🎙️ No New Episode This Week – But Wait… It’s a Good Thing! 🎙️

Last week’s So There I Was with Dos Gringos clocked in at over 2 hours and 15 minutes — a wild ride packed with laughs, songs, and unforgettable stories. Add in some tech gremlins this week, and we figured: let’s give you a little more time to soak it all in.

If you haven’t heard it yet (or just want to hear it again), now’s your chance to dive back into the mayhem:

👉 https://sothereiwas.us/episode/163

Trust us — it’s one of our most epic episodes yet.

We’ll be back next week with a brand-new show. Until then… crank up the volume and enjoy more Dos Gringos!

— RePete & Fig ✈️🎧

This very long—but hilarious and heartfelt—episode dives deep into fighter pilot culture; think less dogfights, more Dos Gringos. We sat down with the irreverent band, their musical wingmen from Los Gringos, and the founders of Winglore Spirits to talk whiskey, war stories, squadron bars, and the art of laughing at yourself. You’ll hear about bad rides that birthed great songs, the origin of Two’s Blind, near-death ejections, the mythos of Shaved Dog’s Ass, and a whiskey label that offers a conservative joker and generous bingo! This isn’t just an episode—it’s a celebration of camaraderie, chaos, and culture that spans generations of pilots, crew dogs, and hanger-flying heroes.

Note: We left this extra-long for a reason—trimming it would’ve felt like cutting verses from a fighter pilot anthem. Strap in and enjoy this episode for a couple of weeks!

She’s five feet tall and larger than life! She once grounded an entire A&P school’s ego. Meet Mary Latimer — a pilot, mechanic, controller, examiner, and walking aviation pioneer. In this episode, she narrowly avoids lawn-darting a Cessna 172 from 5,000 feet with no elevator control using trim like a Jedi, and managed a mag failure mid-checkride. She once told an Air Traffic Control manager she was only going to hit one airliner! From launching 2,000 passengers in one night to getting told to “go back to the kitchen,” Mary’s tales are equal parts horrifying and hilarious. Oh — and she turned a terrified passenger into a private pilot. Mary’s been breaking barriers, rules (when necessary), and stereotypes for over 50 years. Aviation students: take notes. Everyone else? Just hang on and try not to say “it gets hard sometimes” on the radio!

Ben Densley joins So There I Was to share his extraordinary journey—opening with a terrifying incident during a night parachute jump on to becoming a Green Beret, then a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He recalls intense special forces training, covert operations in Laos, and flying for Air America in combat zones. Ben speaks candidly about the dangers he faced, the emotional toll of war, and the resilience needed to navigate PTSD. He also offers a behind-the-scenes look at missions involving rescues, supply drops, and demolitions. Post-war, Ben continued his aviation career with the NTSB and even flew for Trump Air. Along the way, he shares humorous stories, personal reflections, and gratitude for those who supported him through both war and peace. This episode is packed with history, heroism, and humanity—told by someone who lived it all.

This week we hand the mic to Pisser — a Marine aviator whose call sign isn’t an insult… it’s a proven skill… Yes, he really can clear a 15-passenger van… LENGTH-WISE! From calling in fast movers to dropping bombs and one-liners, Pisser takes us on a high-speed run through the hilarity and hazards of military aviation. He crushed flight school, built tactical air control programs, and somehow kept a straight face through “murder boards” that were anything but academic. You’ll hear about combat missions, ballsy-flybys, and just enough bathroom humor to stay on brand. Strap in — this one’s got altitude, attitude, and absolutely no apologies.

