Comments on: 21 March 1987

By: Loren English

Loren English — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 21:02:59 +0000

Hello Mostafa,

I graduated from Moody AFB in 1966 and one of my classmates and friend was from Iran.
I know this is earlier than your time but I wonder if you know him or have heard of him.
His name is Bijan Saegheh and the last I knew, he was an F-5 squadron commander .
Sounds like you have had a great career as a fighter pilot.
All the best and I hope to hear from you.
Loren J English, Colonel USAF (Ret)

By: Mostafa Roustaie

Mostafa Roustaie — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 06:36:24 +0000

Hello , I’m a fighter pilot from Iran , flow F-4s and F-14s . During Iran/Iraq war ,I flow Tomcats , got 5 air victories , 2 Mig23s , 2MirageF1s , 1Mig21Fishbed . I went through my UPT training in US , Laughlin AFB ,Tex . Class 7404 .
This is the firs time I see your post , liked it very much .
If you could please help me in any way !
I’m looking /searching for any of my UPT classmates , IPs , friends , of class 7404 , Laughlin AFB , T37 F flight or T38 M flight .
My T37 IP was late Lt. Garry Krisstof & my T38 IPs were Capt Arnold and Capt Ralph Bendjebar .
So , if it is poss. for anyone who reads , please help me .
My Email is ( [email protected])
THANKS SO MUCH

By: Jerry Beckner

Jerry Beckner — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 14:31:45 +0000

Max, when were you stationed at Moody AFB? My Uncle was stationed at Moody AFB and was killed in an F-4 at Cold Lake, Canada during Maple Flag in 1980. Thanks for your time.

By: Max Corder

Max Corder — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 04:58:14 +0000

I am a former Air Force pilot (UPT class 69-05 Moody AFB, GA), so I was interested in this article about Dean Martin and his fateful crash. It so happens that I am from Tupelo, MS, 60 miles from Columbus, MS. I graduated from Mississippi State University in Starkville, which is around 20 miles from Columbus. Please don’t describe Columbus as “very rural”. In the 1960’s it was the home of Mississippi State College for Women, and as such, to 2,000 very beautiful southern women.

I had the great pleasure of visiting the “W” quite often, as we called it in those days (they are admitting men now, stupidly ruining tradition). I am sure Deano would have had no problem fitting in very well with the local culture, if you know what I mean.

When I was in pilot training in Valdosta, GA, there was an all-girls college there also. The USAF really did go out of their way to make sure their student pilots had ample opportunities for recreation.

By: Bryan Swopes

Bryan Swopes — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 03:19:42 +0000

In reply to Steve Courtoy. Thank you, Steve. I corrected the point about Laughlin. I appreciate your comments about his piloting skills. I regret that I was able to find so little information about Captain Ortiz.

By: Steve Courtoy

Steve Courtoy — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 03:12:55 +0000

Bryan, Great article on Deano and Ray! I knew Ray from Nellis F4D days ’77-79. I was in 428TFS and he was an instructor WSO in the 429th at the time. Also friends with Dean Paul as his “class leader”, SRO (Senior Ranking Officer) as a Capt, at Columbus AFB during our pilot training stint together. He was a “good stick” all through pilot training. His previous flight experience helped him excel during most flight training gaining his fighter qualification at graduation. BTW he was present throughout his entire T37 and advanced T38 flight training classes with our class and earned his USAF wings together with our class at Columbus AFB, MS (he did not go to Laughlin for training!) His formation flying in the T38 was excellent! Got to meet Dorothy Hamil several times while at Columbus as they were dating at the time. Nice couple. Deano did take good advice when offered, as when I suggested that beautiful yellow ferrari just would not fit well on Columbus AFB in a very “rural” Columbus Mississippi! He listened, drove it back home and picked up a beater chevy! A good friend. Sad ending. Nickel on the grass for Deano and Ray. Salute!

By: John Terino

John Terino — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 14:35:56 +0000

Bryan, Just to be accurate, Columbus AFB is near Columbus, Mississippi, not Missouri. Thanks for the great work you do with this site!

John

By: Bryan Swopes

Bryan Swopes — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 03:48:51 +0000

In reply to John Terino.

Thank you, John. I knew that, so I’m gonna blame it on a typo.

I regret that I was unable to find any more information about Captain Ortiz.

Thanks for always reading so carefully, John.

By: John Terino

John Terino — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 02:21:42 +0000

Bryan, Dean Paul Martin’s birth date should be 1951, not 1971 in the post. This crash has interesting cultural overtones regarding the place of the USAF and Hollywood at that time. Thanks for your usual great job on this site! John

By: Bryan Swopes

Bryan Swopes — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 23:06:05 +0000

In reply to T. stehlar. Interesting, Thomas! I believe it was a 1967 412P. It was recently displayed at Pebble Beach.