ORIGINAL 8X10 VINTAGE PHOTO HAWAII 1940'S

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ORIGINAL 8X10 VINTAGE PHOTO HAWAII 1940'S
FROM THE ESTATE OF NED GERRATT
NED GARRETT
First, Ned was ordered to MARYLAND in communications, and, in February, 1941, to NORTH CAROLINA for commissioning and fitting out. Serving first in communications then to 16" gun turret III, operating in Atlantic and Pacific until torpedoed during Guadalcanal campaign at which time he was ordered to flight training. After receiving wings, he reported as exec to VPB 201, a PBM squadron, covering convoys and various ASW operations in the Atlantic. At war's ending, he went to MIT for his masters in aero engineering. Next, Ned was ordered to BAR El Segundo in a special engineering assignment. Then, after a refresher course in PB4Y's at Corpus Christi, he reported to FASRON 117 in Hawaii and, as C.O. built it into a heavy maintenance facility during the Korean War. Now designated for engineering duty, he reported to BuAer as Service Engines Branch Head, then as Engines Technical Officer at COMNAVAIRPAC, totaling six years of Fleet-wide engine problems. Next came BAR and INSORD at Aerojet Azusa and Sacramento on Polaris, rocket engines and torpedo programs. Making Captain, he was ordered to NAVAIRSYSCOM as Aircraft Division R&D Plans and Programs officer. Then, as C.O. of the overhaul facility, Pensacola, he was back enjoying all phases of aircraft repair and production. His last duty station was as the Navy Plant Representative, Long Beach.
Upon retiring, Ned went into the brokerage business, but gravitated back into aviation by going, with family, to Iran as depot manager for the F-14 program and as Advisor Director of Engineering, developing a large aircraft and engine overhaul facility in Tehran. Navy technical experience proved invaluable in a most difficult environment, but all enjoyed R&R trips throughout the Middle East, Russia, and on around the world. Mark, their youngest, skiied each winter weekend and had his high school graduation on the Tehran embassy grounds. After three years, all departed before the hostage crisis and Ned joined McDonnell-Douglas in various duties until retiring in 1984. While in flight training, Ned married the vivacious Bertha Quina, youngest of six sisters, all married to naval officers, and they have four children and seven grandchildren residing in California - thanking God for His blessings .