Forum: F-16 News

Last edited by crewdawg on Jun 20, 2007 - 07:20 AM; edited 3 times in total

[Link pending approval] wrote:

Question to 180th FW members who use our website: Was "Sonny" his pilot callsign, aka Maj. Kevin "Sonny" Sonnenberg?

Yes, that's his callsign.

F-16.net Sponsor

AfterburnerDecalsScott wrote:

Does anybody know what other units he was with? His name is so familiar to me for some [Link pending approval]'d swear I've seen it on a rail someplace other than [Link pending approval] my pix and no luck.

As far as I know he has been with our unit his whole career.

Kevin's name on 89-2082

Do we know what aircraft Sonny was flying when he went down?

Thanks for posting this important canopy shot, 78-0001 and maddog2840! Four GBU-12s as mission markings from an ONW deployment to Incirlik AB, Turkey, in 1999 - very interesting! Thanks also to crewdawg for verifying "Sonny" as callsign! To MHOW996: We still wait for an official statement which will disclose the tail number of the crashed Viper. For first findings please check both previous pages of this topic!

Have to redouble my efforts to take more time to notice the great people ( pilots and maintainers ) that put in all this galant effort day in and day out and not just find out what great people they are after they are gone. Sad

Thanks for posting that canopy shot.

78-0001 ...

I had that jet in my flight (310th Squadron) at Luke back in 1985, it was very clean, Code 1 flying machine back then.

This guy named Doug Burmeister crewed it then, great guy, damn good crew dog.

Your not him are you?

If so...Hello from Tom Wharton Your Old Flight Chief from back then.......

WTOL 11 (Toledo) reported:

Quote:

Funeral Arrangements Announced NW Ohio Pilot Killed in Iraq

June 23, 2007 04:07 PM

WAUSEON -- Funeral arrangements have been announced for a northwest Ohio pilot killed in Iraq. Lt. Col. Kevin Sonnenberg, 42, was killed when his F-16 fighter jet crashed near Balad Air Base in Iraq on June 15th. He will be buried in his hometown of McClure on June 26th.

The U.S. Central Air Command says Sonnenberg's F-16 from the 180th Fighter Wing crashed on a close air support mission just after midnight. The statement says the crash was an accident, but didn't give more detail than that. Sonnenberg was the only one on-board.

The jet was deployed to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base. Airmen and planes from the 180th Fighter Wing arrived in Iraq less than a month ago to be part of that larger unit. While in Iraq, they were expected to fly surveillance and support missions to help ground troops. They are scheduled to return later this summer.

According to an obituary released by Rodenberger Funeral Home, funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 at the Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Deshler with Pastor Thomas Smuda and Pastor Paul Lehenbauer officiating. Interment will follow at Hockman Cemetery of McClure with military honors accorded by the combined efforts of the 180th Ohio National Guard and Local American Legion Posts.

Friends may call on Sunday from 7-9 p.m. and Monday from 2-9 p.m. at the Rodenberger Funeral Home in Napoleon.

The family suggest memorial contributions be made to Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Deshler; the 180th Ohio Air National Guard - 112th Fighter Squadron, Toledo; Damascus Township Fire & Rescue; or to the "Lt. Col. Kevin Sonnenberg Memorial Fund" care of any Fifth Third Bank.

The 180th Fighter Wing is based at Toledo Express Airport, a joint civilian-military facility about 10 miles from downtown Toledo. Lt. Col. Sonnenberg was a graduate of Napoleon High School, and lived in the small town of McClure, about 35 miles south and west of Toledo. His parents say his rank was posthumously elevated from Major to Lt. Colonel.

Here's the complete obituary from Rodenberger Funeral Home:

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin H. Sonnenberg, 42 of rural McClure, Ohio died Friday, June 15, 2007 when his jet crashed five miles north of Balad Air Base, Iraq. He was born February 10th, 1965 the son of Marvin & Jean (Godeke) Sonnenberg in Napoleon, Ohio. On August 12, 2006 he married Lorin (Smith) Sonnenberg at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Deshler, who survives.

Kevin will be remembered as both, pilot and farmer; serving his country he so proudly loved. He was a fighter pilot for the 180th Ohio National Guard - 112th Fighter Squadron of Toledo, commercial pilot for Delta Airlines, and a Henry County farmer. He was a member of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, a 1983 Graduate of Napoleon High School, a 1987 Graduate of Bowling Green State University, joined the Air National Guard in 1990, Graduated from undergraduate pilot training in 1993, and Graduated from F-16 training in 1994. He previously served his country in Qatar, Kuwait, and Turkey.

He is also survived by his parents of rural McClure, a step son, Carson Orr; 3 sisters, Vickie (Jim) Schulze, of rural McClure, Diana (Mike) Reiser of rural Deshler, Jennifer (Brent) Miller of rural McClure; nieces & nephews, Krystin Reiser, Mitchell Schulze, Tyler Reiser, Jason (Lela) Schulze, Josh (Carrie) Schulze, Xavier Dye, Tayah Schulze, and Jayden Schulze. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Carl & Emilie (Volkman) Sonnenberg, and maternal grandparents, Henry & Myrtle (Lieb) Godeke.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 at the Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Deshler with Pastor Thomas Smuda and Pastor Paul Lehenbauer officiating. Interment will follow at Hockman Cemetery of McClure with military honors accorded by the combined efforts of the 180th Ohio National Guard and Local American Legion Posts.

Friends may call on Sunday from 7-9 p.m. and Monday from 2-9 p.m. at the Rodenberger Funeral Home in Napoleon. The family suggest memorial contributions be made to Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Deshler; the 180th Ohio Air National Guard - 112th Fighter Squadron, Toledo; Damascus Township Fire & Rescue; or to the "Lt. Col. Kevin Sonnenberg Memorial Fund" care of any Fifth Third Bank.

