Saturday afternoon, the 9th of this month, 3 long-time FASF/Daedalians drove out to witness the Graduation Ceremonies for 9 young new USAF F-16 Viper Fighter Pilots. All graduates were from the 8th Fighter Squadron, informally and affectionately known as the Black Sheep Squadron. Of the 9 class graduates, one was a female fighter pilot. The 8th is one of the three Fighter Training Squadrons that belong to the 54th Fighter Group, whose Commander was at the same dining table at the Holloman AFB Club as the Daedalians. The following photos show the event. The Guest speaker was a retired Brigadier General, Joseph “Magoo” McFall, also a F-16 VIPER pilot, who entertained the graduates, staff, and guests with some wild flying stories from his colorful past.
Col. Mario Campos
Here (L) is long-time FASF member and FAS contributor, Colonel Mario Campos. Following is Mario’s description of General Joseph “McGoo”McFall’spresentation to the Black Sheep Squadron Graduates, their families, guests, and assembled staff:
The members of the El Paso, TX Daedalian Flight 24 were privileged to be invited as guests of the 8th Fighter Squadron for the graduation of new F-16 Fighter Pilots from Class 22- EBH, Holloman AFB, New Mexico.
“Flight members, Mario Campos, Alan Fisher, and Ric Lambart attended and presented the Daedalian‘Major Gen Franklin A. Nichols’ Leadership Award to Captain Michael “Full” Shaw. Captain Shaw’snext assignment is in the Far East.
The evening’s guest speaker was Brig. Gen. (Ret), Joseph D. “Magoo” McFall. An experienced Viper Pilot, Gen. McFall finished his career as Senior Military Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. Extraordinarily, if not uniquely, for a Flag Officer, Gen. McFallcontinues to serve the F-16 community as a contract VIPER instructor at Holloman AFB.
During his address, Gen McFall gave four main points:
Know Yourself;
Appreciate Others;
Be Happy;
Be Human.
As he went through his speech, Gen McFall gave a thoughtful personal story to reinforce the importance of each point. All of them revolved around not only competency, but also around leadership and treating others with the same respect one would expect for themselves. He further relayed how each of these points affected him in both peacetime and in combat.
The members of the 24th Flight wish Capt. Shaw (below photos) and all the new Fighter Pilots of Class 22-EBH only the greatest of success in their new assignments and careers. Also, many thanks to Capt. Brett Bultsma (seen in the below photos), an 8th FS Instructor Pilot, for his outstanding work as graduation project officer and for all the assistance he provided to Daedalian Flight 24.“
The Graduates were: 1st Lt. Emna “ZONA” Bonner, Capt. Daniel “DAS” Boutillier, Capt. Daniel “KATS” Katuzienski, 1st Lt. Scott “HOBBLE” Aauritsen, 1st Lt. Drake “Sir Francis” Martin, 1st Lt. Seth “NOTSO” Sharpe, Captain Michael “FULL” Shaw, 1st Lt. Zachary “TONE” Siffler and 1st Lt. Ryan “DIBS” Woodall. You’ll see each of them in the following photo further down this page. To see any photo in its full hi-definition, just click on it. You are welcome and free to download any photos you’d like.
The assembled dining hall was filled with family and special guests, as well as the Holloman Air Force Base personnel who played a vital role in the graduates’ advanced Fighter Pilot Training Experience. The Daedalians award the graduating Class’s top Leader, with the unique Daedalian Leadership Award.
Again, this class’s top Leadership Award was given to Captain Michael “FULL” Shaw. The Project Officer for the event was Captain Brett “MULLIGAN” Bultsma, a decorated Fighter Pilot and one of the Squadron’s Instructors, all of whom have actual battle experience. The renowned F-16 Viper has been a first-line Fighter in the USAF for more years than the age of every one of the new graduate pilots.
L to R: Lt. Col. Alan Fisher, Project Officer Capt. Brett Bultsma, and Colonel Mario Campos.
L to R: Captain Bultsma grins at Daedalian, Ric Lambart’s old-timer Air Force ramblings.
Col. Alan Fisher, 8th FS Project Officer, Captain Brett Bultsman, and Colonel Mario Campos.
Capt. Brett Bultsma, Graduation Project Officer, explains the roots of his call sign, “Mulligan.”(This is a 50-second video clip. You can see it full-screen by using the “full” size icon)
L to R: Capt. Brett Bultsma and Lt. Colonel Matthew “Poison” Marshall, the 8th’s Commander
Col. Camposchatting with 54th Fighter Group CO, Col. Samuel Stitt, III& his wife, Meghan
L to R: Colonel “Tweak” Stitt, Meghan Stitt, Cols Alan Fisher & Mario Campos, Daedalians
L to R: Col. Samuel Sitt, Meghan Stitt, Chief MSNathan Chrestensen, & Colonel Alan Fisher
Colonel Stitt describes a flight experience he had with the usual hangar talk gestures . . .
