USS Ranger Foundation

This has been an exciting year for the USS Ranger Foundation and we are looking forward to some big announcements in 2010!

As you ring in the New Year, please don’t forget to let friends and family know about this project.  Every email added to our list is important and helps us to spread the word as we go.

Most importantly, as you review the year and make your year-end decisions on charitable giving, please remember Ranger and that we are the only hope to save her.  We need to move to next steps in bringing Ranger to Portland and there are some large expenses that need to be covered. We need an immediate $250,000 in order to commission these reports.

250 donations of $1000
25 donations of 10,000
2500 donations of $100

And we reach our goal!

We have added many new items to the ship’s store-take a moment and add to your collection.

Thank you for a great year of support!

AN APPEAL TO OUR BASE

The Ranger Foundation has a short period of time to put together a NAVSEA Phase II application. The Business / Financial  Plan includes two important parts that can only be done by a professional firm with qualifications / expertise in environmental and engineering services. These studies will be site specific to our proposed location both in the Willamette River and the shore side facilities required for mooring, providing utilities and other construction for support of Ranger.

While we will seek contributions from many sources we must appeal to large numbers of individuals, specifically those who have trapped aboard aircraft carriers. Therefore we have created THE BAGGERS CLUB. While this an appeal directed toward Naval Aviators and Aircrew everyone is encouraged to join as a friend in donating to the Foundation’s fund raising to SAVE A SUPER CARRIER. 99 Tailhookers is a collective call sign for all those have landed aboard.

Check-in NOW!

Peter W. Ogle, Captain USN (Ret)
President and CEO
peter.ogle@ussranger.org

How many times at 3/4 of a mile, in a rain squall on a dark night and a pitching deck with fuel for one more pass before trick or treat, have you felt confident knowing your approach is to a Big Deck Super Carrier? Probably saved your butt on numerous occasions!

Our immediate problem is quite clear. We need funds to support Phase II of our application to NAVSEA. I am appealing to our base, those of you who have been there and done that! There is no stronger advocate for Carrier Aviation than those of you who have flown off and trapped aboard.  So here is what we propose.

It is easy to join. Donate a buck for each trap. This is not about Ranger. It is about saving a Super Carrier class as a Historic Naval Ship. It is Navy policy that only non-nuclear vessels are eligible for donation. So we must save one of the seven remaining Forrestal or Kitty Hawk class carriers as a Museum Ship and Memorial, otherwise a very important period of Naval History, 1955 to the future, will be lost forever. Supporting our effort supports the active duty Navy in keeping the importance of carrier aviation in the public view, now and in the future.

To be eligible for membership in The Baggers Club, you must have made a carrier landing as a naval aviator or naval flight officer, air crewman or equivalent service exchange aviator or air crewman. Retired, active duty and former members may join as well as civilian pilots or CIA aviators. Yes, the CIA U2s carrier qualified on Ranger and America. So break out your log books and check books or if you are like me you know exactly how many traps you made without looking. It doesn’t matter the class of carrier, straight or angle deck or with an allied Navy. A trap is a trap, even if it is in the barrier.

You may join by clicking here or mail your check marked “Baggers Club” to:

USS Ranger Foundation
1505 SE Gideon Street
Suite 650
Portland, OR 97202

For you “Super Baggers” you can pledge, if your high number of traps cuts into your beer fund.  Include your name, rank or rate and how you want your name to appear on a recognition plaque aboard
USS Ranger (CV 61) once she is opened as a Museum and Memorial to all of you.

If we don’t save her the plaque will likely be in the Pacific Ocean.

We are an IRS 501 (c) (3) organization. Consult your own tax advisor as it applies to your own situation.