Sea Knight soars over Southeast Missouri as part of final flight

CAMP PENDLETON -- Residents can join in a final salute Wednesday.

The last operational CH-46E Sea Knight will pass over Southeast Missouri sometime this afternoon. And because of one of the crew's ties to the Bootheel., the Sea Knight will linger just a bit before continuing to its final destination -- the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va.

Gunnery Sgt. William "Eric" Grobmyer, a New Madrid native, will be aboard. Scheduled to retire from the Corps in September 2016, it is his last flight as a Marine as well.

Gunnery Sgt. William "Eric" Grobmyer, a 1993 graduate of New Madrid County Central, will be aboard the final flight of the CH-46E Sea Knight as it passes over Southeast Missouri Wednesday. The troop and supply transport ship is scheduled to be placed in the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va. Submitted photo

Gunnery Sgt. William "Eric" Grobmyer, a 1993 graduate of New Madrid County Central, will be aboard the final flight of the CH-46E Sea Knight as it passes over Southeast Missouri Wednesday. The troop and supply transport ship is scheduled to be placed in the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va. Submitted photo

Joining Grobmyer on board will be other Marines who are winding down their careers. He explained as the word got around about the final flight, he and other members of the squadron decided it was only fitting that the retirement flight of the Sea Knight be made by retiring Marines.

For 50 years, the Sea Knight was the troop and supply transport workhorse of the Marine Corps. Affectionately known among the Marines as "Battle Phrogs," the ships first came into use in 1964 at the height of the Vietnam War. The mission of the CH-46E was to provide helicopter transport of personnel, supplies and equipment for the Marine Corps ground element.

On Monday, Grobmyer and the crew climbed aboard, leaving California for Page, Ariz. Tuesday took them to Wichita, Kan. Early Wednesday, the Sea Knight made a pass over Springfield/Branson before traveling to Southeast Missouri.

"New Madrid just happened to be on the way so we will fly over my house then go by Noranda," Grobmyer said. "Then we will do another slow flyby and hover for a few minutes then continue on our way."

For the full story on Grobmyer and the final flight of the Sea Hawk, see Wednesday's Standard Democrat.