Shipley, Roger, AEC

Best Moment
The birth of my daughter Megan in February 1993.
Qualifying as a P-3 Flight Engineer

Worst Moment
I initially had orders to VP-10 who were scheduled to come off of deployment and return to Brunwick, ME in November 1991. However, due to a fleet wide shortage of P-3 Flight Engineers, I was re-ordered to VP 23 which was the squadron that relieved VP-10. I was in Sigonella, Sicily by mid-Novemeber 1991 and wouldn't return home until May 1992.

This was the era when tail-hook occurred and the Navy was also drawing down during this time. While on my second deployment to Sigonella, VP-23 received notice that it would be decommissioned upon returning to the U.S. This was about the time I began to become disillusioned with the hypocrisy and B.S.of the Navy. It was beggining to not be fun anymore. 

Other Memories
Flying patrols out of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  We used to take off at daybreak to begin our patrols over the Red sea. One day we had a maintenance issue with the aircraft just as I was about to fuel the aircraft, and decided to delay fueling the aircraft until we were certain the gripe could be fixed. After correcting the issue I was hurring to get the aircraft fueled for the mission as the sun was beginning to rise, but was unable to locate the fuel truck driver. I finally located him.I had to inform the Plane Patrol Commander (PPC) that we were going to be late as the fuel truck driver had his prayer mat spread out underneath of our starboard wing and was conducting his morning prayers.