Kenneth Loop: the B ackbone of P ilotry

1. Kenneth Loop: the Backbone of Pilotry By: Dariana Chow Josselyn Cordova Cecilia Rojas

2. Childhood Grew up in Minneapolis Minnesota Very free childhood No curfew Trusting parents Not very interested in school Paperboy at 11 Usher at movies at 16

3. The Travel Signed up for navy because of a girl Got out of school in January 1948, and joined the Navy November of that year Really nervous because it was his first time away from home. 5 days on the train ride from Minnesota to San Diego.

4. Boot Camp North Island Navy Base in Coronado, San Diego Received Aviation Mechanic training, big change for him For entertainment:drink, watch movies, dance, and listen to country music because of the Texans in boot camp Still in touch with fellow bootcampers

5. Preconditions to Korean War Primarily the result of the political division of Korea North established a communist government, while the South established a capitalist one The US provided 88% of the international soldiers which aided South Korea

6. Life on USS Essex Decent meals. Had food such as cereal, eggs and bacon, chicken, all served buffet style Only males on board ship Showered in rows, no privacy Sleeping arrangements: bunk beds with 3 beds stacked on top of each other, really crowded Woke up at 5, went to bed at around 8 or 9 Stayed connected with family through mail which was delivered to the ship once a week

7. September 16, 1951 A damaged F2H Banshee fighter plane crashed into another plane on the flight deck of the USS Essex while attempting to land Killed 7 crew members

11. Work on the Ship Served on the flight deck as a repair man of the planes Worked on Jaguar jets which had 1 engine instead of the Benshee jets which had 2 engines. Didn’t see much combat on ship since it was 30 miles off shore Met Neil Armstrong, who was an officer fighter pilot on his squad, and was said to unfriendly

12. Accidents on the ship A couple of crew members walked into the propellers of running airplanes One time when Mr. Loop was driving his Jeep on the deck of the USS Essex he was on the open elevator on the side of the ship and he almost fell-car and all- into the ocean

13. Relaxing For holidays the crew members would have “extra-fancy meals” On Christmas they even got a tree and dressed up as Santa Clause Had Bob Hope and Tommy Dorson’s Band on the ship

14. Girls: Decisions, Decisions… His girlfriend in high school is what influenced his decision to join the Navy It was said that girls who dated Air Force or Navy guys were “bad girls” because they were known to just date them to get into the parties Mr. Loop and his Navy buds met a group of girls who were on their way to Hemet. They later decided to go to Hemet to look for these particular girls, but without success. Upon entering a store for a drink, Mr. Loop would meet the woman who would become his first wife.

15. End of Korean War The war continued with no end in sight A cease-fire was declared on April 1 54,000 American lives The indecisive conclusion stood in contrast to the complete victory that ended World War II.

16. Coming Home After 4 years in the fighter squad, he went home On the last day, he took his discharge papers and stayed in California His served his last year forced by President Truman Mr. Loop met his 2nd wife in California, got married, and has been in Riverside since 1952

17. What the Navy taught Mr. Loop It was a positive experience because Mr. Loop had the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the country. Formed many close bonds with his crew members Learned how to get along with others and do things on his own

18. Family follows his footsteps After Mr. Loop joined the navy, both his younger brothers joined as well 1 of his sons decided to enroll in the navy Also, his granddaughter's husband enrolled and just so happened to be stationed at the USS Essex

19. MEMORIES…

20. MEMORIES (con’t)