Tag Archives: Daedalian Leadership Award

314th Fighter Squadron Graduates Dozen New Viper Pilots

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 Colonel Mario Campos

This post was written – and photographed – by Colonel (Ret) Mario Campos (L), current Captain of Daedalian Flight 24 in El Paso, TX, all of which members are also members of the FASF.

On 22 April 2023, members of the 24th Flight attended the 314th Fighter Squadron’s F-16 graduation ceremonies for Class 22-DBH from Holloman AFB, NM.

 

 

The evening’s guest speaker was Col Leonard “Lucky” Ekman, USAF (Ret) (below) who logged over 4100 hours in fighter aircraft with 1600 of those being combat hours in 287 missions over Vietnam in F-105 and F-105G Wild Weasels. His “luck” extended during a mission over Vietnam where he was shot down and successfully rescued. Col Ekman retired in 1990 as the Vice Commander of the 16th Air Force. An avid glider pilot, he has his sights set on completing 1000 glider hours soon. Amongst Col Ekman’s greatest accomplishments are that both his son and daughter were also fighter pilots.            (To see the above US Air Force Academy photo full size, just click on it)

Col Ekman spoke about tactical call signs and their evolution.  He mentioned how today’s fighter pilots get their call signs and how many would be embarrassed to give the real story of how they were given to them.  He mentioned that early in Vietnam, personal call signs didn’t exist and were really a daily rotating call sign given to a flight that pilots would sometimes forget.  He explained that a strike package (mission attack plan) could exist of numerous types of aircraft and if someone called “Lead, Break Right,” many would respond “Say Call Sign” because of the confusion caused by not knowing the daily call sign.  After attending the Navy’s Top Gun Course where he apparently first witnessed the Navy tradition of each fighter pilot having his own personal call sign or “handle,” he saw the practical need for these individual tactical call signs that could be easily remembered.  Col Ekman then implemented this Navy tradition when he became a Squadron Commander.

Col Ekman concluded by congratulating the new fighter pilots and reminding them to enjoy the call signs they’ve received – or will end up with – because they’ll contribute to some great memories.

     Capt Lee & Col Pitt

During ceremonies, the 24th Flight’s senior-most member, Col. Bob Pitt (R),  proudly presented Maj Gen Franklin A. Nichols Daedalians Leadership Award to Captain Matthew “WOB” Lee (L) who will go on to fly F-16  Vipers at Kunsan AB, Korea. Below, at right are Captain Lee, his mother, Mrs. Lee, and Col. Pitt.

In another reunion moment for a member of the 24th Flight, Class 22-DBH’s Distinguished Graduate was Capt Barry “Mutombo” MacNeill (below left) who happens to be the son of Barry “Bear” McNeill, a former F-4G Weasel EWO (Electronic Weapons Officer) and F-15E WSO (Weapons System Officer).

Capt Barry McNeil & LC Sanford

Bear had an outstanding career in the Air Force including Squadron and Operations Group Commander in the 98th Range Wing at Nellis AFB and Deputy Director of the Air Force Joint Test and Evaluation Program where he retired from the Air Force.  Bear is now Vice President at Amentum Corp.  Bear and current 24th Flight Captain Mario Campos were both Instructor EWOs at the 453d Flying Training Squadron at Mather AFB, CA in the late 80s.  Bear also served with 24th Flight Member Lt Col (Ret) Miles “Cowboy” Crowell in the F-15E!  Cowboy (at R below) was at the event to present the Red River Rats Association Award to Lt Matthew “Minnie” Dunlap.

Lt Matthew Dunlap & Col.Crowell

The 24th Flight congratulates the eleven newest fighter pilots of Class 22-DBH and wishes them only the very best in their future careers. The Flight would also like to thank 314 FS Commander, Lt Col Kirby “Fuel” Sanford and his outstanding staff for hosting the members of the 24th on this momentous occasion.

All members of the 314th shouted out their squadron’s slogan,  “Strike,” as the event came to a close.

