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September, 2018 Meeting: “Top Gun” Behind the Scenes
Admiral Pete Pettigrew USN (Ret.)
Top Gun (1985) Behind the Scenes
“…you’re making a mistake with that… older man…”
Vietnam War veteran, Rear Admiral Pete “Viper” Pettigrew was a Top Gun instructor and the technical advisor for the Tom Cruise hit Top Gun, as well as being the guy in the bar that Kelly McGillis was sitting with after Maverick’s “You Lost that Lovin’ Feeling”.
RADM Kenneth “Pete” W. Pettigrew is a native of Glencoe, Illinois. He graduated from Stanford University in June 1964, under the Regular NROTC Program with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Science. He reported to flight training in November, 1964 and was designated a naval aviator in June 1966.
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Find out more »June, 2018 Meeting: “Sneaky peaks and foggy vision: what they tell us about who decides to land under IFR conditions”
Dr. Quinn Kennedy
Sneaky peaks and foggy vision: Who decides to land in IMC
Dr. Kennedy will describe recent studies conducted at the Stanford University/VA Aviation Research Lab that have investigated how pilot age, expertise, and visual function influence the decision to land under simulated IFR weather conditions.
Dr. Quinn Kennedy received a PhD in Psychology as well as completing postdoctoral training at Stanford University. Dr. Kennedy conducts behavioral science research that investigates a variety of individual difference factors that affect aviator decision making and performance, such as expertise, risk perception, cognitive ability, and visual scan patterns. Her work with the Stanford/VA Aviation Research Lab has informed public policy regarding the mandatory retirement age for commercial pilots as well as recommended guidelines for older pilots.
Dr. Kennedy is the recipient of the National Science Foundation Minority Graduate Research Fellowship, Margret M. Baltes Doctoral Dissertation Award, and the National Institute of Health Research Minority Supplement Grant Award. With her collaborators, her work has received media attention from Channel 2 news, APA Monitor, Aviation Week, NPR, The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Science.
Find out more »May, 2018 Meeting: “8th Air Force Berlin Bombing Missions of 1944”
Mark Copeland
Former President, 8th Air Force Historical Society
“8th Air Force Berlin Bombing Missions of 1944”
Mark Copeland presents unrevealed details of the 8th AF bombing raids into Germany in 1944 and 1945 based on his private interviews with veteran crews. His stories were acquired through years of dedication to them and the 8th Air Force Historical Society, where he has served as the National President, Board Member and as an Honorary Life Member. He serves on the Executive Committee of the 100th Bomb Group Foundation, is a Historical Consultant for five international war historical museums and is the Chief Historical Consultant for Military Gallery. He has published dozens of articles for aviation magazines and historical groups. He serves as a Program Director for aviation operations near Minneapolis.
Find out more »April, 2018 Meeting: On the Ground at Hamburger Hill
LTC Dan Bresnahan, US Army Ret.
“On the Ground at Hamburger Hill”
Following March’s presentation by award-winning author Lew Jennings, OBP Board Member Lt Col. Dan Bresnahan shares his harrowing experience as one of the few airborne infantry platoon leaders to have survived 11 assaults on Hamburger Hill.
Find out more »March, 2018 Meeting: The Battle for Hamburger Hill
Major Lew Jennings, US Army Ret.
“The Battle for Hamburger Hill (Hill 937): May 10-20, 1969”
Award-winning author Lew Jennings will share his first-hand experience of supporting the 101st Airborne on Hamburger Hill as a Cobra Gunship pilot. His thrilling stories will immerse you into the harrowing experience of helicopter combat. Lew completed 726 combat missions in one tour, receiving three DFCs for valor.
Find out more »February, 2018 Meeting: Tales from the Royal Canadian Air Force
Major Bill March, RCAF
“Tales from the Royal Canadian Air Force”
Major Bill March will fly in from Trenton Air Base, Canada to share stories about the people, events, and aircraft that helped shape the service during its illustrious history.
