The Central Florida Buccaneers



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Last Update 02/16/10

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National Airlines Buccaneers SAV Convention 2010

The National Airlines Buccaneers Convention will be held this year in Savannah Georgia. The dates are April 30 May 1-2..a 3 day weekend at the Brand New Embassy Suites Hotel-Savannah Airport. The address is 145 Mulberry Blvd.Savannah Ga. 31322.. For reservations call 800-321-3232 and tell them you are under the group code BUC...Our rate is $119.00 per night..We have a lot of things planned this year to keep us all entertained. Directions to the hotel will be enclosed in this issue. On Sat. May 2nd we will be going on a tour of the 8th Air Force Museum and after the tour we will have lunch in their PUB. After our business/member meeting on Sun. May 3rd we will be taking a charter bus into downtown for a 1 hour cruise on a Riverboat . We will be arriving down at the Hyatt Riverfront at 11:15AM so we will have 2+15 to shop and lunch before boarding begins at 1:30PM.. As an added bonus this will be the weekend for the Savannah Arts & Crafts Show right there on the Riverfront. The cruise will end at 3:00PM and we will re-board the bus and return back at the Hotel by 4:00PM. just in time for a little Hospitality Room visit before happy hour. After happy hour we will proceed to the Banquet Room for our annual Sunday night Buccaneer dinner. I will have flyers made up for everyone which will outline all of the events. Please make sure you pick one up while checking in at the front desk of the Embassy Suites. I have blocked off 40 rooms per night for the weekend & we can order more if needed. I am looking forward to everyone having a great Buccaneer Convention. See you in SAV. Bob Pierson/convention chairman...770-254-9505

Capt. Weldon Ezra "Wellie" Ropp
Age 97, passed away Feb. 8. 2010 from natural causes. He was born Feb. 19, 1912 in Fostora, Ohio. In 1930 he began his lifetime love of flying. He managed Airports and was in the Army Air Corp Ferry Command in WWII. He went to work with National Airlines from 1947 to 1972 and retired as a Captain on the DC-8. He was instrumental in the formation of the Sun & Fun Fly-In. He was a lifetime member of the FAA, Seaplane Pilot Ass., Ox5 Club, Quirt Bird Men, Antique Airplane Association and the Warbird Association.

He was also inducted into the Gulf Marine Racing Hall of Fame for his achievements in the 135 Inboard Hydro Class. He is survived by his brother, sister, daughter, son-in-law, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
A Memorial will be conducted on Sunday, February 21, 2010 from 3 pm to 6pm at Jack Brown's Seaplane Base in Winter Haven, Florida.. Arrangements under the direction of Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home, Winter Haven, FL.

Joyce Gompf - Wife of Capt. Tom Gompf

GOMPF, Joyce Boedeker, 69, of Plant City, Fla., departed this life January 22, 2010. She was a member of Plant City' s First Baptist Church, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Eata Theta sorority, Christian Women' s Club of Plant City, Plant City Tennis Association, and Walden Lake and Lone Palm Country Clubs. She was preceded in death by her grandson, Philip Thomas.

She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Thomas Gompf; children, Dr. Timothy Gompf (Dr. Sandra Gompf) of Plant City, Tracey Gompf Russell (Mark) of Lakeland, Fla.; grandchildren, Chase, Juliana, Holt, Trey, William, and Faith Joyce; brother, Dr. John E. Boedeker (Judy); nieces, Kelly Johnson, Lynelle Vaughan and Marianne McMillin; and many other loving family and friends. Memorial contributions may go to J. Boedeker Ministries, Inc., 412 Gingerbread Lane, Waxahachie, Texas 75164. Expressions of condolence may be sent at www.hopewellfuneral.com

F/E Ray Lund

Passed away Tuesday the 19th. No further information is available.

Capt. Edmund Buchser Jr.

Buchser Jr., Edmund, 87, retired Lt. Colonel, United States Marine Corps, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, passed away, January 10, 2010. Lt. Colonel Buchser is survived by his wife of 31 years, Patricia Lynn (Guerin) Buchser, originally from Webster, MA; a daughter, Barbara Belle Barber and her husband, R. Todd Barber and their two children, Anna and Jake, of Holliston, MA; a son, Edmund Buchser III and his wife, Carole Buchser, and their three children, Kathryn, Andrew and Ryan, of Chatham, NJ; a brother, William J. Buchser, and his wife, Polly Buchser, of Evansville, IN.

