Travels with Auntie M: San Pedro

Showing posts with label San Pedro. Show all posts

D-Day Squadron Flyover - 25 May 2020

I learned a D-Day Squadron of historic aircraft would be participating in a 'SoCal Strong' Memorial Day Flyover to honor veterans and health care workers. The route would start with Loma Linda Medical Center at noon and ended a hour later at Chino Airport. They would covered 20 key spots including two national cemeteries, four airports, six hospitals, several beaches, the Queen Mary and San Pedro's own Battleship USS Iowa. I was planning on seeing it from Beacon Street where I first saw the USNS Mercy leaving port; but when I got there it seemed too far away, was congested with people, and had too many trees in the way. I went north of the Iowa, parking by the Fanfare Fountains (now under renovations) and walk south half way to the Iowa. When the first set of planes passed over, I realized there were too many trees in the way as they passed directly overhead, not over the Iowa. Adjusting my position, I was able to get a few shots of the next two batches of planes.

The Squadron contained the C-53 D-Day Doll of the Commemorative Air Force's Inland Empire Wing, leading C-47 Flabob Express, C-47 Betsy's Biscuit Bomber and C-53 Spirit of Benovia. There were other WWII-era aircraft including C-47 What's Up Doc from the Palm Springs Air Museum and Condor Squadron's T-6s.

As stated on their website (warbirdsnews.com): "Our mission flying WWII aircraft over parts of Southern California for Memorial Day is to salute our veterans who sacrificed so much for the freedoms that we enjoy today. In addition, we will acknowledge the many medical personnel, first responders, and citizens who have provided unwavering support in caring for the local populace during this pandemic."

Of course the news plane flying alongside, got the best shot.

Thank you everyone, for your service!

SpaceX "Mr Stevens" San Pedro, CA - 18 JUL 2018

On January 19, 2017, I wrote about SpaceX's Falcon 9; now we have "Mr Steven" docked on Terminal Island. Yes, Mr Steven is a strange name for a recovery vessel which will be used to catch the cast-off rocket fairings.

In April, the Port approved a 30 year lease on Terminal Island for SpaceX to build a manufacturing plant which will create it's future mega rocket. This is where Mr Steven is docked.

Weighing nearly 200,000 pounds and 200 feet long, it has been seen making impressive aggressive turns and sprints up to 20 knots (23 mph).

A test run took place yesterday and it must have been successful as we spotted them unloading a fairing.

Update: In January 2019, SpaceX pulled out of the Terminal Island lease, deciding to move the building of a rocket to Texas.

Fort MacArthur Museum, San Pedro, CA - 22 MAR 2018

Name after Henry V. Ogood (1842-1909)

Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient

The San Pedro Bay Historical Society was offering a member only tour of Fort MacArthur Museum. Billed as rain or shine, it was a wet, muddy day.

Since it open in 1985, I have taken a tour 2 or 3 times. The museum is always changing and evolving.

Anti-Aircraft Battery Commander's Telescope M-1

They are currently trying to restore several rooms and make it a living history structure.

Once a year they bring out the sirens and flood lights, when they reenact "The Great Los Angeles Air Raid of 1942."

2023 Update: This years Air Raid was cancelled as a Great Horned Owl's nest was discovered on the museum grounds. This will affect any future events involving loud noise and bright lights.

They also have a pet cemetery on the grounds.

This tour was special as we got to see a few rooms that are not included on regular tours.

Below is a machine used for Morse code training. The paper tape emits dashes and dots sounds.

At the start of World War II, the Army made plans for the construction of fifty intermediate range 6-inch coastal defense batteries (100 guns).

Three were built locally. Battery 240 (above Point Vicente in Polos Verdes), Battery 241 (below the Korean Friendship Bell) and Battery 242 at Bolsa Chica, which is now covered up.

Of special interest to me was getting to see Battery 241, which has always been closed to the public. It is located under the Korean Bell of Friendship.

I last set foot inside this battery in 1976, before the doors were permanently closed to keep out hooligans. (The B&W images were scan from negatives I took in 1976.)

Battery 241 is still closed to the public, but is in the process of being restored.

Plotting Room

Plotting Room Ceiling Tile with Communications Box

We were told the ceiling tiles were made from dried seaweed.

Same view in 1976 (taken from half way down the hall just in front of search light):

In 1976, I took a couple of friends with me, to play with taking timed exposures. In total darkness, I put the camera on a tripod, open the lens and walked down the hall setting off flashes to create ghost-like images:

Old Fort MacArthur Days - 12 JUL 2014

This was the 28th Anniversary of this fundraising event and the 100th Anniversary of Fort MacArthur (San Pedro, CA).

Considered one of the longest running Living History events in Southern California...

...this is the place to see fighting armor, military history buffs, and reenactors, representing all of recorded history.

The last time I attended this event was in 2009, when the hill along Roxbury Street held the overnight campers.

This time, that area held three times the campers, plus they were spread out all along W Paseo Del Mar.

Besides an increase in overnight reenactors, there were many more families (people with children dressed in period cloths).

There were several merchants selling vintage items.

I love attending as soon as they open, when there are more reenactors than visitors and better opportunity to get photos without modern day people in the background.