A lasting Tribute To Mike Clausen and Marine Corps Aviation.

I started writing this article after talking to Norm "Frenchy" LaFountaine. I call Frenchy every weekend after our weekly work is complete to let him know the small steps that are taken on Mike’s helicopter as well as the rest of helicopters. I enjoy so much hearing all the connections and stories of Marine Corps Aviation. When I served over 20 years our country was at peace. My duty assignment kept me at the H&MS, or for some people, MALS squadrons. The Museum also has a J model cobra, H-34, army UH-1, air force H-3 and an Army bird dog. Being around them is a way to remember the past. I started helping Dean Demmery last year. It was my mission to make this helicopter a reality. It was on skids and little by little, we made progress. It got warmer, and we had more volunteers. In November the struts were put on, cockpit was getting finalized, we cleaned the floor boards, and are getting the seats in. In December the Marines from New River came over put in our drive train and many little things that were worth their weight in gold. That helped put us so far ahead. We hope they can help again.

Dean has been updating our parts list which is on the Museum Web Page.
http://www.carolinasaviation.org/press/ch46progress.html

PLEASE visit our web site and see what we need. We hope any one with a connection, deep pockets, or time,can help us.

Dean and I are starting to work on the outside skin making it look flight ready. When it gets warmer we hope to get it ready for painting. We need the correct markings, color schemes and technical support to make it as it was, sitting on the tarmac ready for that fateful mission in 1970. The list is getting long on our support, but a big thank you to Russell Maresh, the Boeing Rep at MCAS New River.

I pledge to see Mike’s helicopter take its rightful place in Marine Corps Aviation history.

Come visit our museum, see the “Blood, Sweat and Tears“, H-46, that wrote a big chunk of that Marine helicopter, combat history.

GySgt Steve Fresina, USMC, Ret.
SFRESINA@BELLSOUTH.NET