Fighter Pilot University - FU Heroes

Claire Chennault - FU Hero

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:57:00-0500

The faculty at FU is proud to add Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault to it’s Hall of Heros. Claire Chennault was a contentious officer, and a fierce advocate of "pursuit" or fight-interceptor aircraft during the 1930s when the U.S. Army Air Corps was focused primarily on high-altitude bombardment. Kinda of sound like our military leadership of today? Chennault retired in 1937, went to work as an aviation trainer and adviser in China, and commanded the "Flying Tigers” during World War II, both the volunteer group and the uniformed units that replaced it in 1942.

Poor health and disputes with superiors (I guess they didn’t do Rolling Stones interviews back then) led Chennault to resign from the service on 30 April 1937. He then went to China and joined a small group of American civilians training Chinese airmen. When the Sino-Japanese War broke out in July, he served as "air adviser" to Nationalist Government leader General Chiang Kai-shek.

Immediately following the Japanese air Attack on Pearl Harbor, the first news reports released to the public pertaining to Claire Chennault's war exploits occurred on 20 December 1941 when senior Chinese officials in Chungking that Saturday evening released his name to United Press International reporters to commemorate the first aerial attack made by the international air force called the American Volunteer Group (AVG).

These American flyers encountered ten Japanese planes heading to raid Kunming, and successfully shot down four of the raiders. Thus, Colonel Claire Chennault became America's first military leader to be publicly recognized for striking a blow against the Japanese military forces.

Based primarily out of Rangoon, Burma and Kunming, Yunnan, Chennault's 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) – better known as the "Flying Tigers” – began training in August 1941 and fought the Japanese for seven months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Chennault's three squadrons used P-40s to guard the Burma Road, Rangoon, and other strategic locations in Southeast Asia.

After the War, Chennault had a high opinion of Chiang Kai-shek and advocated international support for Asian anti-communist movements. He purchased several surplus military aircraft and created the Civil Air Transport (later known as Air America). These aircraft facilitated aid to Nationalist China during the struggle against Chinese Communists in the late 1940s, and were later used in supply missions to French forces in Indochina.

In 1951, a now-retired Major General Chennault testified and provided written statements to the Senate Joint Committee on Armed Forces and Foreign Relations, which was investigating the causes of the fall of China in 1949 to Communist forces. Together with Army General Albert C. Wedemeyer, Navy Vice Admiral Oscar C. Badger II, and others, Chennault stated that the Truman administration's arms embargo was a key factor in the loss of morale to the Nationalist armies. Shortly before his death, Chennault was asked to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee of the Congress. When a committee member asked him who won the Korean War, his response was blunt: "The Communists."

Here's a great video clip from back in the day about Claire Chennault's Flying Tigers.

American Soldier - FU Hero

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 07:28:00-0500

What can I say, but the 4^th is by far my favorite holiday so we here’s another shot across the bow for all you red blooded freedom lovers. The video narrated by Oliver North speaks for itself. We live in the land of the free because of the brave men and women we have willing to step up to the plate and answer the call to protect freedom. So without pontificating any further, our latest addition to the hall of FU hero’s is the American Soldier, Sailor, and Marine serving our country around the world 24-7-365.

Willaim Thaw - FU Hero

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 06:00:00-0500

William Thaw. Many historians believe that the first American to be involved in aerial combat was Bill Thaw and, as such, is at least in the discussion of who was the first American fighter pilot.

Thaw was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in August 1893. He left Yale University in 1913 to learn how to fly at the Glenn Curtiss school where he eventually became a flight instructor. When war broke out in Europe in August 1914, Bill volunteered for the French Flying Service but was turned down. Determined to be a part of The Great War he joined the French Foreign Legion in September. By December he was allowed to join the Flying Service as a gunner/observer. Eventually he was trained as a flyer and was reassigned to the Lafayette Escadrille where he would become the American commander of the French run flying squadron. While part of the Escadrille he downed two enemy aircraft. After transitioning to the American 103rd Aero Squadron, which he would eventually command, Thaw achieved three more victories to achieve his ace status.

In addition to significant honors and awards he received for his exploits with American forces, Thaw was awarded the French Légion d'Honneur for his time with the Lafayette Escadrille.

Members of the Lafayette Escadrille. Bill Thaw, fourth from the left.

Lt. Colonel Bill Thaw would return to Pittsburgh a WW I hero where he lived until his early death in 1934 after a bought with pneumonia. Among his medals and war souvenirs his family found the Lafayette Escadrille's famous Bottle of Death. That Bottle of Death, signed by most of the aces of the squadron, had contained an 80 year-old bourbon whiskey. Each time one of the unit fliers scored an air victory he had been entitled to a shot from the Bottle of Death.

Bill Thaw was one of many men who answered the call. His performance was exemplary and brought great respect upon himself. He understood the respect he owed to the men he fought with and the traditions they had established. He had a kickass mustache that was, interestingly, groomed in the shape of his flying wings. Bill Thaw definitely warrants the lofty honor of FU Hero.

