Blue Eagle II in 1968 or 1969 - [BUNO 128444]

In the first years, AFVN broadcasted from an airborne TV studio -- the world's first!
Commercial network consultants said it was technically impossible
to do broadcast TV from an airplane -- but the NAVY did it...and AFVN-TV was born. 

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The crew of Blue Eagle I (BUNO 131627) 

Front Row - AT3 Strealy Flight [Radioman] ADRC George Orlandi [crew chief and SR flight engineer] RM1 Steve Robbins [broadcast engineer] ET1 Paul Strogen [[broadcast engineer] ETC William Smithers [broadcast engineer] ADR3 Lewis [flight mechanic] AE1 Larry Belodeau [flight electrician] 

Back Row {L to R] LT Hopkins [navigator] LT Gaul [pilot] LT Clark [pilot] LT Gidge [plane commander and SR pilot] LT Hunter [navigator] LT Pullen [electronics officer] ADR1 Charles Reynolds [flight engineer] AT1 Kelly Goode [broadcast engineer] AT1 Miskelley [flight radioman] AMC2 Pierce [flight mechanic] ADR1 Wayne Kiesow [flight engineer]

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Blue Eagles Planes were part of the Naval Air Development Squadron Eight.

On Board the Blue Eagle Plane was a complete live studio --
Each production was controlled from director's console -- seen here.

The actual transmission of television
took place from this pair on transmitters on board a Blue Eagle plane.

Another shot of the transmitters on a Blue Eagle plane.

Blue Eagle's ground barracks was hit by a rocket at the air base
where they were stationed -- suggesting that it was safer
to be in the air than on the ground.

The rocket hit on the Blue Eagle barracks suggested the importance of sandbagging -- here seen underway at the unit's ready room on the ground.

Even getting to work could be dangerous --
Going from the ready room to the plane was not always the safest trip in the world.

If you ever wondered what would happen if a taxiing F4 jet met a truck --
This is what you get.  Project Jenny's 'ride' did just that during Steve Robbins' tour.

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For their achievement in getting THVN-TV on the air the officers and men of the unit were recognized at a special ceremony in a TV studio. THVN-TV was AFVN's Vietnamese counterpart.

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Steve Robbins made it home safely.  Welcome home, Steve.   [1999]

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