THE 456th FIGHTER INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON

THE PROTECTORS OF  S. A. C.

 

 

580793 Is At The Castle  Air Museum   

 

We want to convey our very sincere gratitude to

Jameson Harvesting Inc.

of Turlock California

who generously donated the manpower, time and equipment to transport the aircraft from Davis-Montham Air Force Base, Arizona back to

THE CASTLE AIR MUSEUM

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH !

The Alumni of The 456th  F.I.S.

 

WE ALSO WANT TO EXTEND OUR VERY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES FOR THEIR UNSELFISH CASH CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE F-106 FUND AT THE CASTLE AIR MUSEUM. 

WITHOUT EACH OF YOU AND YOUR GENEROSITY AS WELL AS THAT OF THE JAMESON FAMILY WE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SAVE ONE OF THE VERY FEW  REMAINING F-106's STILL IN EXISTENCE

Prefix First Name Middle Name Last Name Suffix City State Anonymous           Anonymous           Anonymous           Anonymous             Anonymous             Anonymous             Anonymous           Anonymous           Anonymous           Anonymous           Costco Refund           Mr. Diego J. Aja   Merced CA CMS Thomas J. Alicata, Jr.   Atwater CA Mr. James W. Arnold   Morton IL   Sheri   Arnold   Peona IL   Courtesy   Automotive Center Merced CA Mr. Jeffrey T. Avolio   Beaver Falls PA Mr. Chet   Bart   Oxnard CA Mr. John D. Barton   Gold Canyon AZ Mr. Bruce W. Binkley   Morton IL Mr. Jeremy   Bonelle   Castro Valley CA Mr. Karl R. Bossi   Sierra Vista AZ Mr. Michael F. Budd   Fresno CA Mr. Robert E. Chartier   San Diego CA Mr. Max   Cleveland   Auburn CA Mr. Stephen R. Cloud   Fresno CA   Raisor Motor   Company   Morton IL Col. Glen R. Connally (ret) Lynn Haven FL Mr. John P Councilman, Jr.   Laguna Vista TX Lt. Col. Everett E. Dencklau USAF (ret) Tacoma WA Mr. Marvin L. Donnelly   San Antonio TX Tom   Dwelle USAF (ret)     Mr. Edward H. Dwyer   Escalon CA Mr. Andrew   Engel   El Segundo CA Col. Scotty O. Ferguson (ret) Redlands CA Mr. Robert L. Fie   Apple Valley CA   Roberta   Flanagan   Merced CA   Kay   Flanagan-Spinelli   Merced CA Mr. Thomas   Ford   Laguna Niguel CA   Razzari   Ford/Mazda   Merced CA Mr. Lynn L. Gamble   Mariposa CA Mr. Bruce   Gookin   Victorville CA Mr Richard L. Goudie   Colorado Springs CO Mr. Dallas R. Hanna   Williamsburg VA Mr. B. A. Hansen   Winton CA Mr. Beverly A. Hansen   Winton CA Mr. Robert H. Hermann   Pleasanton CA Mr. George   Herrmann   Escondido CA Mr. Mike   Higgins   Atwater CA Dr. John S. Holmes MD.,Inc Merced CA Mr. Ralph B. Holness   Merced CA Mr. Larry G. Houghton   Sonoma CA Mr. William T. Howard   Perkin IL Col. George M. Howell USAF (ret) Escondido CA Dr. Nelson E. Howlett   Atwater CA Mr. Jack   Hudspeth   Auburn WA Mr. Vince   Hughes   Oceanside CA Mr. Howard C. Johnson   Palm Beach Gardens FL Mr. Robert L. Justus   Upper Arlington OH Mr. Glen   Kaser       Mr. William A. Kelly   Lancaster CA Mr. Tim C. King   Reno NV Mr. Bruce T. Krasinski   Los Gatos CA Mr. Roderick W. Kyle   Mesa AZ Mr. Theodore E. Ledane   The Villages FL Mr. Larry G. Lee   Muskogee OK   Morton I   American Legion   Morton IL Mr. Benjamin J. Leman   Eureka IL Mr. James N. Lindgren   Desert Hot Springs CA Mr. Dan   Livingston   San Jose CA Mr. Boris V. Llinets   San Francisco CA Mr. John C. Marcotte   Merced CA Mr. Timothy J. Marcotte   Marlton NJ Mr. John C. Marcotte, Jr.   O'Fallon IL Mr. Ralph   Masterson   Bend OR Mr. George D. Middleton   Clovis CA CMSgt Alfred G. Mueller (ret) Merced CA Mr. John   Myer   Longbeach CA Mr. David M. Pekarek   Glendale CA Mr. Patrick H. Perry   Flower Mound TX Mr. Patrick H. Perry   Flower Mound TX Mr. James E. Persons   Morgan Hill CA Mr. Fred T. Pillsbury   Atwater CA   Franks   Plumbing   Morgan Hill CA Mr. Albert M. Pruzzo   Morgan Hill CA Mr. Joe   Pruzzo   Morgan Hill CA Mr. Christo D. Pulos   Port Hueneme CA Mr. Dean K. Rager   Modesto CA Mr. Robert L. Ransom   Merced CA Mr. Edward   Reynolds   Greeley CO Mr. Garth   Rosenberg   Portland OR   H. D. Rueb   Pleasant Hill CA Mr. Carl C. Schindler   Morgan Hill CA Mr. William C. Sigh   Merced CA Mr. Gilbert   Speed   Los Angeles CA MSgt Jack S. Stalo USAF (ret) Cottonwood AZ Mr. Donald K. Stott   Eagle ID Mr. Jeffrey A. Sturm   Turlock CA   Save Mart   Supermarkets   Modesto CA Ms. Sandra L. Tavolario   Merced CA Mr. Frank R. Taylor   Merced CA Mr. Chris S. Theddorou   El Sobrante CA Mr. Wayne D. Thompson   Milpitas CA   Chicago   Title Co.   Walnut Creek CA   Transcounty   Title Co.   Merced CA Mr. Chuck   Torpey   Centennial CO SMSgt Charles T. Torpey (ret)   Aurora CO Mr. Michael W. Trefethen   Las Vegas NV Major Albert J. Trower USAF (ret) Aurora CO Mr. Turk   Turley   Mariposa CA   Morton   V.F.W. Post 5921 Morton IL Mr. William   Veiga   Clearlake Oaks CA Mr. Robert M. Wasnick   Tulare CA Mr. William C. Whiteside   Montclair CA Mr. Richard T. Williams   Long Beach CA Mr. Tom M. Wootton   Sacramento CA CMSgt Jose   Ybarra   Winton CA

