(F-5F, F-5E, and A-4 provided a wide range of threats to challenge Navy fighter pilots and RIOs.) Have you ever wondered how the Navy’s Topgun program became a world-renowned center of excellence in the serious business of air combat?...
(photo by David Brown) I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Dave “Bio” Baranek, a former TOPGUN instructor and author in his own right! He is the author of “TOPGUN DAYS, Dogfighting, Cheating Death and Hollywood Glory As One...
The period beginning in the early 1930’s and culminating in the late 1940’s saw the most dramatic advancement of the aircraft in history. At the hands of designers and engineers such as Dutch Kindelberger, Lee Atwood, Don Berlin, Howard...
It started with a Staff Sergeant from the Meteorological Department giving the weather update to the group of Huey pilots. Wind Direction, Temperatures throughout the day, the angle of the Sun, and it was very precise. Sitting in on...
This is the first in a series, where we informally sit down and speak with the Commanding Officer of various military units. Simply called the C.O. he/she is responsible for everything, and I do mean everything that happens within...
Living History Day On the first Saturday of every month, the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California holds a ‘Living History Day’. The Air Museum focuses on a specific event or a specific aircraft, and honors those...
It was around noon on July 30, 2013, and several F/A-18’s from Marine squadrons, VMFA 314 “The Black Knights” and VMFA(AW) 225 “The Vikings” were taking off from the runways at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, just northeast of...
One of the longest and largest military exercises to take place in Southern California. Along with the US Navy and Marine Corps, Canada sent several Royal Canadian Naval vessels, as well as a Infantry unit from Quebec. New Zealand...
It’s was a bright typical summer day at Camp Pendleton in sunny Southern California. The Dawn Blitz 2013 Exercise has been taking place since early June. Dawn Blitz 2013 is a multinational exercise that the Navy and Marine Corps...
For most of the month of June, Operation Dawn Blitz 2013 will be happening off of the San Diego County coastline from Coronado to Camp Pendleton and will include exercises at San Clemente Island. Three Japanese ships are currently...
On May 9th, the United States Marine Corps invited a select few members of the media to the Air Station for an “Open House” of the new faculties that have been built on the base for the latest Marine...
While it may resemble Brawley, CA, it’s actually is the country of “Black”, and in one of the smaller towns, there is an insurgent leader who Intelligence has found out, is holed up in a certain house being protected...