One more step forward! Piece by piece, the Navy S-3 Viking aircraft for the National POW-MIA Memorial and Museum (Cecil Field POW MIA Memorial, Inc..) is arriving at Cecil. This time we received the 2 and a half ton center wing section. The S-3 (BUNO 159746) will be on display as part of the Cecil Field Heritage section of the 26 acre POW-MIA Memorial in construction. Not only will this displayed aircraft be a tribute to all who flew, maintained and supported her for the many years at the former NAS Cecil Field, but more importantly, it will stand as the memorial to recognize and honor all 54 fallen aviators of the Viking community.
The final portion of the this S-3, which was donated from the NASA Glenn Research Facility in Cleveland, OH, is the fuselage. That will follow in the next week or two. Tremendous support from many are making this happen, NASA, Landstar trucking, Allegiance Crane of Jacksonville, JAA Cecil Airport, LSI, and the many volunteers, particularly former S-3 bubba CWO (Ret) Grant Little the Project Lead and JD Demers, also former S-3 flyer, and now Ops O at the NASA facility. It does takes many and the dedication of those volunteers who have brought it this far is eye-watering. The next task is to put it all back together and make it pretty. (so local retired Viking heroes pleas take note and let me know!)
