Apple Contest

"Pass the Apple" Competition

Lt Gerry Lovett USMC, during a competitive team event, "Pass the Apple" contest, with no hands, at the '57 "Death Angel" Halloween party, at the Herndon's, NKT.
As the most bashful bachelor in VMF-235, he was obviously enjoying the moment immensely! Gerry was highly regarded as the most experienced and qualified "Fury" driver in Marine Corps Aviation. As such, he led a division of squadron Lieutenants, against a division of squadron Majors, in a high altitude gunnery "shoot-out" at GTMO Bay, Cuba, during a VMF-235 deployment in '57. His briefing was classic, and remembered by those involved to this day: "this is a piece of cake, forget radar gunsight ranging, when the banner looks so big, and your eyes get really big and round, as you say "Holy ----!" squeeze the trigger and pop your wings level ASAP. Every round will be in the banner!"
As Dash-4, Don Hanna, by the third pass had gotten used to the exhilarating sight picture, and determined to make the next pass really count! Still firing as his entire windshield filled with banner, when he heard a distinct "thunk", felt a "thud", leveled his wings and observed the 8-foot steel banner pole buried about three feet into his left wing. Banner and cable were draped over said wing, with fuel pouring out the ruptured internal wing tank! Gerry was on his wing instantly, and guided his Dash-4 eighty-plus miles back to GTMO, for a potential Flameout Approach, coordinating a possible SAR, along with the stern admonishment that "Hanna, if you lose that banner, you're a-- is grass"! The aircraft flamed out (from fuel starvation) on landing rollout. The banner was immediately driven off by the Ordnance Crew, to tally up holes, and the CO/XO reluctantly declared the Lieutenants clear winners!
Gerry's pride and joy was his off-white, with red upholstery, 300SL, Gull-Wing Mercedes Sports Coupe, a rare auto in those days, which he delighted in demonstrating to the gendarmes on the Havelock to Morehead City and Wash. DC highways. On leaving the Marine Corps, he was very successful in real estate, in Santa Cruz, CA, where he married, and sadly, he and his bride were later killed in '64, trapped by a sudden, major winter storm, crossing the Sierra's, in his own aircraft. An unbelievably qualified Fighter Pilot, and incredible friend, to all whom had the privilege of serving with, and knowing him!

Photo by Sarena Finlayson -- courtesy of Don Hanna

Lt Gerry Lovett USMC, during a competitive team event, "Pass the Apple" contest, with no hands, at the '57 "Death Angel" Halloween party, at the Herndon's, NKT. As the most bashful bachelor in VMF-235, he was obviously enjoying the moment immensely! Gerry was highly regarded as the most experienced and qualified "Fury" driver in Marine Corps Aviation. As such, he led a division of squadron Lieutenants, against a division of squadron Majors, in a high altitude gunnery "shoot-out" at GTMO Bay, Cuba, during a VMF-235 deployment in '57. His briefing was classic, and remembered by those involved to this day: "this is a piece of cake, forget radar gunsight ranging, when the banner looks so big, and your eyes get really big and round, as you say "Holy ----!" squeeze the trigger and pop your wings level ASAP. Every round will be in the banner!" As Dash-4, Don Hanna, by the third pass had gotten used to the exhilarating sight picture, and determined to make the next pass really count! Still firing as his entire windshield filled with banner, when he heard a distinct "thunk", felt a "thud", leveled his wings and observed the 8-foot steel banner pole buried about three feet into his left wing. Banner and cable were draped over said wing, with fuel pouring out the ruptured internal wing tank! Gerry was on his wing instantly, and guided his Dash-4 eighty-plus miles back to GTMO, for a potential Flameout Approach, coordinating a possible SAR, along with the stern admonishment that "Hanna, if you lose that banner, you're a-- is grass"! The aircraft flamed out (from fuel starvation) on landing rollout. The banner was immediately driven off by the Ordnance Crew, to tally up holes, and the CO/XO reluctantly declared the Lieutenants clear winners! Gerry's pride and joy was his off-white, with red upholstery, 300SL, Gull-Wing Mercedes Sports Coupe, a rare auto in those days, which he delighted in demonstrating to the gendarmes on the Havelock to Morehead City and Wash. DC highways. On leaving the Marine Corps, he was very successful in real estate, in Santa Cruz, CA, where he married, and sadly, he and his bride were later killed in '64, trapped by a sudden, major winter storm, crossing the Sierra's, in his own aircraft. An unbelievably qualified Fighter Pilot, and incredible friend, to all whom had the privilege of serving with, and knowing him!
Photo by Sarena Finlayson -- courtesy of Don Hanna

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