My old 400 Squadron Air Force website

I only have a handful of followers at this Blog. But I do know that the occasional visitor drops in to check out what's going on. Perhaps even a few folks aim their browser at this address just to monitor my subversive activities!

In any case, thanks for visiting to all.

As mentioned in an earlier post, my old website Freddy K's Unofficial 400 Squadron Webpages is alive and well in cyberspace even though Yahoo closed all the GeoCities sites in 2009. So for those interested in how it looked in 2002, click the link below.

My memoirs probably pissed off a few back then but I only had one or two negative feedback. Most appreciated the nostalgia.

http://www.reocities.com/squadron400/

Bill Bishop is working on a new site. Standby for an announcement. I've been working with Bill on a multi-media version of my On Guard series of stories which contain photos, songs, videos, etc to enhance the text. Bill has suggested an audiobook version and the completion of my last chapter, but this will have to be a winter project.

Downsview is STILL alive in cyberspace!

Bill Bishop was planning to revive aspects of my old website Freddy K's Unofficial 400 Squadron website when lo & behold he found a gentleman from Holland who has resurrected a number of the old Geocities Websites including mine! Bill told me about these ReoCities sites and posted the fantastic news at Propwash:

http://400sqn.blogspot.com/2011/05/joyful-breaking-news.html



Check out his post and click the link there. I was amazed! While an archive I mentioned in my Fireside Chat of 2010 did have much of the text of my old site, all the pictures & graphics were gone. But here at ReoCities - it's a complete snapshot of my site from late 2002 with ALL the photo galleries (save one at present) intact!

I'm ecstatic! Some of those photos were lost until now! It's like revisiting an old friend. Working on that site during the 911 period and afterwards was my way of getting through that terrible time & it's wonderful to see it preserved!

Thanks Bill for finding this. And a big thanks to those at ReoCities!

Per Ardua Ad Astra,
Freddy K

2 Air Reserve Wing 2010 New Year Chat part 1

Repost of earlier Blog item my 2 ARW 2010 New Year Chat part 1, now on YouTube. Per Ardua Ad Astra!

2 Air Reserve Wing 2010 New Year Chat part 2

Repost of my earlier 2ARW 2010 New Year Chat part 2, now posted on YouTube.

2 RSU Crew

Here's a photo recently received from Rollie Reeves of some of the RSU techs at Downsview in the late 1970s.

I recall everyone in your photo with the exception of the fellow at the left rear, McKenzie - just doesn't ring any bells at all.
Next to him is Barry Millward (who I recall curling with once). (Sean?) Dougherty, IE tech. Mo is next (possibly Morris).
Pete McAllister, who was on our infamous flight to Myrtle Beach. He's been deceased for several years & I do recall he was a good time Charlie kind of guy & even in death women were fighting over him!
At the right rear is Dick Raymond.
Left front is Rollie Reeves. Next is Rick Felker, "Bobsy Twin" of Pete McAllister & the two of them had lots of adventures during my time in the late '70s.
Sgt Dick Bull - classy guy. (Ron?) Adams - Safety Systems, I think.
And at the right front is my mentor - "Shorty" Beaune. Great fellow. Wonder whatever happened to him?

2RSU Alumni Rick Richarz - "Father Goose"

Sometimes one wonders "where are they now"? I recall Rick Richarz from my Air Force days at CFB Toronto, when he was with the 2RSU. He was the builder of the Canteen at the hangars. Also the man behind the VIP Otter 3669, which had the the comfortable cabin. Well today he is President of the Bronte Legion in Oakville, Canada and also Father Goose from this April 2010 news story that I stumbled across.

Bitter Reality - MacLean & MacLean

I recall that Master Corporal "Shorty Bone" use to recite the following toast when I worked with him in the Air Force at CFB Toronto in the late 1970's - early 1980's:
"Here's to the hole that never heals, the more you rub it the better it feels
And all the soap this side of hell, won't wash away that fishy smell. Wine, women, song, and vice, syphilus, blue balls, crabs, & lice, we have had them all by Jesus Christ,
Gentlemen the queen!"

I'd forgotten that until I came across this album.
This cut is titled The Gross Manual.
MacLean & MacLean has this on their Bitter Reality album. They were Maritimers that were popular at the Toronto clubs The Chimney & El Mocambo during the late 1970's & early 1980's, when I was with the Air Reserve at Downsview. Photos are from family day at Downsview, working with the 2RSU at the hangars there, a couple from Terry Hill, and the last ones are from the 400 squadron reunion in 2002 at CFB Borden. "Per Ardu Ad Astra".