MajorDonald “Sizzle” Lodge-Maragh at the Podium, as Captain Brett Bultsma looks on.
Colonel Matthew “POISON” Marshall, CO of the 8th Fighter Squadron addresses the audience
General (Retired) Joseph “McGoo” McFallspeaks to the class and guests about his days on active duty as an Air Force Fighter Pilot. The General has over 2,800 hours, 795 of which were in combat while piloting the F-16 Viper, the same aircraft flown by this class’ new graduates.
Longtime FASF member and Daedalian El Paso, Texas Flight 24 Commander, Colonel Mario Campos, Congratulates Captain Michael “FULL” Shaw,who won the coveted Daedalian Leadership award.
L to R, All 9 graduates of “The Black Sheep” 8th Fighter Squadron Class 22-EBH: Capt Daniel “DAS” Boutillier, 1Lt Drake “Sir Francis” Martin, Capt Michael “Full” Shaw, 1Lt Emma “Zona” Bonner, 1Lt Scott “Hobble” Lauritsen, 1Lt Seth “NOTSO” Sharpe, 1Lt Zachary “Tone” Stiffler, Capt Daniel “KATS” Katuzienski,and 1Lt Ryan “DIBS” Woodall.Colonel Campos chats with top-class LEADER, Captain “FULL” Shaw, about his USAF career. Colonels Mario Campos and Alan Fisher proudly flank top award winner, Capt. Michael ShawCaptain Michael “FULL” Shaw listens to Colonel Fisherdescribe some of his USAF experiences
The 8th Fighter Squadron (Fighting Patch at left) has been with us since November of 1940, when it was first organized at Selfridge Army Air Field, in Michigan. Decommissioned for a while, it is now back in the front lines of our Air Defense against any would be adversaries. This weekend saw its first graduating class of new F-16 Viper pilots since its arrival last year at Holloman Air Force Base, near Alamagordo, NM. According to the Squadon’s commander, Lt. Colonel Mark Sletten,each of the evening’s graduates’ training has cost the Air Force about eight (8) million dollars.
The squadron is best known as the Black Sheep Squadronof World War II fame and for one of its commanding officers, Colonel Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, one of WWII’s top USMC fighter Aces, whose memoirs inspired the 1970s television show “Baa Baa Black Sheep,” later syndicated as Black Sheep Squadron, which dramatized the squadron’s exploits during the war.
Although the original “Black Sheep” group was composed of USMC pilots, their Squadron no longer exists, so it’s been reborne, but this time as a USAF Fighter Squadron, not a USMC outfit. (This clarification the suggestion of Capt. Robbie Ritchie).
“These guys get to be a part of a very special fraternity and we have absolutely trained them up well to go out and be a part of that fraternity, the combat arms we know and love,” said Lt. Col. Mark Sletten,8th FS commander. “For them to be a part of the greatest nation, the greatest
military, greatest service and of course the greatest platform – the F-16, leaving here tonight as qualified F-16 pilots makes us all proud.”
Getting all of the people shown below properly identified could not have been done without the indispensible assistance of the Daedalian Leadership Awardee, Captain Robbie “Ramm” Ritchie,* who made sure we properly identified all those shown. Prior to this specialized fighter training with the 8th, Captain Ritchie had been an instructor pilot. The name used for such already experienced new Basic students is FAIP, which stands for: First Assignment Instructor Pilot. This prior duty assignment helps account for Robbie’s rank of Captain.
Remember: Click on any photo below to show it in hight resolution and full-size.
L to R: Lt. Col. Mark Sletten, Commander of the 8th Fighter Squadron, Colonel Bob Pittand his wife, Julie.
L to R: Col. Pittin conversation with Captain Ely Smith, the evening’s Master of Ceremonies
L to R: Roger Nichols, son of the WWII Ace after whom the El Paso Flight is named, Julie and Col. Pitt,and Dr. Bryan Harris, USAF Colonel, Retired. Col. Harris, now a contractor, is in charge of all the F-16 Viper Maintenance for the 8th Fighter Squadron
All long-time FASF members, Roger Nichols, immediate past Daedalian Flight 24 Captain, looks over the evening’s coming program with the Pitts
L to R: Julie and Col. Pittwith Roger Nichols
Many families attended the graduation and wives and girlfriends of both the 8th’s staff as well as graduating students, busily used their phones to record the celebration. Above, to the the right of the Pittsis the wife of flight instructor, Major Jared Aschenbrenner, collecting memories of the event on her phone camera
Colonel Jeff (“Tank”) Patton, FASF Member, and Commander of the 49th Operations Group, poses with Nichols and Pitt.
View of part of the Dining Hall in the Holloman Club, at which the event was held
Colonel Jeff Patton and his wife, Tracy.
