Last modified Tue., November 20, 2007 - 03:57 PM
Originally created Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Air Ops personnel display their artistic talents

By Lt. Scott Myers, Air Operations Department

From left, ABE3(AW) Belinda Arechiga, ABE2 Robert Lamothe, ABH3(AW) Johnny Sarante and ABH2(AW/SW) Michael Waldrop proudly display their work of the NAS Jax insignia located in front of the NAS Jax Air Operations building. The group spent hours refurbishing two insignias that were faded from the weather. Photos courtesy of Air Ops

Several members of the NAS Jax Air Operations Transient Line recently demonstrated their creative skills by repainting the two huge NAS Jax insignias located in front of the Air Operations building.

The talented group of aviation boatswain's mates (ABs) from the Transient Line spent countless hours and some of their own hard-earned money to repaint the two NAS Jax insignias.

The insignias have been part of the department's landscape since the 1940s and needed a refurbishing due to the sun bleaching out the color and wording. The ABs noticed the weathered paint and decided to make a difference. "We saw that this project needed to be done and decided that instead of waiting for contractors to work on it, we would take it on and get it done," said ABH2(AW/SW) Michael Waldrop, who helped with the project. "We wanted our base to stand out when transient pilots stop in here and let them know we have the best naval air station in the Navy and that we take pride in our division."

So thanks to some hard work and dedication of a few Sailors, some special symbols of our naval heritage have been preserved for years to come.

ABE(AW) Belinda Arechiga carefully paints the white lines on the insignia.

ABH2 (AW/SW) Michael Waldrop pressure washes the old insignia to clean off the old paint chips before the repainting begins.

ABH2(AW/SW) Michael Waldrop carefully paints around one of the stars on one of the insignias.

The two insignias outside the Air Operation's Department desperately needed to be repainted.