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BRUNSWICK — More than 340 squadron, military and civilian personnel arrived from all over the United States the weekend of Aug. 10 to attend a lobster bake, tour a visiting Boeing P-8 “Poseidon” and reminisce.
The reunion commenced with a welcome reception Friday evening at the American Legion Club in Topsham. On Saturday morning, some reunion attendees enjoyed a round of golf at Mere Point Golf Club, while others embarked on a sight-seeing cruise of the Kennebec River aboard the Maine Maritime Museum’s Miss Merrymeeting.
On Saturday afternoon, a 50th anniversary memorial ceremony was held in the Memorial Gardens of the Brunswick Naval Museum and Memorial Gardens for 24 men from Patrol Squadron 26 (VP-26) who were lost during combat on two P-3B Orions off the coast of South Vietnam in 1968.
Capt. Craig Mattingly, commander of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11, presided over the ceremony on behalf of the U.S. Navy, and Maine Gov. Paul LePage presented remarks to honor these men and their families. Officers and sailors from VP-26, now stationed at NAS Jacksonville, Fla. also participated in the ceremony and presented tours of the U.S. Navy’s newest maritime patrol aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon.
A traditional Maine lobster bake banquet at the Brunswick Naval Museum and Memorial Gardens on Saturday evening served as the capstone event of the reunion.
Mattingly was the guest speaker for the banquet and presented an update on the current state of the U.S. Navy’s maritime patrol and reconnaissance force.
The reunion formally concluded Sunday morning with doughnuts provided by Frosty’s Donuts and a bus tour of the economic development at Brunswick Landing led by Kristine Logan of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority.
The next NAS Brunswick Reunion is being planned for August 2020.
PHOTO: Gov. Paul LePage speaks to attendees at the 50th anniversary memorial ceremony recognizing the loss of two Brunswick patrol aircraft and their crews off the coast of Vietnam at a reunion of former Brunswick Naval Air Station personnel. (Submitted photo)