Photo on one of the several large projection screens, showing this Viper Fighter Class’ Students on an F-16’s wing
New Fighter Pilot Graduate,Captain Nicholas Atkins, gets the festivities underway
One of the classes’ distinguished graduates, Robert “Ramm” Ritchie,presented the award for the “Most valuable non-commissioned officer” to Master Sergeant Cope on behalf of its recipient, Sergeant Merril
L to R: Captain Ritchiepresented the most valuable Flight Instructor award to Major Nathan “Stuka” Lightfoot
L to R: Colonel Bob Pittdescribes the history of El Paso’s Flight 24, Order of the Daedalians and its Namesake, General Nick Nichols to the audience as 2nd Lt. Seth Bolonand Colonel Mark “Tyson” Sletten, Squadron Commander, look on. Lt. Bolon is a member of the new incoming 8th Fighter Squadron class.
L to R:Capt. Ely Smith,MC, 2nd Lt Seth Bolon, look on as Col. Bob Pitt presents the General Nichols Daedalian Leadership Awardto Capt. Robbie Ritchie, while Squadron CO., Col. Mark Slettencongratulates him on the achievement. Captain Ritchiewill head to Shaw AFB, South Carolina for his next duty assignment. His classmates are going to all corners of the globe for their new pilot assignments.
Colonel Pitthands the Daedalian Award to Captain Robert Ritchie,as the 8th’s Commander, Col. Sletten, proudly poses beside the new awardee. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kindra Stewart). Lt. Bolon in background
L to R: Colonel Miles “Cowboy” Crowell,with River Rat Awardee, Lt. Scott Lafferty,and fellow River Rat member, Colonel Jeff Patton. This award is given to the student of each class with whom his or her fellow pilots would most prefer to fly in combat.
L to R: Lt. Seth Bolon, looks on as Col.Sletten poses with Daedalian Trophy Winner, Capt Ritchie, as they hold his Graduation Certificate, while Captain Ian “Bear” Leeand Captain Allison “Bandit” Romanko, 8th Fighter Squadron Instructors, look on. Eight Viper pilot students graduated from the 8th FS’ first F-16 B-Course, nearly eighty years since the squadron’s induction on Nov. 20, 1940.
All eight graduates line up on stage for their class graduation portrait. R to L: Captain Daniel Rule, Captain Robert Ritchie, Captain Reese Black, Captain Bradley Beninati, 1st Lt. Evan Wade, 1st Lt. Scott Lafferty, 1st Lt. Kent Greer, and Captain Nicholas Atkins.
L to R: FASF and Daedalian Members, Ric Lambart, Roger Nichols and Col. Bob Pitt, flank Leadership Trophy winner, Capt. Robbie (“Ramm”) Ritchie
Roger Nichols discusses his father’s and his own USAF career with Leadership Awardee, Capt. “Ramm” Ritchie
Below, is the the class video, 11 minutes long, which shows many clips taken from the months of fllight and fighter training the eight members of this first graduating class of the 8th Fighter Squadronexperienced in their work with the Viper Fighter. Aside from a few inserts of actual wartime footage target anihilation (taken in the mideast), the video content was primarily taken by the students or HAFB Public Affairs videographers during their training activities. The video gives the viewer and unique insight into the experience these young men went through this past year at Holloman.
The film uses a number of special effects for the dramatization of some of the student experiences, such as refueling practice and of the TDY (Temporary Duty assignment) to Louisiana’s Bayou country. The video was produced by class member, Lt. Evan Wade, and also shows, quite graphically, to where each of the graduates will be going for their front line fighter assignment. This video can be seen best when your monitor is set to full-screen mode. Lt. Wade garners some top-gun kudos for his excellent production.
* Here is part of the official HAFB Public Affairs Office news release concerning Daedalian Award Recipient, Capt Robbie Ritchie:
This class’ recipient of the coveted Daedalian Flight 24 Leadership Award this
year, was Capt. Robert Ritchie. The Captain, one of the 8th Fighter Squadron F-16
Basic-Course graduates, always knew he wanted to be a fighter pilot.
Ritchie’sfather is a retired Air Force pilot who flew C-130s and T-38s, before
flying for a commercial airline out of Minnesota.
“I was one of those kids that built model aircraft and hung them from the ceiling,”
said Ritchie. “My childhood bedroom was one big aerial battle.”
Ritchiegraduated with an undergraduate degree followed by a Masters of Science in
aerospace engineering from the University of Minnesota, before leaving for Officer
Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
Of the eight Viper pilots to graduate from Class 18-CBF, Ritchie was one of five who
were First Assignment Instructor Pilots “FAIP” trained on another aircraft before coming
to Holloman.
“On behalf of Class 18-CBF, I can honestly say our experience training here on Holloman Air Force Base has been one of the most professional experiences that we have ever been
involved with,” said Ritchie.“From the jets, to the instructors, to the maintainers, to the air traffic controllers, how the base is run and everything in-between.”
