Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Nick Grim | Capt. Matt Pottenburgh, commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven, and Capt....... read more read more
By Kaylee LaRocque,
Naval Air Station Jacksonville Public Affairs Officer
Clay County Board of County Commissioners, along with leadership from Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jax), participated in a dedication ceremony to officially open Neptune Park in Fleming Island, Florida, June 17. The new park is named in honor of the seven aircrewmen who were killed with their P2V Neptune aircraft crashed in the woods near the site on June 14, 1951.
The crew from Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron (FASRON) 795 were on a routine training mission conducting simulated single engine landings in Palatka, Florida. While en route back to NAS Jax, an explosion occurred in the electrical gear causing the pilot to attempt a landing at Fleming Island Auxiliary Field. The aircraft unable to land due to mechanical issues and livestock on the runway, attempted to ascend, hitting the tops of pine trees.
Those killed in the crash were FASRON 795 Commanding Officer Lt. Cmdr. Lester Kee, Lt. Cmdr. L.B. Worley, Aviation Mechanic 1st Class Clark Walizer, Aviation Mechanic 3rd Class Milton Trower, Aviation Radioman 3rd Class Lames Logwood Jr., Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Turner Jones, and Airman William Stewart. Two crewmembers survived the crash – Lt. j.g. Ralph Jones and Apprentice Airman John Barnett.
Capt. Matt Pottenburgh, commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven, was one of the guest speakers for the dedication ceremony and gave the crowd a short history lesson.
“In 1950, during the post-World War II drawdown, Fleet Air Wing (FAW) Eleven shifted homeports from San Juan Puerto Rico to NAS Jax, and transitioned from the Martin PBM Mariner and PBY Catalina to the P-2V Neptune. Throughout the 50s, Wing Eleven’s squadrons patrolled vast areas of water right here off the East Coast in support of long-range reconnaissance and anti-submarine missions,” said Pottenburgh. “Operational commitments grew as the Cold War intensified, and patrol aviation continued to refine warfighting competencies in anti-submarine warfare, aerial mine warfare, search and rescue, and aerial photographic intelligence.”
“To meet this new Cold War demand and as a direct result of the Korean War, FAW Eleven grew in size with the addition of new squadrons. One of those squadrons was FASRON 795 flying the brand new P2V Neptune – they were stood up and assigned to FAW-11 on April 1, 1951 and its first commanding officer was Lt. Cmdr. Lester Kee,” continued Pottenburgh.
“I am honored to be a part of today’s ceremony as we dedicate this park to the men who slipped the surley bonds of earth one last time on June 14th, 1951. At the time of the mishap, the P2V Neptune was the premier anti-submarine aircraft in the U.S. arsenal,” said Pottenburgh. “About 10 years later, the Neptune would be replaced by the P-3C Orion that served (and has continued to serve) as a U.S. Navy workhorse throughout every major conflict from the Cold War to as recent as Operation Inherent Resolve in Syria.”
Also in attendance was Karen Key Pierce, daughter of Lt. Cmdr. Key, who travelled from Tennessee with her family to pay tribute to her late father.
“My daddy met my mother when he was stationed in Australia. They got married and moved to the U.S. When the war was declared with Korea, my daddy was sent to NAS Jax. He left early to find lodging. My favorite color was pink so he came home and told me that he got us a pink apartment. I was very much a daddy’s girl. Then one day when I was 4 years old, my daddy didn’t come home,” said Pierce. “My mother took me back to Australia and I lived there until I was 15. I’ve been here ever since. Two years ago, my nephew who is into genealogy, call me and said someone is looking for me regarding a cemetery. He had a lot of information about my father and wanted to create a park in honor of those died here. I came down in November to see it and it brought so much peace to me. So thank you to those who built it, it means so much.”
Michael Trower Carlucci, son of Aviation Mechanic 3rd Class Trower, also attended the dedication. “My parents were having financial problems, so my uncle suggested that my father go into the Navy Reserves. So he did. I was 3-years-old when he died so I really didn’t get a chance to know him but my family always told me stories about him.”
After all the speeches, Pierce and Carlucci unveiled a grey granite monument with a bronze plaque engraved with a photo of the Navy P2V aircraft and the names of the aircrew. The park, located at 2070 Thunderbolt Road, Fleming Island, was completed in March 2020. It consists of three ball fields, concession stand and restrooms.
| Date Taken: | 06.17.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.23.2021 12:38 |
| Story ID: | 399528 |
| Location: | JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 226 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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