Also keep in mind we are still looking for unique Crusader Memorabilia. If you have anything of interest, or related items, please give us a call. Bruce Boland is the POC and can be reached at 1-619-286-7480 or EandBSD@bigfoot.com Thanks for all the “stuff” that many of you have already sent. It is most appreciated.

Update - 5 Nov. 04

Wow! In this sitrep we are pleased to acknowledge a donation of $5,000 from our Crusader Association to our Ready Room; many thanks to our Board of Directors and all of our Association Members for this most generous gift. Additionally, as of today, 105 of you have individually stepped up and supported our F-8 Crusader Ready Room/Museum project in USS Midway, San Diego. Thank You - and we are looking forward to all Crusader drivers coming aboard. Remember any amount helps. Those "drivers" who contribute at the $250 level and above, will be permanently remembered on a plaque in the Ready Room. In addition, since we ran out of Wing Tip Lights, we are sending donors at the $250 level an F-8 Museum Polo Shirt. These shirts are very high quality by "Port Authority", and embroidered in Gold with the Crusader "1000 MPH" pin on the left side of the chest. Apart from the donor program, the polo shirt may be purchased separately for $50. For details on the shirts contact Bob Pearl at bobandgaypearl@san.rr.com or 858-587-8144.

The memorabilia is also beginning to come in and we are turning up the heat on space preparation. Space layout drawings are finished and we are obtaining the display cases and all the other necessary accoutrements (stuff!!) to outfit the Ready Room. None of this will happen overnight but with your generous contributions we are moving smartly forward. The Midway Foundation is working toward have the gallery decks open for visitors by the end of December and we plan to be ready!! 

However we are still need Crusader Memorabilia!!! Look in your garage, check under the bed and empty the old cruise boxes. If you have anything you would donate to the Ready Room, please give Bruce Boland a call at 619-286-7480 or contact him at: eandbsd@bigfoot.com We are looking particularly for flight gear items. Does anyone have a life preserver of the type we wore on our torso harness???? We also want your pictures and personal items. 

When shipping your items please use our UPS account number [contact Bruce for the #] send them UPS GROUND to: Bruce Boland 5205 Le Barron Rd. San Diego, CA 92115

Update - 10 Oct. 04
Wow…Holy Supersonic Crusader support! As of the Columbus Day weekend ninety-nine (99) of you have stepped up to the plate to support our F-8 Crusader Ready Room/Museum project in USS Midway, San Diego. And along with memorabilia starting to roll in, we are turning up the heat on space preparation. Layouts are being planned and drawn, and display cases are being bought along with all the necessary accoutrements (is that an F8 pilot term or something you could get in Olongapo?) to outfit the space. None of this will happen overnight but with your generous contributions we are moving smartly forward. Thank You - and we are looking forward to all Crusader drivers getting on board. Remember any amount helps. And, those who can contribute at the $250 level and above will be permanently remembered on a plaque in the Ready Room. 

We NEED MORE of your memorabilia! All that "stuff" you've kept in your garage for 30+ years is golden!! Contact Bruce Boland by E Mail or Telephone and tell him what you've got to donate. E Mail Bruce at: eandbsd@bigfoot.com or tel: 619-286-7480. We will arrange to have it sent at NO shipping cost to you!!

If you have anything of interest, a spare F-8 (?!), or other related items please give us a call. Remember all those Tonkin Gulf "daily kneeboard cards" with great cartoons and sayings?? Send them to us!!

Update - 24 Sep. 04
This is the second periodic update on the fund raising effort for our Crusader Ready Room on the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum in San Diego. You all have been great and your committee wants you to know we appreciate your rapid and generous response, and support. We have finished the cleaning and preparation of the Ready Room and the next step is to configure it (remove some temporary bulkheads!!) in preparation for the permanent layout of the Ready Room Museum. Janitor "Mad Dog" Batzler and his team of Volunteers from the Vietnam Vets Rehabilitation Center in San Diego have done a great job in getting our Ready Room "ship shape".