Thanks to Pete "Weiner" Meyer, Major, USMC Retired, great nephew of Bill Thaw who brought him to our attention.

FU! Buy it at the FU Store.

Phil Straley - FU Hero

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:00:00-0500

Phil "Strales" Straley. We have often written about our heroes here at this distinguished institution of higher learning. They are usually folks that we have all heard of from the wars of our past. Today I’m going to write about one of my heroes and a great friend that I will miss dearly. Phil flew F-111’s, A-10's and F-16’s before going to FedEx as a an airline pilot. ”Strales” was killed in an accident in Memphis a few weeks ago and the world has been a duller place without his presence. He was a great man, a great husband to his exceptional wife Judi and a great friend to all who knew him. We will all miss his voice and the way he owned a room as soon as he walked into it. I’ll see you on the other side Strales; have the rum ready. Here’s a short synopsis of his life.

Colonel Philip Straley Died October 14, 2009, from injuries received in an automobile accident on October 5, 2009 in Memphis, TN. Col. Straley was formerly of Clinton, Iowa, but has resided in Tucson for many years. Phil was born September 14, 1948 in Clinton, Iowa, to Larry and Virginia Straley. He was raised at the Clinton Municipal Airport, which his father managed for 35 years. On Phil's sixteenth birthday he had the distinction of achieving solo flight in, not just one, but sixteen different planes. Following graduation from Camanche High School he went through ROTC at Coe College and became an Air Force Commissioned Officer. His military career spanned twenty-six years, and took him through Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East flying various fighter aircraft. The proudest of his accomplishments was becoming the Commander of the 308th TFS, Emerald Knights. His "comrades in arms" will tell you that he was a "pilot's pilot" who was never shy to tell you about his adventures. After retiring from the military he began flying Boeing 727's for FED EX, and became a Line Check Airman as well. Col. Straley is survived by his wife Judi; daughter, Anna (James) Cameron of Edinburgh, Scotland; son, Trent (Karita) of Phoenix; grandchildren, Piper and Nolan; brothers, Steve (Judy) of Tucson and J.B. (Kathy) of Eldridge, IA. Military Funeral Service was held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 23, 2009 at Davis Monthan Air Force Base Chapel. Memorials may be made in the Colonel's name to River Rats Air Warrior Foundation, St. Judes Childrens Research Foundation, Special Olympics, or Honor Flight Fund.

Bud Anderson - FU Hero

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:00:00-0500

Bud Anderson. During WW II, Colonel Bud Anderson was a flight leader and mentor to pilots like Chuck Yeager. Bud is a WWII Triple Ace who flew the P-51 Mustang "Old Crow" while assigned to the 357th Fighter Group "Yoxford Boys," 8th Air Force, Leiston Field, United Kingdom. The 357th Fighter Group was credited with shooting down 609 1/2 enemy aircraft in only 15 months, a pace no other fighter group equaled. The 357th, also produced 42 Aces, more than any other group.

He served two combat tours in the P-51 Mustang, Nov 1943 through Jan 1945. He flew 116 sorties with the 357th Fighter Group, scoring 16.25 victories, the fourth-ranking ace of that outstanding group, which also included John England, 'Kit' Carson, Robert Foy, R.A. Peterson, Don ("Stick with me honey, and you'll be farting through silk.") Bochkay, and a little West Virginian kid named Chuck Yeager. Chuck called Bud “the best pilot I’ve ever seen.”

He learned to fly at age 19 gaining his private pilots license in 1941 through the Civilian Pilot Training Program while attending college. In Jan 1942 he entered the US Army Aviation Cadet Program receiving his wings and commission in Sept 1942. He received his test pilot training by completing the AMC Performance Course (1948) and the Stability and Control Course (1949) while at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

Other assignments in his 30 years of continuous military service include duty as Commander of an F-86 Squadron in post war Korea, and Commander of an F-105 Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan. He served in Southeast Asia, where he was Commander of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing. Col. Anderson flew strikes against enemy supply lines, and later was in charge of closing the first large air base in Thailand when his combat wing was deactivated. Col. Anderson was decorated 26 times. His awards include 2 Legion of Merits, 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Bronze Star, 16 Air Medals, the French Legion of Honor, and the French Croix de Guerre, as well as many campaign and service ribbons.

The faculty at Fighter Pilot University is proud to name Bud Anderson as our latest FU Hero.

Leonard Carson - FU Hero

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 06:00:00-0500

Leonard "Kit" Carson While looking through our next selection for FU Heroes, I happened to find a lot of art for Kit’s P-51s throughout the latter part of WW II. There are several brief references to Kit and his association with the 357th group but, as the top ace from that group, I was surprised at the lack of concise information on this skilled pilot.