Thank You !

Thank You Very Much!

GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU!

 

 

 

The 456th is in the

 Merced Sun-Star Newspaper

 

Delta Dart returns to Castle at noon today
Saturday, December 21, 2002
By Stacey Wiebe

CASTLE — The excitement in Joe Pruzzo's voice could not be dulled by miles. For months, the Morgan Hill resident and die-hard aviation enthusiast had been jumping hurdles to bring a rare warbird back home. Originally housed at Castle Air Force Base, an F-106A Delta Dart — number 155 of just 277 manufactured — has been acquired from Davis Montham Air Force Base in Arizona.
 

When Castle's F-106A rolls through the museum's gates at noon today, Pruzzo's dedication to the museum's "Save-A-Six" project will pay off. "It looks quite impressive going down the road," he said Thursday, from somewhere on the roughly 800 miles of road connecting Castle Air Museum and Tucson, Ariz. "We're getting quite a few looks from onlookers."
 

Communicating via cellular phone, Pruzzo, a member of the museum's executive board, said the going was slow but steady. "We can only go about 20 mph," he said. Jameson Harvesting Inc. of Turlock donated time and transportation to bring the aircraft back to Castle, carrying the fuselage and disassembled wings with a semi-truck and two trailers. "It took close to three days to get it loaded correctly," said Pruzzo, who left Arizona with his precious cargo Wednesday night.
 