Born in Owensboro, Kentucky on April 4, 1922, the son of Edmund, Sr., and Lavon Askins Dowell Buchser, the family moved to Tel City, IN, shortly after his birth. He graduated from Tell City High School in 1940 after being Co-Captain in football and basketball his senior year. He entered Western Kentucky University in the fall of 1940 and signed up for U.S. Navy Flight School in January 1942, where he was sent to Navy Pre-Flight School at University of Georgia at Athens. After Primary Flight School at Naval Air Station St. Louis, Missouri, he performed Flight Training and Final Squadron Flight Training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, graduating in July 1943. He was "checked-out" in F4U "Corsair" aircraft in MCAS El Toro, CA. In January 1944, he was assigned to squadron VMF-115, on Emirau, Northern Solomons, commanded by Major Joe Foss. Lt. Colonel Buchser flew 101 combat missions in the South Pacific and earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses. In the years after World War II, he was an instructor in Advanced Fighter Training, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, was a member of the U.S. Navy Flight Exhibition Team (later known as the "Blue Angels") and spent 3 years as an air traffic controller. After being recalled to active duty in 1951, Lt. Colonel Buchser spent a year aboard aircraft carriers USS F.D. Roosevelt and USS Tarawa flying F2H-2 Banshees. In 1952-53, he was transferred to airfield K-3, Po'Hang Dong, Korea, MAG 33, VMF-115, flying F9F Pantherjets on 87 missions, including Strike Leader to Pyongyang (North Korean capital), earning him his third Distinguished Flying Cross. As Provost Marshall, he received a Bronze Star with a Combat V for relieving an Air Force Radio outpost under attack by guerrillas. From 1953 to 1956, he was Commanding Officer of several squadrons and chief test pilot for 3rd Marine Air Wing for fighter and attack aircraft. On release from active duty in 1956, he joined Douglas Aircraft in Production Test for the A4D-1 "Skyhawk" until joining National Air Lines later that year as a co-pilot in various aircraft. He was promoted to Captain in 1967, in B-727s, and qualified Captain on DC-10s in 1975. Pan American World Airways merged National Airlines in 1978, and he continued flying DC-10s and the Miami Dolphins charter 727s until retiring from PanAm and the U.S. Marine Corps as Lieutenant Colonel on April 4, 1982. After retirement, he engaged in flying, fishing and hunting. He hunted and fished in 19 states and 18 countries, including 9 African Safaris, 21 trips to New Zealand, and "The Glorious Twelfth" in Scotland for grouse and red stag deer, and he developed a successful hunting camp in Georgia for wild turkey and white tail deer. Life Member of Veterans of Foreign War, American Legion, USMC Aviation Association, Military Officers Association of America, National Rifle Association, Quiet Birdmen, Safari Club International, African Safari Club of Florida and other outdoors-related organizations. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either 'The Conservation Fund' of the African Safari Club, P.O. Box 452043, Sunrise, FL 33345-2043; or the US Marines Toys for Tots Foundation, http://www.toysfortots.org/donate/tribute-donation.asp, or mail your tribute donation in Lt. Colonel Edmund Buchser Jr.'s name to Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Gift Processing Administrator, 18251 Quantico Gateway Drive, Triangle, VA 22172. . Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery. www.fredhunters.com

Guion Oakes "'Guy" Eells

Guion "Guy" Oakes Eells, age 69, of Banner Elk passed away on Monday January 4, 2010 at his residence. Guy was born June 8, 1940 in Oakland, CA. the son of Dr. John S. Jr. and Juliet Oakes Eells. He received his Bachlor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Guy was a member of the United States Air Force where he was a fighter pilot who flew 209 missions while serving in Vietnam. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross along with the Silver Star. After serving his country he worked as an Air Line Pilot for Pan American World Airways. Guy was a member of Banner Elk Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder. In 1995 he started the Thanksgiving Boxes for needy families. He also served on the Banner Elk Planning Board along with the Banner Elk ABC Board. He enjoyed jazz, bluegrass music and playing drums. He was an avid reader and historian and was into computers.

Left to cherish his memories are: his wife, Jean Brun Eells of the home; his two daughters and sons-in law; Juliet and Joseph Kramek of Burke, VA and Deborah and Daniel Walsh of Springfield, VA; one sister, Marion Eells of Charleston, SC; four grandchildren, Daniel Kramek, Dylan Kramek, Connor Walsh and Kellen Walsh. Words of comfort and memories may be shared with the family and viewed at www.rsfh.net.

NATIONAL AIRLINES BUCCANEER MEMBERSillP RENEWAL FOR 2010

It is once again time to renew your membership in the National Buccaneers. Due to a change in the by-laws, full membership is now offered to ALL former employees of NAL, and their spouses. We ask that dues be paid by March 31, 2010. Early mail in would be greatly appreciated as it will save the cost in both time and money to send out reminders. Our expenses have increased somewhat so we are asking that the dues increase to $20 per year. The dues cover the cost of producing and mailing the newsletter and some costs relating to the annual convention. Please make the check payable to the National Airlines Buccaneers and include it with this form.

MAIL TO:
National Airlines Buccaneers
P.O. Box 120835
Clermont, FL 34712