Oregon RAF Ambassador Kevin Johnson and his son, RAF Supporter Eric Johnson erected a firewood shed to protect a cord of firewood (donated by Brandon Marr) from the coastal rains. The crew removed debris from a recently felled tree, trimmed underbrush, and hauled refuse to the waste transfer station. The ground was leveled for tent site, fire ring, and picnic table locations, and tree limbs were put through a chipper to create wood chips for mud mitigation. The new metal fire rings and picnic tables were secured with cement anchors and heavy-duty chains. Gravel was placed underneath the fire rings and in the higher traffic areas. Herbicide was applied to the invasive blackberry, Scotch broom, and English ivy plants in the camping areas.
CAMPGROUND IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETED AT SILETZ BAY
Thanks to an RAF grant awarded to Oregon Ambassador Sarah Brown and Oregon Liaison Richard Mayes, volunteers have completed improvements at Siletz Bay State Airport (S45) on the Oregon coast. Twenty-seven volunteers led by Brown met on April 17 to clean up the camping sites and replace the rusted fire rings and collapsed wooden picnic tables. The project was conducted in partnership with the Oregon Department of Aviation.
“Two days had been set aside for this project, but the abundance of capable, enthusiastic volunteers led to all tasks being completed by late afternoon of day one," Brown said. "At least twelve participants were volunteering for their first time with the RAF. Eight of the volunteers flew their own airplanes to Siletz Bay to help, and were treated to the sight of migratory whales just offshore.”
About 20 volunteers stayed to test out the fire rings, picnic tables, and new tent sites. RAF supporter Jon Gehrig cooked beef, salmon, and veggie burgers as part of a potluck dinner.
“Strong teamwork and an impressive dedication to the cause led to outstanding results at this pilot campground. We encourage pilots from Oregon or afar to enjoy the refreshed sites, and let us know if any further improvements or modifications would be helpful,” Brown added.
For more information on Siletz Bay State Airport, please visit the RAF Airfield Guide.
Submitted April 24, 2026
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