We would now like to begin the solicitation of memorabilia for the Ready Room. Those Crusader Pilots, and other supporters, that would like to donate "stuff" to the Ready Room can send Bruce Boland an E Mail message and describe the item. E Mail Bruce at: eandbsd@bigfoot.com We will give you shipping instructions and other details via return E Mail. You can either LEND the items to the Ready Room OR GIFT them to the Crusader Association. We have already received through the generosity of our Crusader Artist Bill Northup commitments for a number of his Crusader paintings. We also already have a Tail hook (shank and all!) so we don't need any more of them!! It will be YOUR memorabilia that will add so much to our Ready Room Museum, so let us know what you would like to send us.

As of today, 74 gunfighters have sent contributions totaling $19,026. This amount now allows us to begin our space renovation and procure the necessary items needed to display memorabilia. However, there is still much more to do and it is our hope that all Gunfighters, and other fans of our Aircraft, will get on board at some level of support. Our minimum goal needed to complete the project, including lease payments, is at least $25,000. We are beginning to mail the wingtip lights and Crusader coasters so those of you that are expecting those items should receive them soon!!

Update - 3 Sep. 04

 This is a periodic report on the fund raising effort for the Crusader Ready Room on the Midway Museum in San Diego. As of today, 45 of our Crusader Pilots and supporters have promptly and generously responded to our request for funds. The total contributions are now at $11,425. These funds will cover our obligated lease payments and now we are working on space renovation, outfitting and a host of other issues related to any first class museum. There is much more to be done!!  Check the Sponsors list -- link at left.

Background

At our 20th LACB in San Diego in Oct 2004, the concept of establishing a Crusader Ready Room on the former USS Midway was presented to the Association and overwhelmingly approved.

For the past 11 years, a large group of devoted and supportive fans of Naval Aviation and its Carriers has worked to bring the former USS Midway to San Diego as a Carrier Museum. This effort culminated late last fall ('03) when Midway was towed from Bremerton Washington and permanently moored downtown next to Navy pier at the foot of Broadway. Concurrent with the effort to locate Midway in San Diego, was the vision by a number of Southern California Crusader pilots to establish a "Crusader Ready Room", with a fitting Museum setting to honor the aircraft, and its pilots. This effort came to fruition on July 6^th when a ten-year lease for Ready Room SEVEN (RR 7) was signed by Bruce Boland, Dick Cavicke, Bob Pearl and Cal Swanson with the Midway Carrier Museum Foundation. RR 7 is located on the O-2 level Port side forward and is of suitable size and in "good" shape for our needs.  Since opening in early June over 250,000 paying guests have visited the Midway Carrier Museum.

In addition to a sizeable number of Crusader volunteers, the San Diego team is very fortunate to include the volunteer services of two local professionals with extensive design and decorating experience. We anticipate having Ready Room Seven open for guided tours within six months.  To the best of our knowledge, no Navy/Marine or aviation museum now exists, or is planned, that will afford a more appropriate site for the display of F-8 Crusader and Crusader pilot memorablilia.  Memorabilia items for the Midway display be requested from Association members and they may either be   "loaned" or given as a permanent tax deductible "donation".

HOWEVER, none of this can be accomplished without the financial and volunteer support of our Association members and others. The Ready Room lease cost is $10,000 for 10 years and we anticipate needing at least another $15,000 to bring RR 7 and its display contents to a quality, secure condition for public viewing.

Attached is a Form that we hope all will use to help preserve this part of Navy and Marine Aviation history! Donors of $250 or more will be recognized on a permanent plaque to be displayed in the Ready Room. The FIRST 70 donors at that level (or higher) will also receive a NEW F-8 Wingtip light that will look great on your bar or wherever! All donors of $75.00 will receive a set of 4 Crusader cocktail coasters with a color printed replica of the Crusader "1000 MPH" Badge. Raise that donation to a total of $100.00, and you can receive 8 cocktail coasters. Any and all donations are gratefully accepted. YOUR donation, made to the

F-8 Crusader Association for the Ready Room project, is fully TAX deductible.  

Please take a moment NOW to review the donation form, write your check, and send it to support this project, which will ensure that our great Crusader Aircraft and its Pilots are forever remembered in this most appropriate setting.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Bruce Boland                                             Bob Pearl

Dick Cavicke                                             Cal Swanson

                    And the "Crusader Association

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR UPDATES AND PHOTOS OF PROGRESS!