Being born sometime in 1923 and entering the Army Air Corp, which originally planned to send him off to fly in the Pacific, are two of the only facts I could readily find about the early years of our current FU Hero. Kit, as stated earlier, was the top scorer of the 357th Fighter Group with 18.5 aerial victories (3.5 more by strafing). The 357th was the first P-51 unit in Eighth Air Force, beginning combat operations in February 1944. Its aircraft were distinct, having the most colorful paint schemes including red and yellow nose checkers and a variety of nicknames and nose art.

Carson was on the verge of heading for the Pacific with a P-39 outfit but instead joined the 357th. His first victory was on April 8, 1944. For gunnery, his chosen technique for success was to bore in close to his victim rather than rely on deflection shooting. "Get dead astern and drive in to 200 yards or less, right down to 50 yards and fire a couple of one-second bursts." He chalked up the bulk of his score during the final six months of the war, flying Nooky Booky IV. Passing on his skills, for a time, he ran 'Clobber College' (Kickass name!) the 357th's combat school.

When training, he emphasized the challenges of flying seven-hour missions (piddle packs anyone?) in the harsh weather of Northwestern Europe. He stressed the importance of the "two-ship" element, and the defensive strengths of the P-51. "Do anything you can to break his line of sight on you. Once you've done that, he can't lay a glove on you." He insisted that the new pilots master instrument flying, a necessity in the rain, snow, ice, and poor visibility of the European theater. "Anyone who has a casual attitude toward flying in this climate is going to wind up wearing an 8,000 pound coffin at the bottom of the North Sea." He noted that they should all become intimately familiar with the east coast of England, as the biggest aid in zeroing in on home plate. He emphasized the need to train and plan on the long missions, and to dress as if they "were going to have to walk out of Germany."

All of these lessons still hold true today. Kit emphasized trend issues and special interest items before we knew what to call them. I suppose the lack of information about Kit on the Internet could be due to the fact that he had some pretty famous colleagues there with him in the 357th, Yeager and Anderson included, but I think from the little I found on him that he was a man that let his flying do the talking. He approached his craft with intelligence and did his best to hand the knowledge down to the next generation. We thank him for his insight on tactics and his service as one of the greatest generation.

Mustang fans, check out our P-51 design in the FU Store.
Like everything there, it kicksass!!

Georges Guynemer - FU Hero

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:00:00-0500

Georges Guynemer is one of the special young men who formulated the very early years of the fighter pilot profession. He was born to a wealthy French family in December 1894 but grew up a frail sickly boy. Because he was always thin and somewhat delicate in appearance Guynemer was initially refused military service as France was drawn into World War I. However, his determination and tenacity eventually earned him a position to train as a mechanic. That same fortitude finally paid off when he was approved for flight training in June 1915. Guynemer was assigned to Escadrille MS.3, (later designated Escadrille N.3, the famous Storks) which would be his only squadron throughout his flying career.

Flying the Nieuport 10 Guynemer had achieved ace status with his fifth victory in February 1916. By the end of that year his total was 25 and he was described by his squadron commander as “my most brilliant stork.” In February 1917, now flying the SPAD VII, he became the first Allied fighter pilot to down a heavy German bomber. In May he downed seven enemy aircraft. By July he had fifty victories and had now reached national hero status.

The French public couldn’t get enough information about Georges Guynemer and the French press glorified him in print. His natural shyness and unwillingness to exploit his new found fame made him even more appealing to his countrymen. Having survived seven shoot downs, all without a parachute, Guynemer appeared invincible to the French common man.

On 11 September 1917 while on combat patrol Georges Guynemer disappeared. Guynemer was last seen by his wingman diving to engage a German observation plane. After the wingman was able to shake off attacking German Fokkers he was unable to regain sight of his flight lead. Neither Guynemer nor his plane was ever found. The Germans claimed one of their pilots had shot down the famous French ace but even that could not be confirmed. The French public was stunned. French school children were taught the Guynemer had flown too high and could not return to earth. At the time of his death Guynemer had 53 victories. He was just 22 years old.

Young men like Gerorges Guynemer truly warrant our acknowledgement as FU heroes. Their ingenuity and courage in this new airborne way of waging war established an attitude and mindset that would be emulated by generations of fighter pilots to come.

Manfred von Richthofen - FU Hero

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:00:00-0500

Freiherr Manfred von Richthofen. FU proudly inducts the Red Baron into the eternal ranks of the FU hero. Put aside the fact he was kicking the asses of the western allies and join FU in paying tribute to an individual that developed air power and current doctrine through his mastery of the craft. Manfred von Richthofen was also known as "le Diable Rouge" ("Red Devil"), "Le Petit Rouge" ("Little Red") in French, and the "Red Knight" or "Red Baron" in English. Hell, his name alone is scary to pronounce. He was credited as the greatest fighter pilot during WW I, where fighter aircrafts were still in their infancy stage, powered props and 10 times slower compared to modern jet fighters. The Red Baron registered 80 kills including British top pilot, Major Lanoe Hawker VC, described by von Richthofen himself as "the British Boelcke" or the British Ace.

