Unscheduled

Abbreviations
there were so many.

POD. Plan of the day.
NOTAMS. Notices to airmen
PTAC. Polar transport aircraft commander
MRE. Meals ready to eat
ETA. Expected arrival time
ETD. Expected departure time

And DV
DV.  Distinguished visitor
flying visits
literally
four or five days
shaking hands
dedicating new buildings
sightseeing.
Senators, congressmen, persons of influence
those who kept the purse open
or able to persuade loosening.

Funding. That was NSF’s problem
the Navy did logistics
mother of the household
feeding, healthcare, transport
NSF was the breadwinner.
To the Navy DV’s were not a big deal
“ no biggy,” was the catch cry blowing through a kitchen
whenever distinguished visitors blew through town.
Not this time.

He had his own unique abbreviation
CINCPAC. Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet.
A very distinguished visitor. VDV
The big cheese
the head serang
an admiral of course.
A very big deal
“ bestest ” behaviour.

The admiral’s flight to the South Pole
halts at the point where taxi ends and speed begins
technical difficulties
the aircraft must be checked.
CINCPAC is brought to the airfield galley
coffee and refreshments supplied
assistance shrouds around him
he must not see the forgotten fuel being added.

For the back story click Backstage