Find out more »January, 2018 Meeting: “The Secret War During Vietnam”
Brigadier General Jim Greshik, USAF (Ret)
“The Secret War During Vietnam”
Brigadier General Jim Greshik USAF Ret will share his harrowing stories of a FAC in Vietnam and other places undocumented. Serving three tours in Vietnam flying the KC-135 air refueling tanker and the O-2A aircraft while performing the night forward air controller mission in Laos, he flew a total of 243 combat missions, accumulating nearly 900 hours combat time. By the end of his military career, he was a Command Pilot with 4,600 hours of flying time in a variety of aircraft (KC-135A/E/R, O-2A, OV-10, OA-37, A-10A). His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with three devices, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with 12 devices, Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, among numerous others.
Known as the Secret War among the CIA Special Activities Division and Hmong veterans of the conflict, The Laotian Civil War was fought between the Communist Pathet Lao and the Royal Lao Government, with both sides receiving heavy external support in a proxy war between the global Cold War superpowers. The Kingdom of Laos was a covert theatre for other belligerents during the Vietnam War.
Find out more »December, 2017 Meeting: “8th Air Force Berlin Bombing Missions of 1944”
Mark Copeland
Former President, 8th Air Force Historical Society
“8th Air Force Berlin Bombing Missions of 1944”
Mark Copeland presents unrevealed details of the 8th AF bombing raids into Germany in 1944 and 1945 based on his private interviews with veteran crews. His stories were acquired through years of dedication to them and the 8th Air Force Historical Society, where he has served as the National President, Board Member and as an Honorary Life Member. He serves on the Executive Committee of the 100th Bomb Group Foundation, is a Historical Consultant for five international war historical museums and is the Chief Historical Consultant for Military Gallery. He has published dozens of articles for aviation magazines and historical groups. He serves as a Program Director for aviation operations near Minneapolis.
Find out more »November, 2017 Meeting: “The Life and Times of Triple Ace Robin Olds”
Christina Olds
Author, Historian
“The Life and Times of Triple Ace Robin Olds”
The daughter of BG Robin Olds, Christina Olds published his memoirs Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of a Legendary Ace Robin Olds in 2010. The book became a national bestseller, heralded by reviewers and readers as an exceptionally literary and lyrical biography. Ms. Olds is now working on her second book, the story of her grandfather Major General Robert Olds, an instrumental leader in the development of early air power and the U.S. Air Force. She is also writing and narrating a documentary on her father’s WWII experience, in partnership with the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum.
October, 2017 Meeting: Army Airbase to International Airport, the History of PSP
Sid Burks
Aviator, Educator
“Army Airbase to International Airport, the History of PSP”
The Palm Spring Army Airbase was the origin of the current Palm Springs International Airport. It was started by the City of Palm Springs but taken over and completed by the US Army for use in WWII. Located where the Desert Regional Medical Center is today, Torney General Hospital was adjacent to the airbase and included the former El Mirador Hotel. Many G.I.’s were nursed back to health at this facility. The fascinating history of these two military installations and how they worked together details an important piece of Palm Springs’s contribution to the war effort.
Sid Burks has been a pilot and teacher for over 40 years. He studies military, aviation, and Coachella Valley history and has a passion for sharing information with others.
Find out more »September, 2017 Meeting: “Risky Business: F-105s in Thailand”
Col Gordon L. Jenkins, USAF Ret.
“Risky Business: F-105s in Thailand”
Colonel Gordon L. Jenkins shares untold and scary tales of combat in the F-105s. A native of Baton Rouge and an LSU graduate, served as Cadet Wing Commander of the 2000 man Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. A distinguished graduate of AFROTC, he received his aeronautical rating in 1966. He completed advanced Tactical Fighter School, and was stationed in Thailand as an F-105D fighter pilot. He returned from Southeast Asia as one of the most decorated First Lieutenants in the Air Force, having been awarded two Silver Stars, three Distinguished Flying Crosses and 15 Air Medals. He assigned to Laughlin AFB where he logged over 1600 hours as a T-38 instructor pilot. He was named Pilot Instructor of the Year for the Air Training Command in 1969.
In 1973, during his second combat tour, he was stationed at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base flying the F-105G Wild Weasel. He later served as Commander of the 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron flying the F-4G Wild Weasel. He was promoted to Colonel in 1984 and was a Distinguished Graduate of the Air War College Class of 1985. His final assignment was Vice Commander of the Air Force Electronic Warfare Center where he retired on June 1, 1986. He is a member of the Baton Rouge High School Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Veterans Hall of Honor, the LSU Veterans Hall of Honor and the Hall of Honor at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
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