The Save-A-Six Fund was established in March of 2002. Castle's F-106A, serial number 580793, had been stored at Arizona's Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center after its retirement in 1998. For a grand total of about $30,000, the craft was disassembled, demilitarized, crated and transported to Atwater, said Amy Rose, the museum's special events and marketing coordinator. "It was mainly what the 456th did," she said, of efforts to raise funding. "They were very dedicated to it."
 

The "456th" was the 456th Fighter Inceptor Squadron, the men who, along with the 84th Squadron, manned the six to 12 F-106's based at Castle in its heyday. The F-106A being carted back to Castle was delivered to the Air Force in 1959 and, at the time of its retirement, was one of the last flying F-106s. Designed solely as an interceptor, the F-106 was deployed during the Vietnam War and cruised the West Coast during the Cold War. "They (aircraft) are living testimonials, just like many of our national symbols," Pruzzo said in July. "They are a symbol that there's a price to be paid for maintaining our liberties."
 

About half the funding needed to completely demilitarize and restore the aircraft has been raised. Donations are still being accepted to help the museum cover the cost of restoring the aircraft, said Jean Astorino, interim chief executive officer of the museum. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the free ceremony to welcome the F-106 back to Castle on Saturday. 

 

 

 

 Saturday December 21, 2002

Click on Picture to enlarge
The Above Pictures Courtesy of BIG JOHN MARCOTTE
Click on Picture to enlarge
The Above Pictures courtesy of DEAN RAGER

UP DATE NO. 1

January 13, 2002

Hey Guys, Here is the latest pictures of the SIX. It lives ! Went out this morning and took these for the gang that has worked so hard. I plan on a weekly report if I can fit it in. Over all the bird looks fine. The cockpit is surprisingly intact with the main missing part being the TSD. The instrument panel looks to be complete but as surmised the SCOPE is missing. The seat is there with the seat pack missing. Pictures convey the general condition of the bird.
   The erection of it was surprisingly easy since the gear was folded completely into the wings. A crane lifted the fuselage up and locally manufactured supports, on wheels, were placed under the wings and rolled into place. Once bolted on the lift devices were removed and VIOLA the bird is ready for flight. One problem is solved.(?) The tail fin is 3" too large for the hander door. They plan on inflating the nose strut and thus canting the tail downward. Pretty nifty. The pictures are self explanatory with a few nose shots to satiate the MA-1 troops. As the progress continues I will get various shots of personnel interest to all of the different sections.
   That all for now since the bride is making all sorts of noises about lunch and going downtown. More later.

Big bad John

Click on Picture to enlarge
The Above Pictures Courtesy of BIG JOHN MARCOTTE

UP DATE NO. 2

January 20, 2003

Hi Gang;
  Here is the first picture of up date #2.    More to follow.

Big bad John

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Doug Newlyn---Grace Anderson-----Charlie Sill   The cute girl in the middle is a HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR. Some recruiting job.	Charlie Sill Attaching a missing panel.	Richard Katibh  In the missile bay.
Ralph Robledio Replacing an antennae mount used for the drone system on the nose.	Over all view of the SIX showing the After Burner nozzles.
The Above Pictures Courtesy of BIG JOHN MARCOTTE

UP DATE NO. 3

Feb.10,2003

Hi Gang;

The pictures are self explanatory with the exception of the first one. This is the morning coffee klatch before working for the day. All of the gang are engrossed in sanding and cleanup prior to PAINTING.
  
Big bad John

Click on Picture to enlarge
The Above Pictures Courtesy of BIG JOHN MARCOTTE

UP DATE NO. 4

February 24, 2003

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		Bruce Gookin inspecting the restoration.

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Courtesy Of  Pat Perry

UP DATE NO 5

April 7 & 8, 2003

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PICTURES By BILL EMERY APRIL 7, & 8,  2003

Bill reports that the decals will be put on the aircraft after the paint has cured.

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PICTURE By JOHN MARCOTTE APRIL 14, 2003

APRIL 19, 2003

Bill Emery reports that after the paint cures completely, work yet to be done includes  installing the tail hook, putting the cockpit back together after TSDI is installed, reinstalling the seat, and putting the 456th logo on the tail.

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PICTURES By BILL EMERY

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Pictures By Dale Griffin

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COURTESY OF THE MERCED SUN STAR

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