 

 

FASF/Daedalians, Cite Top Leader of New 8th Fighter Class

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Once again, the El Paso Daedalian Flight attended the graduation of ten new VIPER fighter pilots at Holloman AFB (HAFB), Alamogordo, NM on Saturday, the 3rd of December.  Colonel Mario Campos did the honors.  Here are your members at the event.          Remember:

[Just click on any photo to see it in full size and resolution]

Daedalian Flight Captain Lt. Colonel Alan Fisher chats with Mrs. Sarah Rich.

Colonels Miles “Cowboy” Crowell pours some iced tea, Col. Mario Campos is facing the camera, and Col. Bob Pitt is standing and holding the blue folder.

L to R Clockwise: Mrs. Starlyn and husband, Lt. Col. Dale “RAM” Weller, Mrs. Lindsi and L/Col John “Atari” Harris, Captain Nicholas and Mrs. Sarah Rich, and our own Lt. Col. Alan Fisher.  Your editor took the photo.,

                        Squadron Commander, Lt. Colonel  George Normandin welcomes the graduates and guests

                 Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Scott A. Fredrick, the ceremony’s Guest Speaker, starts his talk.

Our Colonel Mario Campos congratulates Squadron Commander, Lt. Colonel George Normandin who stood in for the Leadership Award’s winner, Captain Dennis “FARM” Cook, who was absent to attend his sister’s wedding.

Left, Colonel Miles “COWBOY’ Crowell congratulates the Winner of the Red River Rat awardee, Lt. Nathan “BOOM” Nuveman.

“COWBOY” AND “BOOM” pose with the award

8th Fighter Squadron’s new Graduates, Class 22-BBH -L to R: Lt. John ‘STATUS’ Bove; Lt. Trey ‘TABLE’ Alexander; Capt. Kyle ‘TATER’ Cline; Lt. Thomas ‘MORTY’ Toscano; Lt. Spencer ‘NAATY’ Prather; Lt. Nathan ‘BOOM’ Nuveman; Lt. Samuel ‘LENNY’ Valleroy; Lt. Logan ‘FULL’ Frost; and Lt. Ryan ‘FANI’ Walsh

FASF/Daedalians pose with the Squadron CO LC. George Normandin ( at L) and Guest Speaker, at the rear, Ret. LC Scott Fredrick.  Daedalian/FASF members L to R are Col. Mario Campos, Col. Miles Crowell, Col. Bob Pitt, and Daedalian Flight 24’s Captin, Col. Alan Fisher.  Photos by Ric Lambart

 

The odds this could happen? Almost zilch, but it happened!

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It was almost 40 years ago when the Williams AFB, Arizona Daedalian “Willie” Flight #82 began to give an award to each graduating class of new F-16 Fighter Pilots at Luke Air Force Base (LAFB) (near Phoenix) a highly and much cherished “Leadership”  trophy.

NOTE: Click on any photographs to see them in full (high) resolution on a separate page.

Above: F-16 Viper takes off for a mission.

The Training staff would vote for the student who displayed the greatest leadership qualities.  When that LAFB F-16 VIPER training program was transferred to Holloman AFB (HAFB) near Alamogordo, NM, the pleasant duty of presenting each class’s Daedalian Leadership Award fell upon the El Paso, Texas Daedalians’ Flight 24.

The below 3:12 minute long video gives a glimpse of the F-16 Viper training program, which began at Luke AFB, AZ, and is now carried on at Holloman.

All members of El Paso Flight 24 are long-time FASF members, which is why the FASF posts each of those HAFB Viper Graduation Ceremonies right here, whenever possible.

This post’s headline above refers to the two amazing coincidences that took place at each of the last two graduations at Holloman:  The most recent one was on August 20th, and before that, on May 21st of this year.

