Forum: Buddy Finder

Members of the 401st TFW(P) - it's time to go to work.
We're being called back to the desert, ninteen years later!

The Forgotten 1000 and Lucky Devils Reunion in Las Vegas - November 2009

We've got a great plan together including a golf tournement, 'Strip trip', 'meet-and-greet' at the Nellis AFB O-Club hosted by the USAF Fighter Weapons School, the Lucky Devils Day at the Aviation Nation Airshow and our Reunion Dinner Celebration.

Las Vegas. Open bar. I shouldn't have to say any more.

Something that might make our Reunion even more special is the range of the people attending, from guys that got out early as Buck Sgt's (like me) to active duty and retired general officers, active and ANG wing commanders, POW's, and our own Ambassador. We've already gotten a great response from so many of the 'Forgotten' - from pilots, to maintainers, to Intel, civil engineering, and support staff.

For more information, or to RSVP and join us, please visit:
http://www.luckydevilreunion.com

Mike Kopack
ex-Lucky Devil maintainer
(and very amateur webmaster)

Quote:

OK Lucky Devils and Forgotten 1000,

We're rapidly gaining air superiority and marshaling all our forces to generate the world's greatest warriors' reunion.

Besides the recent sign-ups of our D Flight Commander, Lyman "Bad" Lee, Col Mike Roberts is also flying in and probably bringing one of our proven-in-combat TJ jets. With the leadership of the world's best wing commander, Jerry "Jed" Nelson, our reunion will also be attended by our very own American Ambassador to Qatar Mark Hambley and his wife Patricia. I know you will all remember the Ambassador and thank him for hosting us multiple times in his Embassy quarters and providing the only beer in town.

BTW "Chewy" Mills and "Guido" Pelini have also joined the fight, so it's good to know that BGen "Nips" Nichols and BGen "Ruhldog" Ruhlman will be with us to provide adult supervision Smile

God bless!
Bruce A. "Orville" Wright

F-16.net Sponsor

Mike, when is this? Only computer I have access to is the one at work and the Air Force has blocked your website! Bastards! I live in Vegas now and work at Nellis. Had it not been for my gas mask inserts, I'd be one of the forgotten 1000.

cutlassracer wrote:

Mike, when is this? Only computer I have access to is the one at work and the Air Force has blocked your website! Bastards! I live in Vegas now and work at Nellis. Had it not been for my gas mask inserts, I'd be one of the forgotten 1000.

Bastards! We'll be in Vegas November 12-14, including a Nellis AFB meet-and-greet hosted by the Fighter Weapons School and the Aviation Nation Airshow. Email me at mkopack(a)lucky-devils.net and I'll get you the info.

Mike

Mike, I bet if you contacted the T-Birds public affairs, you could work a tour of the hangar. Very interesting for those who haven't been yet.

Best Regards,

Good call, Joe - I hadn't even thought of that. I'm not sure exactly how the timing might work, but I'll make some calls...

Mike

Hey, While your walking around the static displays at the Aviation Nation show, drop by the History Hangar and check out our model display. We built a project for the Weapons School and display it every year, plus our other personal models. Look for the red, white, and blue Red Flag Scale Modelers display! And our site is www.rfsm.net

vegasdave901 wrote:

Hey, While your walking around the static displays at the Aviation Nation show, drop by the History Hangar and check out our model display. We built a project for the Weapons School and display it every year, plus our other personal models. Look for the red, white, and blue Red Flag Scale Modelers display! And our site is www.rfsm.net

Saw that last year. Very nice work.

Mike: I'll be at Nellis during the reunion, but will be doing a lot of work at the time. I'll be in the middle of an F-15 Val/Ver. I'll be able to attend some evening events.

Mick

It's a couple of weeks past now, and I'm happy to be able to report that Lucky Devils and Forgotten 1000 had a successful Las Vegas reunion - nineteen years after the Gulf War.

From countless pitchers and drinks at TGI Friday's at the hotel/casino, to golfing on Friday morning, walking 'The Strip', and then out to Nellis on Friday evening for a shot of Weed at the USAF Weapons School bar, and a meet-and-greet / pre-airshow party / full contact crud game hosted by the Nellis O-Club (followed by a repeat performance at the Friday's bar.)

Saturday morning was bright, windy and cool as we were off to Nellis' Aviation Nation airshow, and a great photo opportunity over at one of our old birds, F-16C 86-0315 (44 missions in Desert Storm) and after the show it was back to the hotel and a quick turn for our Reunion Dinner. (Followed by another trip over to Friday's, where, at this point, they knew us pretty well...)

It was an incredible weekend filled with great times and even better people.

Thanks have to go to:
- 'Orville' Wright (LtGen, Ret.) who was able to put this whole plan into motion.
- 'Panther' Spalding - our Reunion/event coordinator (without her we'd have never been able to pull it off...)
- Ambassador Mark Hambley, who welcomed us when we arrived in Qatar, and was as important to our success as any member of our unit.
- Mike 'MR' Roberts (Col., Ohio ANG). Mike, the Wing Commander at Springfield, OH, flew 315 out to join us and make sure that it wasn't only a reunion of people.
- and everyone who was able to attend!

Stay tuned for 2011!

Mike Kopack

Sweet … we got some old TJ jets from OH, and actually they are quite good! (I love blk 30’s)

I think the Panther Tail Flash is the BIZZ ! but would have been real cool to put TJ on the tail for that function you had!

Glad you guys had a good time in LV!
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Forum: Buddy Finder

Gulf War 401st TFW(P), 614th TFS & Forgotten 1000 Reunio