That victory came while von Richthofen was flying an Albatros D.II and Hawker was flying a D.H.2 on 23 November 1916. When the First World War broke out, von Richthofen served as a cavalry scout on both the eastern and western fronts. However, when traditional cavalry operations became obsolete due to machine guns and barbed wire, the soldiers were used in ordinary battlefield operations and for reinforcements. Disappointed with not being able to participate more often in combat operations, von Richthofen joined the Flying Service at the end of May 1915. He was initially a reconnaissance observer over the Eastern Front.

After being transferred to the Champagne front, he managed to shoot down a French Farman aircraft with his observer's machine gun (KICKASS), but was not credited with the kill, as it fell behind Allied lines. He then trained as a pilot in October 1915. In March 1916, he joined Kampfgeschwader 2 flying a two-seat Albatross B.II. Over Verdun on 26 April 1916 he fired on a French Nieuport, downing it over Fort Douaumont, although once again he gained no official credit. At this time he flew a Fokker Eindecker single-seat fighter. After a further spell of flying two-seaters on the Eastern Front in August 1916 he switched to Jagdstaffel or Jasta 2 aircraft.

Von Richthofen won his first aerial combat over Cambrai, France on September 17, 1916. After his first victory, von Richthofen ordered a silver cup engraved with the date of the fight and the type of enemy aircraft from a jeweler friend in Berlin. He continued this tradition until he had 60 cups, by which time the supply of silver in blockaded Germany was restricted (probably due to his kickass number of victories).

Rather than engage in risky tactics like his brother Lothar (40 air kills), Manfred von Richthofen strictly observed a set of flight maxims (commonly referred to as the "Dicta Boelcke") to assure the greatest success for both squadron and individual flyer. After his famous kill on the British ace Major Lanoe Hawker VC, on 23 November 1916, he switched to the Albatros D.III in January 1917, scoring two kills before suffering a crack in the spar of the aircraft's lower wing. Following this incident, von Richthofen reverted to the Albatros D.II for the next five weeks.

Von Richthofen scored one kill in the D.III on 9 March, but the D.III was temporarily grounded for the rest of the month, therefore von Richthofen switched to the Halberstadt D.II, scoring six kills in the Halberstadt between 11 March and 25 March 1917. Von Richthofen returned to the Albatros D.III on 2 April 1917. He scored his next 22 kills in this aircraft before switching to the Albatros D.V in late June. For his kickass performance in the air and his obvious fighter pilot attitude, FU salutes the Red Baron for his great accomplishments in air battle tactics.

Bob Hoover - FU Hero

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:04:00-0500

Bob Hoover. Remember when Gordo Cooper in “The Right Stuff” would pose the question, “Who’s the greatest pilot you ever saw?” I don’t think that most fighter pilots I know would argue the fact that Bob Hoover is one of the greatest pilots of all time.

Bob Hoover learned to fly at Nashville's Berry Field while working at a local grocery store to pay for the flight training. He enlisted in the Tennessee National Guard and was sent for pilot training with the Army Air Corps. During WW 2, he was assigned to the Spitfire-equipped 52nd Fighter Group in Sicily. In 1944, on his 59th mission, his malfunctioning Mark V Spitfire was shot down by a Fw 190 off the coast of Southern France and he was taken prisoner. He spent 16 months at the German prison camp Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany.

After three failed attempts to flee from his German captors, Bob Hoover was running out of escape options. When a staged fight among the other prisoners diverted the attention of the prison guards, the former Stalag Luft 1 resident hopped a barbwire fence and went looking for the refuge of Allied territory. While he didn’t quite make it to Allied land on foot, Hoover did manage to find an abandoned Fw 190, which he cautiously flew to the then recently liberated Holland. It’s kind of ironic that the same aircraft that put him in prison was the one he flew to freedom. One things for sure, this guy has some big balls.

After the War, Chuck Yeager was asked who he wanted for flight crew for the supersonic Bell X-1 flight, he named Bob Hoover. Hoover was Yeager's backup pilot in the Bell X-1 program and flew chase for Yeager in a Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star during the Mach 1 flight. He also flew chase for the 50th anniversary in an F-16.

Bob Hoover is best known for his accomplishments as a Test Pilot and later an aerobatic demonstration pilot at air shows. Anyone who can go over the top in a Shrike Commander with both engines shut down, come back around and touch down on one wheel and then the other, pull to a stop at show center, and also possess the highly coveted skill of pouring a cup of tea during a barrel roll---Well let’s just say he might be the greatest pilot any of us has ever seen. Jimmy Doolittle referred to Bob Hoover as “the best stick and rudder guy who ever lived.” That’s not a bad endorsement coming from another FU Hero.

