunk beds, microwave, and a no @#*$ commercial airline toilet on board). Left squadron before they were transferred to Tinker AFB, OK, but did fly one mission (as Pax) to Travis. Best tour of duty overall that I had in 20 years Navy. TACAMO. YNCS (Ret)
I visited BP in 1996 and in 1997 and was impressed. A few years later I returned and was sad to see the fall-out from the BRAC. Squatters on the beach, trash flying around, and a sense of desolation.
Nothing like morning sweepdowns of caked on bird Droppings on Everything from Walls, Air Pipes, GSE, Planes, and the Windows. We just CSI chalk outlined the dead birds on the hangar floor for the Fod Walkdown.
I Youtubed "Nas Barbers Point" and some lady in giving a drive-by documentary on the Closed Base. Dave1960 is right...they did NOTHING to the place. Everything is overgrown, falling apart, and just run down decaying.
ALL BP Fans This base was my first duty assignment. VR21. The base hosted VCP ## a photo outfit, NAS, Early Warning VW1 with old B17s, quanset huts, a really nice beach house, sand and beautiful weather. We lived off base at Mali, near the Army beach resort at Wainae.(sic). Barbers Point also hosted the Pacific Fleet VP squadrons of the day. Old P2v7s, and later on P3A ORIONS. There also was a few aircraft that belonged to the USMC but do not recall the squadron. I do recall one wheels up landing made by a Sky Night jet, that ended up taking out a VCP jet and narrowly missing one of our R6D transports. This all was in 1954-57 era. NAS had the old NATS transport terminal there, and I have several photos of this. end
Barbers Point Old Time Residents I have resurrected several Housing slides, and some flight line slides. Need to know how to convert these to digital for posting. kdine@joimail.com I have a digital camera, HP Pavilion computer, and the projector for the slides. Thanks end PPS The Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce may have data on the current status and use of the old base. end
Just a post to get this back in the rotation. It falls too far down the list to get any postings otherwise. C'mon people, I know there are some stories and pics out there.
TomCatFan Not to worry. I have the old BP slides out and am converting same to digital. Christmas present of a digitzer solved the problem. Need to get on this. end
TomCatFan I have inventoried the slides, with pics from housing, flight line Circa 1956. Need to know how to get the pics into the posting. I can understand how to do links postings. but the pics escape me. Where do I go for the procedures? end
ah good memories. We use to fly in there for R&R I was with OMD out of NAS Adak AK and we use to fly our Hercs out there once per month for a mini vacation for those of us on the island that never saw sunlight except once per month if that. Being aircrew I was down there once a month. I am sorry to here the base has been decommed
