Crusader Association
A 501(c)(19) Non-Profit Veterans Organization
IRS EIN : 54-1910918
Register for LACB35
Registration for LACB35 is up and running. It is at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse, 2150 Harbor Island Dr., San Diego, CA, from 1700-2100 on Thursday, September 24, 2026. It coincides with the scheduled MCAS Miramar Airshow for all of you airshow enthusiasts. (More on that below.)
We’ll convene at 1700 in the magnificent Harbor View Room for an hour of meeting and greeting. The three-course plated dinner begins at 1800. Immediately following dinner we will convene a brief business meeting. After the meeting we will have a couple more hours of social time.
All of the details are available on the LACB35 web page. Check it all out, including the list of who has registered to date. It’s a great opportunity to gather and renew friendships and catch up on things. There is a limited amount of seating available, so don’t miss out. It’s first come, first served. You can download the registration form there or by clicking HERE.
We do have a couple of important matters to address during the business meeting:
- Election of one Board of Directors member
- Discussion on future LACB's. Is it time to have the Really Last Crusader Ball? If you have any thoughts on that and are unable to attend LACB35, please send them to the Board.
LACB35 intentionally coincides with the scheduled MCAS Miramar Air Show for those who might want to attend. The Air Show web page is now active with current information. While admission and parking are free, the web page offers a variety of tickets for the bleachers, box seats, and chalets.
Help spread the word. Contact your squadron mates and tell them you’ll meet them in San Diego for LACB35. Go Crusaders!
DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM HERE
©
F8U Crusader by Ernie Snowden
Many of you met Ernie Snowden when he attended LACB33 in San Diego. At the time he was working on his forthcoming book about the F8 and interviewed several attendees. His book has been published by the U. S. Naval Institute and is available for purchase at USNI (40% discount for members) or Amazon.
Ernie has a strong personal motivation to pursue documenting the F8 Crusader. His father, Mac Snowden, was the Commanding Officer of VF‑91.
Check out Bill "Striker” Switzer’s review:
”To the Last of the Gunfighters - This F‑8 Crusader book written by Naval Aviator Ernie Snowden is without a doubt a masterpiece. He has written 3 other books and I feel he hit the bulls eye with this one.
”His thorough research, pictures, sea stories, historical data and some of the F‑8's special missions are so descriptive, detailed and realistic that I feel . . .[More]
Important Links
Who's Coming?
LACB35 Attendees
Board of Directors
BoD@f8crusader.org
Make a Donation
(More information Here)
Greenie Board
Listing of
All Donors
Here
Recent Donations
Honoring
- Roy E. "Snuffy” Lester
- by Robert Gilles
- Mac Snowden, CO, VF-91
- by Ernie Snowden
- Paul W. Cooper, Jr., VF-24
- by Dave Cowles &
Chuck Schroeder
- Harvey "Rabbit" Kessler, VF-162
- by Roland McLean
- Bull Durham
- by George Wright
- Dennis A. Moore, VF-191 POW
- by Don Jordan
- Thomas “Twigs” Grant, VF-211
- by Don Jordan
- Thomas E. Friedrich, VF-191
- by Don Jordan
To the Association
- by Betty Cox
- by Barry Kunkel
- by Ernie Snowden
- by Richard Keefer
- by L.S. "Pete” Brown
- by Crist Berry
- by Jack Woodul
- by Jim Ozbirn
- by Garnett Haubelt
- by James Wagoner
- by Alan Thompson
- by W. John Miottel, Jr.
- by Kevin Smith
Support the Crusader Association
The Crusader Association does not charge dues and therefore has no regular income. However, the Association does have expenses. It guarantees contracts associated with LACB’s, hosts the web site, keeps a lawyer on a modest retainer, buys supplies and has other administrative expenses. We would appreciate your help in keeping the Association solvent.
If you enjoy the GatorGrams, web site information, attending LACBs and viewing photos of others who attended, please consider making a donation to the Association. Simply click on the "Donate" button below and you will be taken to the PayPal website where you can make a donation using either your PayPal account or credit card. Thank you very much for your consideration.
Donations are also a wonderful way to remember and honor a deceased squadron mate. The Association will send a letter to the family of the deceased informing them of your donation made in his name.
If you itemize on your tax return and would like a receipt, let us know and we will provide one. (We are registered with the IRS as a non-profit.)
Board of Directors: Dave Cowles, President; Chuck Schroeder, Vice-President; Dick Evert, Secretary; Jim Ozbirn, Treasurer; Vern Larson, Director; Joe Phaneuf, Director; Mike Waldron, Director