Hoover also served for many years as the official starter of the Unlimited-class races at the Reno Air Races. The race planes (mostly modified WWII fighter aircraft) joined up in line-abreast formation on Hoover's yellow P-51 Mustang, Old Yeller, and when in satisfactory order the spectators would hear over the PA his famous radio call, "Gentlemen, you have a race." Hoover's plane would pull up sharply into a vertical climb as the racers dived toward the first turn. Hoover would circle overhead during the race, ready to assist any race pilots with problems. In several cases, Hoover helped pilots with crippled race planes to a safe recovery by talking them down while flying in formation with them.

Bob Hoover is considered one of the founding fathers of modern aerobatics. In the Centennial of flight edition of the Air & Space Smithsonian, he was named the third greatest aviator in history. Sorry, but I think they got that one wrong. Bob Hoover has often been called a “pilot’s pilot” and the faculty at FU is proud to add Bob Hoover in our honored hall of FU Heroes.

Edward O'Hare - FU Hero

Fri, 29 May 2009 06:00:00-0500

Edward "Butch" O'Hare. Butch O’Hare’s name graces the second busiest airport in the world located in Chicago. We all know about the Chicago landing strip but for those of us interested in heroes of the past, FU wants to reemphasize why they put this great man’s name on the field. Butch was a graduate of Annapolis and after doing his first required sea duty; he fulfilled his desire to fly airplanes by being selected to go to Pensacola for naval flight training. In November of that same year, His father, a wealthy business man, was gunned down by Capone’s men presumably for providing information to the feds concerning Capone. Corruption in Chicago…go figure.

Arriving at Pensacola after the funeral, young O'Hare moved up to flying more advanced biplanes like the Vought O3U, the Corsair SU, and the Vought SBU-1 scout bomber (top speed 205 mph). In early 1940, he completed the required flying in patrol planes and advanced land planes. After finishing his training, Butch was assigned to the USS Saratoga where he would work for the great “Jimmy “ Thach who would be his XO. Thach had a propensity to show the new guys how bad they sucked by whipping their asses in a dog fight while reading a newspaper or eating his lunch. Butch was an exception; this impressed Thatch and he took Butch under his mentorship as a rising star flying wise.

On February 20, 1942, Butch O'Hare demonstrated in real life, and when it counted most, the fighting skills he had mastered. The carrier Lexington had been assigned the dangerous task of penetrating enemy-held waters north of New Ireland. From there her planes were to make a strike at Japanese shipping in the harbor at Rabaul. Unfortunately, while still 400 miles from Rabaul, the Lexington was discovered by a giant four-engine Kawanishi flying boat. Lieutenant Commander Thach, skipper of the Lexington's Wildcat fighters, shot down the Japanese "Snooper," but not before it had radioed the carrier's position. That afternoon Commander Thatch led six Wildcats into the air to intercept nine twin-engine enemy bombers. In the attack each of the Wildcats destroyed a bomber and damaged two more. The ship's anti-aircraft guns finished off the rest. In the meantime, nine more Japanese bombers were reported on the way. Six Wildcats, one of them piloted by Butch O'Hare, roared off the Lexington's deck to stop them. O'Hare and his wingman spotted the V formation of bombers first and dived to try to head them off. The other F4F pilots were too far away to reach most of the enemy planes before they released their bombs. As if this weren't bad enough, O'Hare's wingman discovered his guns were jammed. He was forced to turn away. Butch O'Hare stood alone between the Lexington and the bombers.

O'Hare didn't hesitate. Full throttle, he roared into the enemy formation. While tracers from the concentrated fire of the nine bombers streaked around him, he took careful aim at the starboard engine of the last plane in the V and squeezed his trigger. Slugs from the Wildcats six .50-caliber guns ripped into the Japanese bomber's wing and the engine literally jumped out of its mountings. The bomber spun crazily toward the sea as O'Hare's guns tore up another enemy plane. Then he ducked to the other side of the formation and smashed the port engine of the last Japanese plane there.

One by one he attacked the oncoming bombers until five had been downed. Commander Thatch later reported that at one point he saw three of the bombers falling in flames at the same time. By now Thach and the other pilots had joined the fight. This was lucky because O'Hare was out of ammunition. The Wildcats took care of several more bombers and Lexington managed to evade the few bombs that were released. It was an amazing example of daring and shooting skill. Afterward Thach figured out that Butch O'Hare had used only sixty rounds of ammunition for each plane he destroyed. He had probably saved his ship. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and awarded the highest decoration of his country, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Butch was killed in combat November 27 1943 during combat conducted using newly formed tactics for night ops. Much of this plan was instigated and trained to by O’Hare and the details from that night are confusing to say the least. Butch is thought, by some, to have been brought down by friendly fire during the night mission he was on to destroy some “Bettys”. Further research concludes that he was probably brought down by a lucky shot from a Betty nose gunner. Whatever the cause, Butch was a hero and FU wants to give him supreme credit in our modern era so as to remember another of America’s finest and most important generation.

