With the roar of engines and the sizzle of tenderloins, VW-1 was once again off in hot pursuit of another one of those 'phoons. The interloper was Miss Gilda, with an unpleasant temperament, and intent on initiating her malevolent plot of raucous island-stomping.
The first VW-1 crew to seek her out was Crew Two, taking Gilda quite by surprise and impressing her keenly with their "Oriental Gargoyle". Gilda, having been "Draggin'-ed through the mill", was next confronted with Crew 5 the very next day. As is the pattern, this cycle continued, with Crews 4, 8, 7, also getting their fill of creamed corn and boiled potatoes.
Gilda played havoc with Fleet Weather Central/Joint Typhoon Warning Center, mainly because she refused to go in any one direction. As she got nearer and nearer, her angle of approach grew slimmer and slimmer, life went on as usual (?) in the barracks.
Unbelieving sailors went to the chow hall, "anytime they felt like it", secure in the knowledge that their squadronmates were somewhere out there, letting them know every move fickle Gilda took.
The officers and men of Guam's "Famous Typhoon Trackers" did an outstanding job of keeping Guam, as well as the entire Western Pacific, alert to Gilda's every gust of wind.
Many thanks and much appreciation are extended to the following crews, who spent long, arduous hours in the air, accompanying Gilda on her romp through the Marianas: Crew Two, who made seven fixes; Crew Four, who made two; Crew Eight, who made two; Crew Five, who made two; and last but not least, Crew Seven, who made one.
Now that Gilda and VW-1 have had a parting of the ways, I wonder......which will forget who first?
