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Click on the pictures to get official statistics on the T-38 and F-117A
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I had been selected for promotion to the rank of Staff Sergeant while still in Japan, but had not "pinned-on" my new rank. With this in mind and a strong desire to try out my supervisory skills, I requested to be assigned to a squadron at Holloman where I would be in a supervisory role.
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The powers-that-be decided to grant my wish and I was given the job as NCOIC, Orderly Room/Information Management, in the 417th Fighter Squadron (The Bandits), commanded by Lt Col John Farnham. We were the only F-117A Stealth Fighter training squadron in the world. In this role, we were tasked with training pilots selected from other aircraft weapons systems the art of flying "stealth."
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In the 3 years at Holloman I worked for 3 different commanders; Colonel John "Lefty" Farnham, Lieutenant Colonel James "Whale" Phillips, and Lieutenant Colonel Greg "Curly" Nicholl. It was really neat to sit back and listen to all the pilots who flew the Nighthawk in the Gulf War tell their combat stories.
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One of the highlights of my tour at Holloman was getting an incentive flight in a T-38. Although I did get air sick, I would have gone back up the next day. I can see why fighter pilots "feel the need for speed." There is nothing to compare to doing a high "G" turn flying at the speed of mach-snot!!
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I remained at Holloman for 3 years in the same unit (NOTE: The 417th was eventually renamed the 7th Fighter Squadron "Screamin Demons"). I was more than ready to move when the opportunity for a special duty at the Air Force Academy opened. Needless to say, I jumped through hoops to get the assignment.