Online condolences may be made at www.rodenbergerfuneralhome.com

Rodenberger Funeral Home
1010 Westmoreland Ave.
Napoleon, Ohio, 43545

Source: http://www.wtol.com/global/story.asp?s=6700025

"The Blade" (Toledo) reported:

Quote:

Funeral services set for Iraq victim

Article published Saturday, June 23, 2007

McCLURE, OHIO - Funeral services have been set for Lt. Col. Kevin Sonnenberg, 42, of McClure, who was killed June 15 when his Air National Guard jet crashed in Iraq.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow and 2 to 9 p.m. Monday in the Rodenberger Funeral Home, Napoleon. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Deshler, Ohio. Burial, with military honors provided by the 180th Ohio Air National Guard and local American Legion posts, is to follow in Hockman Cemetery, McClure.

Colonel Sonnenberg, a fighter pilot with the 180th's 112th Fighter Squadron, died when the F-16 fighter jet he was flying crashed during takeoff about five miles north of Balad Air Base as a result of an "aircraft accident, not of being shot down," officials at the 180th have said. The base is about 50 miles north of Baghdad. The single-seat fighter was on a mission to support ground forces. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Colonel Sonnenberg was was a pilot with Delta Airlines and was a Henry County farmer. He was a 1983 graduate of Napoleon High School and a 1987 graduate of Bowling Green State University. He joined the Air Guard in 1990, graduating from undergraduate pilot training in 1993 and F-16 training in 1994.

He previously served in Qatar, Kuwait, and Turkey.

Surviving are his wife, Lorin, whom he married Aug. 12, 2006; stepson, Carson Orr; parents, Marvin and Jean, and sisters, Vickie Schulze, Diana Reiser, and Jennifer Miller. The family suggests tributes to the church, the 180th's 112th Fighter Squadron, Damascus Township Fire and Rescue, or the Lt. Col. Kevin Sonnenberg Memorial Fund at Fifth Third Bank.

Source: http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... /706230442

Today, on 332nd AEW´s public website the following picture was released:

Members of the 112th EFS pay their final respects during a memorial ceremony for Lt.Col. Kevin Sonnenberg on June 19th, 2007 at Balad AB. The pilot died on June 15th when his F-16 crashed shortly after takeoff on a mission to provide air support to ground forces fighting anti-Iraq forces.

My God, will we ever get to the point where this is over and we collectively stop losing our citizens (globally).

My heart goes out to all who gave everything for us to live free.

God bless this man and his family.

I hope this is over soon, I don't want any other member of my family back over there, my son completed two tours now, each for a year (that is enough in my book) and my son-in-law, one year tour....I am sick of it but understand the reasons we must be there but I am starting to loose patience with it...I am sorry, I never thought I would or could feel this way. I just dont want to loose a family member or close friend to this but I understand we must be there, it's just very hard lately.

I hate hearing we loose men and women daily.

God Speed Sir, it was not for nothing, I understand that, I wish you could have lived. (Sorry to rant)...I am sick of this country (Iraq).....God Bless the USA

Tom, the thing that you have to keep hold of, and your kid will confirm it, is that 95% of the folks in that country are just trying to eeek out a living, and want better things for their kids. They are just as sick of it as we are....witness the former Sunni Ba'athists now joining in against Al Queda. Somehow, military action has morphed into something thats supposed to be pain-free and be executed perfectly, when it never, ever has been before. Its frustrating to not be done already, but you know better than most people here that you cannot predict how things will go, and what it feels like to be fighting the enemy and wondering if what you are doing is all going to be for naught. These folks knocked over 2 gigantic buildings....they are tough, motivated, resourceful and absolutely will not give up, ever. Fortunately for us all, there are people like Maj. Sonnenberg who stand between them and us, and we as a people are fortunate that he saw his duty and did it.

Your right, I apologize ( I started to lose sight)...it is also very hard to sit on the sidelines and do nothing but read about it.

I'd give anything to go in my son's stead and keep him home safe...as any parent would.

Thanks buddy, thanks for the "jolt"...I'll try and keep the faith, I'd never give up on America but like you, I sure hate reading about the losses and so many folks be taken away.

Your right (of course)...hard being a grandfather I think, I see those children, I see my children...I did not mind risking me when I did but I dislike the idea risking them but your right on...my son would tell me the same thing you did and I am proud of you both for it....Salute Brother...I mean that - thanks

Quote:

Tom, the thing that you have to keep hold of, and your kid will confirm it, is that 95% of the folks in that country are just trying to eeek out a living, and want better things for their kids. They are just as sick of it as we are....witness the former Sunni Ba'athists now joining in against Al Queda. Somehow, military action has morphed into something thats supposed to be pain-free and be executed perfectly, when it never, ever has been before. Its frustrating to not be done already, but you know better than most people here that you cannot predict how things will go, and what it feels like to be fighting the enemy and wondering if what you are doing is all going to be for naught. These folks knocked over 2 gigantic buildings....they are tough, motivated, resourceful and absolutely will not give up, ever. Fortunately for us all, there are people like Maj. Sonnenberg who stand between them and us, and we as a people are fortunate that he saw his duty and did it.

I don't think it could have been put any better than that. Thanx
I just found out that my youngest daughter will be following in her Ol'mans footsteps in Sept. (she lives with her mom in S.C.)
I think I can use some of that speech AfterburnerDecalsScott, Thanx again

I agree, it is not everyday someone gets my attention like that, he has rekindled my spirit for sure, I salute you both and good luck to your daughter Tim

Very well put [Link pending approval] obvious frustration aside, let's do our best to see the job through.

God bless the Sonnenberg family.

Forum: F-16 News

Ohio ANG F-16 crashed in Iraq