USAF Aggressors 40th Reunion
At the invitation of Col (ret) Gail “Evil” Peck, I got a rare “outsider’s” opportunity to attend part of the USAF Aggressors’ 40th Reunion on June 1st 2012 at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The Friday event was...
Tagged: Commander
Historic Marine VMO-6 Flying Unit Gone, Not Forgotten
Marine Observation Squadron Six (VMO-6) can trace its’ origins back to the formative years of Marine Aviation. Active for slightly less than half of the century of Marine Corps aviation, the squadron served during the 1920s’ Nicaragua Campaign, World...
Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI 1-12)
Weapons and Tactics Instructor In October 2011, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma was once again home for the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course or as it’s more commonly known as “WTI.” I was fortunate enough to be invited to...
Homecoming in Pensacola
The 2011 Blue Angels Homecoming Airshow was held under bright skies and cool conditions on the Friday and Saturday of Veteran’s Day weekend. The marquee flying act, as always, was the Blue Angels. Their homecoming late in the year...
2011 Patuxent River Air Expo
During the two weeks that preceded the 2011 NAS Patuxent River Air Expo, southern Maryland endured the rattle of an earthquake and the rain and winds of Hurricane Irene. Definitely not good air show weather! The two-day (Saturday and...
New Hampshire Air National Guard Training Mission with Thunderbirds
Not Just a Routine Training Mission… PACK61 and 62 Heavy flight departed the Portsmouth International Airport at Pease shortly after nine o’clock in the morning. The pair of New Hampshire Air National Guard KC-135R tankers were on a training...
Dr. Sky interviews SR-71 Pilot Colonel Richard Graham – USAF Retired
In June of 1986 Colonel Graham was selected to be the Vice Wing Commander, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (SRW), Beale AFB, California. In that capacity, he was able to fly all of the wing’s aircraft: the U-2, T-38, KC-135Q,...
HMLAT 303 – Training the Future of Light Attack
Before HMLAT-303 was established in April 1982, Marine Corps helicopter pilots received advanced aircraft training at their fleet squadron after completing basic flight training. Overtime, the Marine Corps realized that this method of training was a drain on squadron...
Patty Wagstaff’s Second Act – Fire Fighting
When Patty Wagstaff rolls the OV-10A Bronco into a smooth right turn to look at the white smoke below her, she is not above a runway. There are no cheering spectators, no crowd lines, and no ribbon cutting poles. Instead, there are tall trees, rocky hills, and flames. Often, she and her backseater, an air tactical group supervisor, who acts as an air controller, are the first people at a wildfire. Wagstaff will circle well above so her air controller can
Major General Tom Conant – 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Commanding General
At precisely 0830 hours I was ushered into the office of the Commanding General of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), Tom “Stash” Conant. Major General Conant, dressed in a tan flight suit, took a minute to finish up...
Tribute to Capt. Eric “Dirk” Ziegler
U.S. Air Force officials have identified the pilot involved in an aircraft mishap near Caliente, Nev., June 28 as Capt. Eric Ziegler, an operational test and evaluation instructor pilot with the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis Air...
Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Hosts 2011 Symposium and CONA Celebration
A three day Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force (MPRF) Symposium and Reunion, themed “Honoring the Past…Forging the Future”, occurred at NAS Jacksonville Florida April 4-6, 2011. Special activities included an opening day Centennial of Naval Aviation (CONA) fly-in, the...
