Like the US Marines, Once a JV44 pilot, always a JV44 pilot. At least as far as the new command staff of JV44 Butcher Birds are concerned.
This squad lost alot of really good pilots over the last six months or so. Prior to that we lost some guys when we were JG44 Night Hawks. Everyone had their own reasons for leaving, and as always in most situations like that, there were people on both sides of the fence that had personal issues about events involved with people leaving. Lack of loyalty, feelings of betrayal, whatever.
The current command staff is taking a different approach to this. THIS IS ONLY A GAME. Our loyalty isn't just to the squad, it's to every single person that has worn and is wearing our colors and representing this squad. We don't care why you left, you had your reasons, and we respect that. What we don't want to see is the friends we've made over the years just disapearing into the MA's never to be seen or heard from again. That's not why we joined this squad. We ALL joined because we made some good friends in the squad and we all enjoyed flying our cartoon planes together and having fun.
So that being said there are a couple of things the guys in the current JV44 want to do.
1st The command staff wants to extend the invitation to EVERY former member of JG44 Night Hawks / JV44 Butcher Birds to come back to the squad forums and register. Even though we may not be flying together on a regular basis anymore, we all consider our ex squadies good friends. Giving you guys access to the squad general forums would be a great way for us to still keep in touch with one anouther.
2nd JV44 squad night is now every Wednesday night at 8:00PM EST. This coming Wednesday 4/23/08 the current members of JV44 want to extend an invitation to all former squad members to join us for a JG44/JV44 reunion squad night. One night were we can get all our old friends together in the MA, fly and fight together, and just have a good time.
3rd Many of our former squadies are now in other squads. The current command staff would like to establish formal alliances with these squads. This would serve several purposes. 1 it allows us to keep in better touch with our former squadies. 2. it allows for more flexibility in the MA's with joint missions, FSO's and special events.
We hope to hear back from our old friends, and look forward to flying beside you guys again from time to time in the future.
to all our friends from JG44 / JV44
