San Antonio 2024

The ‘24 reunion was held 3-6 October in San Antonio TX. Our second reunion since the COVID-19 pandemic, it featured a definite Texas twang which was reflected both in its logo and the challenge coins given to each member, which featured a color imprint of the Lone Star of Texas. The Holiday Inn Riverwalk hosted us in grand style, and the single large conference/meeting room made an excellent space to mingle with shipmates past and present, as well as friends and "friends we hadn't met yet." One of the tables was laid out with archival memorabilia and, as we so often do, many members browsed through old, but not forgotten, cruise books, flight schedules, photograph albums and official papers.

On Friday, we filled up a large touring coach for a trip to the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, about 90 minutes from the hotel. So why would a museum dedicated to the largest oceanic conflict in human history be found in the dry Texas hill country? Elementary, my dear Watson - it's the birthplace of the legendary ADM Chester W Nimitz, a key - perhaps the key - architect of American victory in the Pacific theater in WWII. The museum contains a large number of rare artifacts from that conflict, along with a detailed and well-curated discussion of the origins of the US and its allies' war with the Empire of Japan. It was a fascinating trip and is recommended for anyone with a serious interest in that period of our history.

We also reprised the excellent videos produced by our own Bill Hobgood, showing VP-45 operations and squadron life from the PBM/P5M eras through the 60s, 70s, 80s. We also received several excellent presentations, which for the first time we were able to record, and links to these are provided below.

Saturday morning the business meeting convened with about [TBC] Pelicans attending. President Jack Keane delivered an important and sobering message about our demographics and the immediate need for a full-court press to recruit members from the 1990s to the 2010s. In particular, it was the decision of the members present to concur with the Officers' recommendation that our next two reunions be held in Jacksonville precisely so that the squadron can be included in our activities. A team of volunteers was mobilized to assist in the recruiting effort, and you'll be hearing much more about and from them in the coming months.

The reception and banquet Saturday evening were exceptional, and very well attended. The keynote address was given by VADM(ret) Wally Massenburg, and a video of his remarks is also provided below.

Though perhaps not our largest reunion, it was an incredibly good one, with much comradeship and reminiscing, and we eagerly anticipate 2026 in Jacksonville and reaching out to our current squadronmates - and future members.

Scott Kelly (WebMaster)

San Antonio 2024

2024 Reunion Video

VP Operations in Vietnam (Jack Keane)

VP-45 in WWII - the Nazan Bay Incident (Brian Amme)

VP Operations - P-2 Neptune to P-3 Orion (Don Stanton)

2024 Banquet Keynote Address (Jack Keane and VADM(ret) Wally Massenburg)