Pyotr Nesterov - FU Hero

Fri, 01 May 2009 06:00:00-0500

Pyotr Nesterov was born in Russia in February 1887 and became the first man to use his aircraft to destroy an enemy plane. His father was a military academy instructor so his career was pretty much established at birth. In 1904 he entered one of the top artillery schools in Russian and went on to serve in an artillery brigade in Vladivostok. In 1909 he became consumed by aviation when he was assigned to work with an aircraft manufacturer. He would build his own glider and teach himself to fly it. Then in 1911 he entered a formal military flying school.

On 9 September 1913, flying a Nieuport IV monoplane near Kiev, Nesterov performed the very first loop every flown in an airplane. He was arrested and placed in confinement for endangering government property but once the world learned of his accomplishment and became internationally famous he was released and promoted. He had become the first aerobatic pilot and stressed the value of this type of flying for military fliers. He developed new flying techniques and designed new types of planes.

Very early after the outbreak of World War I, 26 August 1914, when aircraft were still unarmed, Nesterov was flying a combat mission when he encountered an enemy, Austrian reconnaissance plane. Determined to confront and destroy his adversary Nesterov rammed is plane into the Austrian aircraft. Both planes were disabled and unable to fly and fell to the ground killing Nesterov the Austrian crew.

In spite of his death and possibly questionable tactics, Nesterov demonstrated the kind of courage and tenacity that is desired in fighter pilots the world over. Pyotr Nesterov is worthy of the status of FU hero.

James Swett - FU Hero

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:00:00-0500

James Swett is an easy choice to add to our FU heroes. James received the Medal of Honor for knocking down seven Japanese dive bombers in under fifteen minutes during his first tour in WW II; pretty amazing statistics for the young airman to say the least. Today our young men in the air live for the chance to get just one but their predecessors, like Col Swett, have done their job so well that the follow on training and equipment produced over the last several decades have left our fighter pilots with no one to shoot at the moment. As part of the Guadalcanal campaign, Japanese Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto had ordered a massive daylight offensive involving at least 150 Japanese bombers and fighter escorts. The Allies had about half that number of planes, one of which carried Lt. Swett.

He was leading his division of four Wildcat planes April 7, 1943, when another pilot spotted the enemy and radioed, "There's millions of 'em!" Over Tulagi island, Lt. Swett saw about 20 lightly armored Japanese Val dive bombers trying to target Allied ships. Lt. Swett made his first attack within 300 yards of a dive bomber, making his first kill, and followed quickly with bursts of fire on two more Vals, sending both spiraling down in flames. He became separated from his division during the incident but managed under intense enemy gunfire to down four more Japanese bombers. While engaging yet another, he ran out of ammunition and was hit by that Val's rear gunner. Parts of his shattered windscreen scraped against his face and his engine caught on fire. One wing was already damaged by antiaircraft flak.

Col Swett played a huge part in stopping the Japanese advance in the Pacific. His courage and skill was demonstrated again and again as he achieved another 8.5 kills during his second tour. He refused to return to the states after being awarded his Medal of Honor to do a publicity tour because he felt his ability to train young replacement pilots would be of more benefit to the folks in combat than some bullshit PR gig in the U.S.

James died Jan 18 2009. He had earned eight Distinguished Flying Cross Medals and four Air Medals in addition to the Medal of Honor. He, like most of our WW II heroes has passed on to greener pastures. The country will always be in debt to his service and FU salutes his valor.

Bob Pardo - FU Hero

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:02:00-0500

Captain Bob Pardo is famous for what's become known as "Pardo's Push." I've included a write up from the AF Magazine in 1996 about the incredible bravery and ingenuity of Captain Pardo during a mission over North Vietnam in 1967. Reading the account of that day illustrates how fighter pilots faced with adversity adapt to the situation and improvise to find a solution. Pardo did just that. It's why you want fighter pilots flying your pink body around on A-words. Sully Sullenburger being a prime example.

Pardo was lead of two ship on a strike mission near Hanoi. His wingman and he both took on battle damage during the attack, and his wingman had a massive fuel leak as a result of the AAA they absorbed. Bob Pardo realized that his wingman would be a resident of the Hanoi Hilton if he did not come up with a plan and fast. He did just that by having his wingman lower his hook while flamed out so that Pardo could push him to safety with the windscreen of his Phantom. Only a fighter pilot would come up with a solution as radical as this, but it worked.

The leadership and heroism of Captain Pardo will go down in history as an example of the "can do" attitude of fighter pilots. The faculty at FU is proud to name Bob Pardo as our latest FU Hero.

Pardo's Push
Story by John L. Frisbee

Uncommon courage, Ingenuity, and skill were combined in a unique experience of the Vietnam War.

There are pilots who fly fighters, and there are fighter pilots. Retired Lt. Col.Bob Pardo is one of the latter. When he's not flying corporate jets in Colorado, he's doing aerobatics in single-engine planes with fighter pilot friends.

