Richard Scarbrough

Logbook Best Practices: Creating Clear and Compliant Maintenance Records

The sea is calm, its gentle waves brushing the sugar-sand shoreline. In the distance, the rhythm of a steel drum echoes a familiar tune—“every little thing is going to be alright.” But appearances can be deceiving. Beneath the tranquil waters, a silent killer waits. Patient and methodical, it poses a constant threat to everything it touches. Unlike a James Patterson thriller novel, one cannot see this killer until it is too late. Corrosion is indiscriminate in its attack—and none are exempt.

Should storytellers print the legend or stick to the facts? “Remember me with the Jolly Rogers!” These were the last words allegedly spoken by VF-17 Ensign Jack Ernie as his wounded Vought F4U-1 Corsair plummeted to earth. I first learned of Ensign Jack during the 125th annual Army-Navy game in December 2024. Navy took the field decked out in uniforms as tribute to the legendary Jolly Rogers squadron.