Page 19 - DFCS News Magazine Spring 2014

Email? What? Email! What?! Email!!
Email - friend or foe?! Sometimes it seems like all we get in our inboxes are advertisements or an offer from some attorney in Africa that wants to give us $2.3 million dollars or offers a way to make $5000 dollars a day while working from home!
On the other hand, we also get a lot of important information via email, can trade news in milliseconds, and stay in touch with various friends and organizations. The DFC Society is moving in that direction, as well. In the future we will communicate with our membership via email more and more. The major reason is cost.
Consider, for example, the amendments to the Bylaws. To have the Bylaws and ballots printed, folded , stuffed , addressed, and stamped cost the Society almost $3,000! Two or three mailings a year adds up; therefore making use of the Internet and email is a far better option financially.
But therein lies a problem!! Many of the email addresses we have on file are out-of-date and, many members fail to send current email addresses. We also realize there are some members who don't own a computer and wouldn't touch email with a 10 foot pole! Those of you that shun away from computers, please drop National headquarters a postcard and let them know you are a "US Postal Service" mem- ber. That will go a long way toward improving communications between the Board of Directors and the membership!!
The Scribe's Scribbles!
I've decided to start a "column," if you will, highlighting specific subjects on day to day operations to keep the membership better in- formed on some of the more mundane aspects of the Society!
For example, this issue has an article requesting updates on email addresses. This is very important to the day-to-day operation and should keep the membership better informed on Society activities.
One of the least pleasant aspects of the mass mailing was news that several of our members had taken their last flight westbound. Please let your family know that we would like to be informed of changes to your status. Along those lines, remember that your spouse and members of your family are eligible for Associate membership status.
Terry Sullivan, Secretary, DFC Society
By Chuck Sweeney
Damage to the EP-3E
Shane Osborn, a Life Member of the DFC Society, is campaigning to be a US Senator from Nebraska. He previously was the Ne- braska State Treasurer. You might remember that on 1 April 2001, Shane was the Pilot of a Navy EP-3E reconnaissance aircraft flying 70 miles off the Coast of Hainan Island when he was harassed by two Chinese J-8 fighters. One of the fighters got too close and collid- ed with the EP-3E, ripping off the radome, knocking out an engine and causing the EP-3E, with its crew of 24, to roll inverted and start diving towards the sea. Shane eventually was able to get the aircraft under control and landed on a Chinese airfield on Hainan where he and his crew were detained and interrogated. They were finally released ten days later after intense International negotiations.
Shane’s story begins on page 222 of our book, On Heroic Wings: Stories of the Distinguished Flying Cross and, he authored a book Born to Fly: The Untold Story of the Downed American Recon- naissancePlane. HisDFCcitationfollows:
Lieutenant Shane J. Osborn, United States Navy, is awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraor- dinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as EP-3 Electronic Warfare Aircraft Commander/Mission Commander, Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE
during sensitive surveillance operations on 1 April 2001. During a mission in direct support of U.S. National Security interests, follow- ing an in-flight collision with a People's Republic of China fighter aircraft, Lieutenant Osborn displayed superb airmanship and cour- age. Despite extreme damage to the aircraft, including loss of an engine, nose radome, all airspeed and altitude information, and structural damage to forward portions of the fuselage and control surfaces, he heroically regained control, directed appropriate emer- gency procedures, and coordinated the crew's efforts to safely land the aircraft. Lieutenant Osborn's dedicated efforts ultimately enemy
sured the survival of twenty-four crew members and preserved a vital operational asset. By his superb airmanship, proven ability to perform under pressure, and steadfast devotion to duty, Lieutenant Osborn reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Example of Chinese Fighter Harassing EP-3E Aircraft
Shane Osborne Describing the Results of the Collision
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