Of the 132 missions he flew in Vietnam with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, the most memorable is that of March 10, 1967, when he and his weapon system officer, Lt. Steve Wayne, went against steel mills near Hanoi. In their flight was Capt. Earl Aman and his "Guy in Back," Lt. Bob Houghton. The Hanoi area was the most heavily defended in the history of air warfare, and on that day enemy ground fire was the heaviest Captain Pardo had seen in his many trips downtown.

Before they reached the target, Captain Aman's F-4 was hit, but he was able to stay with the formation. As they were rolling in on the target, antiaircraft gunners found Aman again. His aircraft began to leak fuel rapidly. Pardo also was hit but was able to continue with the strike, though his F-4, too, was leaking fuel. By the time they were above 20,000 feet on their way out, it was obvious that Aman did not have enough fuel to reach Laos, where he and Houghton could bail out with a reasonable chance of being rescued. If they punched out over North Vietnam, they were almost certain to be captured and either killed or sent to reserved accommodations at the Hanoi Hilton .

Bob Pardo, on the other hand, probably had enough fuel, with careful management, to reach a tanker, leaving Aman and Houghton to an uncertain fate. That was not Pardo's way. "How can you fly off and leave someone you just fought a battle with?" asks Pardo. "The thought never occurred to me." He would stay as long as Aman's fuel lasted, then think of some way to get the two men to safety. Pardo didn't have long to think about it. While they were still over North Vietnam, Aman flamed out. What to do now? Desperate situations demand desperate measures. Pardo decided to do something that, to his knowledge, had not been done before. He would push Aman's F-4 to Laos. (In 1952, during the Korean War while Pardo was still in high school, fighter ace Robbie Risner had pushed his wingman out of North Korea in an F-86. Pilots then were ordered to refrain from attempting the hazardous act again, and the event, which Risner hardly ever mentioned, faded from memory.)

With delicate touch, Pardo brought the nose of his damaged aircraft into contact with Aman's F-4, now plunging toward the Laotian jungle at 250 knots. He soon found that the pointed nose of an F-4 was not designed for pushing anything more solid than air. After several failed attempts, Bob Pardo came up with a brilliant idea. He told Aman to drop his tailhook. He then maneuvered his windscreen against the tailhook. It worked, but about every thirty seconds Pardo would lose contact because of turbulence, then back off and come in again. It was an extraordinary job of flying. Aman's rate of descent was reduced to 1,500 feet per minute.

Their problems were not over. Pardo's left engine caught fire. He shut it down, then restarted it, and again it caught fire. Never mind that. He would be at zero fuel in ten minutes anyway. It was time for everyone to hit the silk. Aman and Houghton bailed out at 6,000 feet, followed shortly by Wayne and Pardo. Once on the ground, Aman and Houghton were pursued by the enemy but managed to elude them. All four men were picked up by rescue helicopters,Pardo, who bailed out last, was rescued forty-five minutes after the others, and returned to their base at Ubon RTAB, Thailand.

Bob Pardo was an instant hero to the other pilots but not to some higher echelon accountants, who threatened to bring charges against him for losing an expensive airplane. Good judgment prevailed, and the charges were dropped. Two decades later, he and Steve Wayne each were awarded the Silver Star for what came to be known as Pardo's Push, immortalized in a striking painting by aviation artist Steve Ferguson.

Stolen from AIR FORCE Magazine / October 1996

Footnote: The aircraft involved were F-4Ds 63-7653 and 64-0839.

Leo Thorsness - FU Hero

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:00:00-0500

Leo Thorsness was born in Walnut Grove, Minnesota in February, 1932. He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1951 when he was 19. Through the Aviation Cadet program he received a commission and went to pilot training. Identified early as fighter pilot material he would fly the F-84 and the F-100 before flying the F-105 Thunderchief. In 1966 Leo was assigned to the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli, Thailand where he would fly the F-100 in Wild Weasel missions, search and destroy missions against North Vietnamese surface-to-air missiles (SAM) sights.

On 19 April 1967, Thorsness, as Kingfish 01, led four Thunderchiefs north on a SAM suppression mission near heavily defended Hanoi. After splitting off Kingfish 03 and 04 to search north, Thorsness took his element south where they found two SAMs, forcing one to shut down and destroying the second with cluster bombs. That's when things started to go bad. Leo's wingman was hit by anti-aircraft fire and both pilot and EWO had to eject. Unknown to Thorsness, Kingfish 03 and 04 had been jumped by MiG-17s and since one of these F-105's afterburner wouldn't light they were forced to egress and return to base. Kingfish 01 was on his own.

