This week we are joined by “Curly” of the VMA-231 Ace of Spades squadron. Curly closes the loop on some of the fun discussed in episode 15 – “Sir, Don’t Eat the Donuts” and other escapades of the LRF. Curly also tells us about some of his 38 combat missions in Gulf War I and how he survived in spite of himself. He sheds light on the adrenalin flow and […]
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Another first for the show! This week “Father” joins Fig and Repete in the first Air Force pilot interview on So There I Was. Father flew the F-15 Eagle acquiring 3800+ hours and was the Squadron Commander in St. Louis, MO when he finished his career. Father had the misfortune of being the witness to an accident so mystifying at the time the Air Force Grounded the entire fleet of […]
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This show is a little different than our others in that it isn’t directly about aviation. But, it IS about a right of passage most Naval Aviators had to go through before being commissioned as officers and starting flight school We are joined by Marine Corps 1st Sgt Retired – “Gunny-Go” – A shortened version of his name. Many a Marine and Navy pilot in the 1980s were taught and […]
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This is the second half of our time with “Nasty;” the former Commanding Officer of VF-31, The USS Sacramento, The USS Nimitz and a Strike Group aboard the USS Eisenhower. He tells of the time he ejected from an F-14 over the shark-infested waters of the Pacific. He describes why “Nuke-School” is hard – and the benefits thereof. And he tells us what the “Best Job in the Galaxy, HANDS-DOWN” […]
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Here’s to Bug Roach! Cdr. Roach was a legendary LSO and mentor to our guest this week and next: Nasty. Hear why he was so legendary and the poignant event right before Nasty was presented the “Bug Roach Award” for the LSO of the year. Nasty is the LSO who waived Yogi & Master aboard the Lincoln that fateful day in the summer of ’91 when Yogi came as close […]
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Hear directly from two of the pilots who flew the Harriers you see in the 1994 Arnold Schwarzenegger / Jamie Lee Curtis hit movie True Lies. Director James Cameron had a clear idea of what he wanted. He took good care of our Marines who were there to support the filming and made sure they were treated well and had time with their families over the holidays. Buggs and Moto […]
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Shiny joins us to tell how there wasn’t a Lieutenant’s Protective Association, but rather a Lieutenant’s Revolutionary Front that took action to get even with the senior officers in the squadron who were relentless in their hazing of all the new lieutenants. He also recounts their time in Saudi Arabia and flying combat sorties in Gulf War I; getting sent to the training command because he was married to the […]
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Yogi and Master join us this week to tell their first-hand account of one of the most terrifying landings on an aircraft carrier in Naval Aviation history. Period. What started as a routine mission on Yogi’s birthday was supposed to end with Yogi becoming a “Centurion” as he got his 100th “trap” aboard an aircraft carrier. Instead, it turned into one of the most harrowing recoveries EVER conducted aboard a […]
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This week we welcome F-14 Driver “Jake” who relates how he got to fly the Tomcat, losing a mutual friend, what the real Top Gun school is about, what it feels like to be alone at night in 60ยบ water and 6 foot seas in a one man survival raft, and watching a rescue helicopter stop, look, and fly away. Jake relays more of Fig’s adventures and why he was […]
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This is another very inspirational episode – a story of personal triumph in the face tragedy. OB Joins us to tell of his days as a line support guy at an FBO in his home town – fueling and towing light civils. He goes on to tell of his time as a Harrier pilot and how it was cut way too short. But this isn’t a story of woe and […]
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