QF-4 Crash at Point Mugu Update
[Source: NBVC, Point Mugu]

VENTURA COUNTY, CALIF., April 20, 2002…Two members of Naval Weapons Test Squadron Point Mugu, were killed today while performing at the 2002 Point Mugu Air show. Navy Cmdr. Michael Norman, pilot, and Marine Corps Capt. Andrew Muhs, radar intercept officer, were killed when their QF-4 Phantom aircraft crashed at 12:20 p.m. PST today, when they were maneuvering for landing while performing with three other squadron aircraft. Both victims were stationed at Point Mugu.

Emergency personnel from the base and local police, fire and rescue organizations immediately responded to the site. The aircraft crashed on a county road bordering the Navy Base. No one in the vicinity of the crash area was injured. CHP officers immediately secured the scene.
The Navy is conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash.
All air show performances and activities for Saturday and Sunday have been cancelled.

posted by Tracy Justus at 4/20/2002  

Point Mugu Airshow 2002 (Friday)
[Source: Freq Of Nature]








124.850 Tower
120.750 Clearance
121.600 Ground
125.550 ATIS
121.500 Air Guard - Talking to unauthorized pilots entering the airspace.
128.650 Pt Mugu App/Dep control - Listen to the controllers keeping the airspace clear.
135.175 Announcer - Listen to the airshow announcer talking with the pilots.
133.250 Airshow boss
143.850 Thunderbirds air - T-bird leader talking to the formation
413.100 Thunderbirds ground - Ground crew making sure the runway is clear of debris etc.
140.025 Military Police

posted by Tracy Justus at 4/20/2002  

Retired K9 Charly dies at age 13
[Source: Ventura County Star]

Retired Simi Valley police K9 officer Charly died April 7 of complications caused by a heart condition. He was 13 years old.

Charly was the sixth canine for the Simi Valley Police Department, beginning his career on Aug. 28, 1992. He was trained for patrol, narcotics detection and SWAT operations. He retired Oct. 25, 1999, when his partner/handler, Sterling Johnson, was promoted to sergeant.

During his seven years of working the streets, Charly was directly involved in 909 arrests, 855 building searches, 2,164 area searches, and 362 narcotic searches. He was recognized for his ability to locate large amounts of narcotics, including cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana. In August 1994, Charly received national notoriety when he was bitten by a suspect he had located.

Charly won many K9 competitions in his career. In the 1992 World Police and Fire Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., Charly placed third in obedience and agility. In 1993, he and another Simi Valley police dog, Carlo, won team awards at the Redondo Beach K9 trials.

posted by Tracy Justus at 4/17/2002