I will be attending the final flight in Aug with some of my compadres. I logged over 2000 hours in the back of a Phrog and at least a few dozen in the front of one, none were younger than I. I also crewed 53D models in the reserves at Willow Grove. The State Department now owns a ton of Phrogs and is looking for crew and maint personnel to keep them flying. The last Phrog pilot STILL hasn't been born yet, I suspect.
http://airandspace.si.edu/events/detail.cfm?id=16176
PHROG 153369 Farewell:
The purpose of the 1 Aug ceremony is to remember and honor all those who served in, on and around the CH-46 during its 50+ years of service, from Vietnam to Grenada, Desert Shield/Storm, OIF/OEF, as well as countless other instances to include non-combatant evacuations, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, and other operations. The ceremony will call out specific instances throughout the Phrog's history, and in doing so, honor all who were involved. Of particular significance, YK-19, Bureau Number 153369, was one of the aircraft that 1st Lieutenant J. Patrick Donovan, flew as a Purple Fox when he won his second Navy Cross for his actions of valor in Vietnam. Pat Donovan, now a Federal Judge, is the most decorated Marine Aviator of the Vietnam era and has been an inspiration for Marines and their families for many years.
153369 has served with a number of squadrons. Many of those squadrons will be represented on 1 Aug. It is currently with HMM-164, where it was transferred after 364's reflag to VMM. In April, before 164 reflags to VMM, the aircraft will be flown and transferred to HMM-774 in Norfolk, VA. HMM-774, as the last remaining CH-46 squadron, will conduct the last flight, so the aircraft will bear 774 markings. Once stricken from the inventory and in the hands of the museum curators, the aircraft will be returned to HMM-364 markings in preparation for its display on the museum floor.
National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico Reception:
The reception on Friday, 31 July will be held at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA from approximately 1800-2100 (exact time is TBD but will be close to this). In the next few weeks there will be much more information coming via email, the National Air and Space website and social media (Facebook, etc). HQMC's 'last flight' team is working hard to put together this event and is looking forward to getting the word out to all interested parties
Smithsonian Institution - National Air and Space Museum Fly-In 1 Aug:
Saturday, 1 August 12:00 pm Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA outside the Boeing Aviation Hangar.
The Smithsonian Institution - National Air and Space Museum Saturday greatly appreciates the widespread interest from all who were involved in and touched by the CH-46 over the years and look forward to hosting all who attend. Visitors coming to the museum specifically for the fly in ceremony will be given preferred access to the aircraft at the conclusion of the ceremony and before they are available to the general public for static display. Concurrent with the fly in and ceremony, The National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center will be hosting an annual family day event with additional programs and displays inside the museum. The current estimate is that over the course of the day between family day and the CH-46 event there will be between 10,000 - 13,000 visitors at the museum.
http://airandspace.si.edu/events/detail.cfm?id=16176
The Marine Barracks 8th & I band and color guard will also be there in support of this event.
Your interest in this two day event is greatly appreciated. HQMC and the Smithsonian Institution - National Air and Space Museum will be rolling out the details and registration information at a later date.