Spotting the open parachutes of his downed wingmen, Thorsness circled overhead to provide whatever support he could. He called Seach and Rescue assets to pass position reports. Then spotting a MiG-17 approach threateningly close to his wingman still under chutes, Leo attacked. Though his F-105 was no formidable air-to-air threat, Thorsness closed on the MiG and destroyed it with 20mm cannon fire. At that point, two more MiGs, now at his six, caused Kingfish 01 to light his afterburner, drop to the deck and out run the MiGs into the hills west of Hanoi. Low on fuel, Thorness began an egress for a tanker rendezvous over Laos.

At this same time, the first member of the SAR forces were arriving in the area in the form of two, Sandy, A-1E Skyraiders. Hearing that, Thorsness turned back to provide overhead cover for the Sandies. As he reentered the area, Leo spotted MiGs over the Skyraiders and immediately attacked. Surprising the MiGs he closed and fired his cannon within 2000 feet of one and saw impacts and flying debris. Four MiGs jumped Thorsness causing him again to egress low and fast. But, now hearing that the Sandies were under direct MiG attack, with Sandy 01 already shot down, Leo once again turned back into the fight. Although out of ammunition, Kingfish 01, reengaged the MiGs. Luckily, another flight of F-105s from the 355th showed up and was able to assume the cover role for the remaining Sandy, allowing Thorsness to finally depart after 50 minutes of battling SAMs, anti-aircraft fire and MiGs.

Approaching the tanker again, very low on fuel, Thorsness heard another F-105 call out lost and critically low on fuel. Leo directed the tanker to the more fuel needy Thunderchief. Kingfish 01 would land at Udorn, 200 miles closer than Takhli. When he landed his fuel tanks registered empty.

Leo Thorsness would eventually receive the Medal of Honor for his feats on 19 April but that would have to wait. Eleven days later, on his 93rd mission, he was shot down by a MiG-21 and spent the next six years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. He would finally be released from Hanoi jails in February 1973 and retired from the Air Force in October that same year.

Thorsness made a failed run for the US Senate against George McGovern in 1974 and again was unsuccessful in a run for the US Congress against Tom Daschle in 1979 being defeated by only 139 votes. Beginning in 1988, he would serve a single term in the Washington state senate.

Here at Fighter Pilot University we are proud to put Colonel Leo Thorsness on our list of FU Heroes. We're proud of his bravery and courage in the air over Southeast Asia and as a POW in the hands of brutal North Vietnamese captors. And, once home, we're proud that he took on the liberal likes of McGovern and Daschle. To Colonel Leo Thorsness we say thank you for your service, a real FU Hero.

James Jabara - FU Hero

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:00:00-0500

James Jabara. FU takes great pleasure in adding Jabby to our list of fighter pilot heroes. He was born October 10, 1923 in Oklahoma and then lived and attended high school in Wichita, Kansas. He has an airport named after him on the north side of Wichita and, of note; he was the second highest ace of the Korean War behind Joseph McConnell who had 16 to his 15. McConnell got a base named after him in Kansas and is obviously a hero in his own right. Jabby had 1.5 kills in WW II bringing his career total to 16.5 and he holds the title of first “jet” ace. Jabara was of Lebanese American descent and standing at 5 ft 5 inches tall and needing corrective lenses he was hardly your typical candidate for the fighter world. This did not stop him from enlisting in the air corps and getting his wings much to the credit of his “can do” attitude and love of aerial combat. Col Jabara did two tours in the P-51 and was known there as “The Ceegar Kid” for his penchant for smoking stogies regularly while raising hell at the club. In 1951 he was sent from the war for a temporary assignment at Air Force headquarters and then on to Air Training Command as an instructor. At his request, he was sent back for another tour in Korea where he killed his last 9 MiG-15’s.

Col Jabara returned to the United States in July 1953 and was assigned to Headquarters of the 32nd Air Division, Syracuse, New York. He then took command of the 337th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts. By 1966, Jabara had risen to the rank of Colonel (the youngest at that rank at the time) and was to command the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Homestead AFB, Florida. Jabara was widely rumored to be on the brink of promotion to General when he and his teenage daughter Carol Anne died in a car accident in Florida on November 17, 1966, just as he was preparing to deploy the 31st Wing for his first tour in the Vietnam War. The Jabaras were in two cars on their way to a new home in South Carolina where his wife Nina and their children, James Jr., Carol Anne, Jeanne and Cathy would wait out Jabara's planned combat tour of Viet Nam. Carol Anne was driving a Volkswagen with her father as a passenger in Delray Beach, Florida. She lost control of the car going through a construction zone and it rolled several times. James Jabara was pronounced dead on arrival at the Delray hospital and Carol Anne died two days later. The two were buried together in a single grave at Arlington National Cemetery. His grandson Lt Nicolas Jabara was killed in a T-37 accident on Jan 31, 2002

Col Jabara lived the life of the “real fighter pilot” in a time where what you did in the air was what counted and your degrees and time behind a desk meant very little to your career. We at FU believe those days should come back and the political BS that gets most people promoted should find its way back to the REMFs where it should be. Jabby’s life was cut short but his accomplishments and example will live on forever. We salute him.