Donald Lee Frederking's Page

Hi Don - I was in RVAH-5  from Feb. 1965 to Aug. 1967.  I made the Med. cruse on the USS America.  I was a DK3.  Hope all is well with you.

Thanks Donald, here's to the good ol' days.

Stu Carlin

Donald,

I was in Heavy Five from around April 1963 until May 1965. I was a PR3 and worked night check while in Sanford and worked some nights and days while deployed on WESPAC 1964-1965. I left the unit on our return from deployment and went to shore duty in Key West.

Bill

Thanks for the welcome. I've been a member for several years just been away for a spell, I heard from an old friend recently and thought I would check back with the Tigers, guess I had to start over but will visit a bit more often. I was with heavy 1 from 65 to separation in 69 in the Med. Made a lot of friends back then but lost touch will most of them over the years. Again Thanks-------Danny

Hey Don, you may or not remember me but I was a PT the worked in the IOIC on ship and intell office when in Sanford from 64to 66, I'm sure our paths crossed when we where in Heavy 5 as I was all over the place,bullsXXXing with the guys.

Hello Don

Yep made a partial cruise on the 64/65 years. I was an AE 3 with the squadron

I nearly got my self killed during night combat operations just before we lost the first Viglante and crew in Dec. of 64. My accident occurred on a dark as hell night where the flight deck crew parked one of our birds to close to the rear right A/C elevator. The port gear was over the safety fence and they could not raise the fence I was assigned to that A/C that night. Went up to flight deck made it to the plane to board the cockpit. As i reached for the ladder I steped off that big black hole because the elevator was down on the hanger deck level. Needless to say I had very critical injuries from that almost 40 foot fall, but at least I am one of a few people survivng that type of fall. Was flown off the next day to hospital in Phillipines. Spent about a year as a in patient and finally as a out patient at Bethesda Naval Hospital Maryland. Finish my navy career at the now closed Anacostia Naval Air Station, Washington DC. After five years I was medically retired from the Navy. Even though I still experience pain every day from those injuries I am very humbled that my awesome God has allowed me to live 72 years so I can't really complain. Good hearing from you and God Bless you.

Russ

Thanks for the friend request I made the Indy cruise in 68/69. left the ship as a new daddy and AD 1. took me 9 months to get my kid and 4.5 months to be a ADJ 1. what shop were you in Don?

Hi Don;

I was with heavy 7 Aug 66 to Aug 68. Made west pac on the Enterprise and Med on the Independence got released in Greece and flew back to states to be separated.

Hi Don,

I got laid off in 69.  I think the last tail id I remember seeing in the hanger was 126 which I thought was the last one out.  I was in avionics doing checks and trouble shooting on all those coax and wave guide installations.  Hope I never see another piece of safety wire.