Treasurer

AMS1 "PJ" Imhof, USN (ret)

PJ Imhof was raised and attended high school in Lebanon, PA. In December 1955, he volunteered for enlistment in the Navy. He was surprised to find out that he was in a small minority of volunteers as most of the other enlistees were draftees. After basic training and follow-on Navy schooling at Norman, OK and Memphis, TN, PJ’s first duty station was VAP-62, at NAS Norfolk but the squadron later relocated to NAS Jacksonville. VAP-62 was a Heavy Photographic Squadron consisting of one P-2V-3W Neptune, one SNB-5P Navigator and13 AJ-2P Savage aircraft. During his time with this squadron he was an AMSAN and AMS3.

At PJ’s request, he later was transferred to Heavy Attack Squadron FIFTEEN (VAH-15), a newly formed tanker squadron also home based at NAS Norfolk. Advanced to AMS2, PJ qualified and flew as a third crewman on the AJ-2 Savage, providing in-flight refueling for Navy and Marine pilots up and down the East Coast.

When VAH-15 was decommissioned, about a year later, PJ was transferred to the next hangar, which housed Patrol Squadron 56 sporting an inventory of nearly new P5M seaplanes. He was immediately designated a “Beach Master” (not by choice) and was responsible for the launching and beaching of the big seaplanes.

After approximately nine months with VP-56, in Sept.1959, PJ was separated from active service. Realizing his mistake, he almost immediately returned to active duty and was ordered to VP-45, based in Bermuda, where he worked as an AMS2 in the Airfames shop. Later, PJ became flight crew qualified and was a member of the flight crews of LN-5 and LN-3. He also spent time on a Shore Patrol tour in downtown Hamilton, Bermuda.

In September of 1961, while assigned to VP-45, PJ was aboard LN-3 (a P-5M) when it crashed landed at sea. PJ was one of only three survivors of the ten man crew and he was attacked and bitten by sharks before he was finally rescued by a ship sent to the crash site. This story can be found in the Sea Stories section of this website. Click here for that story.

Having truly earned a shore duty tour, PJ was assigned to AMD Lakehurst, NJ, again working as an AMS2. Shore duty went by quickly for him and this now newly married sailor was then sent to catch the USS HORNET and be assigned to HS-2 where he assumed the duties of an AMS2 / AMS1. After 4years “on the boat” with HS-2, his next duty station in Oct.1969 was HT-8B, a Helicopter Training Squadron, which later was redesignated HT-18. As Work Center 121 Supervisor, Q/A Rep and Technical Librarian he found this a very enjoyable five year shore tour.

Returning to sea duty in Sept.1974, and this time on the west coast, PJ saw duty with HC-1 Detachment 3 as Q/A Supervisor. After about a year with this squadron, which included numerous short cruises and a Westpac deployment aboard the USS CORAL SEA, it was time for retirement.

As a civilian, PJ has worked as a lift truck mechanic and later as a Hydraulicsman for Singer-Link and other simulator Contractors. In this position he maintained TH-1L, UH-1H, AH1, and H-60 flight simulation systems.

PJ is currently semi-retired in Pensacola, Florida and keeps busy as a volunteer at the National Museum of Naval Air aboard the Naval Air Station there. His main duty at the moment is assisting with the cataloging the NAVAIR and associated aviation materials.