This week, A-10 pilot Soup shares the untold story of leading the first mission into Afghanistan during Operation Anaconda. Navigating chaotic airspace without deconfliction in a high-stakes “knife-fight in a phone booth” battlespace, Soup delivers gripping accounts of close air support, critical decisions, and coordinating dozens of aircraft to protect troops on the ground.

This episode dives into leadership, resilience, and the ingenuity of combat aviation, showcasing life-or-death stakes and the pride of serving. Perfect for military aviation enthusiasts and history buffs, Soup’s adrenaline-filled stories offer a rare glimpse into the bravery and dedication of those who serve. Don’t miss this powerful firsthand account of history in action!

Shyster joins us to talk about flying Marine Attack helicopters after being told by the recruiter, “The Air Force is down the hall.” After combat deployments, Shyster found himself at HMX-1 – The Presidential lift squadron – and one fateful morning in September when the world turned upside-down, Shyster was right there at the highest levels of our government watching and working in the highest-stress crisis management of his life.

DON’T miss this one!

Some of the best stories of 2024. May you have a blessed and happy 2025. We’re thrilled you’re with us and we only ask that you please share the show with friends. Each chapter of this show lists the episode from which the story was taken.

Check Six!

Welcome to the first ever So There I Was Hangout. Being as it’s the holiday week we are publishing this hangout as a show. Sound quality is rough in some parts and it’s not a ‘smooth’ interview… but there are thousands of folks who didn’t get to come hang out with us. We will do a “Best Of” show on New Years Day – and plan on resuming with regular interviews on the 9th January! We had a ball chatting with so many folks. We will do this again! Come join us next time!

This week Fig, RePete & Sticks engage in some hangar talk this week as we had a tech issue preventing our scheduled guest from joining us. Hear us numbskulls recount some of the stories that led us to where we are today!

Hang Out with us on Zoom 22 Dec at 5PM Eastern Time

Click Here for the zoom link!

Hop aboard for a thrilling second episode with Bātar, packed with stories that will make you laugh, gasp, and question if pilots moonlight as comedians. The adventure kicks off with the baffling “Hawaii out of gas” debacle and revisits the unfinished “Football Island” tale from last week. Bātar shares a white-knuckle “Utility Hydraulic Failure” and a hilariously questionable moment with his pilot, Fox, debating their sobriety before a mission.

Get ready for livestock mishaps, slapstick-worthy landing gear incidents, and the thrill of 685 combat missions (including a wild drop of 24 bombs at once!). From dodging enemy fire to reflecting on the rare boredom when it wasn’t there, Bātar’s experiences are anything but ordinary. Add in SR-71 “that didn’t happen” moments, Great Santini antics, and an F-4 showdown, and you’ve got an episode that’s impossible to miss!

See below for Bātar’s Memoir!

Join us on this exhilarating episode as we dive into the gripping tales of “Bātar,” a Marine Corps F-4 Phantom RIO who recounts his heart-pounding experiences in the skies over Vietnam. From navigating treetop-level ordnance runs while dodging streams of tracer fire to his journey from a mechanical engineering student at the University of Rochester to the cockpit of one of aviation’s most legendary aircraft, Bātar shares his unique perspective on life, combat, and the camaraderie of the Corps. With anecdotes that range from the humorous to the harrowing, this episode is a must-listen for military aviation enthusiasts and fans of thrilling stories alike.

We also explore Bātar’s reflections on the “Old Corps,” the evolution of aviation, and the challenges of his time. His memoirs, A Marine Remembers the F-4, offer a rare window into the life of a Marine RIO during one of the most turbulent periods in history. Buckle up for an unforgettable ride with Fig and RePete as we honor Bātar’s legacy and hear firsthand about his extraordinary life in the skies.

Bātar kept notes and used letters home that his mother kept to reconstruct his memoir – which he graciously shares here!

F-4 Memories: A RIO Remembers the F-4

Retired USAF Col. “KC” shared incredible moments from her journey as an A-10 pilot, showcasing bravery, determination, and grit.

Some highlights include:

The Lucky Rabbit’s Foot and a Baghdad Mission

KC recounts a harrowing close air support mission over Baghdad in 2003. Battling poor visibility, she and her flight lead responded to a desperate call for help. Diving under the clouds, she targeted enemies beneath a bridge amid chaos. Her A-10 was hit by a surface-to-air missile, forcing her to fly in manual reversion. Despite the damage, she safely returned to base, demonstrating her skill, training, and the resilience of the Warthog.

Why She Chose the A-10

KC explains her decision to fly the A-10, the “Warthog,” drawn to its low-level mission focus and dedication to ground troops. Her story highlights the critical role of close air support and her pride in helping soldiers return home safely.

Reflections That Save Lives

KC shares how lessons from Desert Storm veterans and her training shaped her actions during crises. These stories became a lifeline in her most challenging moments.

KC’s vivid storytelling reveals what it means to serve with courage and commitment.

Join us for part two with RobRoy! Hear about his Naval Academy days, life aboard a carrier, landing a C-2 Greyhound, his YouTube channel, FlyBuyer.com, and his final Navy tour. Don’t miss this engaging pilot-to-pilot conversation!

Rob Roy’s path to becoming a Navy pilot started with inspiration from watching Top Gun as a child. Coming from a non-military background, he navigated the path to military aviation on his own, attending the U.S. Naval Academy and graduating in 2011. After completing Aviation Pre-flight Indoctrination in Pensacola, he trained in the T-34 and T-45, before Selecting C-2 Greyhounds, used for carrier onboard delivery. Rob’s journey included deployments, experiences in Corpus Christi, Texas, and roles that spanned from flying in high-stakes environments to assisting with logistics aboard carriers.

One highlight of Rob’s career was flying missions to carriers and ensuring delivery of personnel and supplies, showcasing the essential and often overlooked logistical backbone of naval aviation. He tells the story of getting his parents onto a carrier in the Mediterranean, and going around his Squadron CO (Skipper) to do so; a rare and meaningful gesture that illustrated his resourcefulness and deep connection to his family’s contributions. His tenure also involved unique assignments, transitioning aspirations, and navigating challenges with commanding officers, illustrating both the rigor and fulfillment of a naval aviator’s career.