Like your avatar also. I flew D's at Kunsan and E's at Eglin, then F-5Es as an Aggressor, finally F-15Cs for 13 years. After retiring (in 1998), I helped Rupert Bragg-Smith build the initial track at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, then got a job flying A4Ns for a civilian contractor as an adversary flying against the Canadian F-18s at Cold Lake and Baggotville. Probably crossed paths with a lot of your old buds along the way.

Pappy

I flew the QF-4 (what's in the avatar) from 1996-2004 (got 1250 hrs, N's and S's) at VX-30 in Point Mugu, CA. Flew the last USN registered F-4 (BUNO 153030) to the USS Midway Museum in AUG 2004. It was an F-4N, and sits now on the flight deck in the wires. I was in VFA-151 as a Dept Hd from 1988-1989 flying F-18's and did two IO cruises on Midway. Prior to that I flew A-7E's for three cruises, the last of which was a CAG LSO tour with John 'Bug' Roach on Kitty Hawk 1984 WESTPAC. My second cruise on Coral Sea 1980 we had USMC F-4N's where I learned to wave them (!!!). Retired in 1990 (was prior enlisted). You were a brave man to fly in the back and come aboard at night.

Rich,

I couldn't help but notice the Phantom in your avatar. What squadron(s) were you in?

I was a RIO in VF-151 on the Midway circa 1984-86 and the A-Strike on the Roosevelt '89-91 then got out.