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Sunday, January 24, 2010
US Navy
My heart lept for joy when I saw the amphibious plane in the bay. I was a Navy chaplain years ago. Don't know why they were here but it is good to know that we are on their map. The locals were more than intrigued by the Navy's presence.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Father Marc but I don't think that was the Navy. The aircraft is a 1955 Grumman Albatross. I am an aircraft inspector and did some research on it. The aircraft was decommisioned from the Navy in 1968. However it has been beautifully maintained and they have kept the Navy paint scheme to show it off as a vinage warbird aircraft. It looks like it is based out of Opa-Locka, Florida. It is currently owned by/registered to a company called "Sea and Air Adventures" our of Willmington, Deleware. Hopefully, someone has chartered it to bring supplies to the area. It would be the perfect aircraft to get in and out of many areas in Haiti and haul a good amount of cargo.
Keep up the good work, Father. My prayers are with you. Please keep the updates going. I have been showing them to my friends and we are helping by donating to you through St. Mark the Evangelist in Norman, Oklahoma.
Nice to have spirits lifted at such a sight.. But to go to this trouble without bearing aid would be a waste would it not? This would just add to the frustrations would it not? There has been much money and aid generated by Americans. I am bothered by the lack of speed in delivery. Unfortunately all we can say is hang in there. Peace is on your side. Hope is on your side. We are on your side. All our prayers are on your side.
http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=406194 Airport http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=406678 Day 1 http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=407106 Day 2 http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?list=~\news\lists\local&id=407673 Day 3
http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?list=~\news\lists\local&id=408245 Day 4
http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=409281 Day 5/6 http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=409600 Return
I am a doctor who was on that plane. As noted by Nic Hawker below, it is in fact no longer a Navy plane but has been maintained with the paint scheme. It made a total of 3 trips to Haiti this week, carrying a 10-person medical team and as much as 3000 pounds of relief supplies on any given flight. While on the ground in Les Cayes, we were mostly based out of the local Hospital Immaculate Conception, where we ran a fracture clinic, performed countless surgeries (mostly stabilizing fractures), and brought a mobile health team to surrounding areas where "tent cities" had been created to house Port Au Prince refugees. There was great hope amongst the Haitians we worked with, and it was an inspiration to participate in such expansive networks of strangers dedicating themselves to helping other strangers at their time of greatest need. These needs will continue for many months and we only hope the support doesn't dwindle as the newscasts begin to fade. -Corinne Cohen, MD
Reassuring to see them there.
ReplyDeletewow! this is a great sight to behold...
ReplyDeleteSteve
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Father Marc but I don't think that was the Navy. The aircraft is a 1955 Grumman Albatross. I am an aircraft inspector and did some research on it. The aircraft was decommisioned from the Navy in 1968. However it has been beautifully maintained and they have kept the Navy paint scheme to show it off as a vinage warbird aircraft. It looks like it is based out of Opa-Locka, Florida. It is currently owned by/registered to a company called "Sea and Air Adventures" our of Willmington, Deleware. Hopefully, someone has chartered it to bring supplies to the area. It would be the perfect aircraft to get in and out of many areas in Haiti and haul a good amount of cargo.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work, Father. My prayers are with you. Please keep the updates going. I have been showing them to my friends and we are helping by donating to you through St. Mark the Evangelist in Norman, Oklahoma.
Nice to have spirits lifted at such a sight.. But to go to this trouble without bearing aid would be a waste would it not? This would just add to the frustrations would it not? There has been much money and aid generated by Americans. I am bothered by the lack of speed in delivery. Unfortunately all we can say is hang in there. Peace is on your side. Hope is on your side. We are on your side. All our prayers are on your side.
ReplyDeletehttp://haiti.seaplaneops.com/Haiti/Welcome.html
ReplyDeletehttp://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=406194 Airport
http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=406678 Day 1
http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=407106 Day 2
http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?list=~\news\lists\local&id=407673 Day 3
http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?list=~\news\lists\local&id=408245 Day 4
http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?id=409281 Day 5/6
http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=409600 Return
I am a doctor who was on that plane. As noted by Nic Hawker below, it is in fact no longer a Navy plane but has been maintained with the paint scheme. It made a total of 3 trips to Haiti this week, carrying a 10-person medical team and as much as 3000 pounds of relief supplies on any given flight. While on the ground in Les Cayes, we were mostly based out of the local Hospital Immaculate Conception, where we ran a fracture clinic, performed countless surgeries (mostly stabilizing fractures), and brought a mobile health team to surrounding areas where "tent cities" had been created to house Port Au Prince refugees. There was great hope amongst the Haitians we worked with, and it was an inspiration to participate in such expansive networks of strangers dedicating themselves to helping other strangers at their time of greatest need. These needs will continue for many months and we only hope the support doesn't dwindle as the newscasts begin to fade. -Corinne Cohen, MD
ReplyDeletePlease add haiti.seaplaneops.com, the following link to your list of links. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteStuart P. Sarasin, coordinator, Marquette Haiti Relief Team
http://haiti.seaplaneops.com/Haiti/Welcome.html