A few weeks ago the honored awardee of the Leadership prize was a new female fighter pilot, Captain Nicole L. “Clump” Palyok (Below) – – – Go to the end of the post to read Captain Palyok’s short biography.*

        Captain Nicole Palyok’s 311th Tactical Fighter Squadron graduation program photo . . . (much enlarged)

Flight 24 had awarded that same achievement trophy to its very first female fighter pilot over five (5) years ago; Lt. Claire “Harry” Bieber. The now Captain Bieber is only the second part of the event’s coincidences.  The most astounding component of the coincidences began with what actually took place last May when the top Leader graduate was Captain Mark “GEF3” Palyok. (Below)

                           Captain Mark Palyok’s 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron Graduation Program Photo

Were they brother and sister?  No, rather a husband and wife.  And, after their graduation, both will be stationed in Japan – – – and at the same location: Misawa Air Base.

Of course, the odds of this happening are beyond minuscule, but it did take place.  And your webmaster was privileged to witness this amazing coincidence unfold.

The other astounding small-world coincidence concerning these two female Fighter Pilots is that your Webmaster sat next to Lt. Colonel Jim Hayward and his wife during the 311th TFS graduation dinner just four weeks ago.

When I mentioned to Colonel Hayward that there was only one other female that had been selected as a graduating squadron’s top leader – – – and that that award had been presented by me five years ago.  The Colonel inquired about that female awardee’s name.

I said it was Claire Bieber.  

He was quite surprised. Not only did he know her, but he said, “She was my ‘wingman’ in Afghanistan!“

The Colonel then went on to assert that she was the finest, a ‘wingman’ who was among the best pilots he’d experienced, one that he knew always “had his back”  . . . in short, “She was great!”

So, without further ado, let’s see the characters involved in these two coincidences (follow the link above to see all about Capt. Bieber).

Last May 21st was when Captain Mark Palyok was awarded the Daedalian Leadership Trophy by long-time FASF member and current Daedalian Flight 24 Captain, Colonel Alan Fisher:

                                Col. Alan Fisher congratulates Capt. Mark Palyok on his achievements

L to R: Col. Bob Pitt, Col. Alan Fisher, Capt. Mark Palyok, Ric Lambart, and Col. Miles “Cowboy” Crowell

          That evening, Col. Miles “Cowboy” Crowell, Daedalian, explained the Vietnam Era “River Rat” Award

                 Colonel Crowell congratulates Lt. David “Souper” Cooper, recipient of the River Rat Award

And now, let’s pick up the next Palyok event, Here, below, are the photos from that Graduation:

                    Colonel Fisher presents the Leadership Trophy to Captain Nicole “Clump” Palyok.

  Colonel Fisher explains the significance of the award from the Daedalians to the audience as Capt. Palyok listens.

The evening’s graduates stand on stage at the end of the ceremonies. L to R above are Capt. Timothy Crain, Lt. William Tatum, Capt. Palyok, Capt. Phill Warden, Guest Speaker Major (Ret.) T. O. Hanford, Lt. Isaiah Butcher, Lt. Eliot Shapleigh, Capt. Nicholas Reisch, Lt. Austin Good, Lt. Connor Davis, and Lt. David Louthan.

The Graduates removed their Dress Uniform jackets to reveal their traditional “Party Shirts” in readiness for the celebratory session. L to R above are Lt. William Tatum, Lt. Isaiah Butcher, Capt. Nicholas Reisch, Capt Phill Warden, and our star for the evening, Capt. Nicole Palyok.

    Ric Lambart, Col. Alan Fisher, Col. Mario Campos, Nicole Palyok, Colonels Bob Pitt, and “Cowboy” Crowell.

Chatting after the ceremonies are: L to R: Capt. Nicole Palyok, Colonels Bob Pitt and Mario Campos

 

During the award ceremonies, Col. “Cowboy” Crowell presented the “River Rat” award to Captain Timothy Crain.

*  Nicole grew up in an Air Force family moving around her entire life. Her grandpa flew cargo in Vietnam, her dad flew the F-15C fighter, and her brother is a B-1 pilot stationed at Ellsworth SD right now.

So Nicole has 3 generations of pilots in the family which is “pretty awesome.”

She went to college at the University of Virginia where she got a BS in Biology. Originally she was Pre-Med while doing AFROTC, but after giving flying a try for a few hours in a Cessna she decided to apply for a pilot slot.

