Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron EIGHTEEN

I was the first planecaptian, Captian Walter Skinner signed into HM-18 and also flew with him as air crew knew LCDR Greg Bingium and a couple others on the fateful flight.

June 19, 1992: My uncle was a Crew member in that squadron when he and 6 others died aboard /NW-601. His name was CPO David Romesburg. I have a scrap book about the incident. Ironically my stepfather was at that time stationed at MDSU at Littlecreek Amphibious Base, who was on the wreckage recovery mission for 601.

I was with HM18 for a year as a reservist. I got out about a month before the crash. As I remember the squadron, it was disorganized, and my shop was poorly run, and offered no training. I don't remember Chief Romesburg, and I am sorry you lost your friend. I was saddened, but unsurprised when I heard of the wreck. Hearing they'd been folded into HM14 made me feel better about the safety of my shipmates.

1987-1991, I Was in HM-18. Great bunch of guys. The dets to nas Pensacola every year were epic. Buzz Harwell, Brian Wilhide(browneye), Porky, who's wife could make the best cajun food i ever had. Leafeater Limcool, Dublin... sorry bout passing in your magazine rack. So many great guys. Best squadron of my time in. And I should mention Randy Vandiver. He was an az that went aircrew, which I don't think ever happened often. He would bend over backwards to help you out. -

1988-1992, I was a reservist in HM-18, AC. Made it up to AD-3, mostly worked in Opps a little time in the line shack. I do remember Chief Romesburgh, great guy indeed. Really help me get my AC wings when I was struggling, us reservist didn't get the time in one weekend a month and pulled a lot of extra weekend to get hours and training, you could count on Chief and my other AC shipmates like PO Redland for that. - Noha Jhnson

1990-1992, I was part of HM-18. I remember CWO Romesburg particularly well. As a young E-3, I was going through a separation with my then wife who moved back to Chicago area, and I was forced to move back to base and I had no one to help me move my stuff out of our apartment. Chief came over on his off day and helped me get that done. He was a true leader!! I think about him and his family often feeling sorry for them that he, along with all the others on that flight, who were taken too early from their loved ones.

1990-1993, This was my first squadron. I got there as an ATAA and left as AT3. I was also aircrew, logged approx. 500 hours. This was a great squadron, the comradery was second to none. I knew all seven crewmembers of NW601, both pilots LCDR Bingeman and LT Steen were two of the best pilots around, I was always excited to fly with them. Chief Romesburg was my Chief when I was assigned to the line-shack; he was one of the best Chiefs, if not the best, I have ever worked for. Cheif Vandiver was the Ops Chief; he was also one of the best Chiefs that I have ever known and worked for. PO Mills and Redland were both sel-res, I didn't know them as well as the other crew, but from what I remember, they were both hard working and "stand-up" guys. Airman Hopkins, "Hoppy" as we called him was an all around great guy and friend. I remember hanging out at his house playing video games and partying. They all have been missed over the years. I am honored to have served with all of the men of HM-18 and to have been a part of such a great squadron.

1990-1993, Lauren Lauing AE Aircrew was part of HM-18. I was there for the loss of 601 it still pains me to this day a sad loss of life of some of the best men I had ever known scpo romesburg was some one I looked up to it was a career end blow for me. Po1 mills was also a crew man that I looked up to.god rest their soul's

1991-1993, as an aviation electrician in HM-18, more so in the line shack and 1st Lt, I got in a bit of trouble so I got out early. I arrived about a month after the accident, but there were some good people in this squadron. According to the investigation, the fault was a hairline fracture in one of the main rotor blades. There was no fault assigned and I personally believe that was a good decision , it is after all, a dangerous career path. Members of this squadron waded through chest high Water to recover the remains of the bird.

1991-1994 AE right out of A-school and got put in a tool room, chief holmesburg City take care of me he was from Uniontown like I was. And he did work my way up working and maintenance control with Chief Hill (Doug) PO1 Theriot (JT) !; man had the best handwriting hands down! I learned a lot maintenance control had CWO3 Mason making sure of it. It's like one big family though remember when my house burnt down on Christmas vacation and more stuff after my house burned down, couldn't believe how everybody just gave me stuff everything I needed and more.... But the man I looked up to Senior Ski then after I wrote his emails and recommendation for advancement he made Master Chief.. Master Chief Veniinsky and I probably butchered the Pollock's name and I can say that cuz I'm a pollock too had a great time working with him on maintenance admin. Didn't mind a little bit of joking and stuff made it a good work place to say you did your job he had your back, and I should have listened to him and stayed in there's so many great people I met there Welnier (ox), chief Hitchens, our Skipper Commander Kaliphat, the best helicopter pilots in the Navy.. did lose shipmates the blades pitch locked in flight, investigation said it was a sleeve and spindle malfunction cause something in the manufacturing wasn't our fault still felt like shit.. especially I kept track all the inspections and all the maintenance done or needing to be done I know there's a lot of guys that worked in them shops probably felt the same way this is something I missed cuz it took forever for FAA to do their investigation..HM-18 had one of the best mission capable status in the Navy, had the only Helo squadron in NAS Norfolk to have all of the Squadrons Helicopter's to be mission capable and to fly in formation at the same time.. Hard to do when helo's are old some of them from the Vietnam era. LOL We gave um to the Marines tho got 6 brand new MH-53E helo's (Sea Dragon) from Sikorsky aircraft ( more Pollocks)... MH53's bad ass helicopter... Well there's my little bit of history about Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 18,. The Norsemen... AZAN Jacobosky best maintenance control controller in the USN Positional Authoritay Bitch Lol.... Over and Out... AZAN S.M.J. Oorah