In this riveting episode of So There I Was, we sit down with John “Apache 2-3” Haugen, a Vietnam-era Army aviator with stories that span from the draft line in 1968 to combat flying in the Mekong Delta. John shares how he dodged a ground-pounder fate by heading to Officer Candidate School, ultimately flying slicks and accumulating over 900 hours of combat flight time. With humor, humility, and gripping detail, he recounts narrow escapes, night missions, forced landings, and his close call in a mangrove swamp that led to a surreal “third man” experience. From learning in OH-23s and flying Hueys to coordinating strikes with Cobras and Puff the Magic Dragon, John’s stories highlight the courage, camaraderie, and absurdities of combat aviation in Vietnam. Bonus tales include bar tabs in Manhattan, unexpected rat-kebabs, and the elusive “Hawk’s” little black book. This is an episode packed with history, grit, and a whole lot of heart!

Dr. David Hamilton, retired surgeon and award-winning historian joins us to to discuss his upcoming book The Enigmatic Aviator: Charles Lindbergh Revisited (out May 21, 2025—on the 98th anniversary of Lindbergh’s legendary flight to Paris). Dr. Hamilton unveils the lesser-known side of Lindbergh—his pivotal contributions to medical science, organ perfusion technology, and even the design of early centrifuges. We explore Lindbergh’s engineering brilliance, his secretive private life, and how his scientific legacy was buried beneath decades of political smears and tabloid noise. From barnstorming to building perfusion pumps, from fighting with the Luftwaffe to shaping the future U.S. Air Force, Lindbergh’s life was more complex than the myths suggest. This deep dive is both revelatory and respectful, with stories you’ve never heard—because until now, no one had dug this deep.

Bill Robinson recounts the harrowing story of being shot down over North Vietnam in 1965 during a rescue mission gone sideways. What followed was nearly eight years as a prisoner of war — making him the longest-held enlisted POW in American history. From in-flight helicopter refueling with 55-gallon drums to the chaos of capture, jungle survival, torture, and eventual release, Robinson shares vivid memories and razor-sharp insights. His humor, humility, and perspective on service, sacrifice, and resilience offer a powerful reminder of the cost of war and the strength of the human spirit. You’ll hear tales of duct-taped helicopters, donkey competitions, and homemade POW education programs — all delivered with unforgettable wit. This is not just a history lesson — it’s living testimony from a true American hero.

Former U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Jason “Quinny” Quinn shares the harrowing story behind the Distinguished Flying Cross he earned after saving five people from a burning ship in the Bering Sea. With only one helicopter and 26 people reported in the water, Quinn was deployed near the vessel Galaxy as it rolled violently in 25-foot seas. Swimming close to massive propellers and through smoke and flames, he rescued survivor after survivor—fighting exhaustion, freezing water, and chaos along the way.

Quinn also takes us back to where it all started: growing up on a lake in Massachusetts, joining the Coast Guard, and training to become one of the elite. He describes the intense physical demands of rescue swimmer school and the mental toughness it takes to operate in the world’s most dangerous conditions.

This episode is packed with real-world rescue tactics, unforgettable training moments, and pulse-pounding close calls. It’s a gripping, high-stakes look inside the life-and-death world of Coast Guard search and rescue—told by one of the best to ever wear the fins.

In this unforgettable episode of So There I Was, Howie Franklin—the only steward to serve five U.S. Presidents aboard Air Force One—joins us for an incredible deep dive into presidential history. With unmatched humor, insight, and warmth, Howie shares behind-the-scenes stories about Presidents Clinton, Reagan, Carter, Bush, and Ford. From rock-and-roll boombox diplomacy to emotional moments following family loss, Howie paints a vivid portrait of the human side of leadership.

He details what it was like to see President Clinton evolve in office, the unmatched organization of the Reagan administration, and hilarious anecdotes about presidential quirks—including broccoli mishaps and golf trip pranks. Howie’s tales span the globe, from Air Force One logistics in Moscow to midnight flights across the Mediterranean, all grounded in respect and service.

With humility and passion, Howie reminds us that behind every commander-in-chief is a hardworking team, and that leadership—at its best—is about compassion, service, and humor. If you’ve ever wanted a fly-on-the-wall perspective of history in motion, this episode delivers.