Wharf Rat's Home - A Shipmate Who Never Made it to Sea.

'It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.'

Preserving a piece of US Maritime History - invaluable

The USS Olympia is a cruiser that fought in the Spanish American War in 1898 and has been preserved in Philadelphia. She's a one of a kind ship, a national historic monument, and in danger. She needs approximately $10-15 million in repairs to keep her a viable museum for years to come. If you have the resources, or connections to those resources, please consider helping. (full disclosure - there is no financial benefit to me to ask the question - we need to save this ship for posterity). Please contact me at 612-599-1935 or bdskon@fedex.com if you have additional questions.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Look what US Marines can do! Park two stealth a/c on the flight deck of the WASP!

BF-04, front, a Marine Corps variant of the F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter, maneuvers after a vertical landing as BF-02 approaches the flight deck for landing on the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1).

BF-02, front, and BF-04, two Marine Corps variants of the F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter, are secured on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during sea trials.

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct 15, 2011) BF-04, front, a Marine Corps variant of the F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter, maneuvers after a vertical landing as BF-02 approaches the flight deck for landing on the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). The F-35B is capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings for use on amphibious ships or expeditionary airfields to provide air power to the Marine Air Ground Task Force. (U.S. Navy photo By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tommy Lamkin/Released)