Nicole was commissioned and moved to Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, TX for Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT). She stayed there after UPT as a First Assignment Instructor Pilot (FAIP) and taught students how to fly the T-38 for 3 years in the 87th Flying Training Squadron.

That is where she met her husband, Mark Palyok, who was also a T-38 FAIP at the time.  Her husband and Nicole moved to Holloman AFB last summer and both went through F-16 training at the same time, though he was two months ahead of his wife’s class. Mark is already out at Misawa AB, Japan, and she will be joining him there in October. They are “very excited to be flying the Viper and to have the opportunity to travel overseas too.”

Nicole remarked that it was “funny that we both ended up being selected for the (Leadership) award, It was quite an honor.” 

 

FASF Daedalians at HAFB Fighter Squadron 314 Graduation

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This weekend’s FASF-Daedalian Graduation Event at Holloman Air Force Base, Alamogordo, NM

< Just cllick on any photo below to view it in higher resolution and larger size>

L to R: Colonel “Spud” Caldwell, Graduation Speaker, MJ Tucker (who managed the Graduation Arrangements), FASF-Daedalian members, Roger Nichols and Col. Mario Campos.

Lt. Col. “Burn” Clapper, Commander of 314th Fighter Squadron, Captain “Titto” Hannah, who shepherded the Daedalians, and Col. “Spud” Caldwell.

L to R: FASF-Daedalians, Colonel Mario Campos and Col. Miles “Cowboy” Crowell, currently a civilan contractor at Holloman, discussing their combat experiences.

L to R: Colonel Jeff “Tank” Patton, Lt. Col. “Burn” Clapper, and Roger Nichols . . .

L to R: “Roger That” Nichols, LC Michael D. “Burn” Clapper (CO of the 314th Fighter Squadron), and Col. Mario Campos, Daedalian Flight 24 Captain, pose before “Burn’s” F-16 Fighting Falcon Jet.

L to R: Col. Miles “Cowboy” Crowell, USAF Ret., Roger Nichols and Col. Mario Campos, share a laugh.

L – R: Colonels “Cowboy” Crowell, Col. Jeff Patton, his wife, Tracy, Mario Campos and Roger Nichols enjoy Dinner.

314th Fighter Squadron personnel, parents and guests, applaud graduating students of class 18-HBB at HAFB

Colonel Mario Campos (R), Daedalian Flight 24 Captain, congratulates Lt. “Pickles” Mossing on his achievement in winning the coveted Daedalian Class Leadership Award.

L to R: Roger Nichols, Col. Mario Campos, Daedalian Leadership Award Recipient, Lt. Jason “Pickles” Mossing, Ric Lambart, Colonels “Cowboy” Crowell and “Tank” Patton, Commander, 49th Operations Group at Holloman AFB

Colonel Dean “Spud” Caldwell Commencement Speaker, shares what’s ahead for the new Fighter Pilots

L to R: Colonel “Cowboy” Crowell, and the “River Rat” awardee, Lt. Doug “Magnus” Clark, and Colonel Jeff “Tank” Patton are all smiles. Lt. Clark also won the Distinguished Student Award in his class, which was the 314th Fighter Squadron’s Class 18-BBH.  The River Rat award is given to the student that the other pilots would most want on flying on their wing in combat.  The River Rat designation came from the Vietnam conflict and is named after the Red River Valley (Association) of the Vietnam war, an organization to which many pilots who flew in combat over North Vietnam belong.  Both of the above Colonels are active members in the FASF.

L to R: Col. Mario Campos, Captain “Tucky” Durbin, event Master of Ceremonies, his wife, Stephanie, and Roger Nichols.

L to R: (Taken by Stephanie Durbin) – Col. Mario Campos, Capt. “Tucky” Durbin, Ric Lambart, and Roger Nichols. The two-finger salute being given by Mario and Tucky is that of the 314th Fighter Squadron.

All thirteen (13) new F-16 Viper Fighter Pilot Graduates pose before their Commander’s Fighter.