Page 7 - Aerotech News and Review, July 9, 2021

High Desert Hangar Stories
Military and aircraft legacies honored, as air shows resume in 2021

by Bob Alvis
special to Aerotech News
This past 4th of July weekend, I was
thinking back on all the great events I
have attended over the years in com-
memoration of national holidays.
One thing that I will always be grate-
ful for are the hundreds of air shows I
have attended and been blessed to work
at. As I looked over our Antelope Val-
ley landscape the other night, and as
the “rocket’s red glare” got a bit crazy
for my taste, I got to thinking back to
the time when celebratory explosions
were not made for entertainment, but
to achieve an objective in a time of war.
The military involvement and dis-
plays at air shows are two-fold, as
their participation is about recruitment Air Force photograph
and showcasing modern technology Air Force photograph by Tech. Sgt. Sergio Gamboa A U.S. Air Force F-4 Phantom in flight over Southeast Asia.
in an entertaining format. But we also Capt. Haden “Gator” Fullam, A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team
realize — especially those of us who commander and pilot, performs an aerial demonstration during the 2021 Lancaster, many Americans are look- flights over Vietnam.
understand patriotism and service to Bethpage Airshow at Wantagh, N.Y., May 31, 2021. ing forward to the chance to once again On the ground, those A-10s will also
country — that at air shows there is an return to tarmacs across the country to serve another mission: to educate the
underlying message that pays tribute to lose the individual pride they had that a reminder of pain or suffering to those enjoy and be educated with the enter- public about the human cost of the war
those generations that came before, and makes them truly American. Symbols under siege, or evoke a moment of ju- tainment that will once again take to the by displaying the names of the miss-
may in some way connect to a family’s and nose art became more generic as bilation as an enemy is defeated. Air skies. One of the aspects that caught my ing in action and prisoners of war who
legacy. the tide changed. Many an old Airman, shows over the years have given mili- attention that addresses what my words served in the 355th Tactical Fighter
Some time ago I was getting the and some new, felt a kind of a betrayal, tary veterans the opportunity to attend, here are trying to explain: the return to Wing during Vietnam. These are the
feeling that the military branches, es- as what had been a part of their years of remember, reminisce about and share programs that take our frontline mili- predecessors of the current 355th Wing
pecially my beloved Air Force, were service was deemed undesirable or un- their wartime experiences. It’s also an tary aircraft and use them not just as Airmen who now operate out of Davis-
doing their best to put the past in the acceptable by policy makers. Luckily, opportunity for families to better under- eye candy in the sky, but to also carry Monthan Air Force base in Arizona.
rearview mirror. Many traditions and the haven and spectacle of an air show stand a loved one’s service to country, a message to make future generations Many people will never understand
remembrances that celebrated the gen- can for many be a place where they do by experiencing the sights and sounds think about where our history comes what all this symbolism is about and
erations that had come before, and not feel the pressures of modern soci- and, yes, explosions of those warbirds from and who those patriots were to will find ways to ignore it, but we as
commemorated what their military in- ety, but can connect back in a historical of past and current generations, and whom we owe so much. a nation must never forget the good or
volvement looked like when they put context to the times (good or bad) that getting a feel for their family legacy The Air Force legacy paint schemes
on the uniform of our country, were be- defined their service to country. or a better understanding of a friend or that are finding their way back on to our the bad of the wars in which we have
ing removed. As museums and flight The explosions of the 4th of July neighbor. military aircraft are a welcome return to fought. At the end of the day, the men
lines started to lose the spirit of Air- can, in many ways, be a “trigger” of With the air show circuit opening paying our respects to those who came and women that fought those wars and
men who took pride in personalizing experiences that were lived in combat back up, including the upcoming 2021 before and those who lost their lives in have those memories are not only our
their assigned aircraft, we started to so many years ago. They can be either Los Angeles Air Show at Fox Field in defense of our freedoms. When I saw friends and neighbors, but also our fam-
that the Air Force A-10 Warthog Dem- ily. We owe it to them to take a few
onstration Team would paint its plane moments, even at something as celebra-
in Southeast Asia Vietnam camouflage tory as an air show, and give thanks that
to pay tribute to the Airmen who flew they answered the call and did not turn
the F-4s, F-105s and a slew of other their back on those in need of heroes.
vintage aircraft, I could not have been Looking forward to seeing you folks
happier. I was a small part of that gen- out on the fields, as our air shows re-
eration of Airmen who supported those turn!
missions and got to personally know a
lot of those guys who sweated out those Until next time, Bob out …

Air Force photograph by Tech. Sgt. Sergio Gamboa
Capt. Haden “Gator” Fullam, A-10 Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team commander and pilot, sits in an A-10 at Patrick Air Force photograph
Space Force Base, Fla., April 15, 2021. Listed on the aircraft are all the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing Airmen who were Airmen at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base enjoy some ‘down time’ near a U.S.
killed in action or held as prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. The 355th TFW is the predecessor unit to the current Air Force F-105 Thunderchief.
355th Wing based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

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