UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY UNOFFICIAL NEWSLETTER
04 JUL 02
HISTORIC FIRST PATROL
Click for video of Launch 5 in action 4th of July
See more at www.Launch5.com
Launch 5, Ptl.
Wallburger. (Facility #523269) made its first official USCG Auxiliary Patrol on
4JULY02.
Greg Porteus was the Coxswain, with Lou Liotti and Jimmy Picciano, (both also
Coxswains), as crew. Janet Morra, Bob Daraio, Jack Sheehy, Steve Sheehy and Alex
Cascione (a Coxswain) were also aboard, along with Lynn Valenti, who planned and
coordinated this event, and John Bednarik, USCG Auxiliary District 1(SR) Public
Affairs Officer, (also a Coxswain).
We left from Ossining, NY at 11am and picked up the three person CBS Network
News Crew on the 79th Street Boat Basin Dock at 1pm. The CBS Crew shot footage
on USCG Auxiliary activities in NY Harbor for both their CBS Evening News
broadcast and B-roll for promos and PSAs for us.
We were able to do
a screening of some of the great footage of Launch 5, numerous USCG Vessels, and
a number of NYPD Harbor Unit Facilities, including the new NYPD Launch 5, at the
Division six meeting on 9JULY02 .
CBS will also be covering the story of former NYPD Harbor Patrol Launch
#5,Ptl Wallburger. This facility is a 52 ft, 25 ton, steel launch, the only
powerboat ever designed by Phillip Rhodes, famous for the sailboat class that
bears his name.
After serving 30 years with the NYPD and appearing in the movies "Splash" and "Crocodile Dundee" retired and sold to private parties who abandoned the facility on the Passaic River, where it was striped and sunk.
Greg Porteus, a
retired NYS Trooper and his Dad, a retired NYPD Harbor Unit Officer, found and
raised Launch #5 from the bottom of the river. They, along with members of the
USCG Auxiliary, serving and retired NYPD Harbor Unit officers, have spent
countless hours restoring Launch #5 to brand new, mint condition. The Launch has
been inspected and is now USCG Aux Operational Facility #523269.
A thank you to all those Auxiliary and Gold side people who helped in
arranging for the proper orders for this important Public Affairs Mission.
For more detailed information about Launch 5, her history, restoration, and crew, go to www.Launch5.com
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The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer's who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education. The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Its 30,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions. For more information on the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, visit us at www.cgaux.org. ### |
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